The Association of the Holy Family is a group of Christian families, approved by the Holy See, which through the consecration to the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, intends to be a community of disciples, witnesses and apostles of Nazareth.
THE XX CENTURY
by C.L. Stoeber, SF
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Then on 3 April 1928, Pope Pius XI appoints the Congregation of the Sons of the Holy Family as the official “custodians” of the Universal Pious Association of Families Consecrated to the Holy Family, naming the mentioned magazine as the “official mouthpiece” for all the Spanish-speaking countries.
In the light of Pope John Paul II’s pastoral concern for marriage and the family, and in the interest of carrying out the recommendations of the 5th Synod of bishops also on the family, a decision is made to update and simplify the name and the statues of the existing Universal Pious Association of Families Consecrated to the Holy Family. Upon completion of this undertaking, the Superior General of the Congregation of the Sons of the Holy Family forwards with a cover letter to Ugo Cardinal Poleti, dated 8 September 1980, the revised and updated Rules and Statues of the renamed Association of the Holy Family. Within a few days, the new Rules and Statues are accepted and approved in Rome.
Even more recently, after several years of renewed study and work regarding the continuing deteriorating situation of marriage and the family in the contemporary world, an increasingly serious and urgent need is felt throughout the above-mentioned religious Congregation of the Sons of the Holy Family to adopt a totally new approach to the Association and restructure its whole purpose, mission, and organization.
A decision is made to this effect, and the work begins of restating in clearer term’s the Association’s theological foundation, its nature and purpose, its duties and responsibilities as well as that of restructuring its organization and levels of involvement and commitment. The task is finally completed in time to be reviwed by those elected to attend the XVIII General Chapter of the Sons of the Holy Family. In January 1987, the Chapter Fathers respond affirmative to the new focus, content and restructuring. The new document is then forwarded to Rome for final approval, which is obtained in November 1987. And for now, and the foreseeable future, both the Sons and the Missionary Daughters of the Holy Family are committed to its fullest dissemination and implementation.