In a Nutshell
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A report based on a consultation by the Catholic Church in England and Wales with some 15,000 families was published in the summer of 2005 by the British bishops. The consultation represented part of a three-year plan for making parishes more welcoming and supportive of family life. The consultation found that many families are highly stressed-out by life's economic realities and that "families often did not cope well with the strains and stresses of modern life." Partly in light of that, the report went on to say that "over and above any other single finding was our realization of the massive significance to families of welcoming, loving, accepting relationships both at home and in the church." The importance people placed on "the community aspect of parish life" was a key finding of the consultation. In fact, the report said, "the importance of the church community as an extended family of acceptance, celebration and support is absolutely indispensable" to the relationship today between the church and the family. One conclusion of the report was that "more attention must be paid to interpersonal relationships and the deepening of community life within the church." |
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The support families seek in the church
By Mary Jo PedersenCatholic News Service
Sue Collins was dying of cancer. Her two children and husband were struggling to accept her certain death while trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy: balancing school activities, sports and work.
What the family desperately needed were meals, rides, housecleaning, baby-sitting and a community to walk with them in the darkest days. Their parish church provided that plus prayerful support during the entire crisis.
One family, one crisis, one involved church
By Dan LubyCatholic News Service
It wasn't routine surgery, exactly. In fact, it was cutting edge, just shy of experimental. Still, the hospital and the doctor were world-class. If everything went as predicted, it would mean 10 days' hospital time, then two weeks hobbling around on crutches -- a month out of commission, tops. And this family -- the most generous of families, ready to help anyone in need -- was determined to be a bother to no one.
They had planned for every eventuality. Schedules at work and home had been carefully examined, taking into account school programs and projects that simply couldn't be late.
Family needs and church resources
By Sheila GarciaCatholic News Service
In March, my parish bulletin carried announcements for baptismal preparation classes, family Stations of the Cross followed by a soup supper, marriage-mentor couples, a St. Patrick's Day celebration, a drop-in play group and the "Circle of Caring," which assists with funeral planning.
All of these diverse activities aim to promote marriage and family life. In various ways, they strengthen the bond between the family (the domestic church) and the parish (the gathered church).
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Faith in the Marketplace | |
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 This Week's Discussion Point: What support do you as a parent find in parish life for your family? |
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Selected Response From Readers: |
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