The recently created Diocesan Marriage and Family Life Ministry Task Force is presenting “Ministry with Families Leadership Formation,” a course by Steve and Kathy Bierne of the National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers, via Zoom, 9-11 a.m., over six consecutive Saturdays, Jan. 8-Feb. 12.
This training is an experiential learning process designed for all those whose ministries impact families.
It is meant to teach parish staff, ministry leaders and Catholic school faculty members and staff how to incorporate a family perspective in all they do.
On-line registration is at www.catholichawaii.org/mwftraining.
The cost of the course is $20 per person or couple and includes access to handouts and recorded sessions for those registered participants who cannot attend all the live sessions.
Credits may be applied as ongoing formation hours for Hawaii Catholic school teachers.
Lee and Tanya Barbero, members of the Marriage and Family Life Ministry Task Force, said that this kind of ministry is relevant today because “Everything we do touches families. It is woven into the fabric of the church.”
“Family life ministry is not another ‘new thing to do,’” they said, “but rather a new awareness of what we have been doing all along, looking at what we do through the lens of family life, and responding to the needs of our families.”
The Diocesan Marriage and Family Life Ministry Task Force was established in June 2021, with representatives from each of the diocese’s nine vicariates, to assist and accompany parish leaders in researching, planning, implementing and supporting their own marriage and family life ministries.
For more information, contact Lee and Tanya Barbero at 808-268-1578 or email MFLM.TF@gmail.com or go to CatholicHawaii.org/catholic living/marriage and family.