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This logo represents the love of the Holy Family
which
is at the heart of the cause for life and for the family.
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The Office of Family Life assists the Bishop in his pastoral care of marriage and the family and in his promotion of a culture of life. The office coordinates pro-life activities in the diocese; provides programs of marriage preparation, marriage enrichment, natural family planning, Christian parenting and education in human sexuality; and provides consultation on bioethical issues. The office is guided by the vision of the Church as outlined in the documents of the Second Vatican Council and the writings of Pope John Paul II, principally Familiaris Consortio and Evangelium Vitae, a excerpt from which follows at the end of this page.
Fred & Lisa Everett, Co-Directors; John & Monica Sikorski, Assistant Directors for Youth & Young Adult Outreach
You can reach our office at the South Bend Chancery at (574) 234-0687. Ask for Helen Austgen, our administrative assistant. You can also write to us there at 114 W. Wayne St. / South Bend, IN 46601 or email Fred at fredeverett@sbcglobal.net; Lisa at lisaanneverett@sbcglobal.net; Helen at haustgen@fw.diocesefwsb.org; or John & Monica at msikorski@fw.diocesefwsb.org.
A
message
from
Pope
John
Paul
II
Within
the
'people
of
life
and
the
people
for
life,'
the
family
has
a
decisive
responsibility.
This
responsibility
flows
from
its
very
nature
as
a
community
of
life
and
love,
founded
upon
marriage,
and
from
its
mission
to
'guard,
reveal
and
communicate
love.'
Here
it
is
a
matter
of
God's
own
love,
of
which
parents
are
co-workers
and
as
it
were
interpreters
when
they
transmit
life
and
raise
it
according
to
his
fatherly
plan.
This
is
the
love
that
becomes
selflessness,
receptiveness
and
gift.
Within
the
family
each
member
is
accepted,
respected
and
honored
precisely
because
he
or
she
is
a
person;
and
if
any
family
member
is
in
greater
need,
the
care
which
he
or
she
receives
is
all
the
more
intense
and
attentive.
"The
family
has
a
special
role
to
play
throughout
the
life
of
its
members,
from
birth
to
death.
It
is
truly
'the
sanctuary
of
life:
the
place
in
which
life — the
gift
of
God — can
be
properly
welcomed
and
protected
against
the
many
attacks
to
which
it
is
exposed,
and
can
develop
in
accordance
with
what
constitutes
authentic
human
growth.' Consequently the role of the family in building a culture of life is decisive and irreplaceable.
"As the domestic church, the family is summoned to proclaim, celebrate and serve the Gospel of life.
This
is
a
responsibility
which
first
concerns
married
couples,
called
to
be
givers
of
life,
on
the
basis
of
an
ever
greater
awareness
of
the
meaning
of
procreation
as
a
unique
event
which
clearly
reveals
that
human
life
is
a
gift
received
in
order
then
to
be
given
as
a
gift.
In
giving
origin
to
a
new
life,
parents
recognize
that
the
child,
'as
the
fruit
of
their
mutual
gift
of
love,
is,
in
turn,
a
gift
for
both
of
them,
a
gift
which
flows
from
them.'
"It is above all in raising children that the family fulfils its mission to proclaim the Gospel of life.
By
word
and
example,
in
the
daily
round
of
relations
and
choices,
and
through
concrete
actions
and
signs,
parents
lead
their
children
to
authentic
freedom,
actualized
in
the
sincere
gift
of
self,
and
they
cultivate
in
them
respect
for
others,
a
sense
of
justice,
cordial
openness,
dialogue,
generous
service,
solidarity
and
all
the
other
values
which
help
people
to
live
life
as
a
gift.
In
raising
children
Christian
parents
must
be
concerned
about
their
children's
faith
and
help
them
to
fulfil
the
vocation
God
has
given
them.
The
parents'
mission
as
educators
also
includes
teaching
and
giving
their
children
an
example
of
the
true
meaning
of
suffering
and
death.
They
will
be
able
to
do
this
if
they
are
sensitive
to
all
kinds
of
suffering
around
them
and,
even
more,
if
they
succeed
in
fostering
attitudes
of
closeness,
assistance
and
sharing
towards
sick
or
elderly
members
of
the
family.
"The family celebrates the Gospel of life through daily prayer, both individual prayer and family prayer.
The
family
prays
in
order
to
glorify
and
give
thanks
to
God
for
the
gift
of
life,
and
implores
his
light
and
strength
in
order
to
face
times
of
difficulty
and
suffering
without
losing
hope.
But
the
celebration
which
gives
meaning
to
every
other
form
of
prayer
and
worship
is
found
in
the
family's
actual
daily
life
together,
if
it
is
a
life
of
love
and
self-giving.
"This celebration thus becomes a service to the Gospel of life, expressed through solidarity as experienced within and around the family in the form of concerned, attentive and loving care shown in the humble, ordinary events of each day.
As
'a
firm
and
persevering
determination
to
commit
oneself
to
the
common
good,'
solidarity
also
needs
to
be
practiced
through
participation
in
social
and
political
life. Serving the Gospel of life thus means that the family, particularly through its membership of family associations, works to ensure that the laws and institutions of the State in no way violate the right to life, from conception to natural death, but rather protect and promote it."
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