Lay Mission Forum (LMF)

The Lay Mission Forum, begun in 1992, is a gathering of lay missioners and directors of lay mission groups that meets at the USCMA conference each year in the Fall. The Forum came out of a felt need to give voice to lay people in mission.

The Forum gathering provides an opportunity for networking, updating, and discussing trends in lay mission as well as issues and projects of interest to participants. The LMF also includes a report on lay mission activity done by the Catholic Network of Volunteer Service.

Next Lay Mission Forum will be held:

October 26-28, 2007
USCMA 2006 Conference
"Are not our herts burning?" Spirituality of Mission in the 21st Century
Wyndham Garden Hotel & Woodward Conference Center
Austin, TX

Registration form

Several projects have resulted from the discussions within the Lay Mission Forum:

Collaborative Formation Gathering  (CFG)
This is a collaborative effort of foreign mission-sending lay programs in the eastern U.S. to share part of candidate formation.

"Gathering the Fragments"   (.PDF file)
A survey of components for the formation of international lay missioners, sponsored by the Catholic Network of Volunteer Service,  U.S. Catholic Mission Association and the St. Vincent Pallotti Center.

"Pre-Departure Cultural Training for Missioners"   (.PDF file)
A follow-up study to "Gathering the Fragments."

"Training in the Intercultural Development Inventory"
The IDI is a statistically reliable, valid measure of intercultural sensitivity. USCMA along with CNVS and The Pallotti Center sponsored people to be trained to administer and score the IDI. They are available to work with groups.
For information contact USCMA.

Partnering Relationships for Mission   (.PDF file)
"An Inquiry & Overview of Diocesan and Parish Twinning"
A study of the twinning phenomenon in the Church's concept of mission.

For More Information:
For more information about the Directors' Survey that resulted in "Gathering the Fragments" contact:

Mr. Andrew Thompson, National Director
St. Vincent Pallotti Center for Apostolic Development
415 Michigan Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20017
Phone: 202-529-3330
Fax: 202-529-0911
Email: andythompson@pallotticenter.org

Suggest Agenda Items / Comments:
If you would like to suggest agenda items or have comments about LMF or would like to add information, call or e-mail:

Charlotte Cook
U.S. Catholic Mission Association
3029 Fourth Street, NE
Washington, DC 20017
Phone: 202-884-9764
Email: mailto:ccook@uscatholicmission.org

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