Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Madrid (Fides Service) - “We warmly encourage you to take part in the 5th World Meeting for Families in Valencia 1 to 9 July. Jesus Christ will be present through the working of the Holy Spirit to strengthen and fortify and cheer his Church and send families to live and announce the Gospel”: this is an except of a message “Where Two or Three are gathered in my name I am among them (Mt 18,20) issued by the Spanish Bishops at the end of their 86th plenary assembly.
“The Pope is coming to Valencia to announce the Gospel of the family which is of central value for society and the Church” the Bishops say adding that it is important to take part in this event “at this time in history filled with serious questions and profound hopes” and when there exist “obstinate forces which distort the reality of matrimony in front of the new generations”. This is why the “Meeting for Families will be a unique opportunity to rediscover and proclaim the beauty of the vocation to marriage”.
The message recalls theme of the Valencia Meeting - “Handing on the Faith in the Family” - underlining that “the family is the right place for raising children, caring for their bodily and spiritual health: it is the ambit of human ecology, sanctuary of the life and hope of society”. The Bishops illustrate the programme of the Meeting which will culminate with a Family Feast of festivity and testimonials on Saturday evening 8 July and Sunday Mass presided by Pope Benedict XVI on 9 July and they urge Catholics to pray the event may bear abundant fruit . (RG) (Agenzia Fides 4/4/2006 - Righe 20, parole 295)
