MARFAM is promoting synodal dialogue, with open sharing from the heart and attentive listening, as an excellent vehicle for faith sharing in families, faith formation for family spirituality and a family perspective at all levels. The SEE-JUDGE-ACT, approach, with a look at life, scripture, church teaching and action are the basis of the THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY, which are linked with the Family Year Planner and its monthly themes. After our 30 years the vision of The Church as a Family and The Family as the little Church, of Vatican II and the 1994 African synod, still underpins our ministry and is enriched through a focus on Becoming Eco-Friendly Families. Quotations used are taken from Pope Francis writings on marriage and family and integral ecology and Pope Leo’s newer writings on Peace and Love of the Poor. He spoke of a new beginning of peace, which he said is already with us, in the birth of Jesus, the Word made Flesh, poor and fragile but a word that acts and calls us to action. 

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY,  The format for 2026 will be simpler than that used in 2025, the Jubilee Year of Hope. The basic SEE-JUDGE-ACT format will incorporate the Church’s synodal approach to dialogue, of attentive listening and sharing from the heart at each level, in order to communicate as deeply and meaningfully as possible on our common faith journey. This dialogue approach may need to be promoted and taught for families and groups. Reflections can be done as an individual or in groups, but the ideal is for building relationships and communication as a means for family strengthening.    

SEE – A LOOK AT LIFE.   Consider some anecdote about a life situation, share and listen to initial thoughts and feelings.

JUDGE –  Consider the situation in the light of scripture and church teaching from various sources.  Share and listen from the heart.   Discuss implications.    

ACTION  AND PRAYER – discern and decide on possible appropriate action.   Conclude with prayer 

OVERVIEW JANUARY.  Family Beginnings. In the beginning, even before the world, the sun, moon, stars, animals, plants and humankind were created. there was only God, as Trinity, a community of love. God had a passion to create, to share, to love and so every created thing came into being.  The desire for creation, co-creation and re-creation was implanted into every creature and through this ability our world has evolved. Humankind, as stewards of creation, has to take responsibility for our own and all the families of creation. When does a family begin? One cannot be a family alone.    When there are two people a new small family has begun. There are different forms and types of family today, small and larger units, but a sacramental marriage is still seen as an ideal foundation.  Families change over time and regular times to review and make a new start can strengthen families on their journey.  Each New Year is a good time for such a new beginning.    We reflect on the particular aspect of family beginnings in all of creation. How can we respond to the impact of our harmful behaviour on biodiversity? How can we begin again in every area of our lives?  Pope Francis: As never before our common destiny begs us to seek a new beginning.  Let ours be a time remembered for awakening   new reverence for life, a firm resolve to achieve sustainability, quickening of the struggle for justice and peace and the joyful celebration of life. LS207 Earth Charter. Pope Leo  calls for a continued focus on peace, hope, faith and love, especially for the poor.    

Setting the scene.  We begin the focus on Family Beginnings with the important issue of Peace and Pope Leo’s message for World Day for Peace on January 1,  “Peace be with you all.  Towards an unarmed and a disarming peace.”  Peace in the world and peace in the home will be built into Family Thoughts for the Day during the month many of which are built around the experiences of God’s people as recounted in the Book of Samuel 1.  The basic format used is outlined below.

1 January. Mary, Mother of God,  World Day of Prayer for Peace.

SEE,  One of Mary’s most significant titles is Queen of Peace. In many apparitions, some to children, she requested prayers for peace in particular countries or situations. As a mother, always leading people to her Son, she is celebrated today also as Mother of the Faithful People.  Millions of faithful people have a special devotion to her with many different titles,  images and prayers, that appeal to them in their own particular way. Families could share amongst themselves which image, is most meaningful to them.    

JUDGE, reflect and share.  Scripture: “May the Lord bless you and keep you.  May the Lord let his face shine on you and be gracious to you.  May the Lord uncover his face to you and bring you peace. Blessing Prayer from Book of Numbers 6:23-27.   

From summary of Peace Message from Pope Leo from the Dicastery for Integral Human Development.  See full document at www.vatican.va.

“Peace be with you all. Towards an unarmed and disarming peace” is the theme of Pope Leo XIV’s Message for the World Day of Peace 2026. The Holy Father invites everyone to welcome peace and become witnesses to it because it “exists; it wants to dwell within us. It has the gentle power to enlighten and expand our understanding; it resists and overcomes violence. Peace is a breath of the eternal”. Christians must become witnesses, and quoting St. Augustine, the Pope invites them ” to forge an unbreakable bond with peace”. We are all invited to walk this path traced by the Risen One. He himself embodied unarmed peace because “his was an unarmed struggle”.

Peace is a gift that must be safeguarded, in fact, if it is not  a reality that is lived, cultivated and protected, then aggression spreads into domestic and public life” and one can fall into the trap of thinking that in order to achieve it, one must prepare for war by embodying the “irrationality of relations between nations, built not on law, justice and trust, but on fear and domination by force”. St. Augustine recommends “not to burn bridges or persist in reproach, but to prefer listening and, where possible, engaging in discussions with others ”

In order to achieve disarming peace, we must embody meekness because “goodness is disarming. Perhaps this is why God became a child, which in all its fragility, could change hearts, question our choices, and lay down our weapons.  Pope Leo reminds us that peace is possible, it is not a utopia, and ecumenical and interreligious dialogue are privileged ways to achieve it. We must embark on “the disarming path of diplomacy, mediation, and international law,” which requires mutual trust, loyalty, and responsibility in the commitments we make.  “This is the peace of the risen Christ – a peace that is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering. It comes from God who loves us all unconditionally ” Pope Leo XIV. 

ACT and Pray for a an attitude of peace in our own lives,  following in the way of Jesus.