By Paola Martinez
Twenty marriage and family life leaders representing each vicariate within the diocese, including two deacons with their wives, and newly ordained priest, Father Thomas Davis from The Holy Name of Jesus parish in Redlands attended the annual Catholic Family Life Association (CFLA) national conference which took place in in San Diego September 25-28. The conference gathered leaders and scholars from around the world to discuss the critical issues families are facing today. It is a grace-filled ongoing formation opportunity and powerful networking event for leaders in the always challenging arena of marriage and family ministry.
Hary and Olivia Pranata, marriage and family life leaders and parishioners at St. Anthony parish in Upland expressed the following about their conference experience, “Rubbing shoulders with the (marriage & family life) veterans has energized and helped us to see that we are in for the long haul and help is everywhere, and thanks to this conference, we now know who to look for… the goal is to help the diocese build a strong community of marriage and family life in every parish and vicariate.”
The theme for this year’s conference was “The Family Through the Eyes of Mary,” and a surprise greeting from Papal Nuncio, Cardinal Christophe Pierre, at the opening banquet produced joy and gratitude from attendees. Among many encouraging words, Cardinal Pierre shared on the role of Mary in the lives of Catholics.
“Remembering the comforting role that Mary played at the wedding feast in Cana, you can call upon the mother of Jesus to see that the ‘good wine’ of God’s grace is always available to the married,” he said.
Three keynotes were given over the course of the week. Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento shared joyful anecdotes from his own family life, and shared about discovering the evangelizing mission of the marriage covenant. Father Jarosław Szymczak, PhD, from Poland, who has devoted nearly 30 years of his life to families and the spiritual direction of spouses, spoke about how couples can create a marriage spirituality and live out their identity in Christ. Dr. Maureen K. Day, award-winning author and teacher, shared on the spirituality of parenthood, and learning to see God in the blessed messes of our family life.
Fr. Davis shared that his greatest takeaway from the conference was from Dr. Day’s keynote. Her presentation helped him reflect on how “God does not operate in wins or losses. He heals the blind, handicapped, oppressed, and mute, yet he is open to being harmed by even his closest friends. In marriage, there are no wins or losses, there is only abiding in each other’s love and support. Through it all, in every aspect of marriage and family life, God and spouses abide.”
Representatives from the California Catholic Conference were also in attendance, speaking on the California Bishops’ “Radiate Love” campaign, which invites every Catholic to celebrate the beauty and goodness of marriage and family. This initiative provides monthly reflections, prayers, videos, and other materials to help families become witnesses of God’s love. For more information on the campaign, visit: https://cacatholic.org/radiatelove/
The CFLA Hispanic Federation Post-conference began the evening of September 25th through September 26th, under the same theme, with Bishop Jorge Rodriguez, Auxillary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Denver, and Bishop Felipe Pulido, Auxillary Bishop for the Diocese of San Diego offering the keynotes to a room full of Hispanic marriage and family life directors and leaders from across the nation. Various marriage and family life topics were covered by experts in the field, including Dr. Ricardo Luzondo and Lucia Luzondo, founders of the “Ministerio Renovacion Familiar” (Family Renovation Ministry), Dr. Sonia Rivas from the University of Navarra in Spain, and Dr. Mario O. Martinez, Parish Life Director from The Holy Name of Jesus parish in Redlands and Office of Marriage and Family Life board member.
For Deacon Ulises & Marcela Miranda, High Desert Vicariate Representatives for the Office of Marriage and Family Life assigned to serve at Holy Innocents parish in Victorville, the conference affirmed how important the collaboration between clergy and lay ministers is for a fruitful family ministry, and helped them reflect on “How can we evangelize through married life? How can we be a synodal Church on mission, since through baptism we have that commitment…to accompany families in this secularized world?”
Pedro Garcia & Silvia Marin, coordinators of “Ministerio H.O.P.E” at St. James the Less parish in Perris, an accompaniment ministry to our divorced and separated brothers and sisters, shared that the conference gave them tools to help in their own marriage, but also tools to take back to their community, and that it also encouraged them, “We were able to see that what we are doing (to serve couples and families) is on the right track!” Douglas and Alicia Hernandez, Low Desert Vicariate Representatives for the Office of Marriage and Family Life and parishioners at Sacred Heart parish in Palm Desert shared that, “the conference helped us see the importance of continuing to learn and train ourselves better to be able to help families with their different needs. We were also able to see how (leaders from) other dioceses are working and they contributed their ideas and knowledge to us.”
Every year, through The Catholic Family Life Association conference, God fills our cups so we can go forth to continue serving with joy. Whether our work is with married couples, engaged couples, singles, grandparents or families in need of restoration, we find the tools and support we need to continue accompanying couples and families on their journey to live out their vocation to love.
For more information and resources, please visit the Office of Marriage and Family Life Ministry at www.SBMarriageInitiative.org or reach out to Paola Martinez, Associate Director at (909) 475-5391.
Paola Martinez is the Associate Director of the Office of Marriage and Family Life Ministries in the Diocese of San Bernardino.