Training for an Apostolic Church
The Parish Lay Missionary Formation Program of the Diocese of Toledo launches this Fall and applications are currently being accepted. This holistic formation program aims to prepare parish staff and volunteers for leadership roles in today's parish.
The Basics
- Who? Lay parish employees & volunteers (religious sisters & brothers are welcome). Maximum annual cohort of 24 participants.
- What? Formation including all four dimensions: human, spiritual, intellectual & pastoral, focused on equipping for the concrete realities of parish ministry.
- When? Monthly formation gatherings and small groups over a two year period. A new cohort will start every year.
- Where? Hybrid in person and virtual formats.
- Why? Equip the laity for the work of the New Evangelization in their parishes and to more significantly support their pastors.
- Cost? $200 - includes all formation, meals and material. The total program value is $1,400. This formation program is made possible by the Living Christ Capital Campaign and the Annual Catholic Appeal.
Informational Flyer & Schedule
Prerequisites - See Application for Full Details
- Active Catholic in Communion with the Church
- Full Sacramental Initiation and Submit a Recent Baptismal Certificate
- The Recommendation of Your Pastor/Pastoral Leader (Home Parish or Employer)
- An Introduction to Basic Church Teachings (free online option available - see application)
- An Introduction to the Principles of ACTS XXIX (free online option available - see application)
- Diocese of Toledo Safe Environment Program Compliance
- Commitment to the Elements of the Formation Program
Post-Application Process
One your completed application is submitted, you will receive an acknowledgement. We will review the application, and, if all elements are complete, we will reach out to schedule a 20-minute Zoom interview with you. If you are working on completing content prerequisites, you can submit a final application, indicating your anticipated date of completion. If the application you submitted is otherwise incomplete we will notify you to complete the missing elements.
Your completed application and interview will be reviewed by our formation team and you will receive a final acknowledgement of your acceptance to the program. If prerequisites are not complete by the time of the final acknowledgement, your acceptance will be provisional until the completion of the prerequisites. Each annual cohort has a maximum size of 24. If your final acceptance is provisional, your spot will be held until one week after your stated date for the completion of your prerequisites. Additional accepted applicants beyond the cohort of 24 will be placed on a waiting list for that year, and will receive the first spots in the following year's cohort if they do not make it off the waiting list.
Once you receive final acceptance into the program, you will receive an invoice you for the $200 program fee. Parishes may choose to cover all or part of the cost at the pastor's discretion. Payment will be due by the first formation session in September.