Program for laity teaches the faith

Christian community built through Formation for Pastoral Service

By RENATO GANDIA
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

It allows a fairly large number of people to have an experience of studying the faith and its foundations. It also facilitates an experience of Christian community which students can bring back to their own parishes.

This is what Archbishop Thomas Collins told the WCR after the Mass for this year's graduation of FPS, June 15 in the Newman College chapel.

The program is not as intense as a master of divinity degree. "But it is very reliable in giving an overview of the whole faith," Collins stressed.

The college provides academic formation for seminarians in Western Canada, as well as to some people involved in ministries.

Aiming to provide opportunities for pastoral enhancement founded on sound theology, the archdiocese developed FPS for lay people in 1994. Courses on Scripture, spirituality, liturgy and pastoral skills are provided.

Collins hopes that over the years more and more people will come to the program. This year 18 students graduated.

Ardis Beaudry of St. Joseph's Basilica said, "It's a wonderful experience. It's just wonderful to deepen your faith. You learn about theology, you learn about almost anything with your hands on experience in liturgy."

"It certainly deepens your faith. It gives you confidence to talk about your faith. It's a good way to do adult education."

Beaudry, national president of Catholic Women's League in 1984-86, cherishes as well the chance to work with people from different parts of the archdiocese.

"The people that you're working with can become a small Christian community and can create lifelong friendships.

Although Collins said FPS is already a very good program for lay leaders, he noted the board regularly "looks at it and sees if there's a way of improving it."

"It gives you confidence to talk about your faith." - Ardis Beaudry

"For each of our programs at Newman College, we always find a way to get feedback from people to help us find means to improve them. Over the years we just keep on developing the programs according to the needs of the local Church."

In his homily at the Mass, Collins said, "The Trinity is the most basic reality there is. It's the most grounded and profound reality because it tells us why we are a community."

However, people's attempt to fathom this mystery failed over the centuries.

"We can fathom the gods that we make ourselves, like riches, fame, glory, health and other things, but we cannot fathom . . . and grasp the God who made us."

One thing that this mystery teaches is to live in community and in communion, which is central to who we are, explained Collins. "The Lord when he came called together a family and not individuals disconnected with each other."

Collins reminded the people, "We're not connected when we worship the unholy trinity of Me, Myself and I."

He also emphasized that to live in the mystery of the Trinity is "to wash each other's feet in the love of God."

Echoing what the archbishop said, graduation guest speaker Pauline Burkinshaw said, "If we pray together, if we affirm together, our mission will work in spite of our differences."

Burkinshaw, a graduate of different programs at Newman, asked the graduands, "Are you more prayerful, hopeful, faithful and faith-filled? Are you more accepting of other people in your life and more loving? Are you more in love with God so much so that you can go forth wherever God is sending you? Will they know us by our love?"

She said lay people have an important role in the society and they should speak through their actions and words. "I think we have stories to tell our world, that . . . is longing for the Good News."

Beaudry, a Eucharistic minister at the basilica, said she can't keep to herself what she learned from the program. "You have to share with other people and encourage them to come. It's a great opportunity to learn more about your faith."

Luella Marie Yakymyshyn of St. Basil Parish of the Ukrainian Eparchy took part in the two-year program.

Her aim was to deepen her spirituality to give back to her parish.

"I think it's a wonderful experience. I look forward to the weekends. We've covered so much. It gave us a real good foundation on what Scripture is about. It really whet our appetite to go on and delve into more in-depth learning."

The experience deepened her spirituality as she learned more about her faith, about God, the love of God, neighbour and oneself.

It gave her an experience of generosity and sharing.

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