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The Family Welfare Centre, located on 21, Museum Road, was officially started in 1971 under the patronage of the then Archbishop of Bangalore, The Most Rev.
Dr. Lourdeswamy.
The idea of FWC was in response to a felt need at Bangalore. A place that would cater to the emotional and spiritual needs of the family through the services of professional and dedicated individuals.
It was Fr. Oswald Dijkstra, OFM who conceptualised and established the Centre with the able assistance of a committed team. The Marriage Preparation Course started as the first programme of the Centre and
has now become the thrust area of the Family Welfare Centre.
The efforts of the FWC are reflected in the growing popularity of this Course.
By 1975 the Family Welfare Centre had gained the attention of the WHO, as one of the organisations to conduct a five Country Research Programme.
A similar research programme was taken up by Misereor, Germany through the Centre.
Over the years, a programme in Family Life Education was evolved and offered in most schools, colleges and Novitiates. Family Life Education became the first such programme in the City of Bangalore.
In the 34 years of existence, the Family Welfare Centre has grown from a small mustard seed to a big tree.
It has grown from the Vision of a few individuals to the mission of a
multitude.
At the general Body meeting of the Family Welfare Centre of the
Archdiocese, it was unanimously decided that the Archdiocesan
Family Welfare Centre is to be henceforth considered as
Archdiocesan Commission for Family from 01. 07. 2005. As Rev.
Fr. Martin Anthony will proceed on study leave for two years,
Mr. George Bankien, Director of Family Welfare Centre is
appointed as Secretary of the Family Commission of the
Archdiocese.
As you are aware, the Family Welfare Centre is regularly
conducting the Marriage Preparation Course in Kannada, Tamil and
English for would–be couples. Of late, it has also started to
conduct programmes at deanery and parish levels. As marriage
preparation is one of the important requirements of the
administration of the Sacrament of Marriage, parish priests are
requested to encourage the would-be couples to attend the
Marriage Preparation Courses and also to utilize the facilities
and expertise of the Centre.
(Archbishop’s Circular of July 2005 No. II,
Para
8).
The FWC is an apostolate, a ministry and a mission. It belongs to the Church, more specifically to the Archdiocese of Bangalore.
The Archbishop is the Ecclesiastical Superior and Local Ordinary under whose governance the Centre functions. The Centre is a registered Society to enable it function under civil law as well. The Archbishop is the President of the Society.
The Centre has a comfortable air -conditioned venue, which can accommodate seventy, equipped with state of the art technology for classroom communication and a good reference library.
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