MARFAM’S WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER 8 APRIL 2026

WE ARE RESURRECTION PEOPLE, With the theme for 2026 of OUR WORLD A FAMILY OF FAMILIES,  MARFAM’s APRIL theme for reflection, sharing and action is GOD AND FAMILY, naturally appropriate for the Easter season, a season of hope but also of victory.

We have lived the season of Lent and Holy Week closely following the life and way of St Francis 800 years ago.    I called the programme LOVE IS HIS LAW, LOVE IS HIS WAY as clearly for St Francis Love was the very essence. For him it was very much a way of love of God, in all of creation but in particular his passionate love of Jesus, and his desire to be one with him.   Jesus gifted him with the stigmata as an outward sign of this unity.  Francis died totally at peace, the “little poor man,” humble and ready to be united with his Master.

Francis’  own relatively short personal life story ended with his death at 44 years of age, but his love story of God, of creation and the poor, has continued for the next 800 years, as we are commemorating 2026 as the Jubilee year of St Francis of Assisi. Can we call it a Resurrection story?  Was his life, and is all life not a love story, a journey with ups and downs, moments of dying and rising, of death and resurrection,  as our intimacy with a special beloved person deepens. Could a resurrection moment for Francis, even shortly before his death, have been the inspiration of the CANTICLE OF THE CREATURES.  It is a glorious hymn of praise, of love and humble service to God and an acknowledgement of the interconnectedness and belonging of all of creation.   

Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord, All praise is Yours, all glory, all honour and all blessings. To you alone, Most High, do they belong, and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.

Be praised My Lord for all your creatures. Brother Sun, sister Moon, Brother wind, and fire, Sister water and Mother earth. Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks, And serve Him with great humility.

For Chris and me, Toni, in 1979 after some 12 years of marriage, from when we first experienced a Marriage Encounter weekend the concept of resurrection, of being Resurrection People, has stayed with me.  At that time in a love note to Chris I wrote this prayer,  “Father we stood before you naked, ashamed.  We had vowed to love totally all our lives long, but we failed, ourselves and you.   Father, we stand before you now, naked, unashamed.  You have given us a share in Your Son’s Resurrection. You have given us new life.”   That positive message of love and joy that should permeate the life of the Church struck us powerfully. Ideally it should be manifested through the love of sacramental couples, who sing, “Love is his sign.”  That experience is now more than 40 years ago, but while we did not always succeed, it has remained a calling, even through more than 25 years of widowhood.    MARFAM, founded by us and a small team in 1994 produced many publications, magazines and faith sharing reflection booklets.  The 2006 Lenten reflection and sharing booklet produced by MARFAM for the SACBC Family Life Desk, where I was working at the time, was called MARRIAGE AND THE PASCHAL MYSTERY and its reflections followed the love journey of a group of couples during Lent ending with a Resurrection reflection.     

Marriage Encounter was a very powerful love experience for many couples and for priests too, as the vision is a renewal of the Church through renewal of the Sacraments of Matrimony and Holy Orders.  Much has been written about this from time to time even from the time of Vatican II, but unfortunately the aspect of renewal of the Church in this way was never fully realized.  Pope Benedict in 2006 wrote, “Marriage based on an exclusive and definite love becomes the icon of the relationship between God and his people and vice versa.  God’s way of loving becomes the measure of human love.”   Deus est Caritas.   Pope Francis in Amoris Laetitia develops couple love and marriage in the Church and their relationships, noting how marriage is an icon of the love of the Trinity, AL11.  Marriage ministry taught us too that Jesus is the third partner in a fruitful marriage and true couple love is life-giving in all ways, but with our children as the fruit of our couple love.     

St Francis embodied love too.  Love is a constant theme in Pope Leo’s messages.  God love, love for the poor (Dilexit Te)  the wounded, the marginalized.  Love for all of creation.  Generous, selfless, self-giving love should be modelled in marriage and families in the Church as Family, not grasping, power hungry, domineering greed and neglect of children and relationship needs.  But we are taught that life is also a journey of conversion. Conflict happens, at times, especially now, there is war,  brokenness in individuals’ lives and broken relationships of all kinds.  Pope Leo in his messages during the Holy Week and the Easter ceremonies recognized the many forms of brokenness that exist and the wounds carried by all people as brothers and sisters,  wives and husbands, parents and children, His Easter messages included  hope too with faith knowing that God is present in the most painful circumstances, because Jesus has been there too, on the cross even offering forgiveness.

Our April theme explains how God is intimately present in all the families of creation, which can and do experience moments of brokenness, maybe by climate change or often human actions.  Human beings are creatures who have been given greater powers to love and to hurt.

Resurrection is about joy and new life, healing of hurts and pain.  Jesus’ passion and God’s sustaining love are key components in the healing process.    Let us pray for awareness and growth during this year of St Francis, in compassion through the experience of healing of pain.  Resurrection can begin at home with the fire of love, not the fires of war, but this fire of love must be spread throughout the world.  By Resurrection People, the families, who recognise God present in their home in their family and personal lives, through the good Friday and Resurrection times.     TR APRIL 8 2026

 A DAILY FAMILY PRAYER
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, blessed Trinity,
you have shown us how to love to be God’s Family.
We’re sorry for the things we’ve done to cause another pain,
make us willing to forgive and so be whole again.
Bless our family today, keep us in your care,
old and young or sick or healthy, those no longer there.
Help us care for all the earth and all the things God made
His people, animals and plants, for them all Jesus paid.
We thank and praise you. God on high and ask your blessings too
so we can love, and care and share and make God’s dream come true. Amen 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

April 8,  Wednesday of Easter week. SEE.  “Hey, that’s my story,“  Peter said.   “Did you tell us all the same stories when we were little or maybe sometimes changed them a bit. Why did those two disciples that were walking to Emmaus not recognise him or why didn’t they have names?   Were they not important?   I like to think that Jesus is there for me, even if I am not as important as Pope Leo or the bishop. Is that being “unhumble?” John said, “What I like is that there were a pair of them, together, maybe even a husband and wife, maybe with their kids and that Jesus took his time to walk and talk with them. Walk and talk, that is nice don’t you think?   We should do that too, all together.” 

JUDGE. Scripture:    Beginning with Moses and all the prophets he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:13-35.  Pope Francis. We can be fully present to others only by giving fully of ourselves.   Jesus is our model in this.  AL323.   In talking with his disciples Jesus would invite them to recognize the paternal relationship God has with all his creatures. With moving tenderness he would remind them that each one of them is important in God’s eyes, “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?  And not one of them is forgotten before God.” LS 96.  Pope Leo: St Francis’ poverty was relational.  It led him to become a neighbour, equal to, or lesser than others. He did not found a social service organisation but an evangelical fraternity, His mission was to be with them.    DT 63    Reflect, share, pray, act.   Consider doing an Emmaus walk with family or someone special.