An immersive formation program in the heart of the Eternal City brought together Catholic Mission Officers for five days of dialogue, spiritual reflection, and exploration of the Church’s evolving mission.
Hosted at the “Istituto Maria Santissima Bambina” within Vatican City State, the program was organized by The Lay Centre in collaboration with the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU). The inaugural Rome Seminar for Mission Officers offered participants a unique opportunity to engage with high-ranking Church officials, renowned scholars, and seasoned journalists.
The program opened on Sunday, July 13, with a welcome session and orientation, followed by a timely conversation titled “The New Pope and Issues That Matter to the Holy See,” featuring Vatican correspondents Elise Allen (Crux) and Justin McLellan (National Catholic Reporter).
Dr Donna Orsuto, co-founder and senior advisor at The Lay Centre, led a session on the leadership styles of Saints Ignatius of Loyola and Catherine of Siena, setting a reflective tone for the week. The day concluded with an opening Mass celebrated by Fr. Douglas Marcouiller, SJ, General Counselor of the Society of Jesus.
On Monday, participants made an early morning pilgrimage to St. Peter’s Basilica, walking through the Holy Door as part of the Jubilee Year. Bishop Paul Tighe, Secretary of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, presided over Mass at the tomb of St. Peter. A guided tour by art historian Christiaan Santini followed, deepening participants’ appreciation of the Basilica’s spiritual and artistic legacy.
Bishop Tighe welcomed participants at his office later that morning for a dialogue on the future of religious sponsorship in Catholic higher education. In the afternoon, Lay Centre director, Dr. Filipe Domingues led a session on “The Context of Lay Leadership in the Catholic Church,” encouraging participants to reflect on recent ecclesial developments and the reform of the Roman Curia.
Officials from the Dicastery for Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life (picture) welcomed the Mission Officers and spoke about the evolving landscape of religious life and its role in sponsoring Catholic education. The visit was followed by a formation session on sharing charisms, led by Sr. Pat Murray, Secretary General of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG). The day concluded with a spiritual visit to St. Paul Outside the Walls, led by Fr. Edmund Power, OSB, former abbot of the Benedictine community there.
The final full day included visits to Rome’s major basilicas and a contemplative retreat led by Sr. Nathalie Becquart, XMCJ, undersecretary at the General Secretariat of the Synod, organized at The Lay Centre’s headquarters in Rome. The closing Mass of the program was held at The Lay Centre and presided over by Fr. Manuel Dorantes, originally from Chicago, who is currently the Management Director of the Laudato Si’ Village, located in the papal gardens of Castel Gandolfo.
Participants departed Thursday with renewed insight into Catholic leadership, inspired by Rome’s sacred spaces and relevant voices shaping the Church today.
