Pope Francis challenges me. There is no way for me to listen or read his words without feeling he is speaking directly to me and calling me to action.

One of the things I really appreciate about being a volunteer with the Couple to Couple League is that it is truly a ministry. As a couple, my husband and I can minister to other couples and families with a message that is sorely missing today. Together we can help build stronger marriages and thus stronger families. We do this through our NFP apostolate.

My husband recently found the following paragraph in Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, which seems to summarize our position within the Church. I thought it would be interesting to share not only with the general public to elaborate on our mission, but also with other CCL volunteers as a reminder of where we fit in the greater scheme and how we serve our communities:

“Other Church institutions, basic communities and small communities, movements, and forms of association are a source of enrichment for the Church, raised up by the Spirit for evangelizing different areas and sectors. Frequently they bring a new evangelizing fervour and a new capacity for dialogue with the world whereby the Church is renewed. But it will prove beneficial for them not to lose contact with the rich reality of the local parish and to participate readily in the overall pastoral activity of the particular Church. This kind of integration will prevent them from concentrating only on part of the Gospel or the Church, or becoming nomads without roots.” (Evangelii Gaudium, paragraph 29).

Blessings!