2009 FAMILY LIFE CALENDAR REFLECTIONS

THEME: MARRIAGE AND FAMILY GROWING TOGETHER

JUNE THEME: YOUTH GROWING TO MATURITY

Introduction.
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.  

7th Trinity Sunday.  
One way of explaining the Trinity is to use marriage and a family as an example.  As the Trinity is a community of love with individual persons so is a couple two people becoming one couple and a family a group of individuals becoming one family.  The qualities and characteristics of a loving family can also be seen as a mystery, something we don't really understand but believe.   How are our youth being formed in this way?

14th  Corpus Christi. 
This feast commemorates the Body and Blood of Jesus  truly present in the Eucharist and a sign of God's continuing presence with us. At the same time we can reflect too on the words, “This is my Body, and this is my Blood” and see how families live these words out each day as they make sacrifices for one another. 

16th Youth Day, SA.
With the overall concept of Youth Growing to Maturity it is good to reflect on how the youth of 1976 showed great maturity in taking their future into their own hands and standing up for their rights and needs.  They felt let down by their parents and the older generation.  Thirty years later the youth of 1976 are the parents of today.  What is the relationship between parents and youth now? Are the youth of today more or less mature and in what ways do they show this?   This could be a very valuable discussion across the generations.   Use Jeremiah’s call   Jer 1. as part of the reflection and pray for both generations who together will determine the future of our families and society.  

19th  Sacred Heart of Jesus. 
Jesus appeared to St Margaret Mary, reminding her of his deep love for the people and asking her to promote this devotion to his Sacred Heart as a symbol of his great love.  Young people can ask themselves, “Am I ready for love?  How can I express the love I feel in God's way?”
  
21st   12th Sunday of the Year B.  Father's Day.  The Lord of the Storm.   
Jesus is with us in the turbulence of life, restoring calm and providing a safe and secure haven.  There are often stormy relationships between fathers and teenagers. Invite Jesus to calm these storms and pray for all fathers and youth.

28th  13th Sunday of the Year B.  Vigil of the feast of St Peter and St Paul and end to the Year of Paul. 

29th Feast of St Peter and St Paul.    
This year that was dedicated to getting to know St Paul better ends with the commemoration of these two great saints. Peter was the leader, the first Pope and Paul was the first great missionary.  Each had their own calling and way of living it out but both gave their lives for Jesus, being martyred in Rome.  Tradition tells us that Peter was crucified upside down and Paul beheaded. Are youth willing to live and die for a cause they really believe in?  Are you?