Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, Blessed and Endorsed Work of the Apostolate for Family Consecration
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, also praised the Family Catechism book, published by the Apostolate for Family Consecration. It is now available as a multi-media curriculum, with Cardinal Francis Arinze on DVD and CD as well as teachers’ guides and workbooks for Catholic School families.
Bloomingdale, OH (PRWEB via PR Web
Direct) April 20, 2005 – The 30-year old international Apostolate for Family
Consecration applauded the election yesterday of a friend and supporter, Joseph
Cardinal Ratzinger, as the Roman Catholic Church’s new pontiff, Pope Benedict
XVI.
The Apostolate for Family Consecration’s Founder Jerry Coniker has
had several blessed opportunities to meet with Cardinal Ratzinger, the last
meeting of which was November of 2004. Cardinal Ratzinger had previously written
to Coniker, endorsing his work, the work of the Apostolate for Family
Consecration and its publication of the Family Catechism. Cardinal Ratzinger had
also given permission for Jerry Coniker to interview in 2001Sister Lucia, at
that time the last living seer of Fatima.
“The Roman Catholic Church and
the entire world have been blessed with the gift of Pope John Paul II,” Coniker
said. “We are now blessed to have Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger -- who so faithfully
has served Pope John Paul II as a Roman Curia Cardinal for many years -- as our
new Pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI.”
Coniker said Cardinal Ratzinger
endorsed the work of the Apostolate for Family Consecration, in particular its
Family Catechism.
“The work's publication in this year of the family
could not be more timely. It anticipates many of the themes of His Holiness Pope
John Paul's Letter to Families,” Cardinal Ratzinger wrote in 1994. “The
cross-references provided to the Catechism of the Catholic Church will make it
an especially helpful instrument to parents and teachers.”
The Family
Apostolate adopted the spirituality of Pope John Paul II in 1986 and dedicated
an Apostolate within the Church, among others, to carry out his teachings and
legacy. This has primarily been done by Coniker and his late wife, Gwen,
Founders of the Family Apostolate and its 24-hour Familyland Television Network.
The Conikers had 14 encounters with the late Pope and dedicated their lives to
spreading his teachings.
The couple traveled the world over seeking to
capture the spirit of John Paul II by capturing on video his teachings and many
intriguing stories about his inner, personal life. “The Family Apostolate has
made a commitment to carry out John Paul II’s Eucharistic- Marian- and
Family-centered spirituality to the four corners of the world,” Coniker
said.
The Family Apostolate has now produced a multi-media curriculum
around its Family Catechism book, featuring Cardinal Francis Arinze, Prefect of
the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. The
package of curriculum materials includes DVDs featuring Cardinal Arinze teaching
the Family Catechism, CDs and printed instructional material geared for all
family members, including those in kindergarten through 12th
grade.
Working with Cardinal Arinze since 1986, the Apostolate for Family
Consecration has produced over 1,700 television-teaching shows on subjects
ranging from family catechetics to Vatican II, Scripture, and most of Pope John
Paul II’s major apostolic letters and encyclicals. The most recent production
features Cardinal Arinze commenting on Ratzinger’s and Arinze’s document
entitled “Redemptionis Sacramentum” (on certain matters to be observed or
avoided regarding the most Holy Eucharist).
Cardinal Arinze has visited
Catholic Familyland annually since 1987 and “has been an inspiration to the
Apostolate for over 19 years," Coniker said.
About the Apostolate for
Family Consecration:
The Apostolate’s largest center (950 acres) is
Catholic Familyland, located in Bloomingdale, Ohio. Other centers are in Manila
for Asia and at an 18-building center in Mexico serving all of Latin America. A
new center is starting in Nigeria (Onitsha Archdiocese) for Africa, and members
also work in Belgium, Europe, Canada, Pakistan and Russia as well as throughout
Asia, Africa, and Central and South America.
For additional information
on programs featuring Cardinal Arinze, a special production about Pope John Paul
II, catechesis, or to subscribe to Familyland Television Network, which also
features these encounters, call 1-800-77 FAMILY or visit www.familyland.org.
Contact:
Theresa Schmitz
Phone: (740) 765-5500, ext. 4007
FAX:
(740)-765-5561
e-mail protected from spam bots
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/4/prweb231355.htm