The Indian Church "committed to strengthening the family"
Fr. Milton Gonsalves is the executive secretary of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India Latin Rite Commission for Family. Since 2014 he has been traveling around the country to learn about the reality of families. There are two main problems in India: not enough space to spirituality in family life and alcoholism. Common manual for pre-marriage courses, enrichment programs for spouses even after the wedding.
Mumbai (AsiaNews) - The Church in India "is committed to strengthening family life, despite the many challenges it faces”, Fr.. Milton Gonsalves, executive secretary of the Commission for the Family of the Episcopal Conference of Latin Rite bishops (CCBI) tells AsiaNews.
Since 2014, the priest has traveled extensively all the regions of India for training on marriage preparatory courses and training on family apostolate and interacted with a number of families across the country. He shares the main problems identified and also the possible solutions to restore the central role of the family, fundamental to the development of the person from birth.
He says one "common problem" that families face is relegation of the spirituality of family life. "When a family does not experience the power of grace and prayer life, family life deteriorates gradually and steadily and faces many dangers and challenges," Father Gonslaves said.
"We stressing that parent need to inspire and set examples in word and deed especially to transmit good Christian and moral values to children. It all begins in family from the time of birth," the priest said.
Every family needs to sustain and continue prayer life and strengthen "spirituality of family" continuously. Good relation with couples is essential to faces the challenges of marriage, the priest added.
Another common concern in Indian families is "alcoholism", on account of which "there exists rift in spousal relationship" and consequently it affects children and others in family, he said.
"I have noticed that the fabric of family life is being shaken in India in general. Church in India, together with bishops, priests and religious, we have been making concerted efforts to pastorally guide families that would really live the mystery of Christ and the faith in a tangible and feasible way," Father Gonslaves said.
One of the priorities of the CCBI Commission for Family is create pastoral structure in family apostolate in every parish in India. Thereby that would cater to needs of family life, he said.
"We have developed a common manual or syllabus for the marriage preparatory course for both participants and trainers," the priest said.
The CCBI Commission for Family has been making the insights of Apostolic Exhortation "Familiaris Consortio" on the role of the Christian Family in the Modern World of Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis' post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation "Amoris Laetitia" on love in the family popular among families.
"According to my observation and experience, marriage preparation course is not just enough before couples exchange vows. Periodic marriage enrichment programmes for couples is a must to strengthen families and build family life. This would really consolidate the fabric of family life in India", Fr. Gonsalves stressed.
The need to focus attention on the Indian families everyday problems has led the Conference of Latin Rite Bishops decide to discuss it during the next biennial meeting, to be held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, from January 31 to February 7, 2017. The CCBI is also working with Christian movements committed within the family, such as the Couples for Christ (CFC) which has a membership of 30 thousand families.
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