St. Christopher Parish at 435 E National Rd, Vandalia, OH 45377 US - Familia

PROGRAMS: Because the relationship between the mother and father is the cornerstone and therefore determines the strength or weakness of the family, the two primary programs of FAMILIA are "Mothers of Young Children" and "Husbands and Fathers" programs.

WHY THIS PROGRAM? Ever mindful of the condition of the family in society today, and faced with the following statistics: since 1960, violent crime has increased by 560 percent, since 1965, the juvenile arrest rate for violent crimes has tripled, the number of unmarried pregnant teenagers has nearly doubled, teen suicide has increased by more than 200 percent, the number of divorces has increased nearly 200 percent, while the marriage rate is at an all-time low, Catholic lay men and women have met the challenge of their Faith and are giving of themselves to bring the Kingdom of Christ to His children.

SOME CONCRETE RESULTS: Insights at a Mothers of Young Children unit meeting into the presence of Guardian Angels helped a mother explain them to her child. The child was then able to overcome recurring nightmares caused by instruction at school on abduction awareness. Knowledge gained in the bi-weekly units helped bring about a marked change in a wife which in turn impacted the husband. This brought harmony to a troubled marriage. Upon hearing a speaker from the Speakers Program a father decided to change his approach when dealing with a sullen withdrawn child. This resulted in a change in the daughter's behavior and brought a closer relationship between the two. The "Support of Professionals" program sponsored a conference entitled "Psychology and Catholicism: A New Dynamic." Consequently, a group of Catholic psychologists meet regularly for prayer and consultation in an attempt to integrate more meaningfully and productively their faith and their work. Mothers attending the Days of Recollection return to their families with added enthusiasm and encourage others to come into the "Mothers of Young Children" program.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: A group of Catholic lay people wishing to nourish family life in these challenging times began FAMILIA in Minnesota in 1993, and since then the program's success has been spreading quietly but quickly. The "Mothers of Young Children" programs were first, followed by the "Husbands and Fathers" programs. With the cooperation of their pastor, they began Days of Reflection in their parish to provide mothers with a quarterly gathering for talks by local priests and other lay members on various aspects of developing a truly Christian family. The day also offers Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Soon after, with the help of a lay theologian, they began Units for mothers in communities around the city to study the teaching of the Catholic Church regarding marriage and family. The "Husbands and Fathers" programs have developed in much the same way. Now, FAMILIA is established across the country and into Canada, and the number grows. These are exciting times, and the harvest is great! We have all been given the gift of Faith, and now, through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, we are being called to pass it to others. Will you help us?

MOTHERS OF YOUNG CHILDREN: The objectives of this program are: Help mothers build a self-confidence and awareness of the faith. Cultivate the responsibility to develop themselves integrally. Motivate intelligent, balanced and responsible participation in building the family and thus improving society. The program consists of bi-weekly unit meetings and quarterly Days of Recollection. Bi-weekly unit meetings have three basic elements: Nourishment by the Word of God. The Gospel of the upcoming Sunday is read, reflected upon, and its application to daily life is discussed. Teachings of the Church as they pertain to marriage and family. Working with The Christian Family in the Modern World, the Catechism of the Catholic Church and other writings of the Church and using a study and discussion guide, mothers grow in their understanding of family life. A call to act. It is not enough to know the faith; we must be willing to pass it on. One part of this element, the Next Sunday Ideas series, assists mothers and fathers as the primary educators of their children, enabling them to teach the meaning of the Gospel for the upcoming Sunday. Four times a year the mothers come together for a Day of Recollection where they grow spiritually and learn to enhance their relationship with their husbands. The presenters provide insights to help them in the integral development of their children. Units close to home in the community are a strong support for young mothers to handle problem situations which may arise at home or nearby.

HUSBANDS AND FATHERS: The objectives of this program are: Help fathers develop an understanding of the teachings of Christ and the Church as it pertains to the role of the father in the family. Strengthen the relationship between husband and wife in a christ-centered marriage. Develop a spiritual relationship between Christ and each man through the Gospel. Provide concrete guidance to men in their natural role as protector, provider and head of the Christian family. The program consists of bi-weekly Study Circles and quarterly AM Reflections with guest presentations. The bi-weekly Study Circles have two major components: Gospel reading with reflection and discussion as to how this message applies to daily life and how it can be put into action. Study and discussion of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and various Church teachings, such as encyclicals, that pertain to the family. The discussions in both the Study Circles and the mothers' bi-weekly unit meetings are led by teams of animators using study guides prepared by lay theologians who hold Licentiate (STL) or Doctorate (STD) degrees in Theology from institutes including the Angelicum in Rome and the John Paul ll Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family in Rome.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: The objectives of this program are: Lead youth in activities that will develop strong team spirit. Lead youth in activities that will develop culture within the person. Provide formation which will deepen virtures in the youth. Provide youth a center for their activites. Develop leadership qualities in youth to provide society with Christian leaders. Encourage parents in their vocations as fathers and mothers. Mothers and fathers are only two sides of the triangle which constitutes the basic family unit. Children, the fruit of married love, make up the third. Thus, a very important program within FAMILIA is Youth Development.

RETREATS: FAMILIA provides weekend retreats, following the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, to further the spiritual development of participants. These retreats continue to be a major step for many in turning their lives to live more fully the gospel of Christ. These retreats are open not only to FAMILIA participants but also to the community at large.

FAMILY DEVELOPMENT:
FAMILIA has developed and will continue to develop other programs to meet the great needs of families today and counter the many influences which have a destructive effect on the family. They include:
SOCIALS: Providing affordable, wholesome, social events for families as a community. Examples: All Saints Day costume parties Dances with live band music for 1,2,3 and even 4 generations Family game nights Pot Luck picnics Opportunites for homeschoolers to interact and exchange ideas.
SUPPORT OF PROFESSIONALS: To encourage a Christ-centered focus among counselors, doctors and others whose work especially impacts families.
GUEST SPEAKERS: Providing guest lecturers who share their expertise towards assisting harmonious family development.
MEDIA RESOURCES: Evaluation of books, publications, audio and video tapes for authenticity, content. and usefulness at all levels of spiritual development.