FAMILY LIFE SERVICES PROGRAM



By Bernard Silam
Diocesan Family Life Coordinator

INTRODUCTION

The Future of Humanity
This Program is a substantial program which has to be activated and equipped with necessary support, because the families are the vital cells of the society and is the foundation of a community. Either large or small, they will have to find their identity, inspiration, strength and also their apostolate in God's words; the Sacraments; prayers and liturgy; and teaching of the Church; and in the love and care of others.

Brief History of this Program:
This Family Life Program had been established in the early 1980's by a Franciscan Nun, Sr. Francois Wridway, mfic. Since it's first establishment then, it has set up twenty-four (24) Family Life Core Groups in each of the parishes within the Diocese of Aitape, here in Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea. Therefore, geographical siutation of some parishes in the diocese do not all for them to receive much of these services provided due to financial and transport difficulties, and their remoteness.

Problems identified during the Field Visits and Survey Program
Here are some major problems which were identified during a field visit survey conducted in parishes within the diocese:

  1. Lack of communication between couples,
  2. Marriage break downs,
  3. No proper Family Planning resulting in too many children, no spacing of children,
  4. Teenage Pregnancies
  5. Abortion
  6. Drug and Alcohol abuse by both adults and youths
  7. Adultery by both married and unmarried people
  8. HIV/AIDS
  9. Child Abuse etc.

    Aim
    Of this Catholic Family Life Apostolate, under the direction of the Commission on Christian Family Life, aims at the evangelization process, geared towards the total development of good christian families to become the domestic church.

    Vision
    We want all our families to be truly alive in Christ. As Catholics we understand this to mean that couples are happily married, they main chaste before marriage and faithful in marriage. A happy marriage also means one without violence, opened to the gifts of children, and where couples communicate well. Families are the vital cells of the society, the foundation of the community.

    Activities Undertaken
    In the program, we have now started to implement the following, ongoing annual activities as follows:

    1. Formation of parish core groups
    2. Sessions on Evangelisation and Population of Christian Family as a domestic church,
    3. and Conducted various workshops on:
      • Marriage enrichment
      • Marriage preparation
      • Natural Family Planning
      • Basic Family Counselling
      • Human Sexuality
      • Male/Female Psychology
      • Communiation
      • Understanding Love
      • Elements of Sex Education
      • Psychological Foundation of human sexuality
      • Values in Responsible Parenthood
      • Conjugal Spirituality
      • Dialectics between Marital/Celibate loving
      • and Sexual Morality.
    (Above is a summary of the activities which are now in depth value of orientation.)

    Family Planning workshop held for the Presenation Sisters
    in Aitape on the 'Ovulation Method'

    Group photo of participants from workshop with me on far left and Sr. Francois (4th from left, top row)

    Constraints
    Difficulties that were encountered during my field visit and program coordination are as follows:

    Some of these caused delays in the implementation of activities in planned destinations, and families suffered as a result.

    Conclusion Summary
    The Catholic Family Life Apostolate is now in depth value of orienation in the Diocese, in enabling good sustainable family living standards in the community. But as mentioned earlier, due to difficulties faced, the program may reach a state of discontinuation.

    Therefore, we need your support in either cash or kind and even more your prayers to help us serve the people of God, here in the Diocese of Aitape.

    For further information, I can be contacted at the address mentioned below.