Jerry, Wilda, and their children seated with Fr. Oliver McCrossan - Photo: Columban Mission
At the 1993 United Nations General Assembly, it was decided that “The International Day of Families” would be observed on the 15th of May each year, to address issues related to family wellbeing and the systems and structures that affect the livelihoods of families.
The theme for this year’s observance is “Families, Inequalities, and Child Wellbeing,” which highlights the increasing gaps that impact families and the future of their children. Throughout the world, many families experience inadequate support for social and economic progress, income security, and access to essential services, which in the long run has lasting impacts on children’s education, health, and wellbeing. This is especially in the case of children whose needs are compounded by discrimination against their race, gender, social status, disability, and migrant or refugee identity.
Family is foundational to the fabric of human society, without which, life ceases to exist as we know it. Family teaches community and relationality. The late Pope Francis wrote in his encyclical Laudato Si, that “the family represents a fundamental cell for integral ecology,” in other words, it is the basis from which members are educated in cultivating values and virtues that help sustain order, cleanliness, respect, and care for one another and creation.
However, families who face poverty, inequality, or discrimination in society will inevitably find it more difficult to educate children and cultivate a healthy and safe home when operating out of survival rather than family love and unity. Even in well to do families, discord can exist through absence, the breakdown of relationships, family violence, or neglect.
Because the strength of family draws on its capacity to love and teach how to love (Amoris Laetitia), provisions must be made through good governance, accessible service providers, employment opportunities, and strong education systems to support the wellbeing and development of growing families.
Columban Fr. Oliver McCrossan demonstrates how Church ministry can also be a source of support for families from marginalized communities in the Philippines. He tells of a “pedal driver” named Jerry from Ozamiz City who experienced a violent upbringing at the hands of his father. So bad were the beatings that Jerry ran away from home at a young age and lived on the streets. When he met and married his wife Wilda, Jerry vowed to try and never repeat the behaviour he received in his own family.
But Jerry still carried a lot of sadness and anger, which sometimes frightened him when he’d lash out at his children. But he and Wilda soon joined a church initiative for families called “Couples for Christ,” and Jerry began to view his problems as something hopeful which with God’s help, he could change for the betterment of his family, rather than remain in a situation of desperate hopelessness.
In a city like Ozamiz, opportunities for poor and vulnerable families are far and few between as people survive the abject realities of poverty. Yet Jerry became a beneficiary of a program run by Fr. McCrossan called “Pedaling to Live” and he was able to secure housing for his family and education for his children, sharing:
As Fr. McCrossan accompanies Jerry and his family, he prayerfully cultivates a dream for sustainable communities of “pedal drivers” and their families to live dignified and happy lives where they are afforded equal opportunities to strengthen and develop their children for the future.
Adi Mariana Waqa is the Regional Partnership Coordinator at St Columbans, Essendon.
