The Apostolate for Peace in the Family was
born as an effort to respond to a deeply sensed call clearly
expressed by Pope John Paul II in his 1981 Apostolic Exhortation
on "The Role of the
Christian Family in the Modern World"when he
stated:
"The future of humanity passes by
way of the family.
"It is therefore indispensable and urgent
that every person of good will should endeavor to save and foster
the values and requirements of the family.
"I feel that I must ask for a particular
effort in this field from the sons and daughters of the
Church...
"They must show the family special
love. This is an injunction that calls for concrete action."
(RCFMW 86)
Our efforts to take "concrete action" are
rooted in our personal experience as a Catholic family striving
to live out our calling to:
- Form a community of life and love in the home.
- Serve life in all its forms, conditions, and stages.
- Participate in the development of society. And,
- Share in the life and mission of the Church.
Needless to say--we have not found it easy!
Our struggle to maintain peace in our
marriage, family, and our own hearts and minds as we bump along
the rocky road of life, and my 25+ years of experience as a
professional counselor participating in others' similar
struggles, are the real life experiences forming the foundation
and inspiration for the Apostolate for Peace in the
Family.
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It is our family mission, and the mission of
those who are inspired to join us in the Apostolate, to take
concrete action by working together...
- to challenge and support families in their struggle to
"become what they are" in Christ and to thereby be established in
His peace.
- to nourish and strengthen families as "domestic churches" and
"the first and vital cells of society".
- to "proclaim with joy and conviction the truth about the
family, giving it back its reasons for confidence in itself, in
the riches it possesses by nature and grace, and in the mission
God has entrusted to it".
- to identify the dangers and evils menacing the family and to
sound a note of warning; encouraging families to stand firm
against evil and to "fight the good fight" of faith in order to
overcome evil with good.
- to labor to create an environment supportive of marriage and
family life, especially through joining hands with other families
in fellowship, work and prayer.
- to comfort and encourage those who are suffering and to work
to restore those who are wounded or broken by the struggle that
family life often presents.
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We will work together to accomplish our
mission by:
- A commitment to intercessory
prayer for marriages and families.
- The example of our way of life.
- Proclaiming the truth about the marriage and the
family by word and deed. And,
- Developing the Center for Peace in the Family offering
a variety of resources and support services for Christian marriages and
families.
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A Catholic Family Ministry
offering marriage/family/personal counseling by telephone