Certification celebrations for Levels I and II of the Ministerial Formation Program

By Sr. Gladys Echenique, OP

During the month of May, with great joy and gratitude, certification Masses for Levels I and II of the Ministerial Formation Program were celebrated in four parishes of our diocese: Immaculate Heart of Mary in Somerton, Saint Anthony of Padua in Casa Grande, Sacred Heart of Jesus in Nogales, and Saint John the Evangelist in Tucson.

These celebrations were moments of deep ecclesial communion and recognition of the commitment of numerous laypeople who, over the course of one year (Level I) or two years (Level II), have dedicated their time, effort, and prayer to growing in their theological, spiritual and pastoral formation.

The certified lay ministers expressed heartfelt gratitude for this opportunity, and the pastors present voiced their appreciation for the strengthening of lay leadership within their parish communities.

What is the Level I Ministerial Formation Program?

Level I is designed to nourish and strengthen the faith of committed Catholics by offering comprehensive formation that encourages them to live and share their faith more deeply. Its main objectives are:

• To deepen theological and spiritual knowledge of the Catholic faith.
• To bring this formation into everyday life: family, work, parish and ecclesial ministry.
• To explore the richness of the Catholic Tradition from our multicultural and pastoral context.

Core Components of Level I:

• Spiritual Formation
• Sacred Scripture
• Fundamentals of Theology
• Liturgy and Sacraments
• Christian Morality
• Pastoral Methodology

This program not only enriches the individual participant but also strengthens the parish community. Well-formed lay ministers become active witnesses of the Gospel, capable of encouraging others to engage more fully in the life of the Church.

What is the Level II Ministerial Formation Program (Parts A and B)?

Designed for those who have already completed Level I, Level II offers advanced and specialized formation aimed at equipping laypeople to take on leadership roles within the Church.

Its main objectives include:

• Preparing participants to serve with greater maturity and responsibility in specific areas of parish ministry, movements, or community groups.
• Providing solid formation in the theological, pastoral, spiritual, and human dimensions.
• Offering practical tools for leadership and ministerial accompaniment.

This two-year program helps laypeople integrate their formation into a more conscious and effective ecclesial service, responding generously to the pastoral needs of our communities.

We trust that this formative effort will continue to bear fruit in our parishes, strengthening the faith, commitment and witness of the laity throughout our diocese.

For more information, please visit: https://diocesetucson.org/hispanic