Strengthening Bonds and Fostering Love

A family day is a unique occasion that honors the value of families and the ties that bind them. Families can take advantage of the opportunity to spend quality time together, make new memories, and enjoy each other’s company. The purpose of the day is to reinforce family ties and promote a sense of community, whether it is observed in a traditional or creative way.

Many activities, such as family vacations, picnics, sporting events, board games, movie evenings, or just hanging out at home can refer to this. Disconnecting from regular life, unwinding, and savoring time spent with loved ones are the goals.

In the context of the church, it is a special occasion for families to come together and strengthen their faith while spending time with each other. It can be a day to celebrate the importance of the family as the basic unit of society, as well as the role that the church plays in supporting and nurturing families.

Last February 25, 2023, the celebration of the Archdiocesan Family Day with the theme “The Filipino Family: Cradle of Synodality” was held at the St. Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary (REMASE). More than a hundred families attended this activity representing various parishes. It started with the Holy Mass then was followed by the discussion on the importance of mental health to various individuals as well as families led by Dr. Jerzon John Trocio.

“Our whole well-being depends on our mental health, so it is necessary that we care for it just as much as we do for our physical health. It speaks of our psychological, emotional, and social well-being and has an impact on how we feel, think, and behave throughout the course of a typical day.” Dr. Trocio said.

Center Manager of Mother Ignacia National Social Apostolate Center Inc., Mr. Jerson Bontuyan, also discussed the soft launching of the “Dangpanan”, an advocacy of the Archdiocese of Davao where people who have personal problems, problems concerning their family or parish can come. They can approach the Archdiocese of Davao to help them cope with their problems.

“We have training on this so that at least we can really synchronize what is the process or method of our advocacy established by the Archdiocese of Davao especially for our family concerns”. Bontuyan said.

During the day of the event, families did exciting games and had a few amusements. They also did the group sharing which made them emotional. This momentous event strengthened their bond as one family. The memories they created during the event will continue to bring them joy and comfort for years to come.

We all value the memories we have of our families. They provide us a sense of community, instill in us the importance of spending time with loved ones, and help us develop our identities. This Archdiocesan Family Day reminds us that the family is not just about blood ties, but about the connections we make with those who love and support us. It is a time to come together and celebrate the love and joy that comes from being part of a family. (Jhun Marwel Manzano | HCDC Intern)