The pastoral plan for the family”The family lives. With Christ this is possible”. This is the title of the new pastoral plan of the archdiocese of Madrid for the next three years. It was presented on Saturday October 11 with a Eucharistic celebration in the Cathedral of Almudena, presided over by Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, archbishop of Madrid. The general objective of the Pastoral Plan for this year is “helping families to live according to God’s plan”. The forthcoming years will focus on “The Family as Domestic Church” (2010-2011). According to Cardinal Rouco Varela, “the root of the crisis” of the family “is represented by the crisis in faith”, therefore the objective of the archdiocese will be that of “recovering the transmission of the faith in Jesus Christ and the role of the family”. “A serious crisis is hitting marriage and the family”, His Eminence declared. “How far can we go if the basic truth of marriage, the union of man and woman, continue being ignored?”, the Cardinal remarked. Father Angelo Matesanz, vicar for the Pastoral of the archdiocese of Madrid, presented the five objectives around which the pastoral plan rotates: living the vocation of marriage; developing preparation to marriage; educating to love; stepping up marriage counseling and offering help in difficult situations. Cardinal Rouco Varela has also written a pastoral letter called “The family: life and hope for humanity”, that will serve as a basis for the work of the next three years. The document states that family institution is exposed “to public contempt, to the predictions of its imminent disappearance and lastly, to attacks to its nature and stability”. Hence, “the time has come to propose an integral plan on the pastoral care of the family for the archdiocese, in order to give new thrust to the awareness of being and to Christian mission in the families”. National holiday: “the moment of union” “Does Christian faith have a value in Spain?”. The question was raised by father Artémio Vitores, from the Custody of the Holy Land, on the occasion of the feast of the Virgin of Pilar, celebrated on October 12. This same date was chosen to be a national holiday in Spain and the day of “ispanidad”. In Jerusalem this day is traditionally celebrated with a solemn Mass presided over by the General Consul of Spain. Father Vitores, custodial vicar, recalled two events linked to October 12: the discovery of America on October 12 1492 and the fire of Holy Sepulcre on October 12 1808. “This fire – he said in the homily – sparked off the departure of Catholic Nations from the cause of the holy places since Western anti-clerical policies, stemmed from the French Revolution, instilled the virus of secularity”. “In theory, religion-State antinomy shouldn’t exist, since State secularity is a legitimate principle if it is conceived as the distinction between the political and the religious realms and Christians as the disciples of Him who declared: “Give back to Ceasar what belongs to Ceasar and to God what belongs to God”, father Vitores affirmed and, as was conveyed by the Holy Father, expressed his hopes in an open secularity. Indeed, “it is necessary to have a clear understanding of the irreplaceable function of religion in conscience formation and of its crucial contribution to the establishment of ethical consensus in societies”. Father Vitores recalled the values which today are the common heritage in Spain but which however stem from a Christian vision of man: the equality and the universality of mankind, the dignity of the person, the love for the family, the respect for life, tolerance, the yearning for cooperation and peace”. For this reason, “this national holiday is the time for unity, not for divisions. There is no place for walls, only bridges”, father Artémio concluded.Solidarity: theatre for the weakestA Theatre to the service of the helpless is the initiative carried out on October 13 in Madrid at the Häagen-Dazs Calderón Theatre, that staged the charity performance of “Around the World of Willy Fog; the musical”. The show for families is based on renown animated cartoons. The collected sum will be given to the NGO “Messengers of Peace”, founded in 1963 by father Angelo García. In turn, the NGO will devolve the funds collected during the reception to the preservation of the Home of Peace, a recently opened a care centre for children living in Madrid who escaped armed conflicts or natural disasters. The Centre provides for their medical treatment in case of injury or disease. Part of the proceeds of the next performances will be donated to the NGO “Messengers of Peace”, operating in Madrid and in 37 world Countries, whose activities focus on child protection, assistance to the elderly, to the mentally and physically disabled and to women who suffered domestic violence. “Messengers of Peace” equally promotes medium and long-term projects and brings its support to Countries hit by natural disasters.
