MARFAM WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER 6 MAY 2026. EASTERTIME AND YEAR OF ST FRANCIS.

Socially speaking, is it by chance that Mothers’ day falls in May, Mary’s month, or is there some deliberate design?   Mary can certainly teach us many things about the joys and pains of motherhood. There was a time that religion, devotions and spirituality did have a place in the public domain but that is hardly ever the reality today. “God’s plan” for humanity to grow and develop, as families, has been replaced by “my plan.”  In most instances today secular and spiritual are quite separate. However, in some of my research on THE CHURCH AS FAMILY in Africa, I find it affirming that culturally secular and sacred are very intertwined.  

I am aware that, broadly speaking across Africa, society is patriarchal and women’s role is subordinate.   But to some degree the mother’s role is very important, even if inferior.  Think of the example of a couple walking down the road, with her carrying the baby, the shopping and extra parcels on her head, while he strolls along, empty handed.  Is that why women’s empowerment has become such a big issue?  But, empowering this woman too often appears to be taking her out of the family, and she has to balance her various responsibilities, in the workplace, or the church, or living an independent life as a mom with or without kids.  

PSYCHO- SOCIAL ISSUES. The many calls for women’s empowerment tend to be mainly from a more western and urbanized perspective and way of life. SA is 67% urbanized and traditional family structures are less common. Women in church – religious or lay, women in the work place, in business and industry, women in leadership are all as much their right as that of men.  But this tends not to take into account the reality of motherhood – or fatherhood, their complementarity and co-responsibility for family life, society’s core unit.  An unhealthy balance also exists where women value motherhood on the one hand but also choosing not to be in relationship with the fathers of their children, and having someone else bring up their children.  In SA the most common family form today (45%) is single mother and child or children and the majority of children do not spend their childhood years with both their biological parents. Another important reality is that motherhood may not be freely chosen, too often imposed and even a hard burden to carry.

Teenage pregnancy is a social dilemma beyond the girls alone.  Thousands of teenagers, some as young as 10 are having babies, and so becoming mothers. But impregnated by whom, young boys or older men?   And who is mothering those children?  Is it a grandparent, other relative, siblings, unrelated carers?  

In many places in Africa and other worn-torn places the conflict is breaking up families, mothers end up in refugee camps with children, many children are orphaned, but what is said about the men?  Are they soldiers, killed in battle or left rootless?   

RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL 2026 is the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia translated as The Joy of Love.  The main focus on the joy and the love tended to be primarily on marriage and couples with children, more so than on various family forms, although there are beautiful reflections on motherhood too.  He writes, “I urge all future mothers, keep happy and let nothing rob you of the interior joy of motherhood.  Your child deserves your happiness. Ask the Lord to preserve your joy, so that you can pass it on to your child.”  AL 171. It is my hope that the deliberations on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of AL, to be held in October with the Holy Father and representatives of bishops’ conferences will also consider the bigger picture. Balancing women’s empowerment with family relationships such as motherhood and fatherhood needs very serious discernment, taking into consideration the best interest of their children which is often claimed to be a higher priority. Parenting, especially co-parenting is beneficial for every family member.  

Mothers’ Day is often about expressing  love and appreciation, but at this time we also need to ask and listen to how mothers feel about the often overwhelming need for multi-tasking which is their lot? 

These few thoughts have focused more on the serious realities of motherhood,, but there is also a wealth of material that provides deeper insight into the very unique human personal motherly experiences of life-giving, which is essentially godlike. Surely every mom is deeply loved by God. Devotion to Mary, the Mother in the Holy Family and mother of all God’s children, provides us with a powerful resource – something which undoubtedly mothers can and do share with their children.  TR    6 May 2026   

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

May 6.  Bearing fruit. SEE.  Lots of comments came from the group on the day’s reading about bearing fruit. “Every parent must feel honoured but also challenged by this reading, I’m sure.  Do we as parents bear good fruit, or is the focus on quantity rather than quality of children?”  “But we also feel honoured that our bearing fruit in whatever way gives glory to the Father.“ ”I particularly like an  image we heard of, that our children are the fruit of our love, we being attached to Jesus the vine.”  “Much as I like it there is still a challenge and I pray every day for my husband to begin to understand its deeper meaning and that we can share this with one another. That would make our family planning decisions easier too.  I was shocked when I was pregnant a fourth time and he suggested an abortion.”   

JUDGE. Reflect, share, Scripture.  Abide in me and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine neither can you unless you abide in me.   I am the vine, and you are the branches. He who abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.  By this my Father is glorified.   John 15:1-8. Pope Francis:  A sense of deep communion with the rest of nature cannot be real if our hearts lack tenderness, compassion and concern for our fellow human beings.  It is clearly inconsistent to combat trafficking in endangered species while remaining completely indifferent to human trafficking, unconcerned about the poor, or undertaking to destroy another human being deemed unwanted. LS 91. Pope Leo in Equatorial Guinea.  Welcoming life requires love, commitment and care. These words should lead us to reflect seriously on the importance of protecting and safeguarding the family and the values learned within it. Let us cultivate, live and bear witness to these values, even when it requires sacrifice, or when judgments, prejudices and stereotypes seem to diminish their worth,  

ACT AND PRAY.Mary, as a mother, pray that parents will accept their children as a fruit of their love.