As part of the ongoing preparations for the World Meeting of Families which will take place in Dublin in August, the Diocese of Down and Connor will host a family faith day on Saturday 21 April at Our Lady and Saint Patrick’s College, Belfast.
Organised by the Down and Connor Living Church Office, the family faith day will welcome international author and Director of Evangelization for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Mr Jeff Cavins, as guest speaker. Renowned musical artists The Priests will also take part in the event and will lead prayers and music on the day.
Speaking ahead of the event, Bishop Noel Treanor, Bishop of Down and Connor said, ‘Within the Diocese of Down and Connor, the family is the beating heart of the Church. It is within the lived reality of family life, day and daily, that we encounter God in a vibrancy and panorama of faith.’
He continued, ‘As we prepare for the World Meeting of Families which will be held in August, I warmly invite all to our Diocesan Family Faith Day which will be celebrated in Our Lady and Saint Patrick’s College. This will be a wonderful occasion to celebrate the giftedness of each family and the diversity of family life within diocesan parishes and broader society. This event will also provide an opportunity to reflect together on how to further spiritually and pastorally affirm and support these families as domestic churches.’
The family faith day will open at 9.30am with tea and opportunity for attendees before the opening prayer lead by The Priests at 10.30am.
Following the opening prayer, Jeff Cavins will lead the first of two sessions focusing on the values and traditions that Jesus will have grown up in and what we can learn from the Holy Family and bring into our own homes. In his second session, he will draw on the writings from St Paul and the advice given to us to create Church – a family of families.
Following lunch a series of workshops will be offered by guests Emily Cavins, on sharing the Scriptures with children; Petra Conroy on ‘Explaining the Church’s teaching on Family with charity and clarity’; and by Jeff Cavins on sharing faith with family who don’t believe.
All are welcome to the event though booking is essential. For more information please see www.downandconnor.org.
The World Meeting of Families 2018 will take place from 21–26 August in Dublin on the theme, ‘The Gospel of the Family: Joy for the World’. Pope Francis has confirmed that he will attend the World Meeting of Families during a presentation of the WMOF2018 Icon of the Holy Family in Rome on Wednesday 21 March.
For more information on WMOF2018, please see www.worldmeeting2018.ie.
