Ballymacnab parishioners attend Baptismal training as part of Armagh Archdiocese's updated Baptismal programme, which was decided on after a WMOF legacy meeting. WMOF
Sharon Dunne
In preparation for the World Meeting of Families 2018, the Archdiocese of Armagh formed a Core Group in November 2016 after the national launch in October of that year.
The purpose of the Core Group was twofold. First of all, to gather people from across the Archdiocese of Armagh, north and south of the border, to focus on creative and practical ways we could reach out to families, not just for the WMOF event in August 2018 – but to establish foundations that would leave an enduring legacy.
Secondly, to enable and empower a group of people from across the diocese to deliver the materials that would emanate from the national office of the WMOF.
In February 2017, representatives from the 61 parishes gathered for a diocesan launch, along with Archbishop Eamon Martin, and were invited to choose one initiative that they would focus on that could form part of the WMOF legacy.
After the Diocesan launch the Office of Pastoral Renewal and Family Ministry (OPRFM) collected and collated all the suggestions and ideas that surfaced.
Many parishes chose to form baptismal teams and to expand the ministry of welcome. Others wanted to focus on family friendly liturgies and, in particular, youth initiatives. We then began to work with local parishes, and clusters of parishes, to enable them to bring their ideas to fruition.
Materials
Once the excellent materials became available from the national office of the WMOF, we had our Core Group in place. With some focused attention to the resources available, the team at the OPRFM, Sr Anne Lyng, Mrs Sharon Dunne and Ms Milanda Kelly along with the Director of the Pastoral Centre Fr Gerry Campbell PP, were ready to begin to gather groups from across the diocese to engage in meaningful conversations about the reality of their families today.
Thirty-two of the 61 parishes in the Archdiocese of Armagh have expressed an interest to run the ‘Let’s Talk Family Programme’, many of these started at the beginning of Lent.
During our preparations for the WMOF in August we expressed a desire to engage young people in a focused way. We contacted youth groups in the archdiocese, and together with a youth club in Rathfarnham in Dublin, led by Sr Kathleen MacLennon, IBVM, we are preparing to form links between these groups. It is envisaged that they will engage with Amoris Laetitia and the top ten values of Pope Francis.
It is also envisaged that they will link up in August during the actual WMOF event. The hope is that these gatherings will form lasting friendships and a memorable fun filled experience for all involved in August and beyond. Part of the enduring legacy.
Sharon Dunne is the Diocesan Pastoral Worker for the Archdiocese of Armagh.