News

Second Holy Family Project a success

Published on 25 June 2012

On Saturday 16th June there was a meeting of 18 married couples from the Diocese of Salford interested in taking part in the second "Holy Family Project'. This is a training programme for married couples who want to work with other couples and families in the development of their family life and the growth of family spirituality.

Many years ago, Blessed Pope John Paul II said, "Christians also have the mission of proclaiming with joy and conviction the Good News about the family".

Bishop Terence Brain, who had supported the first Holy Family Project, invited the Schoenstatt Movement to start this second course.

The course is a two-year programme on the practical development of the pastoral care of families. In the first year, the groups look at "How to live Family" while in the second year, in developing the practical application of what they have shared, they consider "How to teach Family".

Two couples from the leadership team, Gerry and Liz Markland, and Patty and Damilan Ganley, said that the course was a personal enrichmaent and a great help in their married and family life, with all the challenges that it brings.

It also became the chance, they said, through sharing and covering a whole range of topics central to the cycle of life in marriage and the family, to learn practical ways of developing the spirituality of the family.

Gerry reminded those present of the words of Pope Paul VI in his letter on Evangelistaion that in today's world, people for the main part only undestand the book of life – a personal witness given in faith.

When married couples tell their stories of how they strive to live the Catholic vision of marriage, they themselves become the message.

For more information on how to get involved, please contact Fr Bryan Cunningham at the Schoenstatt Shrine (parish of St John Fisher) in Kearsley.