• July Family Matters Newsletter

  Filed under Newsletters
  Jun 30

  FAMILY MATTERS JULY 2010

  MARFAM’s vision and aim since its beginnings in 1995 has been the renewal of family life in the Church through education and enrichment. The publications are a resource for families, educators, parishes and for the work of the Family Life Desk of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference. Your financial support helps us to operate, produce the various publications including this monthly enewsletter and maintain our website.
  Advertise your company or project on the website, enewsletter or various publications, send a donation to P.O.Box 2881, Randburg, South Africa or sign up for a monthly debit order. Every Rand, Dollar or Euro helps to strengthen families somewhere, somehow.
  Contact us for details.

   

  CONTENTS

  What Really Matters
  MARFAM News
  SACBC Family Life Desk News
  2010 Family Calendar and themes
  Some activities
  2010 Soccer World Cup
  Bits and Bytes
  A Focus On The Elderly
  A Movement of Prayer of Grandparents for their Grandchildren
  In Conclusion –

   

  What Really Matters

  How many times last week did we in South Africa receive the email chainletter saying “It does not matter…. that we did not qualify” and many other nice thoughts, because there is no doubt that up to now we have achieved a remarkable sense of unity as South Africans. Of course the email with its lovely colourful pictures was also a promotional campaign to keep us all on board supporting the teams and matches, after all there is a lot of money at stake. It struck me as a strange coincidence that I also picked up a really intriguing book I had bought in a sale a while ago entitled, “What really matters, living a moral life in uncertain and dangerous times.” Yes, we do recognise that aspects of life are dangerous; even a local gardener here warned me about the dangers of just taking a labourer off the street for a day’s work.
  But is life really that dangerous right now? How different is it from life as usual? We were warned before the Cup of the dangers of human trafficking and prostitution, so much so that some parents were afraid to let their children out of their sight. And what do we mean when we talk of a moral life? My book is about justice, corruption, oppressive governments and also making personal choices, trying to choose what is good and right in the face of danger and contradictions. The morality referred to in the book isn’t about the three-letter word that we sometimes get hung up on as Catholics.
  Right now there is a lot of jollification, celebration and drowning of one’ sorrows as the matches are won and lost but life goes on and work has to continue with all the associated issues of our day, including those of workers. A looming electricity strike, we are told, is not just about the plight of poor, underpaid workers but the financial abuses of those higher up. Corruption in government has been an issue with workers for some time and threatening to strike because of misuse of company funds and excessive bonuses being paid at managerial level is a moral issue. For workers to take this up and use this means of protest is an interesting if risky development that does make us all sit up and take notice. A Netherlands football fan family
  On and off the field there are other interesting moral issues. Yellow cards and red cards are issued and usually accepted without complaint so that the game can continue, but after the match it can be different scene. There is much talk of fairness and playing the game which are good, healthy phenomenons; ones to be encouraged as models for family life too as we have been preaching all this year.
  In June as there has been much enjoyment of “the beautiful game,” largely at parks and matches it seems by young adults, it is to be hoped that families have spent time together too, watching, sharing, arguing, discussing and using the opportunity for some moral education, teaching, by way of modeling, the values we want our children to adopt. July’s focus on older people and the theme “The Veteran’s Cup” can pick up on some of the reporting of matches and sharing memories of previous games. It is amazing what statistics have been given out about previous wins and losses and who did what way back when and these didn’t all come from google but from personal memory boxes too.
  As veterans in the game of life it is easy to say, “Been there, done that, have the T-shirt.” Or “It does not matter what happened this time, life goes on.” Have we become disappointed cynics, or enthusiastic octogenarians as especially retired Anglican Archbishop Tutu has shown himself to be. Despite the ups and downs of life if we have played the game fairly and squarely, dealt with the challenges and done our best then maybe we can identify with the well-known saying “it does not matter whether you won or lost but how you played the game” and at least qualify for the Veteran’s cup. Or alternatively on a much more cynical note as Oscar Wilde would have it, “ It’s not whether you have won or lost but how you placed the blame.” Plenty of that too. One could agree too with Martina Navratilova who holds that whoever says, “it matters not whether you won or lost,” obviously lost.
  Older does mean wiser and so we can fret and stress or choose to emulate Archbishop Tutu and wear our T-shirts, together, with pride and joy. Like family that’s what really matters. That is hope for the world whatever game you play.
  Toni Rowland

   

  ADVERTS
  	Your very own Catholic Radio station in South Africa Programme schedule on our website. www.radioveritas.co.za Mass every day at 12h30 and mass and magazine programme from 11h00 – 13h00 each Sunday. Phone us at 011 663-4700 or write to us at 4599, Edenvale 1610 Listen to Family Matters on Wednesday 10-11 and Saturday 11-12

   

  MARFAM NEWS

  PLEASE NOTE THAT WE HAVE MIGRATED TO A NEW BLOG WEBSITE with the address www.marfam.org.za/blog

  The July – September issue of Marriage and Family Living is now available and as usual links with the Family Life Calendar for 2010 and its theme “FAMILIES PLAY THE GAME.” The World Cup is still on but only for a few weeks and then it will be “After the Ball,” our lead article in the magazine. On the web/blog site www.marfam.org.za/blog we have put a Family Hour activity, a story for reflection and sharing on the elderly in families. In the magazine there is a Spot the Difference activity too.
  The feast of the grandparents of Jesus, St Joachim and St Ann on 26th July is promoted as Grandparents Day. Contact MARFAM for some special prayers and a MOVEMENTS OF PRAYER OF GRANDPARENTS FOR THEIR GRANDCHILDREN.

  MARFAM has contributed to the SACBC 2010 World cup prayer booklet PRAYING AND PLAYING with a number of short prayers. These booklets are available free of charge. Enquire from info@marfam.org.za or download prayers from www.churchontheball.com.

   

  SACBC FAMILY LIFE DESK NEWS – visit www.sacbc.org.za/familylife/

  The SACBC Family Life Desk has as its 2010 theme, “Families Play the Game. “ The annual family life calendar is one of the main projects of the FL Desk, used for education and enrichment. Its monthly subthemes are developed in different ways throughout the year.
  Much of the old content such as the overview for the year is still on the old website www.marfam.org.za while the brief reflections for the Sundays and main feastdays are published monthly on the new site www.marfam.org.za/blog. Translations of these into some local languages are available by email. Anyone willing and able to help with Zulu, Xhosa and translations can contact Toni at info@marfam.org.za.

  JULY –THE VETERAN’S CUP. Sport is not only for the young and fit. Even older people can and need to keep as fit as possible and play what sport they can. They need to play their part in the game of life and so avoid becoming frustrated and irritable. They can look back on the many sporting events they have witnessed and share with the young how things have changed and grown. Discuss and share. In how many ways are the olden days better or not? Are we tolerant of one another across the generations?

  FAMILY LIFE DESK ACTIVITIES
  Parish Family Ministry is an ongoing project. The image “Church as Family” chosen for the Church in Africa is not only directed at family life but sees families as models for the Church and it is therefore important to promote this from an evangelizing as well as family support perspective to the bishops, to priests, to parishes and ultimate to families. Workshops are offered to dioceses and in regions and a 2nd level workshop will be held in Gauteng in September. The Handbook and Manual “An Introduction to Parish Family Ministry” is available at R120.
  The big event for parishes could be a Grandparents’ Day blessing and celebration around the feast of St Joachim and St Ann. Many of the women of the sodality of St Anne are grandmothers caring for grandchildren, some are supporting a number of children on their pension where their parents have died. This is a time to thank and honour the sacrifices grandparents across the board make.

  FAMILY PRESERVATION. The Desk together with the Department of Social Development’s Family Directorate will be co-facilitating a workshop on the FAMILY PRESERVATION programme for various faith-based organizations in September. A manual for this is available and is being used in the training of social workers but also for support teams.

  CONSULTATION
  The FL Desk consultation on the future direction and vision for the ministry continues and a mini-conference of family life ministers in different programmes and dioceses is being planned. Details will be available shortly. While expansion of the

  At a recent meeting of IMBISA (Inter-regional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa) the bishops of the region discussed local priorities and decided to focus on family life as well as economic justice and good governance as priorities. The family priority will be on the agenda of the proposed mini-conference.

  One of the tasks of the FL Desk is to assist dioceses in establishing and operating a family life desk. This is a stated priority in the local church and should be done by bishop or parish priest together with the pastoral councils. A FL desk then operates from PPC level and has contact with all those others who form part of the PPC. In that way the vision of Church-as-Family can be fully integrated into church life. Special parish celebrations can also be given a family flavour at parish level and at family level too.

   

  ADVERTS
  “So you’re going away to unwind or to play Or possibly simply to BE. If you’re coming south-west We have to suggest That you sample EMMAUS ON SEA. Yzerfontein – Western Cape Find out more at www.emmaus.co.za		St. Luke’s Retreat Centre 10 Park Lane, Central, Port Elizabeth. P O Box 12194, Centrahil 6006. South Africa Tel: +27 +(0)41 373 0039 Fax: +27 +(0)86 606 5307 Mobile:+27 +(0)74 376 5833 Read more about our “Directed Retreats” http://www.catholic-pe.co.za/directed.htm

   

  SOCCER WORLD CUP 2010

  As well as celebrating Soccer Sunday on 13th June we have heard that there have been parish activities involving families in a number of parishes and 100 000 PLAYING AND PRAYING booklets have been distributed through parishes and schools. The simple and topical prayers are proving very popular, hopefully not only for now but into the future too. As I keep saying, “The family that prays and plays together stays together.”

  Visit www.churchontheball.com for some aspects of the Church’s response and activities to the SWC.
  So far there has been no media reporting of incidents of trafficking although there has been concern over possible xenophobia with 5million people from other African countries amongst us right now. Well done to those who are offering protection, monitoring the situation and taking pro-active action in certain instances e.g. running multinational soccer activities for children and youth. The Peace Cup is a soccer competition run by the Xaveri youth movement and the Damietta Peace Initiative where in addition to playing the game the players and spectators considered some values related to the game and in particular the need for peace-building among the people of Africa.
  For more on these two organizations visit www.xaveri.com and www.dpi-africa.co.za

  PRAYER FOR SUCCESS OF THE WORLD SOCCER CUP Almighty God, creator of all, As people from every nation gather with excitement and enthusiasm  for the World Soccer Cup of 2010 may South Africans be good hosts, our visitors welcome guests and the players from every team be blessed with good sportsmanship and health. May your Spirit of fairness, justice and peace prevail, amongst players and all involved. May we each contribute in our own positive ways to prevent, control and fight crime and corruption,  hooliganism of any kind and exploitation and abuse, especially of those most vulnerable. May those far away from home and those in their families across the world find much joy in this occasion to celebrate the beautiful game of soccer and the beautiful game of life according to Your plan for the common good of all.   Amen

   

  BITS AND BYTES – A VETERAN’S CUP

  A FOCUS ON THE ELDERLY – 1999 UN International Year of the Older Person – 2009 10th Anniversary of the UN International Year of the Older Person. 1st October International Day of the Older Person.
  There is a steadily growing number of older persons in the world and their particular needs should be recognized and addressed.
  Some facts and figures: # In 1950, according to United Nations estimates, there were
  approximately 200 million persons 60 years of age and over throughout the world. By 1975, their number had increased to 350 million. By 2000 the number will increase to 590 million, and by the
  year 2025 to over 1,100 million; that is, an increase of 224 per cent since 1975. During this same period, the world’s population as a whole is expected to increase from 4.1 billion to 8.2 billion, an increase of 102 per cent. Thus, 45 years from now the ageing will constitute 13.7 per cent of the world’s population.
  # In 1975 slightly over half (52 per cent) of all persons aged 60 and over lived in the developing countries. By the year 2000 over 60 per cent of all older persons are expected to live in those countries; 72 per cent by 2025.

  Just as there are developmental tasks for children and youth there are tasks for all stages of life including the elderly. Developmental psychologist Erikson calls this stage Integrity versus despair. It is a time for the elderly to re-evaluate their lives and if the challenges are successfully resolved they can look ahead with hope versus despair. The process includes reminiscing and sharing memories in order to build a legacy.
  Young people might not appreciate that this task is important for their grandparents. Patience and understanding on both their parts is necessary. It is normal and natural for older people to slow down and be more forgetful. This does not mean they are suffering from Alzheimers disease. Visit www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/caregiver or google the topic for a lot of helpful information.

  A MOVEMENT OF PRAYER OF GRANDPARENTS FOR THEIR GRANDCHILDREN
  Visit www.marfam.org.za section on prayers and blessings for more information on this.

  A GRANDPARENT’S PRAYER:
  Heavenly Father
  I worship you, and give you praise for the great gift of life you have given to me.
  With gratitude, wonder and awe I acknowledge that it is through my life
  that you granted life to my children.
  They are mine, ours and yours.
  They in turn have become the parents of our grandchildren,
  and some of us are already blessed with greatgrandchildren in your wonderful chain of life.
  It is for all these young ones that I thank you and I pray for them today.
  Some of them are strong in faith, others strong in body,
  Some are beautiful in looks, others beautiful in spirit.
  Some are ugly and disfigured, some destroy their own beauty.
  The world in which they live is different from the world in which we lived.
  Sometimes we do not understand their world and their ways
  And we need your gift of forgiveness so that we can be at peace.
  You have given them to us to love and to hold in prayer,
  So I earnestly pray today that through my intercession no evil will befall them
  and that the hopes and dreams we have built up over the years will be theirs too.
  May your kingdom come, in their lives and in ours.
  Amen

   

  IN CONCLUSION

  OLD ACCOUNTANTS never die, they just lose their balance.
  OLD BANKERS never die, they just lose interest.
  OLD BINGO PLAYERS never die, they just wait until their number comes up.
  OLD BLONDES never fade, they just dye away.
  OLD BOOKKEEPERS never die, they just lose their figures.
  OLD BRICKLAYERS never die, they just throw in the trowel.
  OLD BURGLARS never die, they just steal away.
  OLD CARDIAC SURGEONS never die, they just get bypassed.
  OLD CASHIERS never die, they just check out.
  OLD CLEANING PEOPLE never die, they just kick the bucket.
  OLD CLOTHIERS never die, they just lose their shirts.
  OLD COMPUTER USERS never die, they just lose their memory.
  OLD COOKS never die, they just get deranged.
  And so on. Try some for yourself.
  Tagged as: family matters, july, newsletter
  
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