Pastoral Care of the Family as Ministry for Marriage and the Family
Pastoral Care of the Family as Ministry for Marriage and the Family

Summary/Abstract: The phrase „pastoral care” in the Polish language is strictly associated with the word “shepherd”, and thus it is related to the good of the soul and its salvation. Being aware that marriage and family constitute one of the most precious of human values, the Church wants to preach its messages and offer help to all who, according to John Paul II, know the value of marriage and family and accordingly seek to live faithfully, to those who are uncertain and anxious and search for the truth, and those who unjustly face obstacles in pursing family of their own kind. The Church also wishes to serve all who care for the destiny of marriage and family (FC 1). Pastoral care of families is directed at the man and aims at bringing him to salvation in a way of his natural vocation and his natural and basic living environment, which is family. The main task of pastoral care of families is thus proclamation of the truth about marriage and family and assistance to realize it by all married couples, and thus help in bringing spouses and all members of the family to sanctification and salvation, as well as help for the Christian family to become a domestic church, a community of love, life and faith. As each family is not only the subject, but the object of pastoral care of families, the task is to provide help and to inspire families to participate actively in the activities of the pastoral care of families and in the apostolate both inside and outside families.

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