Most Reverend Michael Mulvey is Bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi.
The family is the domestic church. The family is the place where relationships are built in the image of the Holy Trinity and molded by the Holy Family in Nazareth.
In the Catechism of the Catholic Church the family is described as "the first school of Christian life and 'a school for human enrichment'. Here one learns endurance and the joy of work, fraternal love, generous-even repeated-forgiveness, and above all divine worship in prayer and the offering of one's life." (CCC #1657)
When one considers these responsibilities of the family, one can understand the utmost importance that the family has, not only in the Church but in society as well. Today, as never before, the family is being invaded by a mentality that is contrary to the original plan of God in creating man and woman calling them to the high dignity of forming a permanent bond in marriage and cooperating with him in forming the essential cell of human society-the family. For this reason the Church must take extra care and be more solicitous to the needs of the family today.
Last month, in October, the Holy Father met with representatives from around the world, both pastors and laity alike, to pastorally examine the needs of the family. It was in many ways a listening session, a session in which the meaning of the family, the joys of family life and the ills of family life were examined and discussed.
We are a people of hope. Therefore, we must have a great hope for the future of marriage and the family even amidst the great challenges in the Church. Given that this coming year will be dedicated to the family there is hope; hope is born from faith and faith is sustained by love. Therefore it is incumbent upon all of us to do our part to reinforce family life.
It is also important that as pastors we reach out to those who are struggling whether in marriage or family life. To do our part to infuse the Gospel and the values that emerge from the Gospel to guide and strengthen the family.
During the Extraordinary Synod a strong prayer was voiced for those families that are hurting, especially families in the Middle East. As we know, religious persecution is happening daily and families are being torn apart by war and violence. Given that violence is also present (though in other forms) in our own area of the world, it is incumbent upon all of us to pray for families and do what we can to assist families in crisis.
I hope that as a diocese during the Year of the Family we will find new ways to reach out and strengthen families.
May God shed his abundant love and mercy upon all families, those that are already strengthened by a spirit of harmony and peace in the sacrament of marriage and those that are struggling in whatever way. May the Holy Spirit guide all of us to work together so that every family may thrive and become a beautiful domestic church and an image of the Trinity, which they are created to be.