Families from across the Archdiocese of Pretoria came together on Saturday, 26 September, for a day of faith, family and fun at the annual Archdiocesan Family Fun Day.
Organised by the Archdiocese of Pretoria’s Marriage and Family Life Ministry, the event was held from 9am to 3pm at Christ the King Church in Queenswood, Pretoria, under the theme “Families United in Hope & Joy”.
A large part of the day’s proceedings was coordinated by the chaplain of the Archdiocese of Pretoria Marriage and Family Life Ministry, Fr Erick Samson Mwakibete OFM Cap, together with the organising team of the ministry.
Marriage and family in Focus
The day began with a seminar focusing on marriage, family life and the importance of understanding and living with differences within the family.
In his seminar address, Auxiliary Bishop Masilo John Selemela said marriage brings together people with different perspectives and experiences.
“Each of us comes into marriage with our own perspective. The husband has his, the wife has hers, and the children have their own perspectives. It is therefore important to understand the community of marriage, the identity of oneself and the authority of the spouse.”
He said these differences should not undermine the unity of the family, but should be understood as part of living together.
“We may be different in the way we think and perceive things, but we are called to unity. Differences will naturally emerge because each person comes into marriage with his or her own upbringing, background, experiences, values and beliefs.”
Bishop Selemela said this understanding was particularly important when two people decided to share their lives in marriage.
“When choosing a husband or wife, people may be drawn together by shared interests, ideas, beliefs and values, but they will also encounter matters they perceive differently. Marriage is the decision to share one’s life with another person, with all the experiences and circumstances that have shaped that person.”
Bishops celebrate Mass
The seminar was followed by Holy Mass celebrated by Archbishop Dabula Anthony Mpako and Auxiliary Bishop Masilo John Selemela, parish priest Fr Daniel Kivuw’a IMC, Fr Erick Samson Mwakibete OFM Cap and a visiting priest from eSwatini.
The St John the Baptist Church Youth Choir from Pretoria North provided the music for the Mass, offering a varied selection of hymns, ranging from well-known vernacular hymns to traditional English hymns.
Honouring marriage milestones
The Mass was followed by a special celebration of wedding anniversaries, recognising well over forty couples from across the Archdiocese who had completed five, 10, 15, 20 or 25 years of the Sacrament of Matrimony. The couples received certificates marking their marriage milestones, which were blessed by the two bishops.
Families united in purpose
The ceremony was followed by a closing address from Marriage and Family Life Ministry chairperson Mrs Dineo Lekganyane, who said the gathering reflected the ministry’s aim of bringing people together across all categories.
“Our mandate is clear: to bring families together. We wanted people from all categories under one roof, celebrating the beauty of family without anyone feeling excluded.”
Lekganyane thanked the deanery leaders and parish representatives for their work in making the event possible, singling out Mrs Ditshoke, the deanery chairperson, for her contribution and the support of her team. “Getting to all the parishes and deaneries is not easy. Our leaders and parish representatives have worked tirelessly to make this day a success.”
She said the ministry was encouraged to see the gathering take place for the second time this year and urged greater participation from priests and parishioners. “As commission members, we are very happy to see this come together again. We encourage priests and parishioners to come in greater numbers and spend the day together.”
Lekganyane also thanked the youth choir from St John the Baptist Catholic Church, Pretoria North, under Fr Jeremiah Mkhwanazi, for supporting the event. “This showed that young people are also part of the ministry. We are grateful to the conductor, Mandisa Ntwana, and youth leader Atlarelang Mokono, for their contribution.”
The formal programme then gave way to a more relaxed family celebration. Families enjoyed lunch from food vendors before taking part in various fun activities, bringing the day to a close in an atmosphere of fellowship and celebration. The gathering brought together prayer, reflection, music, food and recreation, giving families an opportunity to celebrate their faith and family bond together.
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