PARISH FAMILY MINISTRY

A family is defined in the Church as an "intimate community of life and love, bonded together for life by blood, marriage or adoption," (Familiaris Consortio). It is a small faith community, a little Church of the Home, as well as a more practical, secular community.
A parish could be described as a community of communities, a collection of families of many different kinds.
Ministry is serving, providing spiritual support, care and opportunities for growth in understanding.
Parish Family Ministry is helping families, enriching their faith life and supporting them in becoming little Churches of the Home.  It also includes providing support for specific family life situations and needs, parenting, hurting marriages, divorce and bereavement.

Every three years during the year of Mark (2003, 2006) and especially with the liturgical readings from weeks 21 – 27 there is a special focus on Marriage. The 2003 programme was MAKING MARRIAGE MORE and consisted of a variety of resources for catechesis, faith-sharing and liturgy. The 2006 programme will likely be called MARRIAGE MATTERS and information will become available in the course of 2005 through the Family Life Desk. During other years Marriage Encounter’s World Marriage Day is celebrated on 2 nd Sunday in February.

Marriage ministry starts with parents modelling to their infant and ends with care and concern for a bereaved spouse - in fact it covers the whole span of life and as the saying goes :

     “ A WEDDING IS A DAY BUT A MARRIAGE IS A LIFETIME “

Family Ministry can take many forms as it relates to the various needs which families experience. It is concerned with evangelization as well as with practical needs and as such has hardly become a reality yet in the Church. Specific situations can be addressed directly, but most often there will be referrals to existing specialist resources. Community resources for example Alcoholics Anonymous, and school resources are often used by parents for problems with children, with drugs etc.  

The themes of the Family calendar are also used as a basis for ministering to families over the months.

SOME RESOURCES FOR MARRIAGE AND FAMILY LIFE SUPPORT

IN THE JOHANNESBURG DIOCESE AND WHERE NATIONAL ORGANISATIONS EXIST.  (The relevant contact people will often also know of programmes run in other centres.) 

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE PROGRAMMES AND OTHER RESOURCES CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE MARFAM OFFICE 011 789 5449

MARRIAGE PREPARATION
Catholic Engaged Encounter - a weekend away with a focus on the couple’s relationship. Presented in Johannesburg , Durban and Cape Town . National coordinators – Ronald and Ursula Sobotker

Evenings for the Engaged - a programme focusing on the couples’ relationship run over 6-8 afternoon or evenings in various parts of the country.

Parish-based courses are often run by priests, sometimes with mentor couples.

MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT
Marriage Encounter National coordinators are Theo and Bep van Meygaarden

Counselling is offered in many dioceses and referrals made to specialist local resources.

The Catholic Women’s League’s in some centres offers family support.

Focolare – New Families Movement

This is a family branch of the international Focolare movement.