YEAR OF THE FAMILY – SPECIAL

Pope Francis has declared 2018 as “Year of the Family.” I am sure various Dioceses and Parishes have drawn concrete plans to observe it fittingly. There is no doubt that while Information Technology has brought the entire world together as one family it has also led to the breaking of families. Pope Francis wants 2018 to be the year of blessings to bring broken families together. Local CRI units, with the diocesan clergy, can plan out something concrete for Christian and non-Christian families throughout the year. My reflections given below may be helpful in bringing families together in love.

EVENING FAMILY PRAYER:
Though TV and mobiles have replaced the evening family prayer in some Catholic families many have kept up the practice of evening family prayer. Evening is a sacred time when family members come back home after their hectic work of the day. Children are back from school, games, tuition classes, and are done with homework and studies. Mothers have already prepared the evening meal. Now is the time for the family to spend half an hour or so in prayer thanking God for all the blessings received during the day. At the end of this let the children get blessings from their parents. Then all sit together for the evening meal. Parents should make the evening prayer a daily practice in the family.

REGULAR SUNDAY MASS WITH FAMILY:
The Eucharist is the centre of Catholic life. Attending Sunday Eucharist as a family has a positive impact on children. Some children are altar servers at the Eucharist. There are parents who attend daily Eucharist. It is heartening to see people going to the Sunday Eucharist as a family. Other than the spiritual nourishment it provides, the Sunday Eucharist has a social dimension. Families meet after the Eucharist, socialise, interact, reach out to the needy, get information about what is happening around in the parish community, etc.

FAMILY PILGRIMAGE:
There are family pilgrimage programmes organised to places within India and abroad. Families can join these together. It helps strengthen the family bond, deepens the faith, and widens the family vision. Children are exposed to different places of historical and religious importance, their intellectual capacity enhanced, and their spiritual life renewed.

FAMILY RETREAT:
In many spiritual centres and mission stations, retreats are arranged for couples. Organized family retreats help families renew their spiritual life, come closer to the members of the family, and closer to God. They help couples cope with family problems, adjust to difficult situations, and establish/maintain peace in the family.

FAMILY COUNSELLING:
In parishes there are families that face problems. Parish priests do help them in finding solutions. Conscious efforts should be made this year in this area. Professional family counselling will help families. Establishing counselling cells in parishes and the dioceses will be a good initiative to offer guidance and counselling to those who are in need. It will help in minimising family tensions, and establishing peace and harmony.

FAMILY GATHERING:
Nowadays in many families the members have moved out far and wide for various reasons. Family get-togethers held annually or every two years can bring them closer to one another. This will help bring about greater understanding among them, help solve problems, and encourage financial, emotion and spiritual support. But this coming together has a positive and a miraculous healing effect in the family.

FAMILY PICNIC:
An annual family picnic is a nice way of relaxing. A one-day family outing brings everyone together. Everyone gets a chance to spend time together in fun and frolic. It is an occasion to experience tension-free moments together.

FAMILY DINNER OUT:
Monthly shopping followed by dinner out is an occasion for parents and children to come together in an atmosphere of love and togetherness. Dinner out also gives the wife a chance to get away from the kitchen. It can bring about a positive change in the attitude of the other members of the family towards the wife/mother.

FAMILY VISITS:
Occasional visits to relatives can be a source of bonding with the extended family. Besides, CRI with the help of the Parish priest could prepare an itinerary for visiting families in the parish. During these visits one could conduct a short prayer. Lack of such pastoral visits is one of the reasons why many families have slackened in their Catholic faith and joined other Christian denominations.

VISITING THE SICK AND THE AGED:
There are always some people who are sick, aging and/or bedridden in the parish. Make a conscious effort to visit them regularly. Families should visit the sick members of the parish and bring them solace and joy, especially this year.

DAILY FAMILY MEAL TOGETHER:
The family should gather for the evening meal together. During the day parents and children are at work, school, etc. During this meal the TV and mobiles should be switched off to facilitate conversation and togetherness. It is a time to share one’s experiences of the day with the others, and also to plan out coming events.

FAMILY AND YOUTH:
Children are an integral part of the family. Today’s young people seems to drift; morality, religion, human values are sometimes derided. The deviant behaviour of children causes great tension to parents. Young people need to be won over with care, concern, understanding, and acceptance. This year offers us a golden opportunity to get reconciled among ourselves, and with God (cf. 1 Cor. 15:33; 5:9; 2 Cor. 6:14-16; Exo. 23:1-2).