This May, the Church is spotlighting the family. From May 7 to 14, National Family and Life Week will be celebrated in dioceses across Canada with the theme “Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another” (John 13:34). In the Diocese of Montreal, Ellen Roderick and her team are committed on a daily basis to the protection of life and the family as vocation. As National Family and Life Week approaches, we invite you to discover the mission behind the Diocesan Centre for Marriage, Life and the Family.

1.Hello Ellen! You have been supporting couples and families in the diocese of Montreal for 8 years through your work at the Diocesan Centre for Marriage, Life and Family. Those who collaborate with the Centre often say it is a hidden gem! For someone who may not know the Centre and its mission, how would you the describe it in a few words?  

The small team at the Diocesan Centre for Marriage, Life and Family desires to be a pastoral and spiritual support for individuals, families, couples and the parishes and movements that support them day to day in their journey of faith. Three words that are at the core of our mission are formation, accompaniment and fellowship. Formation in the Church’s vision of how God’s love takes flesh in marriage and family life happens in many ways, for example by our sessions for young couples preparing for marriage, in communicating John Paul II’s “theology of the body” and through workshops on bioethics and palliative care. Our spiritual support group for separated and divorced persons led by Deacon Francis Joannette is a concrete example of accompaniment, as is the attention we try to give to the numerous phone calls and emails we receive from individuals who turn to us for referrals for marriage and family counselling, parenting support and resources around sexual and affective education of children, healing after a miscarriage, support at the end of life, to name a few. There are so many wonderful ministries and initiatives to support marriage, life and family in our parishes and in the diocese, that we try to be a network of friendship between these groups, creating a sense of fellowship and unity.

2.What have you discovered about the vocation to family life through your time at the Centre? 

What stands out to me the most is the quiet witness of so many families who are heroically living their faith day to day. However, I have also discovered that many families feel alone and even isolated; they do not realize that there are so many others living the same experience. This is especially true for the many families who have come to Montreal from other countries; integrating one’s family culture to the culture of a new country is a particular challenge. I pray that we can be a small sign that reminds them that the Church is there for them and is caring for them.  

3. How can someone get to know the mission and work of the Diocesan Centre for Marriage, Life and the Family?  

In my opinion, the best way to get an overview of our mission is through our annual report of our activities which we prepare for our friends and benefactors. This colorful and dynamic report presents our team, our identity and our mission through photos, stories and an account of our various programs and community partnerships. Please check it out! We also have a humble presence on the diocesan website where we promote our marriage preparation programs and upcoming activities. You can sign up for our monthly newsletter as well!  

4.The National Office for Life and Family has prepared a great series of resources for families and parishes for the annual National Week for Life and Family. What are your hopes for this week in our diocese?  

You are right! The daily themes and activities and social media campaign of the National Week for Life and Family are attractive and dynamic. Each day a different dimension of family life is highlighted: for example, ministry to single mothers (we are proud that Montreal’s Momentum: Catholic Single Mothers has been highlighted!), accompaniment of a family member at the end of life, support to families with children with disabilities, etc. My hope is that through this National Week for Life and Family families feel more seen and supported by the Church and less alone. I pray that it can remind us all of God’s love for each family, not despite their struggles but precisely in and through them. I encourage everyone to check out the wonderful resources for this week of celebrating family life!