AMERICA/URUGUAY - Family Week, October 4-10 on the theme: “The Family, Home for Human and Christian Values”

Montevideo (Agenzia Fides) – October 4-10, the Church in Uruguay will celebrate Family Week on the theme “The Family, Home for Human and Christian Values.” For the occasion, the National Commission for Family Apostolate of the Uruguayan Bishops' Conference has prepared an orientation schedule, for pastoral workers who during the week will hold various missionary activities in groups.
As the presentation of the event says, the aim of the initiative is to “promote union of families, so that they may be a vital force in the parish and schools.” In fact, “the family should always try to establish human and Christian values in a school, for its members,” so that “in the conscience and life of its members, there flowers the majority of the values for daily living...” Thus, “the great importance of reciprocal testimony.”
The material in the second workshop offers several indication on the “values of commitment in society” and especially, their witness in terms of “solidarity, justice, social and civil co-existence, in a spirit of service and responsibility.” The objective of the second reflection is “to cultivate the commitment and social protection of the Christian family; examine its role in society and its commitments as a family in offering human and Christian values in society.”
The theme chosen comes from society's need for “Christian families that try to seek good for the greatest number of people, even if it means going against the tide.” Families, therefore, are called to “bear witness to the service towards the needy, respect for the law, support and collaboration with the Church and the state, “helping to reconstruct our society that is threatened by anti-values.” Therefore – the National Pastoral Ministry Commission writes - “as Christians, it is important that we participate in the associations that transmit values in society, such as those that try to enter into the mass media or promote pro-life campaigns.” In this manner, “through an overall commitment in social and civil life,” “parents have a great opportunity to be examples to their children,” and their children, in turn, “taking up the values transmitted by parents, will be collaborators in the establishment of a civilization of love, in which life and the fundamental rights of the person are respected and defended over and above personal interests.” “The main environment where we should learn about and cultivate the faith is in the family,” and through their testimony, “the family is like a lighthouse through which Gospel values can shine in society,” the text concluded. (GT) (Agenzia Fides 29/9/2009)