Marriage and the family is recognized by the Church as an “apostolate,” an institution that is entrusted with the task of evangelization. Firstly this evangelization takes place within the context of the family, in the raising of children.
The Family Apostolate seeks to actively inspire hope and healing in family life. Our mission is to bring the love of Christ to a hurting world, fulfilling the great commandment, “You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, mind, and soul.”
In today’s world Family which is the cradle of society is being challenged from both internal and external forces
It is important at the outset to mention that there is a mutual dependence between society and the family. Society depends much on the family and society in its turn influences the family. The economic, social, psychological and civil climate of today has a severe disturbing effect on family life. The famous statement of Pope John Paul II is true, that the society passes through the family. Here the question is whether the family is fully aware of the modern influences in it and is strong enough to withstand these influences.
Inside the families today we experience growing conflicts, tensions, insensitivity, communication breakdowns, and more abuse. The present social situation is such that family members face endless demands that rob them of their time, pull them apart, and disrupt their hopes for family unity and stability.
Here we need well-informed family apostolate personnel, who will find ways to help families who struggle with interpersonal tension, domestic conflict, financial pressures, persistent failures and emotional agitation. We also need to develop the most effective family counselling and other forms of care giving and intervention, so that broken families are healed and potential family problems are avoided and prevented.
Why are so many families getting crumbled? As is seen there is no Adequate Preparation for Family Life. In the olden days, though there might have been no adequate preparation the joint families were the support system and as due respect was given to the elders their values and virtues were followed, not taught but caught, which is not happening nowadays, and this is the greatest disadvantage of nuclear families.
Secondly Goal difference leads to conflicts in marriage, because of the lack of awareness of the goals as individuals or as a couple. Partners need to consider their material, spiritual and economic goals. Unlike the olden times one looked only, whether the husband provides for the family or the wife does the household jobs properly – today marriage is seen as more companionship: Couples seek psychological and emotional satisfaction and happiness from marriage and also ego support. If it is not realized, there will be problems in marital life. This demands again good preparation for marriage and that consists in forming a healthy personality.
Thirdly Marriage and Family Life is a Vocation was fully realized in yesteryears and the vows taken were revered and lived. Today the sanctity of the vows is not realized and that is why the Family Apostolate has to be strengthened. Family values have to be instilled in the young formative years, as is seen nowadays This is missing the older genre who are not there with the family so children are learning what is projected by media or their peers and not the actual facts of life.
Thus in conclusion it is very important for each one of us to realize and thus inculcate the importance of family to the young so that our families remain strong with the right values and virtues thus society at large remains the same.
Gladys Da Silva