In order to observe such a vision, Familiaris Consortio Catholic Foundation (FCCF) endeavors to share their Home 2 HomeTM Initiatives with all the dioceses and archdioceses throughout the United States and Canada. In God’s time FCCF hopes that other countries will experience the truth, beauty and goodness of the Home 2 HomeTM Initiatives.
As parishes and their families engage in the Home 2 HomeTM Initiatives. FCCF hopes that these initiatives become a beacon to other parishes through their community’s witness of sincere friendship in their day-to-day communion and their genuine desire to know, love and serve God.
Pope Saint John Paul II exhorted the family towards a mission of safeguarding, revealing and communicating the love of Christ inwardly and outwardly as a family (See FC n.17). Inwardly; by the mutual love and life shared between husband and wife and their children. Outwardly; through their witness of faith, hope and love as a family to all persons they encounter.
Jesus Christ exhorted His Church as He declared, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Mt 28:19) The paschal mystery of Christ is the cornerstone of our faith and at the same time it is our source of our strength and the summit of our life. Each member of the Catholic Church is therefore called to share the beauty, goodness and truth of the salvation found through Jesus Christ to all people on earth. Thus, the Church has an extraordinary role in bringing souls to Christ so that those souls brought to Christ may be saved.
Today, the Body of Christ (His Church) sojourn towards that same mission. And now, with the proliferation of relativism, secularism, materialism and atheism Christ is needed more than ever. That is why there is an ongoing need for dynamic and Christ-centered resources to reach out to the modern man. An ever-growing market of resources have been developed in the western world that are assisting those members of the Church who are fulfilling their calling in bringing souls to Christ.
However, even though there are a plethora of resources in circulation and are continually being developed and marketed, the evils of this world still manage to ensnare even the most fervent followers of Christ. There is a great need of evangelism! Those who work in the Church tirelessly with great devotion for Christ and His Church are still not enough to reach out to all the hearts and minds in this world. Who then can the Church turn to? Who else can be the effective hands and feet that proclaim the salvific love of Christ? What person, what group, what people could accomplish such a goal and also be the foundation to fulfill Christ's priestly, prophetic and kingly mission. Pope Saint John Paul II declared, “The future of humanity passes by way of the family.” (See FC n.86) Meaning, the Christian family is the foundational cell of society in which the future of humanity rests upon. Every Christian family is called to seek out other persons, other families, who do not know or who have strayed away from Christ and share with them the communion of life and love present in the Church. Without the family (Father, Mother, Sister, Brother) there is no future for humanity. And if Christ is not the centered in the heart of every family then where will humanity turn to to find authentic faith, hope and love?
More efforts should be made to encounter the family. That is why it is of utmost importance that that the Church and her members continue to strengthen the communion of life and love of the family. How? Only through the example of the perfect family; the Holy Family can families know, love and serve Christ. Only through interaction and the selfless gift of other families can families witness the love of Christ in their lives. Hence, the authentic Christian family is therefore the exemplar of evangelization for all evangelization that is formed.
For that reason, Familiaris Consortio Catholic Foundation has been firmly rooted in proclaiming the faith, hope and love of Christ found in the heart of the Holy Family. All marriages are called to be like Joseph and Mary and center their lives around Jesus Christ. All families are purposed to be holy!
Currently, there are many programs that have been developed that focus on marraige and family and are a great resource to the Church. However, there are but a few that are uniquely focus on the building of the Christian family while at the same time strengthening the bonds of authentic fellowship with other Christian families. There is great need for Church to rediscover not only the rich teachings of the Catholic faith but there is also the inherrent need to explore and embrace how the early Church gathered in communion of life and love. Where have the bonds gone that are deeper than blood? What of the bonds of Santifying Grace? They are there but maybe only a few keep it's memory alive.
The modern world is filled with the busyness of activities and work, and new technology is coming between the once effervescent communion of persons. True friendships between persons and families are few. The family is constantly bombarded by the cultural climate of the times of this world. Confusion as to the real purpose of family has seeped in and many families have secluded themselves from communion with others. Such families seem as if they are all boats floating in this sea with no direction and no guide. Something must be done to aspire father, mother, sister and brother to once again be purposeful vessels of God's love. Thus, there is significant need for a revitalization of family-to-family evangelization!
All evangelization must begin with sincere Charity. There is no better way for the Christian family to fulfill Christ’s mandate in bringing souls to Him other than by way of familial charity. Only when families open their hearts and homes to other families are they able to see the love of Christ. "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and I shall be healed." Catholic families are called to welcome other families under the roof of their homes not not only to share a meal or superficial words but to share the Living Word which is Christ. Only then can families grow in fellowship and love. And only then can Christian families be spiritually nourished and flourish throughout the world to one day bring all of humanity in the Family of God.
Familiaris Consortio Catholic Foundation and its Home 2 HomeTM Initiatives are purposed to reinvigorate the communion of life and love of Christian families.