09/10/2026
A Grateful Beginning to Our 40th Anniversary Year! 🌱✨
With hearts filled with gratitude, The Lay Centre opened its 40th anniversary year on 7th Oct 2026 with a beautiful Eucharistic celebration presided over by Bishop Paul Tighe, Secretary of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, with the concelebrant Passionist priests, Fr Giuseppe Adobati, Superior General, and Fr Antonio Siciliano.
The celebration brought together our founders, friends, alumni, staff, benefactors, and current community members in thanksgiving for four decades of life and mission.
In his address, Director, Dr. Filipe Domingues reflected on The Lay Centre’s mission and the vision that has sustained our journey over four decades.
His words resonated with Pope Leo XIV’s reflection at the General Audience earlier that day, reminding us that the lay faithful are called to “enliven the world with the Christian spirit and the vision of the Gospel.” A timely reminder of the enduring relevance of The Lay Centre’s founding vision: forming lay leaders who bring the Gospel to life in the Church and in the world.
Our founders, Donna Orsuto and Riekie Van Velzen, then shared two words that beautifully captured the spirit of the occasion: “Thank you” and “Magnificat.” They expressed heartfelt gratitude to all those who have nurtured The Lay Centre over the years and praised God for the many blessings that have far exceeded what they could ever have imagined. Their words recalled The Lay Centre’s roots in the vision of the Second Vatican Council and the charism of the Ladies of Bethany.
The evening continued with the singing of the Magnificat in the Taizé tradition, followed by a warm reception in our courtyard—a joyful opportunity to reconnect, share memories, & celebrate the bonds that make The Lay Centre a home and a community.
As we begin this special anniversary year, we give thanks for the seeds sown over four decades and look forward with hope to the fruits yet to come.
“Some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit.” (Mt 13:8) 🌱
(We are deeply grateful to Fr Graziano Leonardo, Rector of the beautiful basilica)
Photo: Biagio Tamarazzo
