This is a slide for the first movement

Why is ‘family’ important? We often equate God the Creator with God the Father. ‘I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.’ The Apostles’ Creed While Creation is attributed to the Father, all divine work is the work of the Holy Trinity. According to Genesis chapter 2, after God created Adam, he created a helper as his partner.

Why is ‘family’ important? God created our first parents to live in ‘community’, the example of the first family. God is far beyond the limits of any human description. God is infinitely and unconditionally . . . Loving and faithful Generous and forgiving Caring and life-giving

The heart and foundation of healthy family life Children, whether minor or adults, honor their parents by extending respect, gratitude, just obedience and assistance. RESPECT: The attitudes and actions that flow from the respect we owe our parents derive from the honor and respect we owe God. GRATITUDE: We honor our parents by saying ‘thank you’, by being grateful for the gift of life and by acknowledging the many sacrifices made for our well-being.

The heart and foundation of healthy family life Scripture tells of the value of obedience in the life of a family. My child, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Bind them upon your heart always; tie them around your neck. —Proverbs 6:20–21 JUST OBEDIENCE: Children have the obligation to obey their parents when parents exercise their rightful authority. ‘Rightful authority’ is when parents do what is good for their children and for the whole family.

The heart and foundation of healthy family life ASSISTANCE: As a result of illness, injury or age, parents sometimes need assistance from their children. Children who live at home can help around the house by doing chores if they are asked, or voluntarily. Grandparents are a source of wisdom for family life. Listen to their stories— they know the family history.

The heart and foundation of healthy family life PARENTS ARE TO HONOR THEIR CHILDREN: Parents have the right and duty to educate their children. Parents are the ‘first heralds’ of the faith. By their words and actions parents guide their children to live a life in keeping with the Gospel. Parents are obligated to care for the ‘whole person’ of the child. The child’s physical needs are met by providing a home, food, clothing and health care. The child’s spiritual needs can be met when parents help children discover their God-given gifts and talents, enabling them to live the vocation to which they are called.

Responding to the fundamental rights of every person The book of Genesis tells that God created humans to live in society. The family is the fundamental society. All other societies exist to support the family. All societies need to be governed by authority. All authorities are to reflect the authority of God.

Responding to the fundamental rights of every person Anyone with legitimate authority has rights and responsibilities. The primary duty of civil authorities is to promote the common good of the society and protect the rights of everyone. Civil Disobedience: When a person judges the directives of civil authority to be contrary to the rights of persons and the moral order, the person can and is obliged not to obey those directives. Non-violent acts of protest include protests, sit-ins, marches and so on.

Responding to the fundamental rights of every person RIGHT TO LIFE: It is the responsibility of every community to protect the life of its members. RIGHT TO HUMAN DECENCY: Societies are called to compassion and justice, to care for those in need and to promote justice for all. RIGHT TO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM: Society honors each person by protecting and supporting each member to exercise their right to fulfill their spiritual needs.

Responding to the fundamental rights of every person The Catholic Church teaches that armed resistance to unjust laws and oppressive political authority is legitimate only when the following conditions exist: There is certain, grave and prolonged violation of fundamental human rights. All other means of redress have been exhausted. Such resistance will not provoke worse disorders. There is well-founded hope of success. It is impossible to reasonably foresee any better solution.  

Living as faithful citizens It is to God and our conscience that we owe our ultimate allegiance. We must obey the laws of society that express the natural law and the revealed law of God. Obeying just civil laws and contributing to the common good is a mandate of our Christian faith.

Living as faithful citizens We must live as disciples of Christ in every aspect of our lives. It is part of letting Christ, the light, dispel the darkness. We respect the lives of others by obeying safety laws. We participate in our political process by exercising our right to vote. We pay taxes to contribute to a well-functioning government. We serve our country as a member of the armed forces. We participate in church and government programs that make a difference in people’s lives.

St. Monica, patron of mothers and abused spouses Monica and her family lived in North Africa in the fourth century. Monica was married at a young age to a bad-tempered and unfaithful pagan husband. Augustine, her eldest son, caused her the most tears. Though academically brilliant, he fell in with the wrong crowd. He rejected Christianity, and fathered a son outside of marriage. Monica was so upset, she banned Augustine from her house.

St. Monica, patron of mothers and abused spouses Monica prayed continually for her son’s conversion to a Christian way of life. Eighteen years later, Augustine had a conversion experience and he was baptized, embracing a Christian way of life. Augustine was ordained a priest and eventually became the Bishop of Hippo. St. Augustine became one of the most influential scholars in the history of the Church. Monica never gave up on her son. She is a model of hope for all parents of wayward children.