With more than 225 students now enrolled in the Camden Diocese’s Lay Ministry Formation Program (LMFP), the academic initiative that trains the laity in their particular ministries, these students have given this program a rousing “thumbs up.”
Kevin Connor, director of Lay Ministry Formation noted, “Student evaluations from the spring semester revealed that 100 percent of the students surveyed noted they were satisfied with the Lay Ministry Formation Program with 94 percent stating they were either extremely satisfied or very satisfied.
“While we had been receiving very favorable feedback regarding the program during the initial semester,” he continued, “these evaluation results are a true affirmation to the efficacy of this experience.”
To reinforce Connor’s comments, one student commented on his evaluation, “This course has had an overwhelming impact on my faith and understanding of God and his church. The beautiful insights from the Second Vatican Council and the way our church has been implementing these teachings make me want to share this faith and Church with even more zeal. I am very proud to be a part of this diocese and this mission that our bishop and diocese sees as such a priority. It has reinforced my own committment in my own faith life.”
The LMFP is more than simply the academic experience. Sister Roseann Quinn, delegate for Lifelong Formation, emphasizes, “While our students in the LMFP will receive a wonderful theological education, equally important is the spiritual and pastoral formational attention our students will experience through this program as well.”
The Lay Ministry Formation Program is a major initiative to help laity from across the diocese who are already engaged in or planning to participate in parish work to obtain the educational credentials specific to their area of ministry.
The program offers college and university certificate and degree courses at several local classroom sites for parish leaders and staff who serve in various pastoral ministries, including religious education, youth and young adult ministry, campus ministry, adult faith formation, family life ministry, Hispanic and Black Catholic ministry, and liturgy. Programs also will be offered for lay persons involved in pastoral administration and parish business management.
With the summer semester of the LMFP now near completion, applications for new students are being accepted for the fall semester. Along with the current Absecon, Vineland and Blackwood classroom locations, the LMFP intends to add an educational site in Camden as well. The Hispanic LMFP is offered in Atlantic City, Bridgeton, Vineland and Camden.
A final information session that will address questions and outline the details of the LMFP before the fall semester is planned to be conducted Thursday, July 9, at 7 p.m. at St. Pius X Parish Hall in Cherry Hill.
For more information regarding this information session, program course descriptions or a program catalogue, see http://lmfp.camdendiocese.org or contact Kevin Connor, director of Lay Ministry Formation at 856.583.6122; kevin.connor@camdendiocese.org.
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