MADISON As the international community prepares for the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, the Paterson Diocese is also preparing for a special family event before Pope Francis visits the U.S., titled, “Catholic Families Fully Alive” led by Bishop Serratelli Sunday, Sept. 20 from 4 to 6 p.m. at St. Paul Inside the Walls here.
Coordinated by the Diocesan Office of Evangelization, the purpose of the event is to uplift and encourage families of the Diocese of Paterson with the beauty, joy and importance of healthy families and the significance that each family holds in society.
Eniola Honsberger, director of Family Life at St. Paul’s, said, “Without families, our world would cease to exist. Now more than ever it is important that Catholics come together and make stronger families especially as the idea of family is being attacked. The event is centered around catechesis on the family. Bishop Serratelli cares very much about that.”
The event is geared for families who cannot attend the week-long conference in Philadelphia or who are preparing to attend the meeting during Pope Francis’ visit there. From Sept. 22 to 27, the pope will visit Washington, D.C., New York City and Philadelphia, where he will lead the closing events for the World Meeting of Families.
During the diocesan event at St. Paul’s, Bishop Serratelli will engage families with a brief teaching and then allow time for a question-and-answer session. The event will also include family-friendly activities such as music, carnival snacks, a fun and simple family activity and a special family blessing. The event will be recorded and aired on Relevant Radio with John Harper of Morning Air on Relevant Radio acting as emcee.
“The fact that the World Meeting of Families is taking place in the United States feels timely and really allows American Catholic families to focus on the gift of family,” said Honsberger.
Because this is a diocesan-wide event, all parishes of the diocese are invited to choose and send one family to this one-time only event. Pastors and parish staff members are to select a family to represent their parishes. The event is for families of all ages and generations. After a family has been selected, the Evangelization Office asks that a parish staff member register the family at the St. Paul Inside the Walls website. The family will then receive a confirmation email with all the details of the event. There is a $20 per family donation.
Honsberger said, “Bishop Serratelli and the staff of St. Paul Inside the Walls look forward to welcoming families from all around the Diocese and sharing the joy and gift that families are to our Diocese and the world.”
[Information: insidethewalls.org]