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Today I want to present some thoughts for accompanying older couples and adults that are presented in this section of the pastoral plan. In his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), Pope Francis writes: “It [the parish] is a community of communities, a sanctuary where the thirsty come to drink in the midst of their journey” (28). For many single adults and older couples, the parish can feel like a very young, family-centric experience. Parishes have an opportunity to help people experience the fruitfulness of intergenerational relationships and the beauty of the life of the parish family that is diverse in age, experience, and culture.
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Families are schools of love in which family life shapes the formation of children and young people and teaches how to care for the aging and elderly. Our Holy Father reminds us that the family “is where we first learn to relate to others, to listen, to share, to be patient and show respect, to help one another and live as one” (AL, 276).
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Today I want to present some thoughts for accompanying newly married couples that are presented in this section of the pastoral plan. Newly married couples begin building their life together as a family with hope, welcoming children, and laying down roots.
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Cardinal Wuerl promulgated a Pastoral Plan to implement Pope Francis’ post-synodal apostolic exhortation, Amoris Laetitia (AL), on Sunday March 4, 2018. The fourth section of the Pastoral Plan stresses the importance of parish life. Today I want to present some thoughts for accompanying engaged couples that are presented in this section of the pastoral plan.
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Marriage preparation does not begin when a person meets their future spouse or are engaged. “Marriage preparation begins at birth,” Pope Francis notes, and continues through each stage of our lives (AL, 208). The best way to discern or prepare for a vocation is to live one’s faith wholeheartedly and generously.
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Cardinal Wuerl promulgated a Pastoral Plan to implement Pope Francis’ post-synodal apostolic exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, on Sunday March 4, 2018. The fourth section of the pastoral plan stresses the importance of parish life. Cardinal Wuerl introduces this section with these noteworthy comments:
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One of the features of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday evening was the Presentation of the Oils. I was asked after the Mass was about the significance of these oils. I want to devote the column today to this important question.
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Christ is risen! Alleluia! Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia! A very happy Easter to everyone who is here for Mass this Easter Sunday. All are welcome as we celebrate Easter and the feast of Christ rising from the dead.
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Cardinal Wuerl promulgated a Pastoral Plan to implement Pope Francis’ post-synodal apostolic exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, on Sunday March 4, 2018. I am going to devote several columns to this Pastoral Plan,
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Cardinal Wuerl promulgated a Pastoral Plan to implement Pope Francis' post-synodal apostolic exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, on Sunday March 4, 2018. I am going to devote several columns to this Pastoral Plan, as Cardinal Wuerl hopes that parishes, priests, deacons, religious, and laity will reflect on the following:
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I have been reading and praying on the message of Pope Francis for Lent 2018. Last week I shared some thoughts on his message in this column. Today I want to continue and conclude these thoughts and reflections.
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I have been reading and praying on the message of Pope Francis for Lent 2018. I want to share some thoughts on his message in my column today. In this year’s Lenten message Pope Francis takes his cue from these words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew: “Because of the increase of iniquity, the love of many will grow cold” (24:12).
