Family, Community and Participation

The human person is both sacred and social.  Marriage and Family are the foundations for social life. We realize our dignity and rights in relationship with others, in community.  Every person has a right to participate in social, economic, and political life and a duty to advance the well-being

of all, especially the weak and vulnerable.

We invite you to spend some minutes meditating on Brother Mickey’s art, thinking about what Jesus taught, thinking about your own life.  To accompany your reflection consider listening to ...

• Change the World by Colby Jeffers and Awu Donson
• Caged Bird Songs – Human Family 2020 by Dr. Maya Angelou
• Back Home Again by John Denver



• What does “family” mean to you?  How could you enlarge your concept of family?

• All of us belong to several "families" and "communities." As you think of your circles of belonging, what graces do you recognize God has blessed each with? What gift do you contribute to each community and what gift do others contribute?  What would your life be like without these relationships?  Give thanks!

• “We need to think of ourselves more and more as a single family dwelling in a common home.”-Pope Francis in Fratelli Tutti, 17.  If you lived this truth, how would your daily life change?  In your own life, what family and community ties have been strengthened by the pandemic?  How can you show God’s love and mercy to those in need of healing and hope? 

• Is there someone in your family or community you need to reconcile with or to forgive? 

• Are you willing to have a discussion with someone with whom you know you may disagree and be willing to listen to what they say with an open mind and heart and to practice dialogue with them? 

• Do you think of the Holy Family as people of color?  How do our art images influence our perception of people?  What stereotypes does that lead to?

• Pope Francis writes that “responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation.”-Pope Francis, The Joy of the Gospel [Evangelii Gaudium], 220.  How do you teach the young people in your life responsible participation in the wider community?  



Interactions

Holy One, I ask you to help each member of our family to be completely humble and gentle in our interactions with each other; and to be patient, bearing with one another's faults in love - even when we're tired, frustrated, angry, or hurt. Help us to make every effort to remain united in the Spirit in this home.

Please bind us together in peace.

Unity

Dear Lord God,

You created balance.

The night to follow the day.

The sea to touch the earth.

All the wonderful animals, fish and birds.

You are the great creator of variety and diversity.

Thank you that you made us all to be unique and reflect your love.

Come draw our family together in all its wonder and beauty.

Help us to love and respect each other.

Show us how to support and encourage one another.

Inspire us to work together to become a picture full of your perfect love.

Family Prayers, from JesuitResource.org, a service of Xavier U’s Center for Mission and Identity, Cincinnati, OH 

USCCB Resources:

• Call to Family, Community and Participation CST 101 YouTube (4mins)
• Call to Family, Community and Participation - Scripture and Tradition
• Strong Catholic Family Faith 

Catholic Relief Services Resource: 

• Call to Family, Community and Participation COUNTRY SPOTLIGHT: HAITI with lesson plans for grades 1-8

“Like the chance traveler in the parable (Good Samaritan), we need only have a pure and simple desire to be a people, a community, constant and tireless in the effort to include, integrate and lift up the fallen."

-Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti, 77.