Ministries -> Pastoral Institute
 
Mr. Reynaldo Montemayor, Ph.L- Director
E-mail: rmontemayor@dioceseoflaredo.org
Sr. Leah Couvillion, SSND- Secretary
E-mail: SisterLeah@dioceseoflaredo.org
The mission of the Department of Adult Religious Education and the Pastoral Institute of the Diocese of Laredo is to "make disciples" (Mt 28,19) by making the Catholic faith known, loved and lived among adults and young adults by helping them to become true disciples of Jesus Christ through leadership and faith formation opportunities.
The Pastoral Institute offers formal courses on the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Bible, Theology, Philosophy and Catholic Culture, to form Catholics in the faith and prepare them for some type of ecclesial service or ministry.
For those that teach or want to teach the faith to other adults and prepare them for the New Evangelization, the Pastoral Institute offers a gradual Formation/Certification Plan that promotes ongoing faith formation.
This iniciative to certify lay "ministers" or ecclesial servants in our Catholic Church is also a trend at the national level inspired by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB: "Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord") and promoted through the Alliance for the Certification of Lay Ecclesial Ministers.
* Why get certified? 
The Pastoral Institute of the Diocese of Laredo is member of the national Federation of Pastoral Institutes. The Diocese of Laredo Pastoral Institute was represented through FIP at the 2011 Collegeville National Symposium on Lay Eccleisal Ministry (St. Johns' University, Collegeville, MN Aug. 2-5, 2011).
PI COURSES SUMMER 2013: [PISummer2013flyer]
Pastoral Institute course - Instructor - Place - Day & Time -starting date
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PI2413 The Seven Sacraments (CCC II-2)-Ms. Gertrude Julie Rodríguez- St. John Neumann Church- Tuesdays &Thursdays 6:30-8:30pm.– starts June 11&13...
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PI5113 Formation for Ecclesial Leadership- part 1- Reynaldo Montemayor Jr., PhL- Pastoral Center (1201 Corpus Christi St. +McPherson)- 4 Saturdays 9a-4p– starts August 17...[*restricted course for those finishing their Basic Level 1 Certification]
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PI1713 Intro. to the Catechism of the Catholic Church-Dr. Miroslava Vargas-San Martin Church (St. Bernadette CCD rm)-Mondays & Wednesday 6:30-8:30pm. - starts June 10 & 12...
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PI1513 The Christian's Prayer (CCCIV-1)-Mr. David Reuthinger-San Martin Church (St. Anne CCD rm)- 6 Saturdays 1-5pm -starts -June 22...
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PI70CW13 Co-workers in the Vineyard: the USCCB on Lay Ecclesial Ministry /+/ PI1013 Our Hearts Were Burning: the USCCB on Adult Faith Formation- Mr. Eliseo Morales- St. John Neumann-Wednesdays 6-8pm.-June12...
PI COURSES SUMMER 2013:
- IP1913 Introducción a la Biblia-P. José María Guevara/ P. Elías Sánchez-Iglesia San Judas- lunes 7:30-9:30pm- inicia el 17 Junio 2013
... ¡PROXIMAMENTE CURSOS IP VERANO 2013!
For more information, click on the links to the side:
SPARC
 A recent initiative of the Pastoral Institute is the "SPARC" (Special Presentation About Relevant Catholicism) project that seeks to  "spark" interest in faith formation, and maybe by taking formal PI classes, through brief presentations on relevant faith topics. The current SPARC, available to all parishes and missions in our diocese who request it, is on "A Practical Introduction to the Catechism of the Catholic Church". Coming soon as a SPARC: "A Practical Introduction to the Bible".
"In this Year [of Faith], then, the Catechism of the Catholic Church will serve as a tool providing real support for the faith, especially for those concerned with the formation of Christians, so crucial in our cultural context." (Pope Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei, 12)
If your parish group would like a SPARC on site, please contact us!
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The logo is the image of a fishing boat (Peter's barc, the Church) with people sitting on board (disciples) and a dragging net (fishers of men) in the middle of a lake (the world or life) with Christ standing as the Teacher. The rising sun in the background symbolizes a new awakening, a new diocese. The theme of the logo is "Duc in Altum!" (Lk 5,4), go to the deep!, was inspired by the apostolic letter Novo Millenio Ineunte ("at the beginning of the new millenium") written by Pope John Paul II to call all Catholics to set out into the deep and renew their mission for a New Evangelization from within the Church to the whole world.
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"In this Year [of Faith], then, the Catechism of the Catholic Church will serve as a tool providing real support for the faith, especially for those concerned with the formation of Christians, so crucial in our cultural context." (Pope Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei, 12)
"Lay persons are bound by the obligation and possess the right to acquire knowledge of Christian doctrine appropriate to the capacity and condition of each in order for them to be able to live according to this doctrine, announce it themselves, defend it if necessary, and take their part in exercising the apostolate." (Code of Canon Law, Can. 229 §1)
Activities & Links
Blessed John Paul II's Familiaris Consortio
[see events calendar on home page for more details]
Special Presentation About Relevant Catholicism (SPARC):
[SPARC flyer]
If your parish group would like a SPARC on site, please contact us!
"In this Year [of Faith], then, the Catechism of the Catholic Church will serve as a tool providing real support for the faith, especially for those concerned with the formation of Christians, so crucial in our cultural context." (Pope Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei, 12)
Pastoral Institute Library
The Pastoral Institute Library is a Catholic library with books on religion, philosophy and theology. The PI Library is located at the Diocese of Laredo Pastoral Center (1201 Corpus Christi St. Laredo TX. 78040). People can some visit and check out books during week days and office hours. For more information send an email to the addresses above or call (956-727-2140 ext. 7808). You may access our current book entries :
Pastoral Institute Library Books list:
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