Professional paper
Marital and family pastoral ministry in Slovenia in the light of the Extraordinary Synod held in 2014
Andrej Šegula
; Faculty of Theology - University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Abstract
In this article the author seeks to highlight the development of marital pastoral ministry from the Second Vatican Council until today. He relies on a number of different fundamental documents which illuminate and provide guidelines for work among groups of married couples and which direct the life of families. The author shows the whole range of Church events concerning pastoral activity with married couples and families, and displays two “living” examples of implementation of Church documents and guidelines in a concrete Slovenian environment indicating the “actuality” of these guidelines and documents. He shows two movements, two societies, the “Najina pot” (Our way) society and the “Družina in Življenje” (Family and Life) society. These involve a wide variety of pastoral activities that go beyond the boundaries of individual parishes. The two movements provide assistance to anyone who, in marriage and family, wishes to have a strong foundation and good communication, and to offer
a “sufficient” legacy to their children. In a world full of selfishness, secularism, capitalism and other distractions, the family may feel increasingly insecure. And in such a situation, the Church approaches the world and wants to be close to all those who care about a healthy family environment. Pope Francis and the extraordinary Synod have taken decisive steps on the road towards the family and spouses. They look plainly at every distraction and difficulty. The Church thus shows willingness to cooperate in the area of family and marital pastoral care. The extraordinary Synod encourages different circles. This is also true in Slovenia. Different commissions, associations, and media are now involved. All of this indicates the seriousness of the problems. In fact, we are now between the two synods: the extraordinary Synod of October 2014 and the regular Synod to be held in the autumn of 2015. This means that the survey that will follow will energize bishops, priests and pastoral workers, and all lay people who feel called to cocreate the future of family pastoral care.
Keywords
family; marriage; family pastoral care; Pope Francis; the extraordinary Synod on the family.
Hrčak ID:
260883
URI
Publication date:
1.7.2015.
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