Louis C. Fink, National Holy Name Society lay consultant, was appointed this week to the American delegates which will attend the International Lay Congress in Rome, Italy, Oct. 11-18.

The 30-member delegation will participate in a preliminary session the weekend of June 23 in Bethesda, Md. Delegates will prepare and review topics of discussion and procedures for the international meeting, Fink said.

“I hope the approach of the Lay Congress will be similar to that of the Second Vatican Council and establish broad guidelines on an international level for lay organizations within the Church,” he said. “The wide variety of interest within the laity—people involved in the work of the lay apostolate, some in altar societies, some who view their organizations as purely social—all the organizations are necessary, said Fink, but duplications should be eliminated. He also hopes to see “better coordination’ between the organizations. “The parish councils could coordinate the work of the lay societies,” he said.

Fink has traveled from Seattle, Wash. to the New England states addressing Holy Name Societies and gathering observations from members in preparation for the Lay Congress. “Wherever I go, I hear the same thing—the whole subject of renewal is vital, just as it is to the Church. I hear the comment, “We’ve got to restudy our purpose.”

A member of Sacred Heart parish, Fink will attend the Trenton, N.J. diocesan meeting of the Holy Name Society this weekend as a panelist on the subject: “Renewal within the Holy Name Society.’