MARFAM FAMILY MATTERS WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER 21 JANUARY 2026

 When I checked on my granddaughter’s whatsapp site to wish her happy birthday I was struck by the relevance of her profile slogan, “Begin with the end in mind.”  I can’t help but wonder whether she or any of the rest of my immediate, or the wider family of OUR WORLD, A FAMILY OF FAMILIES, actually does take into consideration the outcome of their decisions and actions. That is what that slogan really means.  Will it apply on her birthday or at any other time of new beginnings?    Will the things we start at the beginning of this new year really renew our own lives and that of others?  Or only if we have free choice or the necessary resources to be able to act. 

I have chosen FAMILY BEGINNINGS as the theme for this month. Last week I unpacked some of the who and why of MARFAM over the last 30 years and its possible effect on families and the Church. But there is still much to think about. When does a family start?  Surely it must be when there is more than one of you.   Fr Chuck Gallagher, one of the original Marriage Encounter priests, in talks and presentations loved to say, “We are the church” meaning of course, couples as couples.  For me that has also come to mean families as families.  When he said, ‘You cannot be Church alone” people would agree, but still almost always the Church addresses individuals, or possibly groups, e.g. sodalities.  But for a family start-up there have to be 2 people, a couple, or a parent and a child.  This last form has become increasingly common with mother-headed families being a very common family form today in SA, although often as a family within a family. Have those families planned ahead, for the new beginning to renew its life, or life in general?  Maybe this is an unplanned pregnancy for which they have not planned and the new life can get off to a real, but rocky, start, with hardly a freedom of choice. 

Decisions about new beginnings are made constantly, maybe in response to a TV advert about a new health product, or some friendly persuasion.  This is possibly a bit more common in January than at other times.  Decisions about working and school situations are necessary right now, and not just for immediate but with a long term impact. In the southern hemisphere December is a genuine year end and January a real new start and therefore an excellent moment for planning ahead, not for success only but for a renewed and better life and not for oneself alone.

I’m not very good at planning ahead and too often have taken action either on the spur of the moment, do what comes to mind or what I feel inclined to do, and unfortunately I do run into time issues when urgent matters are neglected.  I don’t have a husband, or an efficient secretary or keep a proper diary, and have never been good at budgeting either. My financial philosophy is usually to spend as little as possible, rather than look for the best value for money.  It’s hard to change one’s ways at my age but I know it could be necessary and less stressful to be well organized and balanced,  instead of just busy.  What does my life pie look like?  Or yours, individually or communally as a family?   Doing a life pie exercise for oneself and to share and compare can be worthwhile.  

Family formation is a starting point and an objective and plan already chosen by God from the beginnings of creation.  God did not create everything “finished and klaar,” all at once,  but set in motion a process of ongoing creation in families or ecosystems, in order for the earth and its elements to grow and develop on a wonderful journey of constant renewal of life.  David Attenborough, the famous naturalist in his series on THE TRIALS OF LIFE which focuses on life changes begins the series with “Arriving” and in a fascinating way describes and illustrates how all creatures have the inbuilt urge to ensure survival of the species. From the tiniest of insects e.g. a fruit-fly to large mammals e.g. rhinoceroses, each has a unique and complex process of reproduction or pro-creation with the Creator.  They may mate once or many times, produce millions of tiny crabs like on Christmas island, almost all of whom will die within a short time or, as albatrosses do, after a courting dance mate for life, lay just one egg on brief encounters over the years, and have to trust and hope it will carry on their legacy.  If the natural system fails extinction results eventually as has happened many times over the many millions of years since life began on our earth.  The study of archeology and fossils being discovered in different locations is filling in the gaps in our understanding of the history of our earth.  

A wonderful thing about new beginnings, from our Catholic faith perspective, was preached initially by St Francis 800 years ago, is often stated by Pope Francis and is repeated by Pope Leo. His iInstitution of the Year of St Francis indicates the importance in our day of this newer understanding that each life matters, each creature is known and loved by God, truly a Father one could say, who alone has the ultimate plan in mind and  knows the end of the story.  With faith and hope and much love it can and should have a happy family ending.   

This is MARFAM’s perspective in our focus on OUR WORLD A FAMILY OF FAMILIES and underpins much of our ministry, Strong, resilient well-balanced families are called to be eco-friendly families, for their own good and renewed life, and for the benefit of all God’s creation.    TR  FAMILY WEEKLY 21 JANUARY 2026       

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 21 JANUARY 2026

21 January.  SEE:  “There are a good number of “David and Goliath” type incidents in society still today.  A small person with little power, influence or strength but with a belief in their cause and also trusting in God’s help can stand up against much more powerful forces. Do they always win?  Hardly, but If they do, who or what has helped them?”  Mr Petersen had often asked his teenagers as they were growing up whether they would have the courage of David. One son, Jack, had inherited his father’s activist nature and he and his university mates had got involved in student protests. “It can be scary, but you have to be brave and clever too,” he said. “We are committed to equality and justice. ”  They continued the discussion, “But think about the story like this. If there is a bully at your school, a big guy, would you take him on if you were much smaller?” The kids all said, “No ways!”  “Not even if you really believed you had God on your side?” Charles asked. “In today’s battle of the nations there is hardly any mention of God. Isn’t that a serious problem?       

JUDGE, reflect and share:   Scripture: David and Goliath. David triumphed over the Philistine, Goliath, with a sling and a stone and struck the Philistine down and killed him. from Samuel 17:32-51.  Pope Francis:  Freedom is the gift of being able to choose the good, what is pleasing to God even if it is not easy. Only by courageous and firm decisions do we realise our greatest dreams.  From the Mercy Jubilee for Youth 2016.  Pope Leo: We read in Scripture: ‘Two are better than one, for they have the advantage of their company For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up’ ( Eccles 4:9-10). And further: ‘A brother that is helped by his brother is like a strong city’ ( Prov 18:19 ) May this be one of the fruits of the Jubilee of Hope, which has moved millions of people to rediscover themselves as pilgrims and to begin within themselves that disarmament of heart, mind and life. God will surely respond to this by fulfilling his promises: “He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.  O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord” (Is 2, 4-5).  PM 1 Jan.

ACT: Decide on possible appropriate action.   Conclude with prayer