Communication on December 24, 2004
* Message for the 2004 Week for the Sanctification of the Family
On the occasion of the Week for the Sanctification of the Family starting from the Feast of Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, on December 26, 2004, the Most Rev. Peter Lee Ki-heon, President of the CBCK Committee for Family Pastoral Ministry, issued a Message and stressed that "the sanctification of the family must be the mission of all Christians."
Explaining that the Week for the Sanctification of the Family is the time "to reflect on the meaning of the family and to make commitment to the sanctification and evangelization of the family," Bishop Lee invited Catholic families to struggle to make the family a community full of love and a community welcoming life.
"To recognize the family as the object and at the same time the agent of the family ministry" is most important in the sanctification of the family, he emphasized. He added, "As the agent of the family ministry, Catholic families should be well aware that they are the apostles sent to evangelize other families."
Pointing out that materialism and selfishness underlie the crisis of the families, he stressed that making efforts for the sanctification of the family is the mission entrusted to all Christians. In particular, he asked to pay attention to issues pertaining to the family and life, such as education in the family, education on the chastity, premarital formation and natural family planning.
"The problems afflicting the family are our problems, our country's problems and the Church's problems," he noted, and urged all Christians to mobilize their wisdom and strength to cope with the phenomenon of the family breakup.
On the occasion of the Week for the Sanctification of the Family starting from the Feast of Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, on December 26, 2004, the Most Rev. Peter Lee Ki-heon, President of the CBCK Committee for Family Pastoral Ministry, issued a Message and stressed that "the sanctification of the family must be the mission of all Christians."
Explaining that the Week for the Sanctification of the Family is the time "to reflect on the meaning of the family and to make commitment to the sanctification and evangelization of the family," Bishop Lee invited Catholic families to struggle to make the family a community full of love and a community welcoming life.
"To recognize the family as the object and at the same time the agent of the family ministry" is most important in the sanctification of the family, he emphasized. He added, "As the agent of the family ministry, Catholic families should be well aware that they are the apostles sent to evangelize other families."
Pointing out that materialism and selfishness underlie the crisis of the families, he stressed that making efforts for the sanctification of the family is the mission entrusted to all Christians. In particular, he asked to pay attention to issues pertaining to the family and life, such as education in the family, education on the chastity, premarital formation and natural family planning.
"The problems afflicting the family are our problems, our country's problems and the Church's problems," he noted, and urged all Christians to mobilize their wisdom and strength to cope with the phenomenon of the family breakup.