The Year of the Family – an Inspiration for Parish Catechesis

Abstract

The Year of Amoris Laetitia Family induces one to reflect on the family, its place and importance in the life of an individual and also of the whole of the human community. It encourages one to seek offers of parish catechesis for families. It provides inspiration to discover and live by the wealth of the apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia through various spiritual, pastoral and cultural proposals offered by parishes, dioceses, universities, ecclesial movements and family associations.

The family, as the paradigm of the entire pastoral service, deserves a year-round celebration so that it becomes the focus of commitment and attention of every pastoral and ecclesial reality. The pandemic experience particularly exposed the role of the family as the home Church and the importance of community bonds between families, which make the Church “the family of families”.

Pope Francis mentions three main objectives of this unique time: (1) to propagate the contents of the apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia  in order to share with families “the experience that the Gospel of the family is a joy that ‘fills the heart and whole life’”; (2) to preach that the sacrament of marriage is a gift and that it has the power to transform human love; (3) to make families the main objects of pastoral family counselling.

The Year of Amoris Laetitia Family should make a mark on the life of each parish community, especially at the level of preaching, preparing the liturgy of Sundays, celebrations and engaging whole families in it and efforts are made to aid those family members who are in a difficult life situation.