Australian couple Ron and Mavis Pirola who will participate in World Meeting of Families in Dublin this year. Photo: Ron and Mavis Pirola.
By Theresia Titus
Australian families in a group of almost 40 will be departing to Dublin for the 2018 World Meeting of Families.
The Australian pilgrims will be accompanied by Bishop Michael Kennedy from the Diocese of Armidale as Bishop Delegate for the Family and Auxiliary Bishop Terry Brady from the Archdiocese of Sydney.
The meeting will take place from 21 to 26 August and is expected to be attended by some 37,000 people from all over the world.
Australian couple Ron and Mavis Pirola are part of the Australian group departing this year and the couple has attended the last seven World Meeting of Families.
Mr Pirola hopes all participating families will experience confidence renewal in their family lives.
“It’s a chance to step outside of the usual rush of daily life to be reminded that marriage is a wonderful calling that is fulfilling and achievable,” Mr Pirola said.
“Also, behind the messiness of so-called ordinary family life, with all its ups and downs, there is extraordinary bonding and caring. And it’s where the faith can best be passed on and where God’s mercy can be most visible.”
Australian pilgrimage group to World Meeting of Families 2015 in Philadelphia with Archbishop Emeritus Barry Hickey. Photo: Ron and Mavis Pirola.
Mrs Pirola pointed out that there are two things that we all can do to unite ourselves to this international event.
“One is to join in prayer with Pope Francis and with all participants. The other is to follow the discussion material of The Joy of Love,” Mrs Pirola said.
“It’s a wonderful experience of the Universal Church.
“Being with a huge throng of people from all corners of the globe, with all their different cultural backgrounds, yet all enthusiastic and united in the one faith is wonderfully inspiring and encouraging,” she added.
The Pirolas introduced Worldwide Marriage Encounter to Australia and directors of the Parish & Marriage Resource Centre (PMRC Australia).
Initiated by St John Paul II, the event occurs every three years alternating with the World Meeting of Youth.
From 22 to 24 August participating families will follow a three-day Pastoral Congress, with daily celebration of the Eucharist, prayerful activities, keynote speakers, workshops and exhibitions.
Following the Pastoral Congress, participants are invited to celebrate the Festival of Families, “a cultural celebration of music, dance, songs, within a prayerful and joyful setting, with the aid of stories told by different families representing the five continents”.
Pope Francis met engaged Australian couple, Kelly O’Kane from Yarrawonga VIC and Camillus Walsh from Grong Grong NSW at World Meeting of Families 2015 in Philadelphia. Photo: Supplied.
A solemn, open-air Mass celebrated by Pope Francis “in thanksgiving to God, the Holy Trinity for the gift of family and for its sanctification” will close the event on 26 August.
During preparations for the event, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin referred to the concept of family “as a primary place of encounter between the love of God and daily life”.
“Passing on the faith within families is not just an intellectual exercise,” Archbishop Martin said.
“Married couples pass on the faith by witnessing to the tender loving kindness of God through their mutual love as spouses – including their sexual love – and through their love of their children.”