Life is always a good: Under-Secretary Gambino’s visit to Poland

Gabriella Gambino, Undersecretary of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, was invited by His Excellency Monsignor Wiesław Śmigiel, President of the Council for the Family of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, and by the Director of the National Centre for Family Pastoral Care of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, Father Robert Wielądek, on 19 and 20 May to Poland for a visit and a series of institutional meetings.

A visit to Poland to strengthen relations with the Polish family pastoral ministry

‘First and foremost, we wanted to introduce the Undersecretary to the family pastoral ministry in Poland, but also to draw inspiration from the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life. We were particularly inspired by the resource Life Is Always a Good, said Father Wielądek. “We hope that this visit will help to deepen the relationship between the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life and family ministry in Poland.”

On 19 May, in the early afternoon, in Konstancin-Jeziorna, the Undersecretary addressed the Spring Session of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, dedicated to family ministry in Poland. The session took place on 19 and 20 May in Konstancin-Jeziorna, attended by those responsible for family ministry, diocesan advisers on family life and representatives of movements and communities. The theme of the session was ‘How to promote a pastoral care of human life today in the light of the resource Life is Always a Good’.

Promoting a pastoral care of human life today in the light of the resource Life is Always a Good

“The resource promotes a pastoral commitment,” the Undersecretary explained to the participants, “to accompany the men and women of our time in embracing the Gospel of Life in their hearts, in their daily lives, and in their everyday choices, so that they may live in fullness and abundance (Jn 10:10).”

“At a time of extremely grave violations of human dignity, in so many countries torn apart by wars and all manner of violence […] we must strive,” said Gambino, “to ensure that the value of life is understood and embraced by the younger generations.” Everywhere, in fact, “there is a marked lack of education on this matter. Numerous surveys have been carried out in various ecclesial contexts which highlight, for example, a lack of understanding as to why in vitro fertilisation or abortion constitute forms of violation of human life.” “Therefore, even in formation for the Christian life, we must today start afresh from the fundamentals, namely from a clear and integral Christian anthropology, capable of interpreting and understanding the whole personal reality of men and women—a unity of body and spirit”—at every stage of life, from conception to natural death. “Dignity endures and can never be lost. This truth must be borne witness to today, but it must also be explained, recounted and proclaimed.”

Young people’s vocation to family life: the commitment of the Light-Life Movement

Later that afternoon, a meeting took place in Warsaw with representatives of Domowy Kościół, the family branch of the Light-Life Movement, who presented to the Under-Secretary the charism, origins, developments and apostolate of the family movement. Professor Gambino then spoke on the role and importance of the family in Christian initiation within pastoral contexts, and particularly in parishes, where there is a perceived urgent need to address the vocational crisis amongst young people, who are often spiritually disoriented but searching for a deeper meaning to life. There was an in-depth dialogue with families, which provided an opportunity to explore strategies for encouraging families’ participation in the pastoral mission and making them aware of their shared responsibility in evangelising the younger generations.

The main challenges for family ministry during the meeting with His Excellency Bishop Marek Marczak

On 20 May, the Undersecretary was received by His Excellency Bishop Marek Marczak, Secretary-General of the Polish Bishops’ Conference in Warsaw, and by His Excellency Bishop Tomasz Sztajerwald, a member of the Council for the Family of the Polish Bishops’ Conference. Together they reflected on some of the main challenges facing family ministry.

Radio interview: helping young people discover their vocation to marriage and parenthood

In an interview with the Polish Bishops’ Conference Radio, Professor Gambino emphasised how urgent it is that, within the Church, we all feel called to help young people discover their vocation to marriage and parenthood. ‘Being a mother and a father is a great gift and a privilege,’ she said. ‘The modern world struggles to understand the importance of a strong family; this is why the witness of married couples who demonstrate the meaning of family life is necessary. The sacrament of marriage transforms life and enables us to live the fullness of life to which we are called.’ Addressing young people, she said: ‘Do not be afraid. Something extraordinary and wonderful awaits you.”