MAY OVERVIEW.  Parents form Families.  Whether from the perspective of biology, human physiology or spirituality, the gift of co-creation in nature everywhere should be recognized as one of God’s greatest gifts. Male and female in nature, man and woman, ideally in a loving committed relationship, continue God’s creation and its sustenance and nurturance.  Laudato Si week celebrating the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical and the Jubilee of Families from 30 May – 1 June can incorporate the theme of hope through co-creation and responsible parenthood as one of the Signs of Hope.  Parents have the task of forming and educating their offspring to prepare them for adulthood. The ideal of the love of their father and mother for each other is important for children. Effective parenting in any family structure is amongst the most complex relationships today, aware as we are of the good and the dysfuncionalities of family relationships that play out in family violence.  Pope Francis: The gift of a new child entrusted by God to a father and a mother, begins with acceptance, continues with lifelong protection and has as its final goal the joy of eternal life. God allows parents to choose the name by which he himself will call their child for all eternity. AL166. Only if we devote time to our children, speaking of important things with simplicity and concern and finding healthy ways for them to spend their time will we be able to shield them from harm, prepare them to confront the risks of aggression, abuse and drug addiction. AL 260.  

Setting the Scene for the reflections:  As parenting is such an important aspect of parish life on the whole, it is suggested that all parish groups can promote the idea of Parenting in families, in its different context and across the generations too. The usual See-Judge-Act approach is used with life situations and daily scripture and many references are made to the Jubilee document Spes Non Confundit (Hope does not disappoint) and some to Dilexit Nos, on the love of Jesus.   

May 1.   Workers’ Day SA.  St Joseph the Worker. Workers Day has for more than a century been a battle for the rights of workers, a battle involving employers, employees and trade unions. The Church has been involved on issues of workers’ rights too during this time. Rights of women workers has only come to the fore years later. Maternity leave had been an issue and more recently paternity leave has been included in some places. A fatherhood group had spearheaded this campaign to allow mothers and fathers to be able to bond with a new baby.  When it was raised in some parish groups some of the dads had welcomed it while others had said, “I don’t want to be with my wife when she gives birth. It’s against our culture.” One man said, “I was with my partner when she gave birth and it was a very special experience.” St Joseph was a worker, a tradesman, and a simple country man who was given a tremendous task to support his young wife, Mary, and her child.  In one family group when the question of giving life and childbirth came up, a dad said, “These days we don’t work on farms much and don’t live close to nature, but I think it is still good for children to witness nature and birth. When our dog gave birth to her puppies my little daughter was amazed and we talked about the wonder of it together.” 

Reflect, share and act. Scripture. Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward as you are serving the Lord Christ. Col 3:23-24.  Pope Francis:   We were created with a vocation to work.  Work is a necessity, part of the meaning of life on this earth, a path to growth, human development and personal fulfillment. LS128.

JUBILEE.    Exiles, displaced persons and refugees, whom international tensions force to emigrate in order to avoid war, violence and discrimination, ought to be guaranteed security and access to employment and education, the means they need to find their place in a new social context.   SNC 13 Pray. Mary, loving wife of Joseph, together you worked to build your family. Pray for us.