It is a well know fact that "Every local Church", as mentioned in the Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio, "and, in more particular terms, every parochial community, must become more vividly aware of the grace and responsibility that it receives from the Lord in order that it may promote the pastoral care of the family. No plan for organized pastoral work, at any level, must ever fail to take into consideration the pastoral care of the family" (n. 70).
And therefore the family should be at the centre of the concerns of every diocesan community, of every parish and apostolic organization sensitive to the needs of our times. This involves actively strengthening the family nucleus in preparation for marriage and accompanying the young couples in their formative journey. I am indeed very happy that the Family Welfare Centre is doing a commendable family apostolate in our Archdiocese. I was informed that this Centre, besides its regular in-house Marriage Preparation Courses, is also conducting regularly the out-reach training programmes for the would-be couples in rural areas, counselling the young couples/youth/students/children, conducting family education in schools, and publishing hand-outs for MPC and this is what the Karnataka Regional Pastoral Plan stresses in its objectives.
May all of you, who are actively participating in the family apostolate of the Archdiocese, be blessed and greatly rewarded by the Lord for your dedicated service and sacrifice. On behalf of the Archdiocese, especially the Family Commission, I congratulate you and wish you every success in all your future endeavours.
God bless you!
Yours sincerely,