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Bangladeshi Catholics reflect on challenges of family life

Families discuss how children of mixed married couples have rights that the church must care for
Bangladeshi Catholics reflect on challenges of family life

A couple shares their family experience at St. Mary's Cathedral in Dhaka during pastoral gathering on Sept. 23. (ucanews.com photo) 

Published: September 27, 2016 09:21 AM GMT
Updated: September 27, 2016 09:22 AM GMT

Catholics at a pastoral meeting in Dhaka have discussed ways to overcome the social and pastoral challenges that families in the Muslim-majority country face in today's world.

Entitled "Love in the Family: Joy for the Church," the seminar's topics included the joyful experience of love in the family; our family — the domestic church; families participating in the mission of the church; spirituality of mixed married life; and care for the family in the parish.

About 300 Catholics from parishes across Dhaka Archdiocese attended the pastoral gathering at St. Mary's Cathedral Sept. 22-24.

Local officials say that although pastoral gatherings are a regular activity of the local church, this gathering resonated with Pope Francis' concern for family life as highlighted in his apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love).

"The church is concerned about how much love exists in the families today, what challenges they face and how to solve their problems. Negative impacts of technology-driven developments in the modern age are causing a decline in love and fidelity in the families," said Auxiliary Bishop Shorot Francis Gomes of Dhaka.

The church offers pastoral guidelines to families to promote prayerfulness, a sense of togetherness, forgiveness and proper socialization of children, the bishop said.

"Nowadays, people don't rush to the church when they have problems in the family. So, the church must reach out to them with love and care," he said.

Although, the church discourages interfaith marriage, it takes a constructive approach, he explained.

"The church accepts mixed marriage positively. We follow the call of Pope Francis that children of mixed married couples have rights that the church must care for. Besides, these couples can become guiding examples, demonstrating how to live in peace and harmony even when people follow different religions."

Married for 17 years, Catholic Asim Gomes and Muslim Munira Islam shared their joys and challenges.

"First we had a civil marriage and then we got married in the church. We practice our own religions and are raising our 8-year-old daughter in Christian values. Initially, we faced some difficulties at the family level but we have overcome everything," said Gomes.

"Sometimes, I have debates with my wife about religion, but we accept what is good for us. Our love and fidelity have helped us live a peaceful life," Gomes said.

God has called every husband and wife to build the "domestic church," says Kakoli Purification, a teacher who attended the assembly. "Families that commend themselves to God would never get distracted even if they face the hardest problems."

Like Dhaka Archdiocese, Rajshahi Diocese in northern Bangladesh also recently held a pastoral assembly on family life. About 200 people attended the Sept. 12-14 gathering that was entitled "Joy of Love in Merciful Christian Families."

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