The Ministry Formation Institute

Since the founding of the Diocese of San Bernardino on November 6, 1978, the formation of laity has been a primary goal and the focus of sustained effort. Bishop Phillip Straling, the first bishop of the newly formed Diocese of San Bernardino, created the Straling Leadership Institute to form lay leaders in English and the Instituto de Liderazgo Pastoral to form lay leaders in Spanish. The two programs were separate and different in scope, content, and programming.

 

Most Rev. Gerald Barnes, who was appointed the Ordinary of the Diocese of San Bernardino in 1998, saw the need for a common program and process of formation that would form all lay people, regardless of language, for ministerial service at the parish level. Thus, he founded the new Ministry Formation Institute (MFI), which replaced the two previous institutes. In his words: “MFI exists to 1) Promote unity in parish leadership between the ordained and the lay, and 2) Enable the lay leaders to serve authentically in the ministry of parish leadership” (MFI Annual Report, 2002).

 

In recognition of their common mission to form disciples, the diocesan Ministry with Young Catholics and the Catechetical Ministry joined MFI in 2024 and 2023, respectively.

 

Today, the Ministry Formation Institute offers three distinct levels of adult and ministerial formation, helps prepare men who are discerning diaconate formation, and offers regular training and one-on-one consultation to pastors and parish leaders in the areas of catechesis, youth ministry, and young adult ministry. It is also the home of campus ministry and supports evangelization and outreach at the major colleges and universities in the Diocese.