Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Montevideo (Fides Service) - In the context of the Year of the Eucharist, the archdiocese of Montevideo has chosen for its annual Family Week in the first week of October the motto “One Bread, one Body one Family”, to reflect on the family in the light of the mystery of the Eucharist. Referring to the invocation of the disciples at Emmaus - “Stay with us Lord as the day comes to an end” (Lk 24,29) - families are encouraged to discover the presence of the ‘Divine Wayfarer’ in the life of the every family.
The Week will include two meetings for groups of families in schools, parishes, movements on the theme, ‘One Bread, One Body’. Families are invited to ‘break the bread’ and share their experience and to discern whether in their family there is the presence of the ‘Other’ who alone satisfies our hunger for encounter, unity, harmony. The traces prepared for the meetings propose a mediation on the Gospel passage on Jesus’ meeting with the travellers at Emmaus and parts of Pope John Paul II’s letter for the Year of the Eucharist Mane Nobiscum Domine (n.1-2-3-11-12-19-20). In this spirit of meditation and prayer the participants will pray for their various intentions and that families may grow in communion and give more importance to participation in Sunday Mass.
In the second meeting families will reflect on “Family and Eucharist, school of communion”. To valorise the dimension of communion and solidarity present in the Sacrament of the Eucharist families will be encouraged to share their life and their table. The meeting will start with sharing experience of some members of the group, positive and negative situations or experiences which highlight donation and solidarity or on the contrary selfishness and disinterest for others. Then the families will be asked to reflect on what they have heard to discern the necessary conduct and attitude. After the reading and meditation on a passage of the Gospel (Jn 6,1-16) and the Letter Mane Nobiscum Domine MND (n.25-26-27-28), participants will be encouraged to reflect on the project proposed by Jesus and his Church to individuals and families with regard to relations with neighbour.
As a gesture and fruit of Family Week each group will choose some work to help families in need in the local parish or community. On Saturday 8 October at 4pm at Tres Crucis Shrine there will be a Family Rosary. On Sunday 9 October Family Week will close with solemn Mass Montevideo Cathedral. (RZ) (Agenzia Fides 5/10/2005, righe 33, parole 460)
