Office of Ministry Formation

The Office of Ministry Formation includes a number of programs and initiatives which support the initial and ongoing formation of the laity in living out their baptismal call to ministry. Echoing the call of the Second Vatican Council,  Pope Benedict XVI has reminded us that the ultimate goal of such programs and initiatives is to assist the entire Church to see lay men and women as “co-responsible for the Church’s being and action” (Address to the Ecclesial Convention of the Diocese of Rome, May 2009).

The principal responsibilities of the Office of Ministry Formation are:

The Kateri Institute for Lay Ministry Formation (a new entity that combines the work of Formation for Ministry Program/FMP and the Certificate for Designated Ministry Program/CDM)
The diocesan Distance Learning Initiative
The annual Autumn Diocesan Gathering (formerly the Parish Convening)
Administration of the Diocesan Pastoral Council

Capital Campaign Leadership Scholarships and Grants

The Capital Campaign Scholarship for Leadership Development is given to provide financial assistance for initial and on-going formation of leaders in the Diocese of Albany.  These scholarships may be used towards the fees for courses, in-services, workshops and conferences for local and diocesan lay leadership.

Capital Campaign Grants will be available to collaborating groups who seek to develop programs or enhance existing programs that will provide leadership development in the diocese. Grant funding may be designed for program development or professional staffing. The grants will be awarded according to parish/planning group need and the ability to develop quality programs.