The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) and the Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe (CCEE) have ended a joint seminar on matters regarding the family.
The seminar which begun on 28 May and ended on 31 May 2015 in Maputo Mozambique was convened around the theme: The joy of the Family is expected to strength communion, collaboration and reflection on major challenges facing the Church.
It is the fourth such seminar in the journey of Communion, Solidarity and Collaboration which started in Rome, Italy, in 2004, by the Catholic Bishops from Africa and Europe.
Find below the statement:
Message from the 2015 CCEE – SECAM Bishops Seminar held at Mumemo, Mozambique
1. Introduction: We the Bishops from Europe and Africa, delegates of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) and the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) have been meeting here in Mumemo, Mozambique, together with a married couple, some Religious, Laymen and women participants. We have come to the end of our seminar of May 29 – 31, 2015, (the fourth such seminar in our journey of Communion, Solidarity and Collaboration which started in Rome, Italy, in 2004). We have deliberated on the theme: The Joy of the Family.
We spent time listening to the joys and challenges of families, testimonies from delegates and other participants; we have been reflecting, praying and trying to discern what the Holy Spirit is saying today to us as Shepherds of the Church in Africa and Europe as we prepare for the 14th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and Contemporary World.
At the end of this seminar, on this Sunday, Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, feast of the divine Family of unity and communion, in the face of today’s joys, challenges and even crisis that marriages and families are going through, we would like to share a message of joy and hope with all the sons and daughters of the Church in Africa, Europe and elsewhere, and with all men and women of goodwill.
2. Joys and Challenges of the Family: With grateful hearts, we remember our own families, our father and mother, brothers and sisters, our grandparents and other relatives, a home, where we felt loved and we received education in human values and behavior, our first initiation to faith and prayer life that still support us even today as bishops.
Of course, not everything was perfect. Some of us came from families with challenges too. We all however celebrate this God-given gift of family, father, mother, and children as the natural basic human cell indispensable for every person.
Today, we also see around us many happy families. Places where spouses love one another with a love that grows with the number of years of marriage; we see homes in which children feel loved; where faith in God and family values are lived and passed on; where there is unconditional acceptance and mutual cooperation, room for mistakes, fraternal correction and place for forgiveness and reconciliation; where every child is welcome, with whatever traits and disabilities. We commend such families, and we are grateful to God for them!
At the same time, as Pastors, we are close to those, who though married, are living in some marital crisis. We suffer a lot with broken families; with poor families that hardly make it through the day. We are touched by people afflicted with illness and who cannot be taken care of for lack of financial means, or lack of professional healthcare. We know also many people who are caught up in substance abuse, a source of great suffering for their family; people working abroad, far away from their families in near-slavery conditions; many families torn apart by hatred and even war, by migration and human trafficking. We are worried by some of the negative influences within the media.
Our hearts are broken, when we notice young children, orphaned, abused, without education, many of whom live alone on the streets, and teenagers lured into violence, crime, prostitution, etc. We hear of so many mothers, who desperately see no future for their unborn child, and so resort to abortion. What a pain this must be!
But joyfully, we also see the Holy Spirit at work, in so many families that live a life of selflessness and sacrifice, being generously open to new life, and giving themselves without conditions to other family members, and in that way really finding fulfillment in themselves. This is what Jesus says to such people: “…Whosoever loses his life for my sake will find it…”(cfr. Mt. 10.38-39), and again: “No greater love has anyone than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn. 15.13).
We hear of so many good initiatives that support families in their daily burdens and circumstances. In Africa especially, the bonds of family members are very strong. We admire the vitality of living faith-communities, and the presence of so many young people. In Europe, we rejoice over the many new religious movements that have arisen in recent years, that explicitly embrace family life, and are bringing about a new spring and élan to this wonderful creation of God, the human family. We cannot but rejoice in these good signs.
3. Vocation, Spirituality and Mission of the Family: Africa is regarded by scientists as the cradle of humankind. It is here that we dare to challenge the current state of families and try to find solutions to it. We therefore encourage families to pray regularly together, since this is the heart of the life of love and faith that all family members are called to. As Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta often said, “The family that prays together, stays together”, we exhort families and family members to pray especially the holy rosary. Regular participation in the Holy Eucharist also brings peace of heart and mind, and strengthens families. Since all are called to a life of holiness, let family members strive for holiness! Prayer groups of mothers and fathers for their children for instance can fill the need for mutual support.
Education in human values and virtuous behavior is also indispensable, a grave responsibility of parents for their children. Open communication between parents and their children, in order to face the challenges of our culture, and in their formation is now more necessary than ever. We therefore take this opportunity to call on political leaders and civil authorities to ensure that families are enabled and provided with the wherewithal to fulfill their parental responsibilities towards their children for the greater good of the society. Children and the youth of today need to be helped also to acquire the ability to discern and the will to choose what is right and just and virtuous, and to avoid evil.
Thus can the Christian family also take up its own missionary vocation to be a place of welcome for those that are desolate and destitute, a safe place of dialogue, where cultures meet and are purified by the Gospel; the place where children are born and nurtured who will become our future politicians, artists, scientists, engineers, doctors, craftsmen and women, civil and public servants, our future fathers and mothers, priests and religious, all being warmly encouraged and accompanied in their search and pursuit of their God-given vocation in life.
4. Our Mission as Bishops: In communion with Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, as Shepherds, we pledge to be more present to all families in whatever situation they are. We present to them Christ the Emmanuel (God with us), who never ceases to mercifully and graciously look at every person as a child of God in whatever situation; it is he who frees us all from sin. He, the Word of God, born of the Virgin Mary, will help families to continue to grow in love and faith; he will strengthen the bonds between man and woman, between children and their parents. His presence will console those who are burdened and lonely, sick and abandoned (see Mt. 11.28). He it is who gives meaning even to suffering in whatever state we find ourselves.
Furthermore, we pray for the Holy Spirit to guide the thoughts and deliberations of the Fathers of the coming Synod. May the image of the family irradiate like the sun that although many times obscured by clouds still warms the hearts and lives of all human beings! May the ideal family never be totally eclipsed by our human weakness and sin!
As Bishops, we will double up our efforts to let this light of Christ shine, by increasing our pastoral care of the family, by preparing our youth for Holy Matrimony, by accompanying families with or without children, by taking care of the elderly and the divorced in whatever circumstances they live, and more.
5. Concluding exhortation: We like to conclude this message with these encouraging words of St. Paul to the Philippians 4.4-9: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you”.
May the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph be the role model for all families! May Mary, Queen of Families, be your constant intercessor!
Mumemo, Mozambique
31 May 2015
Feast of the Most Holy Trinity.
(from Vatican Radio)…
Vatican City – “I like to think of this Assembly as the place and the moment when the entire missionary Church, present and active in all peoples and cultures, is gathered in fraternal communion, at the service of evangelization … The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and the Pontifical Mission Societies have the privilege of being projected beyond the borders of their local Churches and their country”. This is how Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples expressed himself during the opening of the Annual General Assembly of the Pontifical Mission Societies on Monday, June 1, which will last for the whole week . “Our missionary service and our institutions are at the heart of the Church” reaffirmed the Cardinal, stressing three events: the Year of Consecrated Life, “which should encourage a relaunch of the evangelization activity of contemporary man, through the witness to Christ with a renewed evangelical radicalism, with the creativity of charity, and the prophetic role which is necessary and urgent in our time”; then the special Jubilee of Mercy, which “can be a strong reason to relauch our activities with more courage”; Finally the 50th anniversary of the publication of the Conciliar Decree Ad Gentes on the Missionary Activity of the Church, and will be the theme of the plenary session of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, in November: “It will be a strong moment, intended to stimulate a reading of the situation of Churches in mission territories, of the activities of evangelization, of the difficulties that they face today, and of the specific service the Congregation is asked to carry out”. Recalling the theme of the pastoral session of the Assembly, “How to support the mission today and tomorrow”, read in the light of the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, Cardinal Filoni emphasized how during this research it is important “to go back to what is really essential”. Identifying the right criterion for modern missionary cooperation, he reiterated that it “cannot be depleted in the collection of donations, however, necessary to finance and help the local churches to carry out its service regarding pastoral care and evangelization”. We need to form people “to the true meaning of the Church, as blessed Paul VI said”. “Unfortunately we have to complain about a loss of the ecclesial sense in the West therefore a weakening of missionary cooperation. This is also reflected in the decrease of tenders”, he noted. The Prefect of the Missionary Congregation then focused on the importance of the cooperation of the Church: the new missionaries and other ecclesial bodies born especially after the Council “all have the aim of the evangelizing activity and the help to the Churches of the territories of missions” and therefore the Pontifical Mission Societies “must serve this missionary programming, aware that the missionary responsibility, which they have helped to create in the whole Church, is now an element that characterizes all the local Churches”. “We should not see them as competitors” recommended Cardinal Filoni, urging instead to work to open “a line of communication between these bodies so that they implement an equitable distribution of subsidies”. Finally, the Prefect of the Congregation focused on the reduction of the offers, “a trend that has lasted for some time. Maybe not everything is due to the financial crisis. There are many factors”, and the need to give due importance to World Mission Day, which “should not be an occasional event, but the conclusion of one year of missionary animation, and especially the month of October, dedicated to missions. It is up to us to make it unique and singular”. Link correlati : The full text of Cardinal Filoni’s speech, (in Italian)…
Vatican City, 1 June 2015 (VIS) – The programme of the Holy Father’s pastoral visit to Turin, Italy on 21 and 22 June, on the occasion of the extraordinary exposition of the Turin Shroud, was published today. The Pope will leave by air from Rome’s Ciampino airport at 6.30 a.m. on Sunday 21 June, arriving in Turin’s Caselle airport an hour later. Upon arrival, he will be greeted by the Archbishop of Turin, Cesare Nosiglia, Sergio Chiamparino, president of the Piedmont region, Paola Basilone, prefect of Turin, and Piero Fassino, mayor of the city. He will transfer by car to Piazzetta Reale, where he will address representatives of the world of work. At 9.15 a.m. the Holy Father will then enter the Cathedral on foot, where he will pray before the Holy Shroud and visit the altar of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, in the presence of the cloistered nuns and priests residing in clergy houses in the diocese, the Chapter of canons, the Commission for the Holy Shroud, relatives of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, Cardinal Severino Poletto, archbishop emeritus of Turin, and the bishops of the episcopal conference of Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta. He will then transfer to Piazza Vittorio where he will concelebrate Holy Mass, pronounce a homily and pray the Angelus. Following the celebration he will proceed to the archbishop’s residence by car, where he will lunch with detainees from the “Ferrante Aporti” detention centre for minors, some immigrants and a Rom family. This will be followed by a visit to the Shrine of the Consolata where he will pray privately with the priests of the community. At 3 p.m. he will meet with the Salesians and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in the basilica of the same name. He will then travel by car to the church of Cottolengo, where he will address the sick and disabled faithful. At 5.30 p.m. he will return to Piazza Vittorio to meet with young people, and will retire to the archbishop’s residence where he will spend the night. On Monday 22 at 9 a.m. Francis will visit the Waldensian Temple where he will be received by the pastors and the president of the consistory of the Evangelical Waldensian Church, and will give an address. At 10.15 he will attend a strictly private meeting with some members of his family (the Pope’s family originates from the Italian region of Piedmont) in the archbishop’s residence, for whom he will celebrate Mass, and with whom he will lunch. Before leaving the archbishop’s residence, the Pope will meet the members of the Committee for the Exposition of the Shroud and the organisers of the event. At 5 p.m. He will leave for Caselle airport, and will be greeted on the way by the young people of “Estate Ragazzi”. Half an hour later he will depart by air for Rome, where he is expected to arrive at 6.30 p.m….
Vatican City, 1 June 2015 (VIS) – “Never stop dreaming … You can fly with your dreams, and dreaming opens the doors to happiness”; said Pope Francis to the six hundred children on the “Children’s Train”, an initiative of the Courtyard of the Gentiles in support of children who live in difficult situations. This year it was dedicated to the children of detainees in the Italian penitentiaries of Roma, Civitavecchia, Latina, Bari and Trani, on the theme “Flight”. The train, on which two-hundred children travelled from Bari and Trani, arrived at the Vatican railway station, where they joined those already present from the other three provinces. Upon arrival they were welcomed by Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, president of the Governorate of Vatican City State, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture and Michele Mario Elia, director of Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane SpA, the Italian rail network infrastructure company. The Holy Father met with the passengers of the train in the Paul VI Hall, and spoke with them on the theme of flight, inviting them to fly with their imagination to be with their families and to fulfil their dreams….
Vatican City, 30 May 2015 (VIS) – Yesterday afternoon, in the Chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the Pope received in audience a group of twenty seriously ill children, accompanied by their parents, along with volunteers and leaders from the UNITALSI association, which organises pilgrimages to Lourdes and Loreto. The majority of the children were aged between seven and 14 years, although there were also some as young as two and three. The Pope approached each child affectionately. One of the children then spoke to the Holy Father about a similar previous meeting two years ago, recalling all those who had been present and some who have passed away in the meantime, and assured him that they have all prayed a lot for the Pope, as he had asked them too. The Holy Father went on to speak about the mystery of the suffering of children. “It is a question I often ask myself, and which many of you, many people, ask themselves: why do children suffer? And there are no explanations. … I simply look to God and ask, ‘But why?’. And looking at the Cross: ‘Why is Your Son there, why?’ It is the mystery of the Cross. … I also often think of the Virgin when as they brought her the lifeless body of her Son. … She did not understand either. She would have recalled what the Angel had told her: ‘He will be King, He will be great, He will be a prophet’. With that wounded body in her arms, that had suffered so greatly before death, she would surely have wanted to say to the Angel: ‘Liar! I have been deceived’. She had no answers either”. “Do not be afraid of asking, indeed even challenging the Lord. ‘Why?’”, he exclaimed. “Perhaps no explanation will come, but the gaze of the Father will give you the strength to go on. … The only explanation He will be able to give you is: ‘My son suffered too’. This is the explanation. The most important is his gaze. This is your strength, the loving gaze of the Father”. “In a world in which it is so normal to experience a throwaway culture – if we are not happy with something we discard it – you live this situation … with heroism. … You are the little heroes of life. I thank you for your example”, affirmed the Pope, visibly moved. “I pray for you, for these mixed feelings of joy and sadness. … The Lord knows how to comfort you in your suffering in a special way”. Those present then prayed a Hail Mary and received the Pope’s blessing. He continued the meeting by talking with each child and their parents. The group left the Domus Sanctae Marthae at 6 p.m….