Joy in family life underlined during National Week for Life and Family in Canada
(Vatican Radio) The Catholic Church in Canada is currently observing its second National
Week for Life and the Family, under the theme "Families United in the Joy of the Lord".
Catholic parishes and families are encouraged to underline the joys of family life
through a number of activities, including service to families in need.
The
week is an offshoot of a national pastoral initiative for the family, adopted in 2011
by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, explained Michèle Boulva, director
of the Canadian bishops’ Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF).
“I
think (this year's theme) was inspired by our Pope Francis (and his) focus on joy
-- Christian joy,” she said.
She summarized the message issued by the president
of the bishops’ conference, Archbishop Paul-André Durocher, which refers to the newly
canonized Popes John XXIII and John Paul II and their emphasis on family during their
pontificates.
She also shared the message her organization issued for the
occasion, titled “Families, Let Us Share the Joy of Knowing Christ”.
“We all
know that no family is perfect. We all try but no family is perfect,” she said. “But
nonetheless, the family, as Pope Francis said, is the fundamental cell of society.
It’s where we learn to live with other people despite our differences and where we
learn to belong to one another. And it’s also the place where parents pass on the
faith.”
The national week began on Mother’s Day, May 11, and runs until May
18.
Listen to the interview with Michèle Boulva: Report and
interview by Laura Ieraci