The Institute of Lay Formation New Lay Cohort to Begin in September

By BRIAN HANSEN

To create a culture of encounter and witness, we must live explicit lives of discipleship. We are called not only to believe in the Gospel but to allow it to take deep root in us in a way that leaves us incapable of silence: we cannot help but to announce the Gospel in word and in deed. This missionary outreach is at the heart of discipleship.

-USCCB, Living as Missionary Disciples, pg. 14

Do you want a personal relationship with Jesus, but you’re unsure of how to begin? Do you want to become Jesus’ disciple, but you’re uncertain of what it takes to do so? Do you want to introduce someone to Jesus, but you’re afraid that you’re incapable? If you relate to any of these questions, then I invite you to consider applying to the Institute of Lay Formation (ILF)! The Diocese of Winona-Rochester (DOW-R) is now recruiting lay people to be a part of the eighth ILF cohort. Since its founding in 1998, the ILF has positively impacted our diocese’s lay people by providing them intensive formation in prayer, study, and reflection in matters on the Catholic faith, Christian discipleship, and service on behalf of the Church. As the new director of ILF, I am excited and eager to perpetuate this positive impact that the institute makes on our diocese’s laity. This eighth ILF cohort will receive a formation experience that is developed and oriented towards Bishop Barron’s two-fold focus for our diocese: (1) Evangelization and (2) Vocations. To put it simply, Bishop Barron desires DOW-R Catholics to become intentional evangelizers and active cultivators of future priestly, diaconal, and religious vocations. It is my hope that the ILF will become a formation resource that fulfills this desire and makes it a reality in our diocese in the years to come.

The New ILF Purpose, Mission, & Vision

With this development and orientation comes a new Purpose, Mission, and Vision for the ILF. Thus, in terms of Purpose, the ILF exists now to bring lay peo ple into personal relationship with Jesus Christ so they can become His missionary disciples, who go forth proclaiming the Gospel and form ing new disciples for the Church. Therefore, the new Mission of ILF is to “Form Disciples.” To elaborate, the institute in tends to form a lay person into a missionary disciple who is capable of confidently preaching the Gospel, drawing others into relationship with Jesus, and discipling them in the Christian life. The ILF accomplishes its Mission by:

1. Fostering Prayer - To enable laity to communicate and commune with God.

2. Utilizing Spiritual Direction

- To assist laity in discerning and realizing God’s presence in life.

3. Developing Authentic Friendship - To show laity that relationship is key to forming disciples.

4. Providing Retreats - To remind laity of the need for prayerful silence and theological reflection.

5. Modeling Discipleship - To cultivate in laity the character, disciplines, and virtues of a disciple.

6. Teaching the Kerygma - To train laity on how to proclaim the Gospel.

7. Practicing Evangelization - To send laity out to fulfill their call to make disciples of all nations.

By fulfilling its mission, the new Vision of ILF is realized: To cultivate new generations of lay missionary disciples for the DOW-R and to establish the diocese as an exemplar of intentionally forming and preparing lay people for lifelong missionary discipleship. The ILF envisions its lay disciples immersing themselves in their local world and embracing their preeminent responsibility as Christians to, “make the divine message of salvation known and accepted by all men throughout the world,” and to, “penetrate and perfect the temporal order with the spirit of the Gospel” (Apostolicam Actuositatem, para. 3 and 5).

ILF Formation Years, Practicum Project, & Commissioning

The ILF consists of 3 major formation years. Each formation year begins in September and concludes in May. During a formation year, ILF participants will gather on a monthly basis (i.e. a total of 9 sessions per formation year). Six of these ILF sessions will be day-long gatherings that occur on Saturdays. The other three ILF sessions will be weekend-long retreats, and these occur in specific months of the formation year (September, January, and May). Below are the names and descriptions of the ILF formation years:

• Year 1 - Encounter & Trust in the Lord

o A formation on prayer and communing with the Lord.

• Year 2 - Follow & Listen to the Lord

A formation on discipleship, the Lord's teachings, and the ability to know, understand, and articulate the Kerygma.

• Year 3 - Witness & Remain in the Lord

o A formation on witnessing the Gospel, intentionally discipling another, long-term accompaniment, and knowing Jesus' Christ's identity and way in the face of secular and religious distortions.

During formation year three - Witness & Remain in the Lord - all ILF participants are required to complete the institute's practicum project. The project includes the following components:

• Through prayerful discernment, each ILF participant will identify one person in their personal life/sphere of influence to whom the Lord is calling them to proclaim the Gospel.

• ILF participants are then tasked with inviting and forming that one person to become a lifelong follower of Jesus Christ and His Church.

Participants who successfully complete all three formation years and the requirements of the institute are commissioned by the bishop for "lay missionary discipleship in the DOW-R.” This commissioning is a recognition of the lay person's formation in the ILF and an affirmation of the knowledge and skills for evangelizing and discipling that they have received through their participation in the institute. It expresses the diocese's expectation that they will use the fruits of their formation experience for active evangelization as lay missionary disciples, who bring, "...the Good News into all the strata of humanity, and through its influence transforming humanity from within and making it new" (Evangelii Nuntiandi, para. 18).

Apply Now!

The first ILF formation year (2025-2026) officially begins on Friday, September 19, 2025. The application deadline will be Friday, August 15, 2025; to apply, prospective ILF participants will need to complete an online application form. Application information and materials are available on our diocesan website (dowr.org); go to Offices > Lay Formation > ILF. The application process also requires applicants to receive their pastor’s signature on their application form (to indicate your parish’s support of your formation). Please see the ILF webpage for more details about the following:

• ILF Tuition and Expenses

• Parish/Institution Sponsorship

• Entrance Guidelines for Applicants

• Diaconate Formation Prerequisite

• Participation and Commitment to ILF

If you have any further questions about ILF, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Above all, prayerfully discern whether God is calling you to be a part of the new ILF cohort this September. Trust that God will answer you with His immense grace, consolation, and guidance. May God abundantly bless you in your discernment process!

Brian Hansen is the coordinator of adult and lay formation for the Diocese of Winona-Rochester.