Mater Dei Marriage Encounter Community thru the Family Encounter Weekend  Ministry sponsored another Family Encounter Weekend Class No. 43.   The Family Weekend Ministry headed by Phil Cristy Sumera and Family organized the weekend class which was held at the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) Retreat Center along Mapayapa Village,  Capital Hills,  Quezon City on April 28, 28, and 29, 2007.  The Class was participated by 6 families with 32 members.  The weekend was ably sponsored by FEW Class No. 42 with Paul Emma de Llamas as Shepherd, with their 8 family members.

The Ecclesial Team was headed by Rev. Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP and the Sumera Family as Team A and Sebastian Family as Team B.  The Team ably guided the families thru the Encounter Journey where they are confronted with the realities of feelings in the daily life of each family;  the uniqueness and specialness of each family as well as its individual members.  The families were made to realize about the influences and controls- the realities in family life which dictate the time,  the quality of relationships and interactions in family life.  There are also moments of closeness and unity where the family feels whole,  loving and strong.

Every moment in the life of the family is a time for decision to love,  to accept,  to forgive;  because the more love is given,  the more love is received.  Family unity is hindered by blocks within each member of the family which taken together results in creating walls between each other so that we can no longer see the real persons within our families.  To counter the blocks,  there are “helps”- positive actions and attitudes which remove the blocks and help to build bridges of love, acceptance and understanding.

Families are reminded not to be only fair but to reach out,  love more,  forgive more.  These are the seeds of reconciliation,  forgiveness and foregoing.   Out of these exercises comes healing of memories and spirit, bringing about the fruit of the weekend:  “Joy in the Family.”