The Head of the Family Life Commission of the Diocese of Roseau, Fr Herman Shaplis has called for the recognition of the family as the first school of human values, where we learn to use freedom. His call came while delivering the homily at the closing mass for Family Week 2025.
Addressing pilgrims gathered at the Church of Our lady of La Salette in Pointe Michel, Fr. Shaplis made reference to one of many of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation – Amoris Laetitia ( On Love in the Family).
Fr, Shaplis, who is chair of the Family Life Commission in the Diocese of Roseau, reinforced that ”it is in the family we learn to relate, listen and share , to be patient , show respect and love one another and live as one”.
He was also very emphatic in promoting the family as the Domestic Church and the Liturgy of the Domestic Church Life designed by Dr Grey and Lisa Popcak.
The Liturgy of the Domestic Church life calls on families to “schedule family time first; exhibit extravagant affection and affirmation; exhibit prompt, generous, cheerful and consistent attention to each other’s needs and discipleship discipline”. These Fr. Shaplis added can be reinforced through “family prayer rituals, family play rituals, family talk rituals and family work rituals”.
Family Week in the Diocese of Roseau culminated on Saturday 17th May with hundreds of pilgrims participating in a Family Pilgrimage from The Holy Spirit Chapel in Loubiere to the Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Pointe Michel.
The Day’s activity ended with celebration of the Holy Eucharist presided over by Fr Nigel Karam, Vicar General of the Diocese as main celebrant.
The theme for Family Week 2025 was “Our Families, Our Hope”.Family week formed part of the Jubilee Year being celebrated under the theme” Pilgrims of Hope”.
The event was coordinated by the Family Life Commission and the Family Life Units in the various parishes.
About Jubilee year 2025.
The year is a sacred time of renewal reflection and Grace in the Catholic Church. A Jubilee is celebrated every Twenty-five years. The theme for Jubilee 2025 is “Pilgrims of Hope,” and it will be a year of hope for a world suffering the impacts of war, the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the climate crisis.
The Jubilee of 2025 began on December 24, 2024, with the opening of the Holy Door and will last until January 6, 2026. In the Diocese of Roseau, The Jubilee year 2025 was officially opened on December 29th 2024, at Our Lady of Fair Haven Cathedral Chapel by His Lordship Bishop Kendrick Forbes.
The Jubilee year also coincides with the 175 Anniversary of the Diocese of Roseau and will
Therefore run from January 2025 to April 2026.
Four Pilgrimage sites – Our Lady of La Salette in Point Michel, St. Francis Xavier in La Plaine, St. Peter’s church in Colihaut and the Salybia Roman Catholic church have already been opened to provide a sacred space where the faithful can pilgrimage for prayer, praise, adoration, reconciliation and to receive special graces and a plenary indulgence.
There are other special activities to be rolled out during the Jubilee year, which is a special year of grace when the Catholic Church offers the faithful the chance to receive the plenary indulgence, meaning the forgiveness of sins for themselves or deceased relatives.
As we celebrate Jubilee 25/26 everyone is invited to participate and are encouraged to give of their time, talent and treasure to the success of the various events planned for the period
