Family Census 2006 Overview

Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly has selected FAMILY as common theme of the year 2006 for all the departments and associations in the archdiocese to plan and execute programmes accordingly. Family is the domestic church and basic cell of society. All the good and evil stem from and develop in the family and spread over the Church and Society through its members. Therefore it is the responsibility of the Church and Society to cater to the needs of the family and foster them so as to make it healthy enough to meet the needs of the Church and Society at large.

Over the years, tremendous changes have been taking place in the nature and functioning of families. The needs of the families have been changing due to the fast changing society with its characteristics of consumerism, urbanization, globalization etc. Roles of individuals in the family have changed and a deep sense of independence and individuality is felt among members. Traditional family values that have been binding the members are giving way to more person-oriented values. The attitudes and relationship among the members become more career and success oriented.

The Archdiocese reaffirms its commitment and dedication to the cause of the family and would like to take up more family oriented programmes during this Family Year 2006. In order to understand the needs of members of various age groups in the family and different status of life, the CRD conducts a study on the families and collect some basic data from each family in our Archdiocese.

Objectives:

• Find out the impact of modern sociological trends and changes on the family

• Assess the pastoral needs of the family today

• Plan and carry out more target oriented programmes through Family Apostolate during this year of the family

• Help the Archdiocese and the parishes to address the challenges that threaten the families today

• Evaluate the effect of the activities of the Department for the past 30 years

Methodology:

• CRD prepares a draft concept paper and questionnaire

• Confirmation of the viability of the study and verification of its scientific nature and finalizing the concept paper and questionnaire in consultation with the experts and with the Department of Family Apostolate

• Discussing the project with the Forane Directors of Family Apostolate and entrusting them to supervise the study in their respective forane

• Forane level meeting of all the Parish Animators of Family Apostolate of the respective forane to explain the project and to entrust them the task of collecting data from the parishes

• Parish Animators explain the project and questionnaire to the representatives of family units

• Family unit representatives distribute the questionnaire to the families and collect basic data. They enter the summary in the format given to them and entrust the summary format to the parish animator along with the answered family questionnaire.

• Parish Animator collects summaries from unit representatives and prepares total summary data of the parish in the format and reach them to the Forane Director along with answered family questionnaires.

• CRD collects the data from the Forane Directors.

• Tabulation and Preparation of Reports by the CRD and handing over the reports to the DFA