Celebrating Family

In 2004 the Bishops of England and Wales launched an initiative to ask Catholic families around the country about their faith, and the challenges that faced them today.  "Listening 2004" as it was called received over 14,000 responses and produced some very interesting results.

As a result of Listening 2004 the Bishops Conference of England and Wales has launched the Celebrating Family initiative.  Celebrating Family has three phases: Everybody's Welcome, Home is a Holy Place, and Passing on the Faith.

Everybody's Welcome

One of the key problems faced by many familes is that parish communities often don't feel like very welcoming places compared to many of the 'family friendly' activities available today.  Everybody's Welcome has produced resources to help parishes be more family friendly places - whatever the 'family' looks like.

The Department of Pastoral Formation can provide support to any Pastoral Area or worshipping community looking to develop the ministry of welcome.

For more information on Everybody's Welcome click:  Everybody's Welcome.

Home is a Holy Place

The second phase of Celebrating Family is Home is a Holy Place which aims to help people find the holiness that exists in their day-to-day lives.  A number of resources are available to help families, parishes and schools explore the spirituality of everyday living.  Importantly, it does not assume a model of the family that is mum, dad, two children and a labrador.  Life is holy whether you are in a huge family or if you are on your own.  It is the Church's job to help us find that holiness in our daily lives, even if the home we live in doesn't feel holy due to distressed relations or abuse.  It may be that other places feel more like home, these are holy places.

To find out more click: Home is a Holy Place

As part of encouraging a vision of holiness in everyday life in the context of our call to Stewardship, the Diocese of Portsmouth has produced monthly prayer and reflection guides for use in the home.

Click for Stewardship in the Home guides.

Passing on the Faith

The third phase will be Passing on the Faith which seeks to help families in passing on our faith from generation to generation, often in both directions.

Resources are currently being developed and it is hoped to have material available in early 2010.

Click here form more information: Passing on the Faith