Families had their own proper ministry within the Church which would remain poor until this ministry was not owned by more and more families, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech said in a letter to Gozitan families sent on the opening of the diocesan mission, starting next Friday.

Mgr Grech expressed his appreciation at the pastoral work being done by couples in the fields of catechesis, liturgy, charity and pastoralia of the family and warned that one could never underestimate the importance of continuous formation in faith, especially the catechesis of adults.

This was because there were “many wise people who are competent in the various sciences and who seem to speak with authority. However, it is a fact that there are among us those who think that wisdom and God cannot stand together. Therefore, one should have the responsibility of weighing and analysing what he hears.”

Mgr Grech said that Christian families had to make certain decisions which were not always easy since a choice in favour of the values of the Gospel entailed a high price. “In these circumstances we are urged to feel encouraged to grow in our knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

He urged families to make place for God within them.