Local
The Lay Centre offers continuing formation for lay people in Rome, aimed at helping them integrate faith in everyday life.
This formation is offered through The Lay Centre’s Vincent Pallotti Institute, named after a saint who dedicated his life to promoting the role of the laity for service in the Church and in society. More than 180 local programs have been offered at The Lay Centre since its founding.
The annual program consists of series, focusing on various biblical, theological and spiritual themes. A retreat is also offered during Lent. Speakers include mainly professors from the pontifical universities and other Church leaders in Rome.
Participants can also benefit from the quiet grounds that surround The Lay Centre—an oasis in the centre of historic Rome.
International
The Lay Centre offers opportunities to explore theology, spirituality, and the history of the Church and Christianity in Rome.
Dialogue and faith are at the root of all our programs. For Christian groups, the programs are based on the tradition of liturgical prayer, erudite study, lively dialogue and pilgrimage, allowing time for reflection and spiritual enrichment.
The Lay Centre also organizes study programs in Rome for participants of other religious traditions, exploring dialogue and furthering mutual understanding, while offering opportunities for genuine encounter in the Roman context.
A variety of formats include weekend and weeklong study programs, designed for universities—undergraduates, graduates and faculty—as well as groups and organizations of laity and Church leaders.
The Lay Centre has offered more than 220 international programs in the past 20 years. Combined, the local and international programs have served more than 12,000 people.
Below are some organizations that have benefited from The Lay Centre’s international programming:
Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities
DePaul University
FADICA (Foundations and Donors interested in Catholic Activities)
Loyola University
Marymount University (Virginia)
Ripon College Cuddesdon (Oxford)
St Mary’s College of California
Seton Hall University
Seton Hall College of Nursing
The Russell Berrie Fellowship in Interreligious Dialogue (Rome)
