World Meeting of Families 2015

Diocesan faithful inspired by uplifting theme of World Meeting of Families in Philly

PHILADELPHIA  A tremendous sense of mercy and love permeated the World Meeting of Families (WMF) 2015, held from Sept. 22-25 at the Philadelphia Convention Center here — even long before Pope Francis arrived for the last two days, electrifying the faith-filled international gathering, which was guided by the theme, “Love Is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive.”

That’s what Eni Honsberger, diocesan director of Family Life at St. Paul Inside the Walls: the Diocesan Evangelization Center at Bayley-Ellard, Madison, reported, while attending WMF, a celebration of family, community and faith. World-renowned speakers, along with high-level musical and visual performers, entertained and educated participants from around the world, offering ideas and insights that many of them — like Honsberger — said that they hope to bring back to their home dioceses. Her husband, Brian, diocesan director of campus ministry and minister to Generation Y, also at St. Paul’s, accompanied her to WMF.“It was fantastic. It accomplished its purpose: to encourage families that are trying to do their best, which is a challenge in our culture. The speakers [in the keynotes and break-out sessions] supported and uplifted families,” said Eni Honsberger, who left WMF early to attend the Sept. 25 papal Mass at Madison Square Garden in New York City. “During the meeting, there was anticipation for Pope Francis, but every day, there was great excitement. We were living in the moment along with everyone there,” she said.

Several other Catholics from the Paterson Diocese joined WMF during the week, including Jan Figenshu, pastoral associate of St. Vincent Martyr Parish, Madison; Father Premyslaw Nowak of Assumption Parish, Morristown, who brought a group of young adults later on; and Thomas Ciborski, who has been involved in the Knights of Columbus at both the diocesan and state levels.

The international gathering concluded with the Festival of Families with Pope Francis on Sept. 26 and a Mass on Sept. 27 both held at Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The festival featured a program filled with world-renowned performers. Then, six families from different continents described their joys and challenges, followed by a response from Pope Francis. The event also included exhibits and performances throughout the day by cultural groups, educational institutions.

“The most beautiful thing that God did, says the Bible, was the family. In the family, there are indeed difficulties. But those difficulties are overcome with love. Hatred is not capable of dealing with any difficulty, and overcoming any difficulty. Division of hearts cannot overcome any difficulty. Only love is able to overcome,” Pope Francis told the large crowd. “Family is beautiful, but there’s effort involved, and there are problems. Husbands and wives quarrel, and end up badly, separated. Never let the day end without making peace. Let’s protect the family, because it’s in the family that our future is at play,” he said.

During the week, WMF included daily Masses and a broad array of presentations that highlighted the event’s theme, which emphasized the impact of the love and life of families on our society. Notable speakers included Auxiliary Bishop Robert Barron of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles on “Living as the Image of God: Created for Joy and Love;” Scott Hahn, an author and presenter, on “Back to the Garden of Eden: Unearthing God’s Covenant with Humankind;” and Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley of the Boston Archdiocese and the Rev. Richard “Rick” Warren, author of the bestselling book, “The Purpose-Driven Life,” on “The Joy of the Gospel of Life.”

“Since its inception by St. John Paul II in 1994, the World Meeting of Families has strengthened the sacred bonds of families across the globe,” stated the WMF web site, www.worldmeeting2015.org, which also notes that the Holy See’s Pontifical Council for the Family sponsors WMF — the world’s largest gathering of Catholic families — every three years. “Each World Meeting of Families has a theme that energizes and enlivens the event while adding great depth of meaning to our understanding of families.”

During the meeting, Eni Honsberger was inspired especially by a talk by Janet Smith, a professor, which embodied the gathering’s theme of love and mercy, when speaking about aging and the elderly.

“Dr. Smith admitted that she wasn’t always the sweetest daughter, when caring for her mother with Alzheimer’s Disease, but came to understand what her mother needed. Through it [the difficulty of caring for her mother], she recognized it as a grace,” Eni Honsberger said. “We all have a responsibility to care for and respect the dignity of the elderly. I want to bring that back to the diocese in Family Life,” she said.