Materials for 2016 National Week for Life and the Family
Thursday, April 07 2016
The fourth National Week for Life and the Family will be celebrated across Canada, May 8-15, 2016, beginning this year on Ascension Sunday and ending on Pentecost Sunday. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) is again offering dioceses/eparchies, parishes and other non-profit groups possible resources and options for planning and organizing local activities. The theme for this year is “My family: A school of mercy“. Beginning this year, the CCCB has invited the Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF) to undertake the responsibility for producing the annual resources, working in collaboration and consultation with the Conference. Until now, two different dioceses (one from each Sector) produced the annual resources.
The materials this year include a poster which can be freely downloaded and reproduced; a prayer card, also for downloading and photocopying; a proposed plan for pastors and pastoral workers on how they might organize the Week; a message from the CCCB President, the Most Reverend Douglas Crosby, O.M.I., Bishop of Hamilton; proposals for homily notes and Prayers of the Faithful; suggestions for related events and activities; and further practical insights to assist in parish preparation or follow-up.
The dates of the National Week are determined primarily by the United Nations 1993 resolution which declared May 15 the International Day of Families. In turn, the International Day is used to establish the dates for Quebec Family Week (Semaine québécoise des familles). Each diocese/eparchy decides how to adapt or use the suggested annual resources, in view of its own specific pastoral priorities, needs, and capacities.