Catholic Charities USA

On this Sunday after Christmas and during a time of year where family is so significant, we recognize and honor- fittingly so- the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The Church traditionally holds up the Holy Family as a model for family life. However, I have often thought that this paradigm of the Holy Family is unrealistic and seemingly impossible to measure up to as a family.

Having said this, I do believe that there are ways in our various ministries throughout Catholic Charities that we can see a reflection of the Holy Family. My agency’s programs this year have chosen Celebrating Family Spirit as a mission theme, expressing an essential aspect of the spirituality of St. Luigi Guanella, patron of our division, as well as the spirit present among us. Though generally speaking the blood ties of family are not present, I have often had staff express to me that they clearly see the residents they support, serve, and care for as “family.”

For me, this is evident in today’s second reading, from St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians, which lists virtues that were certainly present in the life of the Holy Family, and which I also see our “partners in mission” exemplify: “heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, …And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts.”

We find in our first reading, from Sirach, roles that would have marked the family life of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. These too, in a certain form, are exemplified by our staff, especially in the closing verse of this passage: “a house raised in justice to you.”

A final thought. Catholic Charities ministries often support families in the hardships, struggles and difficulties found in family life. The vision statement for Catholic Social Services I Philadelphia states that, “Catholic Social Services exists to transform lives and bring about a just and compassionate society where… families are healthy and strong.” We pray to the Holy Family for that desire knowing that, in the social teaching of the Second Vatican Council, families are the “primary and vital cell of society.”

Fr. Dennis M. Weber, SdC, is Director of Ministry and Mission, Developmental Programs Division, Catholic Social Services, Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph