Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Mexico City (Agenzia Fides) – Everything is prepared in Mexico City, awaiting the inauguration of the 6th World Meeting of Families, with the theme: “The Family: Teacher of Human and Christian Values,” which will take place tomorrow, January 14. There will be representatives from 98 countries, with 200 Bishops and 30 Cardinals in attendance. The event will be covered by 318 official journalists, 258 of them being from Mexico.
During the press conference for the launching of the World Meeting of Families, which took place last Friday in the Holy See Press Office, Mexican Fr. Guillermo Gutierrez Fernandez, the event's coordinator, assured the audience that this encounter will be “an opportunity to unite the forces that sustain families.” The priest mentioned that there are many problems that afflict Mexico, such as drugs and violence. “If the family is healthy and is supported, the citizens will be better people and will not go down the wrong paths.” Thus, he said that “this encounter is a great recourse in facing these problems.”
As is tradition, in these world encounters there is a theological pastoral convention that precedes the main acts. The Congress this year, which will take place January 14-16 and is expected to be attended by 6,000-10,000 people, will be centered on three main themes: Relationships and Family Values; Family and Sexuality; the Teaching Vocation of the Family. In addition, there are also conferences and roundtable discussions planned on topics like: “Relationships and family values according to the Bible,” What are the values to be discovered and rediscovered?,” “The family and the value of human life,” “Aids for the family in values education,” “Family and the mass media,” and “The challenge in legislation in favor of life and the family.”
The celebrations to be held on January 17-18, which are expected to be attended by over a million people, will take place in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. On the 17th, five families from various parts of the world will lead the praying of the Rosary. According to married couple Albert and Anna Fris, members of the Pontifical Council for the Family, each one of the couples will demonstrate the evangelizing mission of the families in different parts of the world.
The Rosary will be prayed in the Basilica, and meditating on the Joyful Mysteries, spouses will be reminded of the gift of bearing life and raising children. Each one of the couples chosen will lead a mystery. Representing Europe is a missionary family currently living in Holland. They have five children, two of whom are adopted. Thus, they will give their testimony of announcing the faith in a continent that “needs to be reevangelized.” Latin America will be represented by an indigenous couple from Guatemala, who have five children. The eldest is in the seminary. From Asia, there will be a family from Pakistan that has raised its children in the Catholic faith in the midst of a Muslim world, presenting “the challenge of being Christians in a world that discriminates against them.” A family from Malawi, with their two teenage children, will represent Africa, in which they will focus on the value of “sharing.” From the United States, there will be a family whose children have decided to train themselves to work for evangelization using the mass media.
On Sunday the 18th, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican Secretary of State and Papal Legate of His Holiness for the Meeting, will preside a Solemn Mass. During the Mass, the couples present will be able to renew their marriage promises.
The Pope will be present in both the events via satellite, and will transmit a live video-message, appearing on a large screen.
During the Meeting, there will be four daily Masses in the ExpoBancomer Center, where the Theological Congress will take place, so that all the attendees can enrich their spiritual life and be able to gain the Plenary Indulgence granted by Pope Benedict XVI. The Masses will be held at 9am in Latin, 11am in Spanish, 1pm in English, and at 7pm in various languages. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 13/1/2009)
