Infectious Joy – A “Family Fun Day” with Missionaries to the Family
One beloved aspect of the Missionaries to the Family community is gathering to share experiences and generally encourage one another on the journey. Missionaries and their families in the Diocese of Victoria, Texas, met for an annual “Family Fun Day” this past May 11 at the Bar Dot Ranch. Mass with Bishop Brendan Cahill highlighted the gathering, concelebrated by Father Jacob Koether, Episcopal Vicar for Evangelization and Catechesis, and Father Michael Rother. Twelve Missionary couples, along with their family members, joined in the day of food and fellowship, which included lawn games, fishing, and paddleboat rides!
Fr. Jacob shared, “I am very grateful for the work of Missionaries to the Family. Having couples in the parish who have intentionally considered their married life as a vocation and been formed in the Church’s vision of marriage causes a ripple effect that is difficult to put in words. My Missionary couples are the ones I rely on the most because they’re always available and willing to serve…their joy and passion are infectious. I can see healing taking place in their relationships and in their homes, and I can see spiritual renewal even happening in the lives of their children. These Missionaries are proof that the saying – “So goes the family, so goes the world” – is true. I wish all my married couples could be formed like this, because then my parish would be a true missionary community focused on preaching the Gospel and making disciples of Jesus. Thank you, Missionaries to the Family.”
Twenty missionary couples from 6 parishes currently serve in the Diocese of Victoria, and 6 more couples are entering formation this summer. Praise Him!
