Good Shepherd Family Cell….(reaching out to families)
“Having somewhere to go is home. Having someone to love is family”
The Family Cell in our Good Shepherd Parish recognizes that a Family is a little Church (with God at the centre of what we do ) and hence strives to achieve the following within families:-
1)Development of healthy family life through relevant educative programs that build awareness and encourages each family member to play their part.
2)Reaching out to families in distress, through relevant supportive interventions.
The family is the first essential cell of human society- Pope John Paul XXIII.
The family is the first and fundamental school of social living- Pope St John Paul II.
The family is where we learn to live with others despite our differences and to belong to one another-Pope Francis.
A family includes children, teenagers, youth, engaged couples, married couples, unmarried singles, single parents, widow/widower/annulled, senior citizens living alone .
An ideal family is characterized by love, support, communication, trust and shared values. Having a strong family unit provides emotional support, a sense of belonging, stability and fosters the development of important life skills and values .
However challenges facing families are many and include abuse, addiction, communication issues, poverty, divorce, grief, anxiety, parenting, loneliness etc.
These family needs include covering:-
1)Finding faith centered relationships (for single catholics).
2)Marriage Preparation (for engaged couples)
3)Marriage Enrichment (strengthen marital bonds)
4)Parenting workshops
5)Care for the elderly and Aged.
6)Family Gatherings
7)Family Counselling
More recently, the Family Cell has introduced for families:-
1)A counselling service in our parish.
2)A catholic matrimonial platform.
3)Encouraging couples to enhance their married lives through participating in the Marriage Encounter weekend program (held on Nov 30th/Dec 1st) and there will be more such programs
4)Encouraging a family tradition of the Family Advent Wreath.
Other activities planned include celebrating;
1)Family Day on 29th Dec
2)World Marriage day on 16th Feb 2025
3)Wedding anniversaries of our parishioners.
Family Cell urges you to
1)participate whole heartedly in these events /programs;read /listen to content circulated though our Media Cell.
2)Provide constructive feedback as to what more we could do and if you feel that you could contribute towards a healthier family, do come and join this vibrant group.
Families are like branches of a tree…we grow in different directions, yet our roots remain as one.
Priest in charge- Fr.Anil Rego.
Lay coordinator- Malcolm Monteiro.
