Christian Family Movement brings families together

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
June 9, 2005

Christian Family Movement (CFM) has been developed at a few parishes in the diocese as a way to bring couples and families together to talk about family.

According to the CFM Web site, Christian Family Movement is a national network of parish/neighborhood small groups of families. Parents meet regularly in one another's homes. Through the use of programming available from the CFM USA Office and the dynamics of small group interaction, Christian values are reinforced and families are encouraged to reach out in action to others.

Sacred Heart Parish in Boone has active CFM groups. There are four small groups of about five to seven families each. The couples meet once a month during the school year and take summers off.

Julie Venner and her husband Tom, parishioners at Sacred Heart, have been involved in CFM for about 16 years.

The groups go through a program book that is published each year by CFM.

"Every year there is a different focus or a different theme," said Julie. "We just talk about different issues that affect families, whether it is within your own family, within your community, within society."

There are three parts to the meeting including a Scripture reading to begin, social and group inquiry and an observe and judge period.

The social and group inquiry is the time when the couples talk about the topic and how it affects their family. The observe and judge time is when the couples talk about what their family plans to do differently.

"The purpose of the whole organization is to make you more aware of what you can do to make your family better, your community better, your parish better," said Julie. "What we have found personally is that it is a very supportive network of families. If you are ever in need, those are the families that you feel comfortable going to. It is a great support group."

They also think of something that their family can do before the next meeting that follows through with the theme of that meeting.

The mission of the Christian Family Movement is to promote Christ-centered marriage and family life; to help individuals and their families to live the Christian faith in everyday life; and to improve society through actions of love, service, education and example, stated the Web site.

A couple of times a year, CFM in Boone tries to have a family event such as a picnic or roller skating to get the whole family involved.

"You get to know people you possibly would not get to know very well otherwise," said Julie. "Some of the families have been together for a long time."

Julie noted that at some parishes the groups are mixed up each year. At Sacred Heart, the groups stay the same from year to year. If there is a new group to be started, the Venners usually leave their current group to start the new one.

"We have found that, especially for new families in the parish, this gives people an opportunity to meet people faster," said Julie. "Every family has issues that they deal with. By being involved with CFM, it gives you a sounding board. You feel like you aren't the only parents saying, 'no, you can't go to this movie' or 'no, you can't watch that TV show.' It is supportive to know that there are people who feel the same way that you do and want to parent the same way that you do."

The Venners have developed lasting friendships through the organization and have been asked to be confirmation sponsors for children whose families are involved. The children and parents know each other on a personal basis, explained Julie.

"It encourages us and gives us ideas. It is always easier to do something as a group rather than individually," said Julie.

There will be a national CFM conference, titled Fanning the Fire of Faith 2005 Marriage and Family Life Conference, held July 15 and 16 at Holy Family Parish in Inverness, Ill. Entire families are invited to attend and be enriched by speakers and workshops on strengthening marriage and family life.

If interested in finding out more about CFM, to start CFM in your parish or to register for the conference, visit the Web site at www.cfm.org.