Experiences with Familia?

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Gianna_Too

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Can anyone share their thoughts/opininons regarding the program “Familia”? Any positive or negative experiences would be helpful.

Thank you!

familiausa.net/
 
I have met many wonderful people who are very dedicated to family. The Familia members that I have spoken to have a strong sense of family unity.

I have read many books that have been recommended by familia. Great books, great advice, and I think in the world we live in we need more families to look into Familia.
 
We have Familia at my parish and several close friends belong and love it. I plan on joining a new session in the fall.
 
FAMILIA, (Family Life in America) is a four year study run by Regnum Christi and Legionaries of Christ. It studies the encyclicals and Catechism, along with reflecting on the gospel. It is very structured, with the group leaders recieving training before they lead each session. There is a men’s program and a women’s program and they study different documents.

I enjoyed my experience with FAMILIA and the women I met. It is very orthodox and people who don’t agree with Church teachings quickly left the program. I found it gave me great support and encouragement to follow the Church teachings on marriage and family. My one concern is I did find the program did seem to be looking to recruit me and others to Regnum Christi.

Legionaries of Christ (a fairly new order of priests) and it’s lay movement, Regnum Christi is regarded by many as very orthodox groups. Many wonderful people are part of it. But for some reason, the groups has been banned from a few diocese. Some say it’s just the liberals who don’t like them. But I have heard doubts about Regnum Christi raised by orthodox Catholics I trust. And the New Oxford Review, a highly conservative Catholic magazine, raised some serious questions about the Legionaries in their May 2005 issue.

So…overall while I’m glad I participated in FAMILIA and found it great, I have some hesitancy to recommend it. It may be part of an effort to recruit orthodox Catholics into a group that has been questioned by sources that I respect. If you decide to join, just be aware of that.
 
As a Regnum Christi member, I’d like to comment on gardenswithkids post. Regnum Christi 's main apostolate is to evangelize. At times, they appear to come on too strong as this evangelization is encouraged within the movement. I have noticed within the organization that there are those who are a little over the top in their apostolic zeal to recruit/evangelize new members. This can give Regnum Christi a bad name. I agree that Familia can be used as a starting point for this evangelization. However, Familia itself is a wonderful group that has a goal of truly strengthening Catholic families and educating them to live their lives according to the Faith. I highly recommend it. If you are not interested in joining Regnum Christi, be firm that you are just not being called to the movement at this time. I used to have a hard time saying “no” to things (i.e. adding to my apostolates–just recently I had to turn down a position within the movement). However, now I have no guilt. My family comes first and I do what I can without sacrificing family life.

Bottom line…try Familia. See what it’s about. It will benefit you and your family
 
Hi, G2!

I, also, am a member of Regnum Christi and am just finishing my 3rd year in FAMILIA (have been a member of Regnum Christi for 4 years).

Even if I didn’t already love Regnum Christi, I would love FAMILIA. It has changed (for the better!) how I view my relationships with God, Mary, my husband, and my child at such a deep level that sometimes I find it hard to explain.

I often say that I wish the first year of FAMILIA was mandatory for all Catholics – it is such a beautiful revelation of our part in God’s plan for all of us.

I just ran across this article today
wcr.ab.ca/news/2005/0516/familia051605.shtml
from the May 16 issue of the Western Catholic Reporter (a non-LC/RC publication).

The article speaks about FAMILIA for the husbands, but unfortunately not all areas have FAMILIA for men, and it is not mandatory that husbands and wives go together.

I can’t recommend it enough!

Good luck and God bless!

Debbie
 
I’m just finishing FAMILIA for the first year and my wife finished her second year (out of four years).

I wouldn’t worry about any kind of Regnum Christi recruiting. The groups are organized by people interested in learning more about their faith and how it applies to family. In my experience, the only time anyone involved with Regnum Christi is through the “animator” training. This is monthly training for help the group leaders lead the discussions to help prevent any misunderstandings or confusion over some answers to questions discussed.

I recommend it. It is a wonderful way to grow in your faith, meet like minded people who value family and their faith.
 
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