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Welcome to St. Peter's Institute
for Catholic Formation (ICF)
Our Mission and Vision
The Institute for Catholic Formation will work from a holistic understanding of formation inclusive of human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral elements. The Institute for Catholic Formation has been created to serve the needs of those in parish ministry and is committed to meeting the formational needs throughout the Diocese and responding to the identified support of those in ministry. The Institute is committed to providing formation and support to those in ministry by employing different delivery models and by planning workshops and services based upon the needs of the deaneries and zones of the Diocese.
Our History
The development of the St. Peter’s Institute for Catholic Formation represents the culmination of several years of planning both at St. Peter’s Seminary and the Diocese of London. The establishment of a Steering Committee examined the recognized need to reorganize programs and services to better meet the mandate of the Diocese of London. Approval of a Conceptual Framework for the Institute by the St. Peter’s Seminary Board of Directors and the Episcopal Council was followed by the development of a detailed Business Plan by the Steering Committee. The Institute for Catholic Formation was officially inaugurated in January 2008. Its offices are located in Aquinas House; its services will encompass the entire Diocese of London.
From Our Bishop
One of the priorities that has consistently been identified by the people of our diocese is the need for faith formation. In the past, this task has been largely fulfilled by Assumption University in Windsor, and, in London, by King’s and Brescia University Colleges and St. Peter’s Seminary. As well, many of the ministry offices of our diocese have also offered various types of formational opportunities. We are fortunate to have excellent training programs in place for lay ministry and the permanent diaconate. To coordinate and expand upon this vital work, I am pleased to announce the establishment of the Institute for Catholic Formation.
The Institute, in conjunction with St. Peter’s Seminary, will provide a wide range of educational and formational opportunities for lay and clergy leaders, and for all who work in parish ministries. It will draw upon the wealth of experience and expertise already present throughout our diocese and address the need for relevant learning opportunities, rooted in our Catholic faith, and in response to the needs of modern life. It will be responsible for our already-existing lay ministry and diaconate formation programs, will provide ongoing “in-service” formation for our pastoral leaders, and will deliver courses, workshops and programs at sites across the Diocese.
Ronald P. Fabbro, C.S.B.
Bishop of London
(Excerpted from Bishop Fabbro’s message “We are shaping the future of our diocese”)
