Alumni gathered in Prince George June 13-15, 2014 to celebrate 20 years of Lay Formation in the Diocese of Prince George.
On the Friday evening Bishop Stephen Jensen gave the gathering his blessing and welcomed Bishop Emeritus Gerald Wiesner, OMI, who returned to the Diocese as keynote speaker. The retired bishop established the program in 1994 soon after he was ordained and installed as bishop and he taught several times during each two-year term.
Of the more than 300 people who participated in 17 Lay Formation programs at one of four locations – Domano Renewal Centre in Prince George, Sacred Heart Parish in Terrace, Banner Mountain Lodge in Smithers and Camp Emile on Moberly Lake near Chetwynd – 80 registered for the Alumni Reunion along with 10 of the facilitators who taught during the 20 years.
The reunion followed the basic format of a Lay Formation weekend with teaching sessions, spiritual development and prayer time and the celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours and the Eucharist. Stories were told, formally at the Friday evening session and informally around meals, refreshment breaks and socials that also gave participants opportunity to connect and reconnect around their shared experience.