Families on the ball

As I am writing this column we have just celebrated the feast of the Baptism of Jesus. What happened right then with the Holy Spirit descending on him and the Father’s voice saying “This is my Son, my beloved” always touches me, and the readings during this time from the first letter of John on the theme “God is love” developed this too. 

At the end of the holidays, the beginning of a new school and working year I wonder if parents can say that about their children. Are we truly sick of one another by now, have we been able to work on this parent-child love relationship or are we sad that we haven’t seen more of one another?

Although holiday time is over for us in South Africa, now there is nevertheless a kind of holiday atmosphere being kept on the boil. The 2010 World Cup is going to consume much of our attention and energy for the next six months at least. Is that going to be a good or bad thing for families? I believe that we will need to be particularly vigilant not to be sucked up into the hype as individuals or age or interest groups, but to make the best of it as families too.

Yes, concerns are justified over serious issues of prostitution and the human trafficking of women and children during the World Cup, and there is a great need for vigilance. Rowdiness and hooliganism are to be expected from over-exuberant visitors and that can rub off on our own people. Everyone who has anything to sell or to offer is bent on making whatever profit they can—hopefully by fair means, not foul.

So what will all this do for and to families? The very busy-ness can pull us apart, but a number of positive options do exist over the next months.

The 2010 SACBC Family Calendar’s overall theme “Families Play The Game” and the monthly themes can give families something to talk about, especially during a weekly Family Hour which is an activity being promoted actively through the Marriage and Family Living magazine.

Family Hour is spending some quality time together, ideally an hour or so, once a week. On the spiritual side it can include the Sunday readings and some sharing on how they relate to our family, but also important is a chance for members to share their own concerns and issues and be listened to and accepted. This is a very important technique to be learned and practised in families. Some time for a meal or a snack and playing a game together will make the time fun.

January’s family theme is “The Game of Life” and can deal with different aspects including a concern with the environment and climate change. February’s theme “Match Play” is about love and marriage.

In families that have a Family Hour regularly members get turns to choose the activity for that week. It does take commitment and sometimes sacrifices too but with Lent starting already in the middle of February families can make this a Lenten project which will hopefully be found to be beneficial and continue on beyond Lent. A Family Reconciliation service in homes some time during Lent can be encouraged by parishes.

Maybe parishes are already organising some families games, football or others, to engage with the spirit of things. Inter-parish football games and possibly a family day on Easter Monday (which in South Africa is Family Day), can be planned. Also keep an eye on the website www.churchontheball.com for information.

The 2010 theme will keep coming up, of course, and it is good to begin to plan now at the beginning of the New Year, when resolutions are possibly still being made or already being reviewed, if not being abandoned.

A good family slogan for the year ahead is “The family that prays and plays together stays together”, and one can say that good, quality family time can keep families “on the ball.”