Last July 23, 2016, the Diocese of Cubao Ministry of Family and Life had a general assembly to align all the parishes family and life activities. The different vicariates were represented. It was discussed that at the end of 2017, the goal of each parish of the Diocese of Cubao will be to be a marriage and family building parish with relevant and sustainable on going pastoral management program. These programs will focus on servant leadership skills development and formation programs for family and life members.
We are guided by this vision statement: We, the diocesan Ministry on family and life, shall be a responsive ministry with sustainable programs and servant leaders committed to evangelization of the family for the transformation of the Diocese of Cubao into a community of Christ-like disciples.
We highly uphold the values of life (as the highest physical value) and love (as the highest moral value) as our guiding principles in all of the things that we will think, feel, say, and do.
The DMFL Programs for the year 2016 that we will adapt are the following:
Simbang Pamilya which also includes the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish initiative to care for the families of Overseas Filipinos, which is the FOF Program, Responsible Parenthood and Natural Family Planning, The Third Option, Pre Cana and Parenting.
With the IHMP Christian Family Movement as the main proponent of the FOF Program. It aims to care for and design a tailor fit program for families of those left behind by overseas Fiipino workers. The initial phase of the program is the launch of the FOF Mass every third Sunday of the month at 11 a.m. The second phase will be providing formation and conducting fellowship with the families. Their lives will be enriched spiritually through parish based activities. For more information regarding this program, kindly get in touch with Mr. Rem Toledano.
The Simbang Pamilya has been an ongoing program in the IHMP wherein families are invited to participate in Sunday Eucharist celebrations in the parish. The members may take part in the manner that liturgical norms may allow them, like reading the intentions in the Prayers of the Faithful and offering the bread and wine.
This is already a common practice in many parishes. What the program would like to stress is the witnessing value of the family. The mere presence of the whole family during Mass is in itself inspiring and evangelizing, but more so when taking roles in the liturgy.
The Third Option is the bi-monthly activity held in IHMP every Thursday evenings, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. It is a program for married couples to learn new ways to build the kind of marriage they have always wanted to have. It is a program to learn the skills to have a happy and healthy relationship. With the Third Option, one can learn to break through the clutter of past baggage and misunderstanding and build an effective, loving relationship between married couples. This is life the Post Cana Program for married couples. For more information about this program, interested couples may get in touch with the diocesan head: Dave and Bessie Rivera.
The IHMP with the help of the Christian Family Movement conducts regular Sunday Pre-Cana Counseling for soon to be couples. The engaged couples attend two half sessions with two couples which will discuss with them the needed preparation for entering the married life. Engaged couples are enabled to experience God’s Love for His church. They are encouraged to look more deeply into their love for each other as husband and wife. Topics about the Self, Love, Catholic Faith, Communication, Crisis in Marriage, Responsible Parenthood and Natural Family Planning are shared and discussed. CFM Couples undergo continuous training and are provided with the right and appropriate modules as provided by the diocese.
This year, the FLM would like to introduce the Program on Parenting. Parents and grandparents will definitely benefit from the three modules that have been designed to help raise confidently happy and healthy children infused with Christian values. Parenting 101 – from seed to third, Parenting 102 – from home to school, and Parenting 103 – Adolescents and Teenagers, will be focusing on different parenting styles, moral development and the strategic discipline for each specific age group and common problems encountered in each. These will also highlight role modeling and spiritual development of the parents as crucial in forming the future leaders of our country. Request for Parenting Seminars may be coursed through Doy and Estrelle Lopez
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