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Christian Family Life Communiqué #2
Christian Family Life Communiqué #3 - July 2011
Helen Kayfish
Saskatchewan Provincial Council
Blessed greetings for a beautiful and restful summer!
I would like to introduce myself: My name is Helen Kayfish and I have lived in North Battleford for 24 years. My husband Glenn and I have been married for nearly 31 years, we have 4 grown children, two married who have given us 7 grandchildren. I am a second generation member of the Catholic Women’s League, My mother having been a member of the Military Ordinate for several years before my father’s retirement from the air force and her transfer to other councils. I have served at several levels of the league both at the parish, diocesan and now provincial levels. I am looking forward to working with all on this new standing committee. I wish to encourage you to consider studying some of the older resolutions that have been passed in previous years look them up and work on them.
The members of the league are women Centered on Faith & Justice. They are members who life their faith through service to God’s people. Through our prayers and our generous support we can continue to assist those less fortunate and in many cases those who do not have a voice of their own due to other circumstances.
World Youth Day will be held in Madrid Spain this August 16th – 21st. Please pray for the pilgrims who are attending that they be “Planted and built up in Christ Jesus and be firm in their faith”, which is the theme of this years WYD.
There is a “Christian Family Life Study Kit” available from national office which was prepared by the Ontario Provincial Council of the CWL for the International Year of the Family. This is an excellent resource that can be used by all levels of the league.
I am including the Universal Prayer for Grandparents composed by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in 2008. Thank you to Peggy Roche National Chairperson of Christian Family Life for the inclusion of this prayer in her communiqué and for some of the information included above.
PRAYER FOR GRANDPARENTS
Lord Jesus,
you were born of the Virgin Mary,
the daughter of Saints Joachim and Anne.
Look with love on grandparents the world over.
Protect them! They are a source of enrichment
for families, for the Church and for all of society.
Support them!
As they grow older,
may they continue to be for their families
strong pillars of Gospel faith,
guardian of noble domestic ideals,
living treasuries of sound religious traditions.
Make them teachers of wisdom and courage,
that they may pass on to future generations the fruits
of their mature human and spiritual experience.
Lord Jesus,
help families and society
to value the presence and roles of grandparents.
May they never be ignored or excluded,
but always encounter respect and love.
Help them to live serenely and to feel welcomed
in all the years of life which you give them.
Mary, Mother of all the living,
keep grandparents constantly in your care,
accompany them on their earthly pilgrimage,
and by your prayers, grant that all families
may one day be reunited in our heavenly homeland,
where you await all humanity
for the great embrace of live without end. Amen!
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Monica Beavis, Provincial Christian Family Life
The Christmas Season is upon us compelling us to enter into the spirit of Advent as we prepare for the coming of Jesus and to find a place in our hearts for Him and for all those in our families.
Topics of Discussion in this communiqué will include the following:
- Prolife Conference
The Prairie Messenger reported on the presentation that Alex Schulenburg from EUTHANSIA PREVENTION COALTION on Bill C 384. He stated that Bill C 384 is not limited to the terminally ill. It doesn’t define terminal illness. It directly threatens the lives of people with disabilities, and chronic conditions because their situation is often perceived as no prospect of relief or cure. Therefore we must be vigilant and promote the discussion related to hospice and palliative care.
Information concerning end of life care and compassionate palliative care may be accessed by purchasing of Father Mark Miller’s DVD or CD. They are available by contacting the Catholic Health Association of Saskatchewan. There are four sessions, about 45 minutes long, very informative and discussion questions are included.
- Spirit of Sharing in Season of Advent
As we enter into the season of Advent, our thoughts go to the people who are marginalized, blessed be the poor, the hungry, the homeless and those in the Third World countries that we remember them in this season of sharing.
World Vision –www.worldvision.ca---has published a catalogue that illustrates what a gift of money can buy for a community, family or a child. For $35.00 you can sponsor a child to further their education, purchase an agriculture pack or purchase goat. This can happen any time of the year. This is a project that is worthy of consideration for those in need, it is a good example for children to get involved in.
- COLF – Catholic Organization for Life and Family
This organization has educational materials on various family related topics such as marriage, natural family planning education, care for the sick and the elderly and excellent information on the role of the family in society today. The web site www.colf.ca has illustrations of the various publications.
Parents are our greatest teachers –they are the role models of children our future leaders in society today. Are you looking for a book to recommend to young parents in your community? THE WORLD NEEDS YOU KID –by Marc and Craig Kiel burger. It focuses on how to raise children who care and contribute as a member of society.
- NATIONAL CWL EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS
Elder care kit (as prepared by Ontario Provincial Council)Euthanasia- 15 min. worship.
Rainbow and Flowers –a half day workshop developed using World Peace: a family recipe. Worship reflecting on the vocation of marriage and family and the importance of passing peace on to the next generation by being a sign of peace in the family.
There is also a skit available, it is a 20 min. workshop focusing on seeing the CWL as a supportive group of sisters struggling with current issues in their own lives.
This concludes my communiqué . May you have a blessed Christmas with your family and Blessing in the New Year!
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