By Fr. Drew Wood
Pastor, St. Laurence Catholic Church

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It is incumbent upon husbands and wives, mothers and dads, and single parents to spend time in prayer, discernment, and dialogue about the kind of family they will be.  Family and home does not automatically happen.  The demands and pressures of modern life often dictate the pace and substance of family life, and the family seems helpless and simply reacts to this frantic pace.
 
The challenge for the family is not to succumb, but to be proactive and intentional about the kind of family they are choosing to be.  After that, a response to modern society can be wisely, prudently, and intelligently made.  The process of discernment is first and always receptive, prayerfully seeking God’s direction and inspiration through the Church.  Decisions about family life will of course never be too rigid or inflexible, always open to re-evaluation as life grows and changes.  Every family will be different in its needs and aspirations.  But proper discernment will always make room for family prayer, shared meals, shared faith dialogue, shared charity, and a certain discipline in family life that allows for these virtues to happen.
 
All parents must create a kind of moat around their home.  Every effort will be made to keep evil outside: anger, rage, abuse, active addictions, and the dark side of modern technology.  Within the home, the parents will nurture gentleness, affection, active listening, prayer, humor, fun, diligence, study, and some measure of solitude and meditation.  Families will safeguard against the compulsion to over-commitment and will strive to say ‘no’ while saying ‘yes’ always to God.
 
Families are so precious and key to virtuous, joyful living.  We want to seek mentors of all ages in the Church to help others with an array of wonderful ideas.  Everything we do for the sake of the family will be for the glory of God.  It isn’t easy today.  But prayer, courage, and intentionality will change the world and bring joy to the faces of our children and our Church.

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