This year’s celebration of National Laity Week, Sept 26 to Oct 2, 2010, highlights active lay involvement with the theme: “Sharing the Richness of Mother Church for Social Transformation”. Once again the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas, Episcopal Commission on the Laity, CBCP, will honor San Lorenzo Ruiz and blessed Pedro Calungsod, Patron Saints of the Catholic Laity of the Philippines throughout the week’s activities.

Social Transformation is a natural concern of the Laity since the lay people in the Church are called to be “in the world” but not “of the world” (John 17). Lay organizations and movements such as the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals, BCBP, are meant to be of service to the Church’s mission to the world … seeking the kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and directing them to God’s will.

Since the week’s celebration is nationwide, BCBP leaders and members are encouraged to not only join in the week’s activities in their areas but also to collaborate and assist in whatever way they can in their respective ecclesiastic provinces, dioceses and parishes to highlight the importance of the laity in the mission of the Church.

The celebration begins in Metro Manila with the morning of Sept 26 showcasing the different charisms and activities of affiliate National Lay Organizations, with each organization, including the BCBP, sharing its activities by talk, audio-visual or ppt presentation. The morning will close with a Eucharistic celebration. Venue is at the Lay Formation Chapel, San Carlos Pastoral Formation Complex, EDSA, Guadalupe, Makati City.

Various activities will be held in the different movements, organizations and Arch/Diocesan Councils of the Laity throughout the country during the week. The objective of these activities is to gather the lay faithful together in communion to reaffirm and enliven their indispensable role in the life and mission of the Church, by actively promoting freedom, justice, peace, sharing and solidarity. All are expected to come up with specific and doable plans of actions, addressing present threats and obstacles to the realization of authentic social transformation.

October 2, 2010, 8:30am to 5:30pm, will see the holding of three simultaneous workshop seminars which will cover the three chosen pastoral priorities of Laiko, namely: 1) Family as Focal Point of Evangelization, 2) Empowerment of the Laity Towards Social Transformation, and 3) Integral Faith Formation. The workshops’ resolution output will be offered during the Mass that will be celebrated to end the National Week of the Laity. Venue is at the Medicine Auditorium of the University of Santo Tomas, Espana, Manila.

Social Transformation is a natural concern of the Laity since the lay people in the Church are called to be “in the world” but not “of the world” (John 17). Lay organizations and movements such as the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals, BCBP, are meant to be of service to the Church’s mission to the world … seeking the kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and directing them to God’s will.