World Meeting of Families celebrates human, Christain values

photo courtesy of Ricardo Arias

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Deacon Ricardo Arias, Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Madariaga, Father Javier Virgen, associate director of Vocations and Vicar of Hispanic Affaris, Deacon Forrest Gray, and his wife Maria Cruz Gray, director of the Office of Hispanic Ministry, gather to share thoughts about the World Meeting of Families in Mexico City Jan. 14-18.

SALT LAKE CITY — Thousands of people from around the world participated in the sixth World Meeting of Families that took place Jan. 14 –18 in Mexico City. The main theme of the meeting was "The family, teacher of human and Christian values."

"One cannot describe what it was to be there, participate, and see all these families," said Maria Cruz Gray, director of the Office of Hispanic Ministry of the Diocese of Salt Lake City and one of the seven people from Utah who were part of the congress. "They were expecting 6,000 people and we were almost 12,000," she said.

"We would eat and pray together. We were a family." Gray also said she spent time with people from Argentina, Chile, Pakistan, Sweden, and more.

The president of Mexico Felipe Calderon inaugurated the congress and said the family is "where an integral human development can truly be founded or be lost." He also said, "It is the State’s concern to recognize and protect the family, which is the basic cell of society."

"The presence of the president in the meeting was very important to be able to tell the world, not just Mexico, that governments need to be compromised to defend and promote the family as an institution," said Deacon Ricardo Arias, secretary of the Office of Vocations.

The first part of the meeting was a theological-pastoral congress that took place at the Bancomer de Santa Fe Expo Center. During this congress the participants reflected on and shared ideas concerning important family themes.

"Father (Raniero) Cantalamessa talked about family relationships and values according to the Bible. He gave us examples of families from the Old and New Testaments so we could see how, since the beginning, God’s plan is for us to live as a family," said Gray.

The festive and testimonial event of the meeting took place at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe Jan. 17. Families and married couples sang and shared their testimonies during this second phase of the meeting. Additionally, they prayed the Rosary and consecrated their families to the Virgin of Guadalupe.

"This was a very special moment," said Deacon Arias. "I had great admiration for the faith of all the people from all social classes, especially for the faith of the humble, the elderly, and the indigenous people… One can feel the presence of the Virgin in the Basilica responding to the needs of the people," he said.

"We were all crying," said Gray about the consecration moment. "The priority of the participants was the triumph of the families. We knew that the future depends on the force and union of the family," she said.

The World Meeting of Families ended with the solemn Eucharist, presided by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. A special message from the pope was transmitted in a video conference.

"Even though the pope could not be physically present, I still had a great feeling because he is the Vicar of Christ and his words are wise, touching, and current," said Deacon Arias.

Pope Benedict XVI granted the participants plenary indulgence. Those who could not attend the meeting, but whose spirit and thoughts were in the meeting, also received plenary indulgence under the same conditions as the participants: confession, eucharistic Communion, and prayer, excluding themselves from any attachment to sin during the days of their devoted participation in the meeting.

The pope also announced that Milan, Italy will be hosting the 2012 World Meeting of Families with the theme "Family, work, and Celebration."

Veola Burchett, director of the Office of Marriage and Family Life suggests families visit the World Meeting of Families web site: www.emf2009.com for valuable information.

"It has very good presentations for people to read. They can find great articles that are just one page long," said Burchett. She recommends the values section where families can learn about responsibility, friendships, dignity, self-denial, and forgiveness.