A New Vision of Family Life:

Book excerpt: Amoris laetitia calls on the Church to minister in a different way to families. In this document, Pope Francis offers a new vision of pastoral care that insists that the Church has a mission to accompany, discern, and integrate families into the Body of Christ, no matter the challenges in their lives. In A New Vision of Family Life: A Reflection on Amoris laetitia, Fr. Louis J. Cameli helps pastoral staff understand how they can support families as they accompany them through difficulties, aid them in discerning their conscience, and integrate them into the parish community. The author shows that such support is vital if the Church is to form families as disciples. Fr. Cameli shows pastoral staff that they can help families see how God works in their lives, understand their experience in light of the Gospel, hear how God is calling them to conversion, and carry their conversion to a world in need. The book situates marriage and family life as a central focus for transformation in the Christian life. Questions at the end of each chapter help the reader reflect on how parishes can implement the vision in Amoris laetitia.