Posts Tagged ‘news and views’
Vatican Meeting to Highlight Work/Family Balance
This year the Vatican’s World Meeting of Families, to be held in Milan, will focus on the relationship between work and the family. The Meeting will call attention both to workplace goals and the goals of family life apart from work, especially on Sundays and holidays
Growing in Holiness
Sara has gotten a lot of advice during her pregnancy. One piece, offered by a good friend, sticks in her mind: Nothing can truly prepare one for parenthood and how hard it’s going to be.
Theological Imagination
Our relationships with our children can shed light on our relationship with God. Stacey offers some thought-provoking examples.
The Countdown Continues
Sara and Justin visit her six-month-old niece and get a close look at family life with a baby.
The Hardest Thing About Marriage
Happy 14th Anniversary, Josh and Stacey! Josh reflects on a question he was asked many years ago about marriage. Would he answer the same way today?
The Pregnancy Blues
Now in her third trimester, Sara reflects: “The past several days, I’ve been suffering from a case of the pregnancy blues. I feel overworked, underpaid, and underappreciated both at work and at home.” Can our readers offer any helpful tips?
Joy
In a marriage, it’s the little things that say “I love you.” Stacey talks about a long-standing Saturday morning ritual that says just that.
Bishops Say Arizona Immigration Law Hinders Family Unity
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops says that Arizona’s 2010 immigration law will impede the goal of promoting family unity. It also poses a threat to religious liberty.
Transitions
In addition to Baby, Sara and Justin are dealing with other transitions. Sara will get a new boss in June, and Justin is losing a good colleague. As Sara reflects, “It’s a lot easier to SAY I’m going to trust in God than it is to actually do it.”
Every Day Is Day One
With Stacey’s new job, she and Josh no longer share the same context for their life together. Josh observes: “For the first time in a long time, we have to work on building that sense of togetherness intentionally. We have to set aside time just to catch up on the ins and outs, the hows and whys.”
In Sickness and in Health
How do you handle sickness in your marriage? Sara learns that she and Justin can’t simply assume they know how they other is feeling.
Rocket: Rights and Responsibilities
Josh and Stacey have acquired a dog and the children are thrilled. They’re also learning to “grasp fully the complexity of a relationship where another living being depends on them for his livelihood and thriving.”
Relating the Cross to Married and Family Life
This year the meditations for the 14 Stations of the Cross in Rome where composed by Danilo and Annamaria Zanzucchi, an Italian couple who have been married for 59 years. The couple “wanted to make sure that these texts bore the mark of a lived Christian experience and, at the same time, reflected our understanding of the Passion as it has developed through years of contact with thousands of couples.”
Paying the Tax Man
Doing one’s taxes might be stressful, but Sara and Justin find it’s an opportunity to see how much they’ve grown together since their marriage.
The Biggest Mistake We’ve Ever Made
Josh and Stacey have finally found a buyer for their house in Oregon. But with the deal about to close, a major hitch develops. Will God show them a way through all this?
In Cuba, Pope Cites Marriage’s Value to Society
While the Pope’s message about marriage and family may be familiar to U.S. Catholics, it may not be well-known in Cuba, where the Church has had little access to the media.Other themes during the recent papal trip included religious freedom, human dignity, and the contribution the church’s values make to society, so that the Church does not threaten society.
Blessed Holy Week!
As her pregnancy advances, Sara and Justin have many questions: Should Sara continue to work outside the home? How will they pass on the faith to their child? Sara reflects: “At times when I am anxious, I look at our crucifix and it puts it all into perspective.”
Priesthood
As the Church prepares to celebrate the feast of the ordained priesthood on Holy Thursday, Stacey reflects on the priesthood of all the faithful. She writes: “I have a priestly sacrifice to prepare in tending to this week’s details of family life and bearing hardships patiently.”
How Do Catholics Observe Holy Week?
The most solemn week of the Christian calendar begins on Palm Sunday, April 1. During these days leading up to Easter, the Catholic Church will celebrate some of its most moving liturgies, including the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday and the observance of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday.
Young Adults More Likely to Live With Parents
According to new research from the Pew Center, “If there’s supposed to be a stigma attached to living with mom and dad through one’s late 20s or early 30s, today’s ‘boomerang generation’ didn’t get that memo.” Young adults as well as their parents seem largely satisfied with their living arrangements.
Preparing the Way
Sara has been caught up in baby preparations and admits that Lent has gotten short-changed this year. She wonders: “What would happen if I used a fraction of the time preparing for Easter this next week that I’d typically spend preparing for baby”?
Working 9 to 5
Not only has Stacey started a new job, but it’s the first time she’s worked a regular 9-to-5 schedule. This means she doesn’t see the children as much, and she needs to develop a new set of mothering skills. Is she up to the challenge?
Is Marriage Overrated? Not for Children
Recent headlines would have people believe that marriage is no better than cohabitation. Not so, says a leading researcher. Children are much better off with married parents because their relationship is more stable.
Our Little Way
We may dream of doing great things for God, but the reality is that God calls most of us to honor Him through the ordinary tasks of daily life. Can our lives of simple service have an impact on others? Sara reflects on this question with other mothers.
Homemaker
What does it take to create a home? Josh finds that it’s more than checking items off a “to-do” list. Ultimately, he says, it’s about the quality of relationships within the family.
