3286 Parents Congress - "Together let us strengthen families towards New Evangelization"
austraLasia #3286
Laura Vicuña Foundation:
Parents Congress - "Together let us strengthen families
towards New Evangelization"
MANILA
(Mandaluyong): 21 September 2013
-- In
this age of modern technology and social media invasion, the
world is
faced with difficult challenges that beset every Filipino
family. Young
people are lured to material possessions at the expense of
their
dignity. Innocent children willingly succumb to pain
and betrayal of
abuses they experience with relatives to keep intact their
families.
They are the future of the new generation; and yet, they are
not spared
from the decaying morals of our society. Laura Vicuña
Foundation (LVF)
proactively responds to this urgent concern by strengthening
families
in high risk communities, thus, the conduct of the LVF 2013
Parents’
Congress with the theme, “Sama-samang Itaguyod ang Pamilya
para sa
Bagong Ebanghelisasyon” (Together Let Us Strengthen Families
Towards
the New Evangelization).
Sr. Sarah Garcia, FMA, LVF President, happily welcomed
more than 300
parent leaders of the Salesian Sisters gathered at the
La Salle
Greenhills’ Center for the Performing Arts in Mandaluyong
City,
Philippines, through the kindness of its President, Bro.
Victor Franco,
who generously shared their facilities and personnel at no
cost to the
LVF. The participants came from 9 depressed communities of the
LVF
Child Protection Clinic areas from the cities of Taguig,
Marikina,
Manila and Quezon City as well as parent oratorians from FMA
communities in Canlubang (Laguna), Mabalacat (Pampanga) and
Sta. Mesa
(Manila).
This year’s Parents’ Congress offered relevant discussions on
the
situation and challenges of families as well as useful
information on
how the participants can improve parenting skills and promote
evangelization in their homes through the talks of excellent
speakers
on Family, Marriage and Parenting.
Mr. Julius Cainglet, an active couple leader of a Catholic
Ministry and
presently connected with the Federation of Free Workers (FFW)
shared
his family life story and ten parenting tips on how he and his
wife are
raising and providing their children with quality care despite
their
meager income and the opportunities to develop their skills
and keep
them away from negative peer influences.
In the afternoon session, Mr. and Mrs. Angelo and Irma Felix
gave a
heart-warming story of their struggles in raising and
accompanying
their children sustain their faith and triumphs in life with
God’s help
and Mary’s intercession.
The parents were happy and their vibrant faces speak so much
of an
eagerness for more activities like this. This is a once-in-a
lifetime
opportunity to most who have been pre-occupied with their
daily life
struggles and even considered this parents congress as a form
of
spiritual retreat. Each CPC area and FMA Parents’
Oratory group came
up with their commitments to spread in the Communities the joy
of
renewing their vows with Christ as the center and their
resolve to be
responsible parents to rebuild and unite their families as a
littlest
Church.
So as to create homes that evangelize, the parents pledged to
fulfill the following: A. For their Family
Make Christ as the center of their family by encouraging
children to
celebrate the Holy Eucharist every Sunday and teach them how
to pray.
Give importance to the sanctity of family as and its
significant role in spreading the word of God.
Practice charity in the home.
Maintain open communication. B. For their Children
Involve their children in spiritual activities in the church
and in their communities such as the Block Rosary Council.
Teach their children to be independent by giving them
responsibilities
at home so that they will also learn to work in communion with
family
members and other people in their community
Allow their children to be involved in activities such as
music and
sports so that they will not be involved in high risk
behaviors.
Properly guide their children, spend quality time with them,
give them love and be a role model to them. C. Personal Commitment
Regularly attends the Parents’ Sunday Oratory
Re-echo this Parents’ Congress to community members
Be strong in facing all life’s difficulties and find solutions
to present difficulties.
For the participants, it was a moment of renewal as a couple
from our
CPC Bacood states, “This parents’ congress made us realize our
commitment to each other as husband and wife. It is our
vocation and a
gift from God. God’s love and fidelity will keep us together
and this
will also sustain us in our journey as we share such love to
our
family. We are very thankful for this formation and we feel
the need to
continuously grow in our relationship as we face the many
challenges of
life especially in raising our children in this perilous time.
We thank
the Laura Vicuña Foundation for organizing this event
for us. We have
learned so many things that will help us in our relationship
as a
couple and as parents. We hope this will be repeated every
year.”
Capping off
the event, Sr. Maria Victoria P. Sta. Ana, FMA,
LVF Executive
Director challenged the parents, “Together with the Holy
Family, let us
show the world the indomitable strength of the Filipinos in
building
the little Church, that is our families, our invaluable
contribution to
the New Evangelization!”
