SFC is a community of couples and individuals that meet regularly for personal sharing and for mutual support and encouragement in the Christian life.  We have a community “when members in a group decide and commit to give the gift of caring presence to each other, otherwise, it is just a collection of people doing the same thing or who happen to be in the same place at the same time”.  (“Easter People” by Bishop Luis ‘Chito’ Tagle).  We are community when we share experience with others, allowing experiences to interact.

For effective pastoral management, Fr. Tony divided the parish into zones that will serve as vehicle or structure in the formation of small faith communities.  A zone is composed of as many SFC’s as may be formed or organized depending on the number of parishioners who inhabit the zone. The list of zones and contact persons is posted near the two entrances at the church vestibule.

Why a Small Faith Community?

It is God’s plan for Christian families to participate in the prophetic, priestly and kingly mission of Jesus Christ and of his Church.  Thus, in “Familiaris Consortio” of Pope John Paul II, the Christian family is presented as:

   1.    A believing and evangelizing community (Prophet)

   2.    A community in dialogue with God (Priest)

   3.    A community at the service of man (king)

However, God’s plan is not happening because the family’s participation in the prophetic, priestly and kingly mission of Jesus Christ and of His Church is largely confined to weekend services, which tend to be more of a ‘crowd’ rather than a ‘community’ experience.

In the SFC, parishioners will have the opportunity to come together and know more of each other.  Families join other families to provide support and to pray for and with one another.  They become Eucharist to one another.  Hopefully, God’s presence in the lives of people becomes more personal resulting in a more vibrant parish community.

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How is a Small Faith Community formed?

The SFC is composed of seven couples or individuals, including the servant leader and his wife. It is formed from couples and individuals who have expressed their willingness to join the SFC of a particular zone.  The SFC meets regularly in the home of one of the members on a rotation basis.

Holding the meetings in the homes of members is preferable for the following reasons:

   1.    Worshipping the Lord in the homes confirms the truth that the home is a domestic church.  This home where God’s people are found worshipping Him together and growing in their faith together could expect blessings from God.

   2.    The people in the home – children, parents and relatives are made aware that the members of the SFC, are living their Christian faith openly and powerfully.  Thus, what is being done in the homes becomes an effective tool for evangelization to the household, neighbors, relatives and friends as successfully practiced by the early Christians.

However, the parish remains open to the small faith communities for after all, home and parish should mean the same thing.

Christian Life Formation

Upon joining the SFC, one is ushered into a Basic Christian Formation or BCF, which is an integrated course on the basics of Christianity.  It is envisioned to renew the member’s understanding of God’s call for true Christian families.  Its two basic purposes are evangelization and spiritual renewal.  It is a fast-track formation program given on a weekend to enable working couples and individuals to participate.

St. Lorenzo will provide a continuing formation process consisting of teachings on: Relationship with God or Catechesis (Vertical Formation) and Relations with One Another (Horizontal Formation).  As part of the formation process, there will also be corporate worship or prayer assemblies, recollections and retreats.