The Christian family manifests to

everyone the Saviour’s living

presence in the world.
Gaudium et Spes (Vatican II)
 SESSION 2

The Christian Couple

As A Pastoral Team
pastoral team
Two or more people working
pastor ≃ shepherd
toward a common goal

Tends “sheep”. United. Cohesive.

Responsible for those Clear roles.
entrusted to their care. Complement each other.
ABC

Pastoring like the Good Shepherd

I am the good shepherd; I know my
own and my own know me, as the
Father knows me and I know the
Father; and I lay down my life for
the sheep [...] The hireling flees
because he [...] cares nothing for
the sheep.

Jn 10 : 11-13
“Simon, son of John, do you
love me?” [...]
“Yes, Lord; you know that I
love you.” [...]
“Feed my lambs.” [...]
“Tend my sheep.” [...]
“Feed my sheep.”

Jn 21 : 15-17
We are stewards of
the King’s children.
Fr. Henri Nouwen
EQUAL, YET DIFFERENT

Team Husband & Wife

Men and women are equal in dignity,
complementary in mission.
Pope Saint John XXIII
Woman is not independent of man
nor man of woman; for as woman
was made from man, so man is
now born of woman. And all
things are from God.

1 Cor 11 : 11-12
 The parish is a community of
communities and movements.
Pope Saint John Paul II
The family is, so to speak, the
domestic Church. In it, parents
should, by their word and
example, be the first preachers of
the faith to their children.

Lumen Gentium (Vatican II)

WALKING IN THE LIGHT

Practical steps
1
DEEPENING OUR SPOUSAL RELATIONSHIP

❖ Recognize attacks on your

marriage
❖ Respond quickly
❖ Praise God for your victories
❖ Communicate constantly
2
GROWING AS A CHRISTIAN FAMILY

❖ Fix time for daily

family prayer
❖ Inculcate an attitude
of gratitude
❖ Bless your children
❖ Family recreation
3
EMBRACING AUTHENTIC CHRISTIAN VALUES

❖ Make Jesus the Lord of

the home
❖ Setting family priorities
❖ Investing for Heaven
4
MAKING PASTORAL PLANS

❖
Go forth.
4
PRAYER, FASTING & INTERCESSION

For we are not contending against

flesh and blood, but against the
principalities, against the powers,
against the world rulers of this
present darkness ...

Eph 6 : 12
Marriage is not 50/50.
It has to be 100/100.