India
For Archbishop George Antonysamy, of the Archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore, India, the family is the bedrock of the faith in India and for the whole Church. He told us, “If the family isn’t sound, the Church will not be sound.” This is true, especially when the Cathechism of the Catholic Church teaches that the family–the domestic church–is the primary catechist for children. “Family catechesis precedes, accompanies, and enriches other forms of instruction in the faith” (CCC 2226).
Archbishop George dreams of building a center in his archdiocese devoted to the Holy Family, where families can come for counseling, faith formation, and spiritual retreats. He requested a monstrance for this center, so that all the families who come can know Jesus and receive graces from sitting at the Lord’s feet in adoration.
Along with Catholics, Archbishop George taught us that Hindus and Muslims also have a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Hindus and Muslims make up the majority of the population in India, and Archbishop George wants to help form all families, so the Holy Family Center will be open to practitioners of all faiths–Hindu, Muslim, and Christians. Archbishop George wants to teach all families how to pray together and how to resolve conflicts and grow stronger together. It is so exciting to be part of that mission in an integral way by providing a monstrance!

Adore for Vocations
One major impact Archbishop Antonysamy hopes adoration in the Holy Family Center will have is on priestly vocations.
He shared with us that for many seminarians, their approach to their studies is more like studying for a profession rather than a vocation. This stems in large part from family culture in India. Adult children are expected to care for their parents, especially as they age. For many men in seminary, the priesthood appears to be a profession which will allow them to fulfill this duty. We know that the priesthood is a vocation, and a vocation is a gift from God, which allows us to know him, love him, serve him, and make him known to others. (Marriage and consecrated life are other vocations.)
Archbishop George sees that forming families goes hand-in-hand with forming the hearts of men called to the priesthood. He wants to mold the hearts and minds of these men in a special way so that they know that by giving their lives in service to God and his Church, they are doing more than taking up a job or career. They are, in fact, responding to God’s deep love for them. He wants to form families, too, so that they more fully understand their son’s calling and their own vocations.
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