Family Synod questionnaire

In October 2014, bishops and other delegates from around the world met with Pope Francis in Rome for a special gathering called a Synod. The theme for discussion was the Pastoral Challenges to the Family in the Context of Evangelisation. A further Synod will take place in October 2015 and the focus then will be on the theme of The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and in the Contemporary World. In this time between these two Synods, our Holy Father has asked us to spend time reflecting on these themes with “true spiritual discernment.”

What does this mean?

The Church always acts under the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Ask for this in your prayer; think about the situation of the family today; pray about the family and ask to know how to strengthen marriage and family life. Above all, pray for your own families, that they may be strengthened in love by the gift of God’s spirit. It may be useful to reflect both personally and in groups – people joining together in their parishes, praying together and discussing the issues that face the family today. We hope your conversations will inspire your prayer and action on behalf of families, all families, especially your own. We join our hearts and prayers with yours that all families will be strengthened in love, in God’s love, for one another, that God’s kingdom come, and that God’s will be done here on earth as it is in heaven.

Your responses to these questions will help prepare our Bishops’ response to the coming Synod of Bishops in October this year. Please send your response in by Pentecost.Pope Francis said: “Dear families, the Lord knows our struggles: he knows them. He knows the burdens we have in our lives. But the Lord also knows our great desire to find joy and rest! Do you remember? Jesus said, ‘… that your joy may be complete.’ (cf. Jn 15:11) Jesus wants our joy to be complete!”

The survey can be found here: http://surveymonkey.com/s/laityew2015