Initiatives for the formation
of the lay faithful

The Laudato Si’ Family Week is held from the 21st to the 27th in Year B of our liturgical calendar, during which the Biblical readings focus on family spirituality and marriage. Thus the Marraige and Family Life Office is able to align its mission of promoting ongoing formation in marriage and family with the ligurgical calendar. During this week, parish priests are encouraged to preach more on family issues and the joys and challenges of marriage.

The initiative helps couples and families understand better the will of God in relation to marriage and family spirituality.

It is important because it helps families and couples to reflect through the eyes of the Church where they are in life. It also helps to build strong and healthy families.

The initiative was started by Toni Rowland, by request of the Bishops.

The initiative helps couples and families better understand the will of God for marriage and family spirituality. Youth and the young adults are also formed through these initiatives for future life.

The initiative receives a budget from the finance office so that we can acquire the materials necessary to carry out our workshops. The Bishops’ Lenten Appeal assists the office with the funds, also. With the help of parish priests and Pastoral Councils, committed parish teams are needed to promote the initiative and carry out the activities.

Materials are printed in 10 languages. Numerous priests and Marriage and Family Teams eagerly await the materials produced for this week each Year B. Soft copies are often made available online for those who wish to do their own printing.

As far as we know, this initiative is present only in South Africa. In some dioceses, workshops on Gender Based Violence are conducted, some have made efforts to encourage recycling. The Youth Office have produced a manual called #Youth Go-Clean.

The Bishop’s Conference, the diocese, or the parish should set up the Marriage, Family and Life Office that would then focus on Family Focussed Ministry. This Office could then make a proposal to dedicate some weeks to different topics like the environment, evangelization, sport or public life, always with a view to the family.