Hapag-Layko Program (Christian Formation for Lay People)

The general aim of Hapag-Layko or Handog na Pag-aaral sa mga Layko) is to form and train lay leaders so that they can effectively perform their responsibilities with the support of their ordained pastors. In practical terms, any lay person who participates in Hapag-Layko, therefore, seeks to equip the lay leader, theologically and pastorally, through a formation that is contextualized for the lay condition, involving lectures, workshops, and practical exercises, and focusing not only on the skilled but also on the vocation and spirituality of service of the laity.

Application & Scholarship

1. The Hapag-Layko Program is open to all lay people, 18 years of age and above.
2. There is no academic degree required to be able to register for this program, however, involvement in the pastoral life of his/her parish or other ecclessial movements will be of great help.

Hapag-Layko student scholars must be officially sent and supported by their Parish Priest or sending institution with a formal written request via personal mail or email (svst_qc@yahoo.com). The endorsement letter contains the following:

  • Names of the participants
  • Their current parish involvement
  • The program in which they will enroll in

This must be submitted on or before the enrollment of every semester, and addressed to the details below:

The Scholarship Committee of Hapag-Layko,
St. Vincent School of Theology,
221 Tandang Sora Avenue, 1116 Quezon City

Priority is given to parishes needing assistance and directed towards the building up of BECs, and whose Parish Priests are willing to support their leaders during and after the programs.

1. Candidates for scholarship should be in a group of at least three (3) participants to be enrolled in the same program or module. No scholarship is given to an individual participant.
2. Candidates for scholarship must currently be handling specific responsibilities in their parish or small communities, or be chosen to take care of specific ministries after completing the Hapag-Layko Program.

See Enrollment Requirements
Inquire Here

Course Work

All participants in Hapag-Layko take this program before any specific formation. It is open to all kinds of lay leaders. The lecture series has 9 sessions, from August to December. They deal with various topics on the Christian faith, which are explained through the Bible and in a contemporary, relevant way. The topics are God’s Revelation; the human person; Jesus and the Kingdom of God; the Church: call to communion and sent to mission; Mary and discipleship; Christian moral living; and the sacraments.

After finishing the General Theology Lecture Series, participants will proceed to any of the three specific formation programs, according to their assigned responsibilities in their respective Christian communities.

This is for lay people who are currently or who will be involved in Christian education in their parishes and small communities, such as speakers in evangelization seminars, lecturers in retreat/recollections, parish theology classes, facilitators of various formation programs, catechists, and Christian Living educators.

The program has 4 teaching modules; each module runs for 9 class meetings:

  • Doing Theology of Everyday Life
  • Doing Theology on the Human Person
  • Doing Theology on Jesus for Filipinos
  • Doing Theology with Catholic Social Teaching

Course Pre-requisite: General Theology Lecture Series

This program promotes Christian celebrations to be more meaningful with the full, conscious and active participation of the laity. Participants involved in liturgical animation (lay Eucharistic ministers, lectors, commentators, members of worship committees, and others) are encouraged to take all 4 modules; each module runs for 9 class meetings.

Four specific modules:

  • The Sacraments: History and Theology
  • Proclaiming the Word of God
  • Creative Liturgies and Rituals
  • Popular Devotions

Course Pre-requisite: General Theology Lecture Series

These 4 modules are for those directly involved or will be involved in the organization, formation, and training of basic ecclesial communities (BECs). They can be BEC organizers, coordinators, core groups, or pastoral formation teams. Each of the 4 modules has 9 class meetings.

Four specific modules:

  • Basic Organizing Process
  • The Bible and the Christian Community
  • Managing and Sustaining BECs
  • Theology and Spirituality of BECs

Course Pre-requisite: General Theology Lecture Series

Over the years, the “Hapag-Layko Program” has made some significant strides in two inter-related aspects of pastoral formation (viz., sharing of knowledge and transfer of skills). The course seeks to fill in a perceived lacuna: the need for attitudes, values, symbols and even life-style consistent with the faith-life situation of lay people which can be summed up in the rubric “spirituality”.

Four specific modules:

  • General Introduction to Christian Spirituality
  • Lay Spirituality
  • Vincentian Spirituality
  • Marian Spirituality

Course Pre-requisite: General Theology Lecture Series

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