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AN INTERNATIONAL AN ACADEMIC A SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY

AN INTERNATIONAL AN ACADEMIC A SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY

The Lay Centre

Our Vision

To inspire and prepare future leaders to serve the Church and the world.
The Lay Centre

Our Mission

We offer lay women and men a meaningful experience of community life as well as impactful programs for human, spiritual, intellectual and professional development.
The Lay Centre

Our Values

Faith, Hospitality, Dialogue, and the Care for Our Common Home are the core values that inspire us in everything we do.
The Lay Centre

Our Vision

To inspire and prepare future leaders to serve the Church and the world.

The Lay Centre

Our Mission

We offer lay women and men a meaningful experience of community life as well as impactful programs for human, spiritual, intellectual and professional development.

The Lay Centre

Our Values

Faith, Hospitality, Dialogue, and the Care for Our Common Home are the core values that inspire us in everything we do.

Latest News

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Community Evening Diary: Augustinian and Journalistic Insights on Pope Leo XIV

In alignment with this historic moment in the Church, as the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV begins, on May 14 The Lay Centre community welcomed two guests to its Wednesday…
May 19, 2025

Join us on May 27: Three reflections on hope at The Lay Centre

On May 27, The Lay Centre will open its doors to friends and guests in Rome for a special event that aims to promoting and inspiring hope in today's challenging…
May 16, 2025
Pope Leo XIV is already familiar with The Lay Centre

Pope Leo XIV is already familiar with The Lay Centre

While shaking his hand—a firm handshake, by the way—I said, “Father, we met at The Lay Centre. I’m Filipe.” He looked at me and replied, “Yes, Filipe,” as if it…
May 14, 2025

Discreet, Patient, and Approachable: Leo XIV Shows Signs of Being a ‘Shepherd Pope’, Close to the People

Director of the Lay Centre, Filipe Domingues, reflects on the early days of Robert Prevost’s papacy, describing him as “essentially a missionary.” The first American pope, Leo XIV brings pastoral…
May 14, 2025

Pope Francis: Our Testimonies

In tribute to our loving Shepherd, several members of The Lay Centre community would like to share their reflections on living in Rome during this extraordinary moment in the life…
May 8, 2025

Filipe Domingues: Pope Francis Witnessed the Joy of the Gospel

A Pontificate Marked by Gestures, Words, and Reforms Aimed at Conveying 'The Joy of the Gospel' and Bringing the Church Closer to Those on the Margins of Society
April 21, 2025

Donna Orsuto: Pope Francis’ Life Was Poured Out for Others Until the End

Announcing the death of Pope Francis this morning, Cardinal Kevin Farrell said: "His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to…
April 21, 2025
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To support The Lay Centre’s mission of promoting the laity through faith, hospitality, dialogue, and the care for our common home, please donate.

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Testimonies

“At The Lay Centre, I learned that the openness of our hearts and minds, as well as our behaviour and attitude, can impact our surroundings. This is a place of communion, where we take care of one another and share the values and characteristics of Christ.”

Sadaf YaqubPakistan

“The exercise of ‘tuning’ our common prayer and liturgies according to the needs and gifts of the residents was a unique experience in growing and listening to others. It allowed us to provide a different kind of care or service to the community and its members.”

Tommaso BacciItaly

“I loved The Lay Centre and the time there was wonderful. I felt at home. It was a very warm and welcoming surrounding. I made friends there who are still friends. I also discovered the world of interreligious dialogue and, specifically, the Catholic world.”

Shulamit MillerIsrael

“If you are searching for a place to grow in all areas of life. This is the place to be. The Lay Centre is a home, where you learn to love with your talents, serving the community, where you grow in knowledge, learning from others, where you deepen your faith, praying for each other and sharing life struggles.”

Stefanie BrossGermany

“I learned so much about the different work lay people were doing or hoped to do in the Church. I was edified to see how hard my fellow students were working, how seriously they took their prayer lives and how much they encouraged one another to pursue their studies and vocations.”

Dianne TrafletUSA

“Here we have opportunities to learn from experts in different areas, workshops on leadership and the general exposure to different beliefs and worldviews that come from living in an international, intercultural, interreligious community. The strength that the community provides through rich conversations, nightly prayer, and a shared life is a source of comfort and hope.”

Tere ÁvilaMexico

"It has been a great advantage to have people who study similar things to me and to be able to ask questions and think together. Community evenings have always been moments of great growth. I always continue thinking a lot about what I heard.”

Maria RochaPortugal

“Intellectual discussions helped me with certain aspects of my thesis or the papers I was preparing, and I am very grateful for them. They help us all to grow. One may not agree, but if one is at least willing to listen and discuss things in a civilized manner, things can go a very long way.”

Filip VeberSlovenia

“This community has restored my hope in the Church, and has given me the grace to share the journey with other laypeople, full of a desire to learn and serve. It has also been a fundamental space to motivate me to keep my spiritual habits always alive.”

Daniela N. GiraldoColombia

"A highlight of living at The Lay Centre were the friendships, where there is genuine openness for discussion. Also, the Wednesday evening community nights and the high-calibre guests invited by The Lay Centre have been very enriching. I’ve learned a lot about different aspects of the Catholic Church, including its spirituality, theology, and practical aspects of its functioning."

Francis ChanHong Kong

“It's fascinating. Sharing practices and rituals with people from different faiths made me realize our shared humanity. The growth in understanding diverse viewpoints and participating in meaningful practices, even if initially unfamiliar, is great.”

Yarden MillingtonIsrael

“Participating in The Lay Centre community made me reflect on the community of my own tradition and how I can carry the wisdom gained here into the future for the benefit of others.”

Sayalay SandardikarMyanmar

“The community has certainly been supportive over the course of my studies, with each of its members contributing in their own way in making it a welcoming and peaceful space in which to have enriching exchanges of ideas, constructive interactions, as well as moments of fun together.”

Elia GittardiItaly