Living together before marriage is a very common practice for couples in many countries. Many defend it on the basis that it enables the future husband and wife to get to know each other better.

Abundant evidence exists, however, that cohabitation is more of an obstacle rather than an advantage in preparing for marriage. Michael and Harriet McManus recently published "Living Together: Myths, Risks and Answers (Howard Books), which documents their research on the topic.

The authors, founders of the organisation Marriage Savers, warn that couples who cohabit before marriage are much more likely to divorce afterward. There is a big difference, they say, between a permanent bond such as marriage and just living together in a conditional relationship.

Read the complete article here

 

 

The Life, Marriage and Family Centre is extending an invitation to all Mothers and Grandmothers to attend a day of Reflection and Devotion on Saturday 9 May 2009.  If you are reading this and you are not a mother, how about offering the day to mum as a Mother's day gift?

 

This is an opportunity for mothers to come together, spend time with God and consider their vocation as women and as mothers, all within the beautiful grounds of the Mount Schoenstatt Shrine and Retreat Centre.  

 

Please feel free to extend this invitation to any mothers or grandmothers.  It will be a wonderful day and we hope many mothers will be able to join us.

 

Please find the invitation and details here.  

 

Some Good News in the Secular News

 

You have no doubt seen those double page spreads in the weekend newspaper from time to time, announcing how many hundreds of thousands of dollars it costs to raise a child (let alone more than one) from birth to adulthood.  I wonder when I read them, how many couples it turns off having their first child or another child, either temporarily or permanently. 

 

Besides my doubt as to the complete accuracy of the figures, such articles can be harmful as they portray life as no more than a massive financial burden.  I was glad to see then this recent article in the Sydney Morning Herald, which disputes not only the excessive costs that are usually attributed to children, but also seeing them as a financial burden in the first place.
 

 

In July of this year, one year after World Youth Day, the Archdiocese of Sydney will again host a great event!

 

From 19-26 July there is a congress called SCENE - Sydney Congress Embracing the New Evangelisation - and it is open to families, parishes, teachers, priests, religious and individuals.  The Congress is made up of prayer, talks, workshops, testimonies and cultural events.  It is an event worth putting in your diary now but to find out more about it, including the congress program click here.

 

The Congress will is also to be blessed with the presence of a representation from the Community of Saint John, a relatively young, yet rapidly growing order of priests, brothers and sisters who live an intense life of prayer and work. 

 

One of the better known members of the community is Fr Antoine Thomas who is known for his apostolate of leading children in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.  He has a gift for bringing the mystery of Christ's Real Presence alive in a way that the children can understand and love.  As one child said in testimony, "Jesus is really there!!" 

 

 

Fr Antoine will be here for the SCENE congress and will be available for parish and school bookings from 6-19 July to lead Adoration with children and adults.  It is a holiday activity that will bear much fruit in the lives of children (and everyone in the parish).  Bookings close 24 May and space is limited so have a look at their website here and book now on 9390 5437 or credooffice@sydney.catholic.org.au.

 

 

We know that prayer is a powerful tool, it is our link to the Divine; we use prayer to worship, give thanks, make reparation and ask for what we need.

 

It is estimated that across the world, approximately 40 million babies each year (about a fifth of all live births) don't get to see the light of day.  This is a tragedy that effects mothers, fathers and of course children, and it shows no sign of lessening any time soon.

 

The Saint Michael the Archangel Organisation is organising a prayer event on 1-3 May in which they hope for one million rosaries to be offered for the unborn and 'for an end to the surgical and non-surgical killing of unborn human persons'.  This is a way we can all unite together in prayer, from wherever we are, to create a powerful fire of prayer rising to up to God.  It is also an event which can involve and unite families, parishes and schools.

 

We invite you to register here to pray a rosary or two for this important cause and to invite those around you to also unite together in prayer.

 

The Life, Marriage and Family Centre coordinates the Archdiocesan Family and Life Network (AFLN). The AFLN aims to enable members from all parishes to share their collective insights with respect to marriage and family issues and to hear about what is happening at a diocesan level.  Our central purpose is work collectively to promote life, marriage and family within the Church and the wider society.

 

We have about 30 parishes with members in the Network and we would love to increase this.  Have a look at our flyer and if you are interested in being involved in this important initiative you would be welcome. Our next meeting is 26 May.

 

Saint Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians spoke of the need to be all things to all men - omnia omnibus - it is a task that is never finished, and in every generation the Church must continue to offer the ancient wisdom of Christ to a new age.  In this age the Church recognises that the use of media and technology is vital, there is so much good that can brought about through the use of the internet...good things like this newsletter! 

 

So a couple of other mediums we have embraced recently are YouTube, the video sharing website, and Facebook, the rapidly growing social network site.  

 

Our YouTube channel which you can see here contains a collection of video that relate to all things life, marriage and family.  We will keep adding to our collection of favourite which can be used for information and as resources.  You will also see we have subscribed to the Vatican YouTube channel, among others, which will link you to a whole library of videos and events from Rome.  If you are know of some good videos you think we might be interested in, let us know.

 

Our Facebook group is another way for us to get out information about upcoming events we are hosting to our members and beyond.  If you are a member of Facebook we'd love to have you join our group here!

 

Most Papal trips come and go without even a line of interest from the secular media, but on the Holy Father's first trip to Africa last month, the whole world had something to say before his plane had even touched the ground. 

Aboard the plane, the Pope took a series of questions from journalists, with one asking about the tragedy of the spread of AIDS in the African continent and the Church's response.  The Pope spoke about how, through its work, the Church is engaged in fighting the epidemic and also of the need for a "humanisation of sexuality" so that people see the value in one another and of acting with sincerity in personal relationships. 

 

There was no surprise in what the Pope said. The integration of one's sexuality is not something he invented on the spot, but the ongoing teaching of Christianity.  This teaching views the person as not just a spirit, and not just a body but a true union of body and soul. This means that a person's actions and life have a real and eternal meaning.

 

Nor was there any suprise in the media's reaction, which bypassed the heart of what the Pope said and picked up, (out of context), on his words that condoms risk worsening the AIDS problem.  If you have not read the brief but complete text of what the Pope actually said it is worth reading and you will find that here.

 

Among the media and popular opinion that came out labelling the successor of Peter everything from a 'fool' to a 'murderer', there were a number of articles, from both secular and religious journalists, that came to the defence of the Pope.  They were not defending him just because he was the Pope but because they saw truth in his words.

 

For those who are interested, listed below are a small selection of articles that came out in recent weeks on the issue.  They aim to explain why it is that the teaching of the Pontiff and the Catholic Church on AIDS and condoms is based in a high vision of the human person and of human sexuality.  It incorporates a deep understanding of the human condition and a sound knowledge of medical science.  Have a read and make up your own mind...

 

African AIDS: the facts that demolish the myths - This article talks to a few experts in the field of HIV/AIDS about why they believe a lack of condoms is not the reason for the scourge of AIDS in Africa. 

 

Africa Needs Better Media Coverage - This article questions the international media's actual knowledge of the many highs and lows that make up life in Africa and compares that to the Church's knowledge of African life.

 

A Human and Spiritual Wake-Up Call - Fr Michael Czerny, director of the African Jesuit AIDS Network, writes about why the Church's message is what it is and why it offers a hope and realism that secular public health policies do not. 

 

Pope was Right to Challenge the Cult of Condoms - Colleen Campbel of the Ethics and Public Policy Centre considers what effect the social policy of condom promotion has actually done for the African people.

 

 

Dinner, drinks, dates (online and offline); there is a lot of effort involved in finding Mr (or Mrs Right) and sometimes it seems all the effort will bear no fruit.  This is the story of one woman who used all the means and didn't give up.

 

"It was my thirty-third birthday and I decided to have a big celebration. I am notorious for celebrating my big day, but for some reason this particular year was going to be different. I could just feel it. I rented a room at my favorite bar and invited all of my friends to attend.

 

I had spent the previous three months doing the online dating thing. While I met some very nice men, none of them were quite what I had in mind for a long term relationship. With a new year on the horizon, I decided to end my online subscription and just let nature take its course. And take its course it did. 
 
Read the complete article here

 

 

On 2nd April the Church recalled the fourth year since Pope John Paul II returned to the house of the Father.  In his homily to commemorate the anniversary Pope Benedict XVI remembered John Paul II as a bold and daring defender of Christ who brought about many sons and daughters in the faith.  It is a moving homily which can be read here.

 

In also marking the occassion the Vatican released a one minute video reliving the emotions of that night when the Pontiff passed from death into life.  See the video here.

 

There are a lot of different events coming up and here are a few that you should know about.  If you are hosting an event that you think we should also be promoting let us know!  

 

Catholic Youth Services (CYS) have three youth camps just around the corner:

A retreat for young women in coming up on 24-26 April.  The Retreat is entitled 'Mary, Model of Women'. Have a look here for information.

 

A Booklaunch is being held at the Mustard Seed Bookshop Lidcombe, in the evening of Wed 29 April to launch the book Women of Hope - True Stories of Suffering and Faith.  Read about the book and the launch details here. 

 

A Conference for Catholic Women - Sisterhood - is being held in Sydney 29-31 May.  It will a weekend of prayer, praise, sisterhood time and formation for women from 17-40.  Have a look at their website here.

 

A group of Australians are travelling to the USA in September to undertake a week-long course learning about the Theology of the Body with Christopher West.  This is an amazing course and it is open to anyone, any age and in any vocation. Their video with information is here.