Strengthening Marriage and Family Life
Dear Parishioners,
Blessed Fulton Sheen, recently beatified, gave us an opportunity to rediscover his wisdom and his understanding of the importance of prayer in family life. He encouraged families to gather together to pray the Rosary, recognizing that the home itself should be a place where faith is learned, practiced, and passed from one generation to the next.
Of course, not every family is ready to begin with an entire Rosary. For some, family prayer might begin with an Our Father before bedtime, a blessing before meals, or a few moments of thanksgiving at the end of the day. What matters is that we begin, making room for God in our homes and allowing our children to see that prayer is a natural part of our daily lives.
This is a beautiful reminder that the family is the first school of faith. Long before children enter a religious education program, they begin to learn about God through the example of their parents and the life of their home. Simple moments of prayer help children discover that God is not confined to Sunday Mass, but is present in the ordinary circumstances of their lives.
This evening at Mother Seton Parish, we will gather for our inaugural Family Faith Formation Night. This new initiative brings together families at different stages of their children’s faith formation, especially those whose children are not currently preparing for First Communion or Confirmation. Building upon our successful sacramental preparation programs, we hope to move to an approach that also forms and strengthens the entire family.
Our desire is not simply to teach children more about their faith, but to help families live that faith together. We recognize that parents are the first teachers of their children in the ways of faith, and that the parish has a responsibility to support and accompany them in that vocation.
Over the past fifty years, successive popes have recognized the importance of strengthening marriage and family life. Early in his pontificate, St. John Paul II convened the 1980 Synod of Bishops on the family. From that gathering came his apostolic exhortation, Familiaris Consortio (1981), which offered a beautiful vision of marriage and the family as a community of life and love.
More than thirty years later, Pope Francis recognized the need to revisit these questions in light of the blessings and challenges facing families throughout the world. He convened two synodal assemblies, in 2014 and 2015, which led to his apostolic exhortation, Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love).
In that document, Pope Francis speaks beautifully about the importance of family prayer: “With a few simple words, this moment of prayer can do immense good for our families.” (AL, 318)
He reminds us that even a few minutes each day give families an opportunity to bring their worries, needs, gratitude, and hopes before the Lord. Prayer does not require a perfect family or a perfect marriage. Rather, it invites us to welcome God’s grace into the lives we are already living.
With the memorial of St. John Paul II approaching on October 22, I would also like to personally invite all married couples to join us on Saturday, October 24, for a Morning of Recollection, Mercy Touches Marriage.
Beginning with our 9:00 a.m. Saturday Morning Mass and ending around 12 noon, will offer an opportunity to hear personal witnesses and presentations about the ways that faith and God’s mercy have shaped the lives and marriages of our presenters. There will also be time for prayer and reflection with your spouse, away from some of the usual demands of everyday life.
I particularly want to emphasize that thisinvitation is for all married couples, not simply those who are regularly involved in parish life or who feel especially confident in their faith. Perhaps your spouse is not Catholic or is not currently practicing the faith. Come as you are. Perhaps you have not yet celebrated your marriage in the Church. Let’s take those steps together. Perhaps you have experienced difficulties in your marriage, or you are simply looking for ways to grow together. None of these circumstances should keep you from accepting this invitation.
Above all, know that I am praying for you and that our parish community supports you. As St. John Paul II taught so beautifully, the family is called to become a community of life and love. I hope Mother Seton Parish will continue to be a place where families are strengthened in that vocation, where marriages are supported, and where the faith can be handed on joyfully from one generation to the next.
Yours in Christ
During this Morning of Recollection, married couples will share personal testimonies of how God’s mercy has touched their marriages, especially through the healing power of forgiveness, reconciliation, and renewed faith.
They will also reflect on how various movements and spiritual charisms within the Church and our parish have helped them grow in their relationship with Christ and with one another.
These include:
- Schoenstatt – A Marian movement emphasizing a covenant of love with Mary and the sanctification of everyday family life.
- Couples for Christ – A Catholic movement dedicated to renewing marriage and family life through prayer, community, and evangelization.
- Neocatechumenal Way – An itinerary of Christian formation that helps people rediscover their baptismal faith through Scripture, liturgy, and community.
- Communion and Liberation – A movement that fosters a personal encounter with Christ and an understanding of how faith transforms everyday life.
These witnesses will remind us that no marriage is without challenges, but God’s grace can bring healing, renewal, and deeper love. Couples will also have time for prayer and personal reflection together.
Invito personalmente a todos los matrimonios a participar en Mercy Touches Marriage, una mañana de reflexión el sábado 24 de octubre, comenzando con la Misa de las 9:00 a. m.
Inspirado en la visión de san Juan Pablo II sobre el matrimonio y la familia, este encuentro ofrecerá testimonios sobre cómo la fe y la misericordia de Dios fortalecen el matrimonio, además de tiempo para la oración y la reflexión en pareja.
Ya sea que su cónyuge sea católico o no, practique la fe o no, o que su matrimonio aún no haya sido celebrado en la Iglesia, son cordialmente bienvenidos. Nuestra parroquia desea acompañar y apoyar a todos los matrimonios para que crezcan juntos en la fe y el amor.
Todas las presentaciones serán en inglés. Algunos hablan español para preguntas y conversaciones después.
J’invite personnellement tous les couples mariés à participer à Mercy Touches Marriage, une matinée de récollection le samedi 24 octobre, qui commencera par la messe de 9 h.
Inspirée par la vision de saint Jean-Paul II sur le mariage et la famille, cette rencontre sera l’occasion d’écouter des témoignages sur la manière dont la foi et la miséricorde de Dieu fortifient le mariage, ainsi que de prendre un temps de prière et de réflexion en couple.
Que votre conjoint soit catholique ou non, qu’il pratique ou non sa foi, ou que votre mariage n’ait pas encore été célébré à l’Église, vous êtes chaleureusement les bienvenus. Notre paroisse souhaite accompagner et soutenir tous les couples dans leur cheminement de foi et d’amour.
Toutes les présentations seront en anglais.
Tôi thân mời tất cả các đôi vợ chồng tham dự Mercy Touches Marriage, buổi tĩnh tâm vào thứ Bảy, ngày 24 tháng 10, bắt đầu với Thánh lễ lúc 9 giờ sáng.
Lấy cảm hứng từ giáo huấn của Thánh Gioan Phaolô II về hôn nhân và gia đình, buổi tĩnh tâm sẽ mang đến cơ hội lắng nghe những chứng từ về cách đức tin và lòng thương xót của Thiên Chúa củng cố đời sống hôn nhân, cũng như dành thời gian cầu nguyện và suy niệm cùng người bạn đời.
Dù người phối ngẫu của quý vị có phải là người Công giáo hay không, có thực hành đức tin hay không, hoặc hôn nhân của quý vị chưa được cử hành trong Giáo hội, chúng tôi đều hân hoan chào đón. Giáo xứ mong muốn đồng hành và nâng đỡ mọi đôi vợ chồng cùng lớn lên trong đức tin và tình yêu.
Tất cả các bài chia sẻ sẽ được trình bày bằng tiếng Anh.
Please Be Alert: Scam Emails
Please be aware that fraudulent emails claiming to be from Fr. Regan are circulating. Fr. Regan will never email parishioners asking for gift cards, money, or personal assistance.
If you receive a suspicious message:
- Do not respond.
- Report it as spam or phishing.
- Block the sender.
- Delete the email.
When in doubt, please verify the request by contacting the parish office using the contact information published in our parish bulletin.
Let us remain prudent and vigilant, and please keep one another in prayer.
Thank you for your attention and care.