“Remain in My Love” (cf. Jn 15:9) is the theme chosen by The Lay Centre to inspire the activities of the academic year 2025–2026. The first semester of the year has been strongly shaped by our participation in various Jubilee of Hope events, which have marked our communal life and spiritual journey in significant ways. The second semester, however, invites us to look ahead, guiding us toward the coming year, when we will celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Lay Centre’s foundation.
Although this is an “in-between” year, situated between two very important milestones in the life of the Church and our community, we are living this journey fully, not merely as a transitional period. The invitation to remain in God’s love, as expressed in the chosen biblical passage, guides us precisely in this direction.
On the one hand, it is essential to recognize all the gifts we have received and everything we have inherited from the previous generations of The Lay Centre—and from God. On the other hand, it is equally important to keep our gaze fixed on the future, to create new paths, and to be inspired by the people we encounter in our daily lives.
Every community is different. This year’s community is particularly international, with a strong presence of women and many members coming from the Global South. This leads me to believe that the mission of The Lay Centre remains vibrant and alive, and that its charism and values continue to endure, despite the many changes we have faced in recent years—both globally and within our own context.
Perhaps the greatest challenge ahead is to continue reaching out to and engaging others. It is essential to make our Vision known to those who may be interested in participating in it or supporting it in some way.
I believe this can be achieved by strengthening our community life and the international programs we have developed, particularly by making them more visible to participants, partners, and potential donors alike.
The anniversary year will represent an important opportunity in this regard. Planning and preparation for this new chapter are already underway.
This effort should place particular emphasis on the leadership of the laity within the Church and in society, on their active participation in ecclesial life—an aspect that in recent years has increasingly been expressed through the concept of synodality—and on the promotion of those who, in their own national and cultural contexts, do not have access to the sources of knowledge or to the spiritual and human experiences that we encounter here in Rome.
In his recent meeting with the cardinals at the extraordinary consistory, Pope Leo XIV emphasized that the Church grows by attraction, and that it is through tangible expressions of God’s love that this attraction truly takes shape.
However, “it is not the Church that attracts, but Christ; and if a Christian or an ecclesial community attracts, it is because through that ‘channel’ flows the lifeblood of Charity that cascades from the Heart of the Savior.”
Love attracts, unity attracts, mission attracts. These are some of the guiding lights for the journey ahead.
Obrigado,
Filipe Domingues
Director
Photo: Karina Gandur
