For Fr. John Carney, CM, lay formation in Panama is a priority, and he is currently working in Bocas del Toro to increase and maintain engagement.

Lay formation goes beyond community members attending Mass. Giving people responsibilities and authority within a parish is important to building Church communities.

“You see little bits of that, like when [Pope] Francis appointed a Sister in charge of a certain area, getting more lay people involved in the finances of the church at an international level, having people prepare to get degrees

in theology and to move into pastoral positions. Lay people have a right and an ability to serve in the Church,” said Fr. Carney.

Most recently, Fr. John Prager, CM, and Fr. Carney hosted a day-long retreat, which 30 people attended. Now, sustaining that number, while continuing to gather momentum, is the next step.

“On a long-term basis, we’ll see if they’d like to do some other kind of formation. It could focus on the Bible because, for most people, their experience of Church is literature,” Fr. Carney said.

To move this work forward, the Vincentians hosted a small group of people interested in serving a Holy Week mission. The goal was that two people would visit an island within the Bocas del Toro archipelago to begin the process of creating a Vincentian presence and routine on these islands that lasts beyond Easter Sunday.

Fr. Carney knows providing consistency in Panama is a work in progress. He has observed that directly helping others seems to help garner engagement within the community.

One initiative that has increased involvement is the backpack program. Fr. Carney coordinates donations of backpacks filled with school supplies and clothing. These are given to children living in poverty in Isla Cerro Brujo, a province of Bocas del Toro.

“There was a pretty decent response with trying to get school supplies for the children. People were generous in giving some money and bringing some supplies,” said Fr. Carney.

Fr. Carney’s time in Bocas del Toro concludes in the fall. He will have spent a year in Panama fulfilling the mission of St. Vincent de Paul by serving those most in need in true Vincentian spirit.