The Diocese of Camden’s Office of Lifelong Faith Formation recently held Days of Reflection for students enrolled in its Lay Ministry Formation Program.
On Saturday, April 30 and Saturday, May 7, a Day of Reflection took place for Spanish-speaking students enrolled in the Instituto de Ministerio Eclesial de Camden (IMEC), or Church Ministry Institute of Camden (CMIC) program.
A three-year non-credit diocesan certificate program, IMEC helps Catholics deepen their theological knowledge, strengthen their pastoral skills, and assist in their spiritual formation, in preparation for ministry and service. In addition to classroom teaching and the required day of reflection, students also take part in mentoring, spiritual book sharing, a ministry observation, and a project in ministry. Students take courses in Camden, Northfield, Wildwood, and Bridgeton.
Spanish-speaking students in the Hispanic track in the College of St. Elizabeth attended the day of reflection, as well.
Andres Arango, director of Evangelization and Young Adult and Campus Ministries for the Diocese of Camden, and the National Coordinator for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal for Hispanics, gave a talk on “Holiness, A Gift From The Holy Spirit,” while Kathia Arango, registrar and administrative assistant for the Lay Ministry Formation Program and the coordinator for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal for Hispanics in the Diocese of Camden, spoke on the topic of “More Than A Team, We Are A Community.”
The day also included prayer, worship, and faith-sharing, and was “a good opportunity for students to be sharing, and forming community with people from different areas of the diocese,” said Andres Arango.
Linda K. Robinson, director of Lay Ministry Formation for the Diocese of Camden, called the day of reflection “a key component” of the CMIC program.
“The Church Ministry Institute program isn’t just informational, but formational,” she said. Spiritual formation is integral to ministry formation.”
For more information on the Lay Ministry Formation Program in the Diocese of Camden, visit http://lmfp.camdendiocese.org