Families That Pray Together Stay Together
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Rev. Scott D. Fobare - Pastor -
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Sunday, December 27, 2009 -
I remember when I was a seminarian, I traveled many times with a friend to his family home in Watertown. I remember the very first time I ever entered their house. Immediately upon walking into their home I noticed a plague on their wall. The plague simply read “A Family That Prays Together Stays Together.” It struck me. I had never heard that saying before.
The saying was coined by Al Scalpone, a professional commercial-writer, and was used as the slogan of the Roman Catholic Family Rosary Crusade by Father Patrick Peyton (P. Peyton, All for Her, 1967). The crusade began in 1942 and the slogan was apparently first broadcast on March 6, 1947 during the radio programme Family Theater of the Air. The Crusade in Britain started in 1952, and the expression now has many (often humorous) variant forms.
We continue to hear the proverb but do we believe it?
Our local diocese here has a summer camp that runs a three day workshop for families every summer. They now offer three different sessions, the numbers of people have increased over the years. These sessions are meant to bring families together and to strengthen their individual family bond. I have had the privilege over the years of being a part of these weekend experiences. I have watched with awe as families unite together with a common purpose. There is great evidence that it is true – a family that prays together stays together. The program offered by the Family Life Office of the Diocese of Ogdensburg affords the opportunity for each person within a family to share insights and values with each other. From their sharing they learn more about each other and also how precious the gift of family is.
Every family has a mission. Families should come up with their own individual mission. Working together as a family unit will bring about a greater good and strength for that family. This is what it means to pray together...and when a family prays together they stay together. Developing a family mission statement involves working through three steps. On the occasion of celebrating the Feast of the Holy Family on our church’s calendar I would like to share with you these three steps in hopes that maybe families will work on developing a mission statement that will bring about a greater strength for their families.
Step 1: Exploring what the family is all about. In this initial step, families communicate with each other as to how they personally saw themselves in their family unit. What is key in this step is the sharing of everyone's insights and ideas about the family. Families are urged to really communicate and listen to each other. Open communication is a must. Families are urged to write down what they hear being said and bring those notes together with their family and compile the statements together that explore their family.
Step 2: Writing the Family Mission Statement. After having communicated their ideas and insights about their own family each member brings their notes and statements written down on their paper with the whole family. All these notes and statements are joined together to form one statement. The Family Mission Statement is a statement of purpose for the family. Its aim is to give the family a point of direction which they, as a family, value. The mission statement gives them direction as a family. Let me remind you on the beginning of this step that this takes work and a committed effort to be honest and true about your family. A family mission statement is not written to never change. But it is written as if it wouldn’t change.
Step 3: Staying on the course. Follow up is essential in life. It is no different with family. Follow up on the statement that a family comprises is essential. Several months later the family should sit down and evaluate how they are living the statement that they created together. Every family living as family needs to be challenged not to put aside the value, purpose and direction that were set forth in the family mission statement.
There is no greater strength in life today than the strength of family. Families today are challenged by so many things. But the most important part of family is the bond and unit that you create inside your home. There is no place like home, Dorothy reminded us in the Wizard of Oz. Would you agree? Is there no place like home for you?
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