Diocese of Menevia Family Life Ministry
Co-ordinator: Sr Mairead Hourigan, St Davids Convent, Glamorgan St, Brecon LD3 7DN

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family ministry and spirituality.

What is Family Life Ministry ?

Family ministry is a like-to-like ministry, one of families helping each other, with the aim of reaching common goals and of bringing about "a more sensitive family dimension to existing parish and diocesan activities and services"
(Bishops Conference of England and Wales Working Party on Marriage and Family Life, 1993) }

"To you, Families, I repeat: Be not afraid ! The Lord is calling you to be leaders of a new season of hope in the Christian community and in the world."
(Pope John Paul II, Letter to Families 1994)

What does Family Ministry actually do ?

1. FLM seeks to build friendships: At its simplest , FLM seeks to put families in touch with one another, by creating opportunities for parish families to meet, perhaps at coffee mornings after Mass, at mother & toddler groups, at Agapes or at para-liturgical celebrations, such as Passover. The building of relationships between families is the first essential step towards creating "an environment favourable for (family ) development." (Pope John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio)

2. FLM seeks to involve families in the full life of the Church: FLM seeks to draw families closer to the Sacramental life of the Church by supporting the development of family-centred liturgies, which affirm the family as "the centre and heart of the civilisation of love", and which meet the differing needs of family members. This positive emphasis of the role of families, 'the domestic church', does not, however, seek to exclude the needs of others.

3. FLM seeks to support family life by providing opportunities for deepening family relationships: Through its network of parish volunteers , FLM seeks to establish a programme of training in family growth and healing, in order to nurture and enrich family relationships, and to provide preventative care of the family. This includes programmes for parents, for marriage support, for young adults and for the bereaved.

How does Family Ministry work ?

Family Ministry becomes alive through the work of its volunteers who commit themselves to ministering to the families of their parish in whatever way they can . These volunteers may build up a team of fellow parishioners to assist them in their work or may choose simply to provide a family perspective in existing parish groups. Needs and strategies differ from parish to parish. The volunteers or representatives meet together twice yearly for training, renewal, and feed-back. These Family Ministry days are organised by the Core Group, the executive arm of FLM, who seek to meet the expressed needs of parish representatives. Parish representatives may also meet together on a deanery basis for mutual support and joint events.

The overall policy of the diocesan programme of Family Life Ministry is
established by the Diocesan Commission on the Family. Chaired by His Lordship, Bishop Mullins, who also meets with the Core Group, the Commission seeks to
develop a coherent and continuing diocesan pastoral strategy encompassing the whole family apostolate. The Family Ministry Co-ordinator acts as the focus for communication between parish representatives, the Core Group and the Commission. The Co-ordinator is the contact for information about resources, training, and special events and produces a regular news bulletin for representatives. The Co-ordinator represents the Diocese at national meetings of workers in family ministry.

For further information please contact: Elizabeth Davies, Diocese of Menevia Family Life Ministry : elizadav@thefreeinternet.co.uk

Current Projects

• National Marriage Week Feb 11th-18th 2001. Suggestions for parishes to commemorate and celebrate marriage during this week are being                distributed.
  
• Valuing Difference workshop with Rosemary McCloskey, Director of St   Josephs Pastoral Centre, Hendon. March 24th 2001, St Marys Parish    Centre, Carmarthen
  
• The Work of the Marriage Tribunal with Rev Michael Burke, JCL.          November 2001