HELP OUR FAMILIES
Pope Francis became pope in March 2013. He has inaugurated quite a few new plans with many developing well. Among these are to be the fruits of his planning for the family, obviously one of his very top priorities. He initiated a Synod of Bishops to study the family and bring about helps to improve family life. The first stage was the Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October 2014 and with the results of this three week meeting of representatives of all the bishops of the world who were officially assisted by experts from the clergy and laity, the way was set for the XIV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops to make final decisions after this two-year serious and time-consuming preparation. Also a three- week meeting, this will take place from 4 to 25 October 2015. Everything is ready with only one worry: many ordinary Catholics who live or will live in families, may not be interested.
The purpose of this short series of six articles is to help you pray for the Synod and follow its progress because it is part of Pope Francis’ plans for your faith and happiness. The theme of this Synod is “The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and the Contemporary World”. This will be considered under three headings.
First what are the challenges facing family life in the Church and in the world today?
The second section will consider what really is the vocation and God’s plan for the family?
The third section will examine the mission of the family today?
Pope Francis’ plan was that the entire People of God, including you, would be involved in the process of study and reflection and make a report to a local or central committee. This is your last opportunity to prepare your report or that of your friends and yourself. There has been a most significant interest on the family by world society, brought about by what has been done in the Church to the present. The final conclusions will be formulated by the October Synod and let us hope that your input will be part of that.
The series of six articles appears in www.stmarys-tallaght.ie commencing today.