WMOF: Gospel of the Family,
Joy for the World
 |
| Official icon for the World Meeting of families along with volunteers. |
Pope Francis arrives in Ireland on August 25 where he will
participate in the World Meeting of Families (WMOF) based on the theme “The
Gospel of the Family: Joy for the World”, a theme Pope Francis himself chose.
By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp
The IX World Meeting of Families begins on
Tuesday, August 21st with an opening
ceremony including the celebration of Evening Prayer in Dublin.
Ecumenical in nature, those participating will welcome Christ as the unfailing
light, join in singing and praying hymns and psalms, and intercede for the
entire human family. A similar opening ceremony will take place in all the
other Dioceses of Ireland. This prayer service will open the path for the
entire WMOF which ends with the solemn Papal Mass on Sunday,
August 26th.
WMOF Pastoral Congress
Pope Francis chose the theme himself
which is “The Gospel of the Family: Joy for the World”. Each dimension of this
theme will be explored through all of the WMOF events. The three-day Pastoral
Congress will be held in the Royal Dublin Society. Workshops,
discussions, fun and prayerful activities and catechesis designed for
individuals and families, including a tailored program for children and another for teenagers are available there. The 3 daily themes of
the Pastoral Congress are: The Family and Faith for Wednesday, The Family and
Love for Thursday, and the Family and Hope for Friday. Speakers and panelists come from Ireland as well as
from all over the world and are covering a wide range of topics regarding the
faith and family, as well as current issues such as human trafficking, social
media, and the clergy sex abuse crisis.
Women’s Leadership Symposium
For the first time ever, a Women’s Leadership Symposium has been organized for
the WMOF. Well-known Irish media personality, Norah Casey, and US business
executive, Susan Ann Davis will co-chair the symposium. UN Major General
Kristin Lund will present the keynote and themes include peacekeeping,
entrepreneurship, education, violence, refugees and the homeless.
WMOF Icon
An icon which
forms a triptych in the shape of a home when it is closed was specially
commissioned and anointed on August 21, 2017. Gabriel and Michael are on the
outside of the doors. When opened, the Holy Family sharing a meal is flanked by
the Raising of the Daughter of Jairus and the Wedding at Cana. The icon
traveled to each of Ireland’s dioceses and is accompanied by the petitions
written by Irish families who have venerated it throughout the year.
Other WMOF tidbits
Éirinn, a Galway sheep in the form of a cartoon character,
is the WMOF mascot who will be welcoming all the children.
The official
prayer is available in 17 languages. “A Joy for all the World” is
the WMOF
official hymnand was is based on Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation Amoris
laetitia. Family stories and anecdotes featuring WMOF staff,
volunteers, and participants are captured in an online collection called Humans of WMOF2018.
WMOF History
Pope Francis’ predecessor, John Paul II, initiated the WMOF in
1994 when he asked the then Pontifical Council for the Family to
institute an international event. His desire was that families around the world
could join in prayer, catechesis and celebrations in order to be strengthened
as families in bearing witness to their particular vocation in the Church and
society. Pope John Paul II participated in four WMOF in Rome (1994), Rio de
Janeiro (1997), Rome (2000) and Manila (2003). His successor, Pope Benedict XVI
participated in three – Valencia (2006), Mexico City (2009) and Milan (2012). Pope
Francis’ first WMOF experience took place in Philadelphia in 2015.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét