The Australian Catholic Marriage and Family Council (ACMFC) will next month initiate a national month of prayer and fasting for marriage and families.
Bishop Delegate, Marriage and Family of the Bishops Commission for Family, Youth and Life, Bishop Michael Kennedy, said the month of prayer and fasting is intended to be held in parishes across Australia as the nation prepares for a plebiscite on marriage.
“I encourage you to support your parish community to celebrate Mass, pray the Rosary and undertake Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament during this time with the special intention of marriages and families in mind,” Bishop Kennedy said.
In view of the upcoming month of prayer, the ACMFC has created a prayer resource to assist parishes to better equip themselves and anyone who wishes to join in observing this special time.
“The resource includes prayers for people who are same-sex attracted or gender questioning and their families,” Bishop Kennedy said.
The Council is calling for prayers from all parishioners: individuals, families and couples at Mass or in the home, through individual or community prayer.
Primarily the resources are intended as prayer themes at Mass for the specified Sundays. Parish priests may wish to use these as a focus to inform the liturgy on those dates.
In terms of fasting during the month, the ACMFC does not prescribe what form this may take. Parish priests may wish to determine appropriate suggestions to reflect the parish’s traditions.
A copy of the resource can be downloaded from the ACMFC website or by emailing pastoral.life@catholic.org.au.