Let the parish save our families

When I go to England and attend the Sunday morning Mass (in a Catholic church) I have an experience which I often recall. Attending Mass there is a family affair: Parents accompanied by their children make the occasion a family outing. And they seem to enjoy every minute of the time they spend in the church. This is clearly a joy they share with the rest of the community.

It is a living community, one which participates in the liturgy, joins in the singing, receives the Holy Eucharist as a family and after Mass, meets together in a friendly gathering.

Some time ago, a friend of mine told me that although he has been going to church for many years, it was only recently that he is feeling to be part of the congregation. He seemed to be telling me that he discovered a new congeniality in a "feel good" environment, where those around made him experience that sense of belonging, which he did not have before.

The effect of church gatherings could be enormous. If only we realise that a truly Christian congregation, in a pleasant setting, could work wonders.

Let the parish save our families. Let us feel that the parish is our home. The parish has a decisive role to play to help our families grow together and to be stronger.

In an environment that is slowly, but surely, breaking away from the traditional concepts that marriage is a sacrament and that it is forever, the parish could be a beacon light to those who may need guidance and encouragement.

Let us build a family-centered parish. We are fortunate that the majority of our people feel the need of going to church, even if it is for special occasions.

Of its very nature, the parish is at the service of its parishioners, and forms a loosely-bound community.

A healthy society is made up of healthy families. Many of our families, especially the young ones, are facing problems.

And there is a growing awareness of the positive role the parish can play to promote healthy families. In this respect, everything should be done to create a community where one feels a sense of belonging, where no one is excluded or ignored and where all those who feel the need of help are sure to find it. Because the parish is very close to man, it has a decisive role in shaping our society.

Above all, the parish must be the centre of religious life and of promoting Christian values. It is best adapted to form personal and community life. There we pray, charge our souls, feel good and find encouragement. We appreciate friends and need their support. We certainly need their good example.

In this contest, the tasks of the parish family commission is not light. Their's is the mission: To create a caring community and to reach all those who seek guidance and support. Let them be open to all families, especially those undergoing difficulties. It is also our mission, each in his own way, to promote the ideals of a family-centered parish, built on Christian values - a smile, a helping hand, advice and, above all, by example and prayers.

Being a religious organisation, the work within the parish is also a religious experience, which gives direction in our daily lives. Let it be a Christ-centered parish: The Christ bearer to every person within the parish community; to the parents to bless their union and their family; to the lonely and suffering, to give them courage and support; to those who have fallen away, to help them rise up again; to those who have lost hope, to find it again and to those who feel forgotten to fill them with love.

The parish can be a model for what a happy family stands for - one which, even in the face of difficulties, knows where to seek help and learns how to survive.

We should be grateful that there are many groups and individuals who, by word and example, show the way.