Celebrating Family - National Family Week 25th - 31st May 2009
Deacon Peter Lavery, Diocesan Co-ordinator for Marriage and Family Life, reports that the UK will celebrate its first ever National Family Week - 25th to 31st May - see www.nationalfamilyweek.co.uk 
with a message from Bishop John Hine (Chair of the Bishops Committee for Marriage and Family Life):
“I am delighted that National Family Week is being launched with a call to celebrate family life because for the past three years we in the Catholic community have been doing just that: ‘Celebrating Family: Blessed, Broken, Living Love’
We recognise the importance of taking time to celebrate the blessings of family life. Families tell us these are the time they spend together and the love they share. Families are at the very heart of both life and love. As such they are also very close to the heart of God. That’s certainly something to celebrate!”
The Marriage and Family Life Project Office has produced three leaflets to help families to celebrate the week:
- Family Days In (pdf 500k)
- Family Days Out (pdf 500k)
- Celebrating Home is a Holy Place (pdf 500k)
During National Family Week, the Catholic Bishops are also encouraging parishes to learn more about ‘Home is a Holy Place (www.homeisaholyplace.org.uk.) which is one of the key priorities of ‘Celebrating Family: Blessed, Broken, Living Love’, the national programme for marriage and family life within the Catholic community in England and Wales.
The Diocesan Marriage and Family Life team of Pauline & Peter Lavery and David Westgarth would be delighted to visit any parish or school community to help with the launch of this powerful affirmation of the inherent goodness of Family life.
In addition, parishes can collect the packs directly from their diocesan co-ordinator or they can be downloaded at: www.homeisaholyplace.org.uk.
For further details please contact:
Deacon Peter Lavery
Tel: 0191-410-2530 or Mobile: 07505-683864
Email: peter.lavery@edurcdhn.org.uk or laveryp@hotmail.com
