OCTOBER.  Family on Mission.   Every single family of any description, from a human one-parent family, to the ancient colossuses of trees in our forests, and the tiniest of creatures in the sea, has a role to play to sustain our world, as a family of families.  We, the human family, uniquely have the power to deliberately choose our sense of mission. We cannot afford selfish greed, or hurtful violence, but are called to adopt God’s mission of love, love of creation and of all creatures. It is a massive mission, demanding commitment and all our resources, but it alone has the potential for the ultimate salvation of the whole world.

Pope Francis: The family is an agent of pastoral activity through the explicit proclamation of the Gospel, their witness, namely solidarity with the poor, openness to diversity of people, protection of creation, moral and material solidarity with other families and commitment to the common good.  AL 290.    As Christians we are called to accept the world as a sacrament of communion, as a way of sharing with God and our neighbours on a global scale.   It is our humble conviction that the divine and the human meet in the slightest detail in the seamless garment of God’s creation, in the last speck of dust of our planet.  LS9

Setting the Scene:  Although the Season of Creation ends shortly ecological education and conversion remain on the agenda during this Mission month, with 2 upcoming world conferences and a daily experience of the effects of climate change. The Laudato Si Action Platform will be launched and implemented on different levels. Families, from youth to older, business people and students are encouraged through parishes and other church groups to discuss, share, act and pray for the needs of Our World, A Family of Families.  During this month pray the Rosary and/or the Peace Prayer of St Francis.  

Using the SEE-JUDGE-ACT approach every THOUGHT FOR THE DAY has a short Look at Life, an extract from the scripture of the day and a quotation from the writing of Pope Francis.