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“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
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“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
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“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
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“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
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“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
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“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
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"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
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“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
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“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
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"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
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“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
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“For me, The Lay Centre was a kind of laboratory for lay spirituality or a ‘greenhouse’ for the theology of the vocation of the laity. I received an ecclesial formation in addition to my academic degrees which has helped me to live my vocation as a lay theologian not only in the academy, but also in the Church. I am forever grateful for my experience.”
Aurelie HagstromUSA
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“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
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“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
