January 14, 2012. (Romereports.com) The Pontifical Council for Families has been working non stop, since it announced that World Meeting of Families will take place from
May 30th to June 3rd in Milan. Its been described as the World Youth Day for families. Back in 2006,
a million people attended the celebration in
Valencia, Spain.
People have until March 31st to register through the website, which is
www.family2012.com. The website also includes
reading material, and a series of videos that were launched by the diocese of Milan, where couples explain how they solved some of the common problems faced by families.
Card. Ennio Antonelli
President, Pontifical Council for the Family
“The Pontifical Council is offering catechesis to prepare families. They've been translated into many languages. Not just the official languages of the Vatican, but also more complicated languages like Chinese and Arabic.”
Cardinal Ennio Antonelli says they are also working on a
conference that deals with the spirituality of married couples and also why it's key for couples to share quality time with their children.
The theme of this year's World Meeting of Families is on finding balance among one's
work, family and down time. It's something that without a doubt all families deal with.
Card. Ennio Antonelli
President, Pontifical Council for the Family
“We are trying to make it a truly global event. But we want it to go beyond the gathering in Milan. Beyond all the representatives and different movements. What we want is for families to share a common path, based on prayer and reflections about family, work and celebration.”
The meeting will have
two phases. First, the theological-pastoral congress will take place. The second phase will include the pope's arrival. Around 10,000 are expected at the Congress and up to a million people are expected to celebrate the
Pope's closing Mass on June 3rd.
Card. Ennio Antonelli
President, Pontifical Council for the Family
“We expect a warm and cheerful welcome from Milan's families. Surely that will be the most beautiful thing throughout the meeting, the friendships that arise between local and visiting families.”John Paul II first started these meetings back in
1992. They are held every three years in a major city, as a way to deepen the Catholic faith of families. The first took place in
Rome in 1994. The more crowded one was in
Manila, Philippines in 2003. This coming celebration in
Milan, Italy, will be the
sixth, but the third one celebrated during Benedict XVI's pontificate.
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