Twenty-eight families recently participated in a Family Camp held by the Daughters of St. Paul in their Alberione Home Auditorium, Pasay City. The theme of the encounter was that of World Communications Day 2016: Communications and Mercy: A Fruitful Encounter.
The objective of the Camp was to highlight the importance of communication and mercy in building up relationships within and outside of the family in this Jubilee Year dedicated to mercy and the family. In fact, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has invited the Local Church to celebrate 2016 as a Year of the Eucharist and the Family. This theme is part of the Nine Pastoral Priorities of the Church in the Philippines for the New Evangelization in preparation for its Great Jubilee of 2021: the 500th anniversary of the coming of Christianity to the Philippines.
The Family Camp consisted of a full day of input and sharing on different issues that families are coping with today, such as health, drugs, natural disasters, financial problems, verbal abuse, bullying, the death of loved ones, computer addiction, etc. Special activities like drawing and film viewing were also organized for pre-teens and children.
The day concluded with a Eucharistic Celebration presided over by Fr. Khris Llacer, SSP, who pointed out in his homily that communication is basic to all relationships. He also challenged the families to continue to spread mercy and to pray for unity in the family.