Bishops’ conference invites all to join in the eight-day celebration

The B.C. Catholic



Bishops are hoping Catholics across the country will join in celebrating the National Week for Life and the Family.

The countrywide event will highlight that “the family and life itself are two fundamental gifts from God,” said Bishop Douglas Crosby, OMI, of Hamilton, Ont.

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops launched this initiative four years ago. Bishop Crosby, the current president, penned a letter to Catholic families urging them to join in May 8-15.

“It is especially appropriate that we focus on the irreplaceable role the family has as God’s first school of mercy,” he wrote.

“It is my prayer that during this year’s Week for Life and the Family, you as today’s disciples of Christ, with your families from coast to coast to coast, will gather around the Table of the Lord to draw more deeply from the cup of His transforming life.”

The Ottawa-based Catholic Organization for Life and Family has released resources to help families and parishes participate.

Online, COLF provides homily notes, prayer cards, posters, and a 12-page resource about parenting, with inspirational stories and tweets from Pope Francis.

It also provides a list of suggested activities, including asking a family to give a testimony after Mass, hosting a family or parish movie night, and flipping through old photos together.

Other suggestions include joining the national March for Life, a pro-life demonstration in capital cities across the country May 12, or performing acts of mercy such as donating clothing, volunteering at a soup kitchen, or bringing a meal to someone who is sick or lonely.

“Following the example of our Mother Mary and good St. Joseph, and through their intercession, may our homes become havens of peace where the way of Christ is cherished and nurtured, and schools of mercy in which children flourish and future generations learn to give of themselves joyfully and generously.”

The free resources are available online at http://goo.gl/yGQvNs.