March 19  2021 - 26 June 2022

"The Christian proclamation on the family is good news indeed" 

Amoris Laetitia, 1

On March 19, 2021, the Church celebrated five years since the publication of the Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia on the beauty and joy of love in the family. On the same day, Pope Francis launched the Year “Amoris Laetitia Family”, which will conclude June 26, 2022, on the occasion of the 10th World Meeting of Families in Rome with the Holy Father.

Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love)  - English
                                                                - Spanish
USCCB's Webpage on the Year Amoris Laetitia Family

Vatican Website on the Year Amoris Laetitia Family 

Download and share Year Amoris Laetitia Brochure 

The “Amoris Laetitia” Year is an initiative of Pope Francis, which intends to touch the world’s families through different proposals of a spiritual, pastoral and cultural nature, able to be implemented in parishes, dioceses, Universities, Ecclesial Movements, and family Associations. 

1. To spread the content of the Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia,” to have people experience that the Gospel of the family is a joy that fills the heart and our whole life” (AL 200). A family that discovers and experiences the joy of having a gift and of being a gift to the Church and the society, “can become a light in the darkness of the world” (AL 66). And today the world is in need of that light!

2. To proclaim that the Sacrament of Marriage is a gift and that it has in itself a transforming power of human love. To this end, it is necessary that Pastors and families walk together in pastoral co-responsibility and complementarity between the different vocations in the Church (cf. AL 203).

3. To make families protagonists in the Family Pastoral. To this end, “an effort of evangelization and of catechesis directed to the heart of the family” (AL 200) is necessary because a disciple family also becomes a missionary family.

4. To sensitize young people to the importance of being formed in the truth of love and in the gift of oneself with initiatives dedicated to them.

5. To broaden the gaze and action of the family pastoral so that it becomes transversal to the family, to include the spouses, the children, the young people, the elderly and situations of family fragility.”

 1. “Where are we with Amoris Laetitia? Strategies for the implementation of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation” - June 9 to 12, 2021, with leaders of the family pastoral of Episcopal Conferences, and international family Movements and Associations.

2. “10 Amoris Laetitia Videos” Project : The Holy Father will recount the chapters of the Apostolic Exhortation, with families that will give witness of certain aspects of their daily life. videos unpack the chapters of Amoris Laetitia and remind us that the family, despite its many challenges, is a gift from God!   
Video #1 – Walking Together   Video 1 Guide
Video #2 – The Family in the Light of the World   Video 2 Guide

3. #IamChurch video testimonies - a series of videos on the faith and ecclesial involvement of persons with disabilities.

4. “Walking with families” - 12 concrete pastoral proposals for journeying with families, inspired by Amoris Laetitia. 

 5. In view of the 10^th World Meeting of Families in Rome in 2022, the dioceses and families of the whole world are invited to spread and reflect further on the catecheses that will be made available by the diocese of Rome and to engage in ad hoc pastoral initiatives.

6. Celebration of a day for Granndparents and Elderly People.

Pope Francis has instituted a Church-wide celebration of a World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. Starting this year, it will be held on the fourth Sunday of July, close to the liturgical memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, grandparents of Jesus.

Read the Vatican News Article 

All grandparents and “adopted” grandparents are invited to register for this free virtual diocesan event with Dr. Lauri Prybysz, author of Catholic & Grandparenting:  5 Challenges & 5 Opportunities and grandparent of 21 grandchildren. 
Flyer     Registration                                 

The Elderly – Our Future - Free Webinar Series Recordings 

- Document from the Vatican Pontifical Academy for Life - Old Age: Our Future - The     Elderly after pandemic 

- Vatican New s Press Conference 

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The Catholic Grandparents Association is a global organization of the faithful. An integral part of the Catholic Grandparents Association is establishing and working with Grandparents ministries at diocesan and parish level. These act as prayer and support groups for Grandparents. Grandparents have a unique vocation that must be fostered and cherished in the spirit of St. Joachim and St. Anne, the Grandparents of Jesus and parents of Mary.

Catholic Grandparents Association Website 

 

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Come and Be Formed: The Liturgy of Domestic Church Life - Video

 Join Dr. Greg and Lisa Popcak to explore how family life is a genuine path to holiness.
Then check out their Catholic HÔM-Family Discipleship Facebook discussion group for famlies striving to love as Christ loves.

Catholic HÔM-Family Discipleship on Facebook 

Explore the "Liturgy of Domestic Church Life" What's that? It's a way Catholic families can make our faith the source of the warmth in our homes!
Most posts will focus one of the 3 "Rites" (the 3R's) of the Liturgy of Domestic Church Life. What are they?
--RITE of RELATIONSHIPS: How do we create the godly, loving relationships that stand at the heart of an authentic family spirituality? By helping families found their relationships on Christ's love, the Rite of Relationships equips families to foster the priestly mission of baptism.
--RITE of RITUALS: How can families create meaningful opportunities to work, play, talk and pray together? By helping families model how Christians relate to these important activities, the Rite of Relationships helps families foster the prophetic mission of baptism.
--RITE OF REACHING OUT: How can families work together to share God's love with the world? By encouraging families to practice hospitality and serve others with their gifts, the Rite of Reaching Out helps families foster the royal mission of baptism.

Facebook Link 
Take the Quiz - "How Healthy Is Your Domestic Church?"
 

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The Pastoral Center  Pastoral ministers serving pastoral ministers  Learn about The Joy of Love   Pope Francis has asked us to focus on his beautiful apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love) for the next year.                                        Start as leaders, using the learning kit videos and other easy-to-use tools. Then plan an event to share the message with the broader parish.     View all Joy of Love group learning tools

Amoris Laetitia Webinar Series 

 

The Pastoral Response in Accompanying Families in Faith

The Strong Catholic Families National Partnership hosted several thousand ministry leaders, teachers, school leaders, parents and clergy together in 2016-17 for a four month webinar series focusing on the pastoral implementation of Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation on the family, Amoris Laetitia. Four Master Teachers presented video reflections on the themes below followed by live panels reacting to the content and discussing practical applications to various ministries. The links to all the recordings are archived here for you.

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