CHRISTIAN FORMATION IMPARTED BY FAMILIES, SCHOOLS AND PARISHES

VATICAN CITY, NOV 10, 2001 (VIS) - The bishops of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei were welcomed by the Holy Father this morning upon the conclusion of their "ad limina" visit. In his talk to them in English the Pope underscored the importance of the family, the school and the parish in the "lifelong Christian formation" of the faithful.

He told the prelates that "lifelong Christian formation ... is the essential support of a solid Christian life, a formation that begins in Baptism, develops through grace at every stage of life's journey, and will end only when our eyes are fully opened in the beatific vision of heaven. ... It unfolds in the lives of most of the faithful (in) the family, the school and the parish. These are not just conventional arrangements which might at some point be judged outmoded; they are in fact enduringly valid institutions through which the grace of Christ is mediated to those involved."

"In your lands," said the Pope, "the family is under pressure. Divorce has become more common. ... Among couples of different religious allegiance, the problem is especially felt, since the shared bond of faith is lacking. Family life is also more difficult where the mass media present values contrary to the Gospel and become instruments of a vision of life reduced to the ephemeral and unsubstantial." He underlined the Church's "mission of proclaiming to all people the plan of God for marriage and the family."

John Paul II then noted that, "In the lifelong process of formation, Catholic schools are closely associated with parents in teaching children to know and love both God and man." He praised the work in the field of Catholic education in their particular Churches, but noted that "the presence of Religious in the schools is less assured now than it was, and dedicated lay teachers are assuming wider responsibility." He urged the bishops to pay special attention "to their training ... to ensure that they see their professional work as a genuine vocation ... and to ensure that what is most distinctive about Catholic schools is not compromised."

The Holy Father then turned to the role of the parish, saying that "Just as schools cannot be separated from the education that takes place within the family, so too they are intimately related to the formation offered in the parish. This is especially true where the faith cannot be taught in schools but must be taught in the parish." The Pope emphasized the importance of "special formal and informal training," not only for catechists but for priests as well.

And, he said, "What is true of priests is also true, a fortiori, of bishops. ... With the many pressures of your ministry, it is never easy to find the time for further study and reflection. Yet this is very necessary."

In conclusion, Pope John Paul stated: "The Catholic family, school and parish must, each in its own way, become more and more a school of faith and holiness, a sanctuary where God is worshipped and a service to a broken world."

AL;...;...;MALAYSIA; SINGAPORE; BRUNEI;VIS;20011112;Word: 490;