16 OUR DIOCESE
Pandemic prompts Family Life director to create virtual groups Cristina D’Averso-Collins, director, Diocesan Office of Family Life Ministry, is responsible for providing resources and supporting ministries of welcome, formation and pastoral care for members of families, throughout the life cycle. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, she has been creating online communities. “The Catholic Spirit” decided to ask her about the effects of going online and how it has changed her ministry.
Q: Have you seen different struggles within families since the COVID-19 pandemic began?
Q: Did your office have any online communities before the pandemic?
A: We launched our first online program, a retreat for mothers, in May. As a young mother myself, I am particularly concerned with the challenges facing mothers today, especially in light of the pandemic. Working mothers have been struggling to balance homeschooling and careers, while stay-at-home mothers, who so often rely on community with other mothers and their children, have found themselves feeling more isolated. In conjunction with the[diocesan] Pro-Life Office, we decided to provide an opportunity for these women to come together. Our speaker, Colleen Carroll Campbell, delivered a talk entitled, “No Perfect Mothers in a Pandemic,” which was extremely wellreceived. One of the blessings of online events is that they are not geographically bound. The retreat drew participants from across the United States and from other
A: No, and before the pandemic, I was not aware of any online communities offered.
Q: It has been said that Family Life is more important now than ever. Why is this so?
A: Family Life is especially important right now, considering the greater amount of time families are spending together and the fact that we have become unaccustomed to doing so. Families, right now, are learning to reclaim the importance of time spent with one another, however difficult this can be. Despite challenges, we are perhaps, ironically, being led to rediscover the centrality of the family.
A: I have read disconcerting studies regarding the rates of abuse and mental health difficulties. Colloquially, however, what I hear most often is that families are struggling to balance work and care for/ schooling of children.
Q: When, how and why did you launch your first online program?
countries. We welcomed women from Canada, the UK [United Kingdom] and Brazil.
Q: What online programs is your office now conducting?
A: Right now, our “God’s Plan for Joy-Filled Marriage” marriage preparation sessions are fully online through the end of the year. Additionally, our Marriage Encounter group has decided to meet online and our Natural Family Planning Classes have become virtual as well. We have also added two exciting new programs: a virtual Women’s Group and a virtual Bible Study for Young Couples. Our Women’s Group meets twice a month on Mondays at 7 p.m. on Zoom. We are discussing Colleen Carroll Campbell’s book, “The Heart of Perfection.” My husband and I held our first meeting of the Young Couples’ Bible Study on Aug. 24 and we plan to meet every other Monday on Zoom at 6:30 p.m.
Q: Were your virtual communities difficult to create?
I have found the creation of the virtual communities to be surprisingly organic, given the fact that so many people are seeking these opportunities. Such communities are essential in meeting the needs of the faithful at this unique moment in our history. There can be a reticence among ministry leaders to implement virtual opportunities, but I would stress that they are not intended to be a “once-and-for-all” replacement for in-person interaction. They are simply addressing important needs which we must do as a Church.
SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Q: Do you think virtual communities will continue after the pandemic is over?
A: We may find that, post-pandemic, these virtual options work well for some communities. For example, young adults often receive the greatest benefit in virtual groups due to their schedules and demands on their time. Our Natural Family Planning (NFP) couples getting married within our diocese sometimes do not reside within diocesan boundaries or live far from locations where courses are offered. A virtual option could lead to greater participation in NFP instruction as we have seen these past few months. On a personal level, my husband and I have benefited from this in our own marriage insofar as we participated in an online training for the Marquette Method and now have phone follow-ups with our instructor based in Wisconsin.
Q: Which are getting the most participants? To what do you attribute this?
A: Right now, the Women’s Group has generated the most interest. I believe that Catholic women are eager to build up community and friendship since mutual support is so vital to the feminine spirit.
Q: What type of feedback have you received on your programs?
A: Gratitude has characterized the overwhelming amount of feedback that I have received. In a time when so many programs are cancelled, our engaged couples, in particular, have been eager and grateful to complete their marriage preparation online.
Q: Have you encountered any surprises in setting up communities?
A: One of the most rewarding and surprising experiences I had was when one of our virtual “God’s Plan” couples approached me with the idea of starting a young couples’ group. She and her fiancé were looking for opportunities to engage with other young couples and to learn more about their faith. She asked if my husband and I led such a group or knew of such opportunities. That idea led us to create the Bible Study. My husband, who, like me, holds a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Theology, and I enjoy leading groups together and truly believe that this was the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to us. We are excited to see how this will bear fruit for our Church and truly welcome any other ideas as well.
Q: What is the one question that you are asked most often?
A: The question I am asked most often is how the faithful can find Catholic therapists. There is, undoubtedly, a tremendous need for therapists who counsel from a Christian anthropology/worldview. This means that the therapist does not view faith as an “add-on,” but rather, that which is part of a holistic understanding of the person and leads to authentic flourishing. It means that the therapist does not give advice contrary to Catholic teaching on the person, not because of mandates, but rather because the Church is an “expert in humanity,” according to Pope Benedict XVI. I have referred people to a few therapists I trust and also welcome any Catholic therapists within the community to come forward so that we can create an updated resource list for others. The Office of Family Life website can be found at https://diometuchen.org/familylife — Joanne Ward