1. Preamble

1.1 The family in Asia finds itself in difficult times and turbulent circumstances.

1.2  To experience a Renewed Church in Asia and to give visibility to this renewal as an authentic mission of love and service,  renewal must begin with the family.

2. Renewal of the Family

2.1 Renewal of the family means: calling the family to a deeper understanding, living and responding to its sublime vocation and pristine duty which is to give, nurture, protect, foster and enrich life at the very sanctuary of life itself.

• That the family is the heritage bearer of humanity for the future of humanity passes by way of the family
• The family is the school for  training and imparting human- christian values and virtues.
• The family is the cradle for faith formation.
• The family is the first arena for socialization and development of the child
• The family is the cradle for vocations
• The family is the milieu where love and generosity are given expression to
• It is in the family that sexuality and spirituality offer for the normal and healthy development of the individual -  a school for a deeper humanity
• The family is the potent agent for Evangelization
• The family is the primary milieu when the gospel is first lived , experienced, shared and witnessed to
• The family is the only institution that directly Co-operates with God in the creation of new life i.e., Couples participates in God 's creative power.

3. The family in Contemporary Asian Context

Threatened by an array of forces such as individualism, hedonism, materialism, consumerism, interference by the state, contraception and technological life-style, these forces adversely affect the stability of marriage and family life. Often times as a result of and an inability to handle these forces, there is a weakening in faith, resulting in breakdown of relationships within the family thereby causing an alarming increase in spousal infidelity, separation between husband and wife, divorce, chemical abuse, violence, broken homes, dysfunctional individuals and consequently dysfunctional family life.

4. The Goal of the Apostolate

4.1 The goal of apostolate is to build God centered ,stable marriages and healthy happy family life.

4.2  This implies engaging in pro- active approaches that help the member of the family   and the family as a unit to be rooted in God.

4.3  It is in this rootedness that the family will drive the strength to withstand the pressures, problems and tensions inherent in contemporary society,

4.4 The family will then be able to positively contribute to a genuine understanding and appreciation of the sacredness and dignity of its vocation which will in turn enhance the quality of its own life and contribute to the renewal of life in the Church and also enhance the quality of life in the larger society.

4.5  This can be implemented through  programmes and projects

Prior to marriage

• Family life Education, Family catechesis
• Education in human sexuality
• Premarriage preparation (remote and proximate)

• Parenting
• Marriage Enrichment
• Natural Family Planning
• Family Spirituality
• Counseling:
• Pastoral Counseling
• Marriage and Family Counseling

• Ministry to Divorced and single parents

5.1 We once again recommend that the recommendation made in the Sixth Plenary Assembly of FABC  (Manila 1995 : Ref. E. no.4 ) be followed up by a decision to constitute an "Office for the Family " at this 7th Plenary Assembly now being held in Bangkok January 3-12, 2000.

5.2 That wherever it does not exit, each Conference of Bishops and each Diocese in Asia take up with utmost urgency the matter of constituting an effective functioning commission for the family at the National and  Diocesan levels and that full time trained persons be appointed for the task.

5.3 That Seminaries and Houses of Formation (men and women) include a syllabus for the family in their formation programmes, thereby preparing future priests and sisters for Family Ministry.

PS. That the Statement of the seminar cum meeting of the Bishops (Statement is appended) Chairman Commission for the Family in the countries of Bangladesh, India, Indonesia,  Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand, held at SERFAC, Chennai, India  August 12-19,1999, be taken as a component of the recommendation of this workshop (No 23: The Family) of the 7th Plenary Assembly, Bangkok 2000.

Conclusion

May the powerful spirit of God who guides the destiny of the Families in Asia, bless our endeavours for the promotion of stable marriages and healthy family life - the milieu of Renewal for the Church in Asia as we begin this Third Millennium

END