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Association for Catholic Diocesan

Marriage & Family Life Ministry

Christmas 2017 - Issue 13

THE BIRTH OF JESUS MADE POSSIBLE

NOT JUST

A NEW WAY OF UNDERSTANDING LIFE

BUT A NEW WAY OF LIVING IT Frederick Buechner

WISHING EVERYONE A VERY HOLY,

AND HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND

A PEACEFUL 2018

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Association for Catholic Diocesan

Marriage & Family Life Ministry

Christmas 2017 - Issue 13

FAMILIAS newsletter, November 2017

Counting our Blessings is a new scripture-based resource,

produced by the Department for Christian Responsibility and

Citizenship at the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, to

support parish and school communities as they accompany

families on their faith journey.

The word ‘bless’ in the Christian tradition holds within itself the

sense of communicating life from God – God sharing life with us.

In family life we get glimpses of ‘blessings’ all the time, great and

small, active in the joys and struggles of giving and caring for life

and facing challenges.

As Pope Francis says in The Joy of Love: on Love in the Family

(#187), “all family life is a ‘shepherding in mercy’, and our aim

in Counting our Blessings is to reveal and celebrate this

‘shepherding’ going on in the complexities of our family life.’ Foreword, Bishop Peter Doyle, Chair, Bishops’ Conference Committee for

Marriage & Family Life).

Counting our Blessings aims to help create a welcoming space

for conversation about things that matter, and through Scripture,

to help individuals, couples and families connect their love with

the sense of being blessed, finding God present with them in their

lives. There are seven stand-alone sessions, each beginning with

a ‘real question’, for example:

What’s it like to fall in love? To care for someone who is

suffering? To grieve? To feel like an outsider? To be listened to? To feel deeply joyful?

Participants are invited to talk first about their own family experience, followed by hearing God speak into

their lives through the Word of God in Scripture, and then to share the ‘blessings’ together and celebrate them

in a closing prayer. The process can help bridge the gap between ‘Church language’ about families, and

families own way of expressing and living out their love. It also enables the parish and its school(s) to affirm

the blessings that families bring to their communities, and the blessings that communities bring to families.

The resource has background notes on Blessings in the Catholic Tradition, Tips for New Leaders, A guide to

sharing Scripture, step-by-step leader’s outline and notes

Choose a session of Counting our Blessings for use at any number of points where family life intersects with

the Church, for example:

Celebrations of birth/baptism Marriage preparation Times of illness/bereavement Preparation for sacraments Points in the RE curriculum Chaplaincy settings in prisons, hospitals, care homes, special needs RCIA Journey in Faith Family Group meetings Lent or Advent reflection On-going formation for clergy and laity, parish and school teams.

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Association for Catholic Diocesan

Marriage & Family Life Ministry

Christmas 2017 - Issue 13

Instead of being just a church that

welcomes and receives by keeping

the doors open, let us try also to be

a church that finds new roads, that

is able to step outside itself and go

to those who do not attend Mass, to

those who have quit or are

indifferent. Pope Francis

“Each one of you

has to be God’s

microphone”

Oscar Romero

Handouts for each session are included in the book, and on purchase of the book, are available for free down-

load from the Bishops’ Conference Catholic Family website, http://www.catholicfamily.org.uk/related-work/

counting-our-blessings

Reflections from participants in a ‘Counting our Blessings’ Taster Session: Who listens to you?

“I had experienced being truly listened to by another who I could also trust with myself”.

“It’s difficult to put into words, but during the session, we had a sense of the truth - God knows us and

loves us; God understands us and our feelings, and draws us closer – through one another.”

“Having places to have meaningful conversations, encouraging families to be, or create and become,

homes where feelings, however positive or painful they may be, can be expressed safely is vital for the

well-being, resilience and mental health of our children and young people.”

“‘Counting our blessings’ is something we say but rarely do. This experience was a wonderful opportunity

to remember the blessings that I had forgotten to count, and to stop the world for a while and share

my blessings with another”

“Thought provoking – inspirational.” “Excellent!” “I enjoyed it as a sort of lectio divina”. “It is simple,

really accessible”. “It shows the benefit of community”. “A chance to realise the blessings I should

count!”

Counting our Blessings is being launched in England and Wales during the first week of Advent with a four

week social media campaign featuring the tagline: ‘Count your blessings not your presents’.

Counting our Blessings is available to purchase now for £9.99 from Matthew James Publishing Ltd: https://

matthewjamespublishing.com/product/counting-blessings-bishops-conference/

For more information please contact Caroline Dollard or Hannah Moruzzi, Marriage and Family Life Advisers

at the Bishops’ Conference. Caroline.dollard@cbcew/org.uk or Hannah.Moruzzi@cbcew.org.uk

Caroline Dollard

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Association for Catholic Diocesan

Marriage & Family Life Ministry

Christmas 2017 - Issue 13

THE PRAYER OF BLESSING OF THE ICON

FOR THE

WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES 2018

Lord our God, you created us in your own image and likeness.

You redeemed us from sin through Christ Jesus your Son lover of the human race.

Taking upon himself the form of a servant and becoming one with us in our flesh he

makes all creation new in the image of your original blessedness.

We ask you to send your blessing upon this icon by the sprinkling of holy water and

anointing with holy oil.

Make it holy to your glory in honour and remembrance of

Jesus your Beloved Son, our Lord, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our

mother, St Joseph her husband, and the Archangels Michael and Gabriel.

May this icon draw us to the Holy Family who invite us to their table. May it help us

contemplate your saving Gospel and see in the Wedding feast of Cana and the Raising

of Jairus’ daughter your look of infinite compassion upon all the

concerns of marriage and family life.

May those who pray before this icon find the comfort of your grace and your help in

their every need.

We ask this through the bounteous love of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Association for Catholic Diocesan

Marriage & Family Life Ministry

Christmas 2017 - Issue 13

WORLD MEETING

OF

FAMILIES

DUBLIN,

IRELAND

21st—26th

AUGUST 2018

What is the World Meeting of Families?

World Meeting of Families was created by Pope John Paul II in 1994 as an opportunity for families from all over the world

to meet every three years and celebrate marriage and family life. Meetings have been held in Brazil, the Philippines, Spain,

Mexico and North America and in 2018, from 21 to 26 August, it will be held in Dublin, Ireland. http://

www.worldmeeting2018.ie/en/

What is the theme for 2018?

World Meeting of Families 2018 has the theme: The Gospel of the Family: Joy for the World and is inspired by Pope

Francis’ recent Apostolic Exhortation, Amoris Laetitia or ‘The Joy of Love’. Pope Francis intends World Meeting of

Families 2018 to be ‘a great meeting of families.’ ‘The Joy of Love’ is also the subject of Amoris: Let’s Talk Family,

Let’s Be Family a year long programme of catechetical preparation available to all families across the globe to help

them prepare for Dublin 2018. There are lots of ways for families, parishes and schools to get involved and reflections,

film clips, conversation guides, podcasts, animations and lots of downloadable resources are available online. Ask your

parish priest or your Diocesan Marriage and Family Life Ministry Coordinator for more information or go online at

http://www.worldmeeting2018.ie/en/Resources/Amoris-Programme to find out more.

What happens at World Meeting of Families?

The event is split into a three-day Theological-Pastoral Congress, from 22-24 August, with a programme of keynote

speakers, workshops and discussions; followed on Saturday 25 August by the Festival of Families: a special concert-style

event with music, prayer and testimonies, and concluding on 26 August with a Solemn Eucharistic Celebration. Although

it won’t be confirmed until closer to the date, the Holy Father is expected to be in Dublin to preside over the cel-

ebrations on 25 and 26 August. Each day of the Congress will have a special theme related to specific chapters of ‘The Joy

of Love’. Day One will focus on Family and Faith; Day Two on Family and Love and Day 3 on Family and Hope. To find

out more visit http://www.worldmeeting2018.ie/en/Programme

Will there be anything for our children to do?

There are children and youth programmes running concurrently with the main Congress programme. For children aged 4

to 12 the programme will include songs, arts and crafts, dance, games and lots of fun! Parents can choose to leave their

children with a professional vetted team or stay with them for the activities. Young people aged 13 and upwards will also

be able to experience a dedicated programme which will include music, prayer experiences, workshops, speakers,

activities and times for sharing, reflecting and celebrating. To find out more visit: http://www.worldmeeting2018.ie/en/

Programme/Children-Programme http://www.worldmeeting2018.ie/en/Programme/Youth-Programme

How much will it cost?

A five day ticket covering attendance at the three day Congress, Festival of Families and Final Mass costs € 68 per person

online and €78 per person on site. Children under 18 go free but must be registered with at least one adult. For more

information on tickets and registration please visit: http://www.worldmeeting2018.ie/en/Tickets/Tickets-Registration

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Association for Catholic Diocesan

Marriage & Family Life Ministry

Christmas 2017 - Issue 13

There is not much fun in medicine

but there is good medicine in fun

Philippine saying

Great minds discuss ideas;

Average minds discuss

events;

Small minds discuss people

Eleanor Roosevelt

https://amoris.ie/moments/ To read more on this article go to

Is anyone else going from England and Wales? Many families will be travelling to Dublin next summer and several Dioceses are organising pilgrimages or helping to put

families that wish to go in touch with each other. There is also a national Marriage and Family Life Ministry team travelling

to Dublin comprised of Bishops’ Conference staff, Diocesan Marriage & Family Life Ministry Coordinators and FAMILIAS

members. For more information about what is being planned in your area please contact your local Diocesan Marriage &

Family Life Ministry Coordinator. http://www.catholicfamily.org.uk/diocesan-work/find-a-diocesan-coordinator

FAMILIAS FAMILY BURSARIES

Familias Executive is delighted to announce that it will award three bursaries of £1,000 to a family from each of

its three regions (Northern, South East and South West) to support the cost of their attendance at the World

Meeting of Families 2018 in Dublin from 22-26 August 2018. Applications will be accepted from Familias Full

Members, Associate Members and Friends and from Catholic families resident in parishes in England and Wales

who are not currently Familias Members but agree to take up membership as a condition of the award. To find out more about it go to http://www.catholicfamily.org.uk/diocesan-work/find-a-diocesan-coordinator

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WEBSITE FOR THE WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES:

http://www.worldmeeting2018.ie

Association for Catholic Diocesan

Marriage & Family Life Ministry

Christmas 2017 - Issue 13

THE INFORMATION BELOW IS FROM THE MOST RECENT NEWSLETTER FROM THE WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES

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Association for Catholic Diocesan

Marriage & Family Life Ministry

Christmas 2017 - Issue 13

To receive your regular copy of the Familias Newsletter via e-mail please contact:

Clara P Donnelly Familias Administrator Tel: + 44 7708 307431, Email: cc.donn@talktalk.net http://www.catholicfamily.org.uk

Let us approach Christmas

With an expectant hush,

Rather than a last-minute rush

It isn’t enough to talk about peace,

one must believe in it.

And it isn’t enough to believe in it,

one must work at it.

Eleanor Roosevelt

A NEW YEAR PRAYER

God of this new year, we are walking into mystery.

We face the future, not knowing what the days and

months will bring to us or how we will respond.

Be love in us as we journey.

May we welcome all who come our way.

Deepen our faith to see all of life through your eyes.

Fill us with hope and an abiding trust that you dwell in

us amidst all our joys and sorrows.

Thank you for the treasure of our faith life.

Thank you for the gift of being able to rise each day

with the assurance of your walking through the day with

us.

God of this New Year, we praise you. AMEN

A good compromise is one where

everybody makes a contribution

Angela Merkel