By Deacon Eric Gurash
The Archdiocese of Regina’s Lay Formation Program held its graduation and commissioning Mass on Saturday, June 15, for six dedicated individuals. The event took place at Holy Trinity Parish in Regina, where participants from various parishes were honoured for their three-year commitment and spiritual growth.
Graduates Gail Reles from Holy Trinity Parish, Dr. David Kopriva of St. Anne’s Parish, Wally Wilchowy and Marianne Fabian of St. Agnes Parish in Pilot Butte, Clara Rocha from Holy Rosary Cathedral, and Tracy Roy of Christ the King Parish were recognized for completing this transformative journey.
In his homily, Bishop Don Bolen emphasized the vital role of the laity in the Church, encouraging the graduates to continue their mission. “The Second Vatican Council encouraged the laity of the Church to exercise their role to the full. Those being commissioned, already active and generous in their parish and diocesan commitments, are being sent anew to bring their gifts to the Church and to the communities in which they live, carrying the hope flowing from the resurrection deep within them,” he said.
Program Director Deacon Eric Gurash reflected on the impact of the program. “Each year, it is one of the greatest gifts to be able to share the experience of growing in faith with such amazing groups of men and women. Our Church is in great need today of lay people who have the confidence to speak openly about their faith in Jesus Christ and the knowledge, leadership skills, and spiritual tools needed to transform our communities. It’s a great blessing to be part of a program that makes this happen for our Church in the Archdiocese of Regina.”
The graduates, sharing their transformative experiences, touched on a variety of themes, including the role of community, the gift of supportive companions, and the experience of falling in love with God.
For Gail Reles of Holy Trinity Parish, the sense of community and camaraderie among her classmates became an example of the gift of baptism and what parish communities could be. “The sharing of ideas flowed in an atmosphere of safety and trust. This has affirmed for me the need for community as we experience it at the parish level. We need each other to flourish – individually and as a parish – to build God’s church on earth. I have a new sense of my baptismal promises and the role I play in God’s call for us to ‘go make disciples.”
Marianne Fabian of St. Agnes Parish in Pilot Butte highlighted how the program helped her deal with personal grief and find deeper faith. “The support from my fellow participants and the Lay Program team was instrumental in helping me overcome my fears. They reminded me that I was not alone in this journey and that we were all here to support and uplift each other. The teachings and the sense of community have deepened my faith in ways I never imagined.”
Dr. David Kopriva, a vascular surgeon from St. Anne’s Parish, shared his surprise at the personal transformation he experienced. “Sometime in the second year of the program, I understood and could name the desire in my heart as the hunger in my soul. I had been falling in love with the Living God. What I lament about my life is that it has taken me over a half-century to allow myself to fall in love with my Creator. Why would one wait? If I am speaking truth when I say, ‘I believe in God…’ what can be more important than being with that Divine Person?”
The Lay Formation Program is an academic and pastoral initiative designed for Catholic men and women seeking to deepen their relationship with Christ and His Church as well as discover new ways to know, love and serve Jesus Christ in life and ministry. Inspired by the Second Vatican Council’s Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity (APOSTOLICAM ACTUOSITATEM) and Pope Francis’ Evangelii Gaudium – The Joy of the Gospel, the program is built on four key pillars of the New Evangelization. It aims to deepen participants’ awareness of God’s love, foster encounters with Jesus Christ, integrate this relationship into every aspect of their lives, and empower participants to follow Christ’s commission to “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).
The Archdiocese of Regina’s Lay Formation Program is now accepting applications for its Fall intake. For more information on the program or to register for the Fall, Email Deacon Eric Gurash at [email protected] or give him a call at 306-721-6724.
