2009 FAMILY LIFE THEME: “MARRIAGE AND FAMILY – GROWING TOGETHER” (To develop the “growing” theme the calendar is also a growth chart. Hang it up 1 meter from the ground and measure everyone in the family, old and young. The young are growing but the very old may be shrinking.) INTRODUCTION One of the most important features of family life is that it is a changing, developing system, growing, and shrinking constantly as members grow older, leave and new members are added to the nuclear and extended family. This can vary vastly as each family is unique, made up of unique individuals in unique relationships. Although families are still considered the basic building blocks of society, forms of families are changing and challenges facing them today are greater than ever before. Commitment and skills are required for a family to function optimally for any length of time. The Catholic Church teaches us that a sacramental marriage is the ideal foundation for a family but many families, even within the Church, are not built around the Sacrament of Matrimony. If one sees a sacrament as a living sign of the presence of a loving God in the world then many marriages too are not very effective signs. Being the sign is the special responsibility of couples, but every type of family too is called to be loving and life-giving. Using the given themes, month by month during the year we can consider ways in which families are growing and what their concerns are. The Sunday readings of weeks 21 to 27 of this year of Mark, year B in the liturgical cycle, are suitable for deeper reflection on marriage. It is suggested that communities could use this time to focus on marriage from different perspectives and end with a MARRIAGE DAY celebration on 27th Sunday, 4 October. Special resource materials will be provided by the SACBC Family Life Desk as was done in 2006 and 2003. JANUARY. Growing Roots. It has often been said, “No man is an island.” Equally true is the fact that no person can live an unconnected life, with no roots or ties. Building a family from the very earliest days involves putting down roots, even though not necessarily living in one place. This very seldom happens these days as people move from country to town, from house to house and from one country to another. However at the same time when a couple marries they make a commitment to one another, when a child is born it belongs within its family. Roots are relationship ties intertwined with life experiences that make us belong to a particular group. Families do break up, members leave or die, but the essential need to belong is a human need. A family is the best place for building well-functioning human beings, who have a sense of worth and essential life skills. Reflect and share on the sense of rootedness and belonging experienced in the family. FEBRUARY. Growing Strong. Medical science has made great strides towards improving health and curing illness. We sometimes take it for granted that all illnesses can be cured and are loath to accept that sickness is as much part of life as wellness. Wellness itself is not an absence of sickness but a wholeness or wholesomeness on physical as well as emotional, psychological and spiritual levels. Personal wellbeing is important and so is family wellness something to strive for. We celebrate the Day of Prayer for the Sick and the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes this month. These occasions help us to reflect on issues of health, of healing and of growing strong. Reflect and share on the question, “How does our family deal with both sickness and wellness?” MARCH. Managing Growth. Growth should be considered holistically. It applies to young and old and involves of aspects of life; physical, mental, psychological, spiritual and emotional too. Conditions for optimal growth are a human right but come with responsibilities too, within a family and beyond. Many families have to operate at survivor level and are hardly able to put a nutritious meal on the table. Other families neglect their responsibilities to provide the best that they can for healthy growth. Quality time and quantity time to enable growth to be managed as a couple and a family are a right and a responsibility. Human Rights Day on 21st March is an occasion to look into this question. Reflect and share how you would rate your family on the question of rights and responsibilities for managing growth effectively. APRIL. Growing towards God. Spirituality is living in the presence of God in our daily lives, whatever activities we engage in. Each person grows in their own personal relationship with God but as couples and as a family it is very valuable to have a common faith life too, Family moments are faith moments, whether they are happy or sad, filled with fulfillment or anger. The Lent and Easter seasons are very valuable opportunities for couple and family growth in their relationship with God. Choose together how this can be done and invite everyone to make a commitment to this growth journey. MAY. Parenting – helping Children grow One of the most important tasks of a family is to co-operate with God to bring new life into the world and to nurture and support this life as children are born and grow from infancy into childhood, adolescence and adulthood. As parents we do not own our children and cannot control their every action. Parenting is facilitating growth in children, not forcing them to follow certain paths, but mentoring and accompanying them step by step on their own life’s journey. Pray for parents and as parents and children that we and they may be open to sharing this journey with patience, perseverance and joy. JUNE. Youth, growing to Maturity The years from early teens to young adulthood are often the most exciting but also the most difficult times in a family. Young people have to test their wings, have to learn to become independent. All this while their bodies and minds are going through enormous changes. Their bodies mature, hormones race around, intellectually they are challenged to achieve and emotionally they are often on a roller-coaster. This can create tensions between the generations and so open communication as well as tolerance and acceptance are particularly important. Share how this is dealt with in your immediate and extended family and pray for guidance for all. JULY. Families growing bigger and older. For many cultures family life is not just about father, mother and children but also about the older generations, uncles, aunts, siblings and their children all forming a large and diverse unit with needs and demands that bring many challenges. Grandparents care for grandchildren as they themselves are growing older. Communication and appreciation for what is being done are essential for harmony and growth as an extended family. How can you show your appreciation to one another? AUGUST. Growing as sexual beings Gender and sex are aspects of family life right from its earliest days. How adults live out their sexuality should be a model for teenagers. Women and men have rights and responsibilities as individuals but their complementary role in a family is important for the wellbeing of their own relationship and of the family as a whole. Are boys and girls, men and women treated fairly and with equal dignity in your family? Share. . SEPTEMBER. Growing a Family History. Traditionally in both western culture and African culture a marriage sets up a dynasty. Two families are united and a new offshoot is born that keeps some of the family traits but must establish its own way of life and its own norms and standards. Christian marriage is more than a legal contract but a way of life of two people striving to be one in mind and heart while retaining their unique individuality. As members are added traditions are created that incorporate but go beyond the culture of the people. Share together how your family has grown its particular family traditions.
Pope John Paul II outlined the family’s tasks of forming and building its own intimate community of life and love, nurturing and supporting life, especially of children, sharing in the task of building up society and in the mission of the Church. Marriage is the ideal foundation of a family. It is a vocation, a calling and a mission to evangelise one another, the children, the wider family and community. Discuss the importance of marriage for family stability and security and for the Church’s overall mission of evangelisation. NOVEMBER. Loss and death, the end of growth. It is in the nature of creation that growth cannot continue indefinitely. Every organism has a lifecycle and a limited life-span. Growth Christians believing in life after death derive comfort from this belief as they deal with death. Many other losses have to be dealt with too, loss of health, possessions, strength and power. Share how you have given and received understanding support in dealing with losses and the end of growth? DECEMBER. Family, a growing Gift. A family is truly a growing gift and concern, growing in a whole range of ways but also a cause for concern. Families are versatile and resilient and can cope with many challenges that individuals alone cannot deal with. During this month celebrate the gift of family life with its joys and sorrows, its challenges as invitations to grow in unity, in understanding, wisdom and appreciation of the value of being gifted with one another. |