Annual Branch Meeting

The Family as the “Little Church” – Nurturing a Living Faith

by Archbishop Eamon Martin

Our Meeting for Branches was held on Tuesday 6 November 2018 in St John’s Malone and the speaker was Archbishop Eamon Martin, Roman Catholic Primate of All Ireland.

Canon Stephen Fielding, Rector of Malone, welcomed CIMS members and a good representation from other parishes and churches in South Belfast, and said the Opening Prayers. Gordon Millington, Chairman of the Malone branch then introduced our speaker Archbishop Eamon.

In light of the “World Meeting of Families” which had taken place in Dublin in August and his attendance in October at the Synod in Rome on “Youth, Faith and Vocational Discernment” he reflected on the theme:  The Family as the “Little Church” – Nurturing a Living Faith.

“In the western world Church attendance is declining, whereas elsewhere it is vibrant. However, passing on the Faith is the role of the family. If we think of our own family – there is no perfect family. The family is the “Little Church”. It is there that parents or grand-parent pass on Gospel Values.   Simple examples like saying Grace before meals. There young people are told what they have done wrong and are then hugged. In Croke Park the Pope said the three most important words are “Please – Thank you – Sorry”.  The family is part of larger groups of families – coming together for Sunday worship is a family of families and the Worldwide Church is a bigger group. If anyone is hungry, marginalised or persecuted – we must care for our brothers and sisters. Child soldiers or caravans of people must concern us. The Pope said God is family and this is true – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Some aspects are difficult:

1. All life is sacred.  – Unless we love the vulnerable unborn child in the womb we lose something in life. The frailty of old age and    terminal illness is part of life’s story.

2. The need to share generously what we have rather than what we do not need.

3. Chastity – hold values dear rather than follow the trends of Society

At the Synod in Rome young people from around the world gave their testimonies. A young girl spoke of the pressures to look good – many “selfies” to get the right one. Few young can meet all their own expectations. Expected to get 10 A* - a B represents failure. Young people need to be prepared for failure.

Another young person spoke about exploitation –with a really good job she was expected to work late at night and on Saturday, and to travel abroad. This bad mix of work-life balance led to the loss of two boyfriends.  At 31 she left the job but can’t get a boyfriend.

What pressures do we put on young people?  Young people struggle with mental illness – teenagers feel lost.  Drugs – addiction – internet – pornography. Society presses for Supremacy of the Individual. Family is important to provide the support needed. It is the glue of society.

We need to pressurise Government to support Family life and to ensure Public representatives and Society support the family circle. Family circle ensures health etc.  Society needs to support father / mother roles. A Society which doesn’t support the family is lost

Speaking to the men he said that at the Synod the importance of fathers was stressed. It was noted in the debates preceding the Vote on Abortion in the South the opinion of fathers was not mentioned.”

On conclusion of the talk Archbishop Eamon answered many questions from the audience.

In the absence of Bishop Alan Abernethy due to illness, the Vote of Thanks was given by a former CIMS Chairman Bishop Alan Harper, former Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh. Everyone then proceeded to the Seaver Hall for refreshments, and Archbishop Eamon spoke to many of those present.

A very interesting and topical meeting with about 87 members and visitors there.

Listening attentively

Enjoying refreshments