CONTEXT
The Commission exists as a result of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Congress 1995. It aims to provide Family Life Ministry in the Archdiocese.
MISSION STATEMENT
The purpose of the Commission is to support family life in the Archdiocese and to celebrate and affirm the values of the Church in family life and marriage.
MEMBERSHIP
Commission members are a group of volunteers, aiming for a representative of each deanery, with a co-opted member representing the the Union of Catholic Mothers, and the support of the priest advisor, Canon Matthew Jones. The archdiocesan parenting support worker, Joanne White, formerly a deanery representative on the Commission, now works in close cooperation with the Commission.
MAIN ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMISSION IN 2012
NATIONAL MARRIAGE WEEK
Parishes and deaneries were invited to focus particularly on marriage in the liturgy during national marriage week in February 2012, and perhaps in a social event as well . The commission offered to help by providing prayers of intercession, forms of renewal of marriage vows, forms of blessing for engaged couples, readings in a service to celebrate marriage, and information on help to support those with difficulties in their marriage.
BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT
The work of RAINBOWS bereavement support for children suffering loss is flourishing. An audit of work in the Archdiocese was carried out. Two additional Catholic primary schools have been trained to run RAINBOWS., making 20 schools in all.
Two new registered directors were trained for this archdiocese, and one for Menevia. Plans are in hand to set up a South Wales RAINBOWS group, to enable maximum cooperation between the two areas.
A half day’s refresher meeting was held in June, gathering representatives of schools already established as RAINBOWS sites. , suggesting helpful ways forward to offer continued support and promote the work further, Training for extra facilitators in existing sites is planned for March 20th.
DAY OF REFLECTION.
In April the director of the national project office, Elizabeth Davies, led us in a day of reflection on our work, reviewing our past and present work and looking to the future. As a result the mission statement which heads this report was drafted. A vice chair person , Ansti Corellis, was later elected to support the work of the chairperson,a and deputise in her absence. Our priest advisor, Canon Matthew Jones shared the day with us, leading us in spiritual reflection.
SPIRITUALITY AND DEMENTIA
Three members of the Commission have contributed to the development of this work among dementia patients and their carers. led mainly by members of the Bridgend deanery, where two ‘Quiet Days for Carers’ have been held. Prayer cards were distributed to all parishes in the national week for dementia in March. A special Mass for dementia patients and their carers will be said in All Hallows church, Miskin, March 19th 2013. Support for eucharistic ministers is planned.
CELEBRATION OF THE RICHNESS OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY LIFE
Mass was celebrated by the Archbishop and four priests at St Mary of the Angels church, Cwmbran in September, with particular involvement of couples celebrating special wedding anniversaries.
MARRIAGE PREPARATION
Two members of the commission who now work in collaboration with Marriage Care, have carried out courses of marriage preparation in their parish, and will in future present regular reports to the Commission on the work of Marriage Care, Cardiff
COMMUNICATION
The Commission now has an e mail address, flc@rcadc.org that allows for continuity of communication in the event of changes of personnel.Articles have been published regularly in the Catholic People. Plans to publish a newsletter and to contribute to an effective website have unfortunately been delayed as we await the possibility of receiving some training.
MEETINGS ATTENDED
Within the Archdiocese, the Commission was represented at the following:-
- Establishing Family Groups;
- Crossing the Threshold;
- Vocation Framework Day Theology of the Body. conference
In the region, the chairperson met twice in Bath with coordinators and workers in Family Life Ministry in the region of South Wales and the West of England.
Working ecumenically three members of the Commission attended a launch of the programme of Care for the Family, ‘How to bring up your children without them ending up Hating God’ . After publicising this work they then attended the full meeting held in November in Glenwood church, Cardiff, together with members of the clergy, and Des Robertson.
Working within the national framework of Family Life Ministry the Chairperson, together with the Parenting Support Worker, attended the national conference of diocesan coordinators of Family Life Ministry. A brief report follows.
NATIONAL MEETING 2012.
A report was presented on the analysis of the research on Marriage Preparation .
A final report on the work of the Celebrating Family Fund was presented in print and DVD format.
A full day was devoted to reports on pilot studies carried out in three diocese on the theme of ‘Passing on the Faith – Family, School and Parish, .’
News of work in the different dioceses was shared. Several dioceses spoke of the value of work being carried out in conjunction with the Grandparents Association, We hope that our Commission and the Parenting Support Worker will work collaboratively, possibly seeking the support of the Union of Catholic Mothers to establish this work in our Archdiocese.
The informal, personal contact made with other workers in different dioceses was invaluable. In particular, contact with workers in the diocese of Wrexham has led to a plan to meet in Hereford to offer mutual support, share good practice, and possibly lead to further joint initiatives.
Anne Ballard, (chair of the Commission.) January 2013
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