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DIOCESE OF SIMLA-CHANDIGARH
PASTORAL PLAN 2026–2033
All Commissions
Commission for Family
COMMISSION

Commission for Family

To strengthen the Christian family as the domestic Church — a school of faith, love and life — in the spirit of Amoris Laetitia.

MISSION TRAJECTORY

The Commission for Family works to build vibrant, healthy, and joyful Catholic families in the diocese, rooted in Christ and faithful to the teachings of the Church. Over the next ten years, it will improve marriage preparation, spiritual support for married couples, help heal troubled relationships, and promote responsible parenting.

It will also encourage the spiritual growth of families and care for vulnerable members, enabling families to become strong witnesses of love, unity, and faith in the Church and society.

THE 7-YEAR ROADMAP

Programmatic Strategies

Short Term

2026-2028Foundation
  • Establish Missionary Family Cells (MFCs) and begin parish-level coordination.
  • Launch family visitation system with simple tracking/records.
  • Initiate Family Prayer & BECs participation in at least 50% parishes.
  • Conduct basic parenting programs reaching initial families (10–25%).
  • Identify vulnerable families (widows, elderly, single parents).
  • Begin pastoral support services and counseling at deanery level.
  • Organize regular retreats/recollections and celebrate family days.

Medium Term

2029-2031Consolidation
  • Expand MFCs to all deaneries and majority of parishes.
  • Achieve 50%+ structured family visits with proper documentation.
  • Strengthen family prayer culture in most parishes (towards 75–100%).
  • Scale parenting formation programs and counseling services widely.
  • Ensure 70% of identified vulnerable families receive support.
  • Conduct annual deanery-level family events and retreats consistently.
  • Improve marriage preparation and tracking system across parishes.

Long Term

2032-2033Expansion
  • Ensure full coverage of MFCs in all parishes with active participation.
  • Achieve 100% structured family visitation and documentation system.
  • Establish strong, self-sustaining family prayer culture in all parishes.
  • Provide comprehensive parenting formation and ongoing accompaniment.
  • Guarantee continuous pastoral care for all vulnerable families.
  • Institutionalize retreats, counseling, and family support structures.
  • Maintain complete marriage preparation, tracking, and follow-up system.

GOALS, OBJECTIVES & KPIs

Our Pastoral Priorities

The bonding among Catholic families deepened through structured spiritual formation, relationship support, and pastoral care.

OBJECTIVE 01

Strengthening Spiritual Life of Families.

KPIs

  • By Dec 2028, establish Missionary Family Cells (MFCs) in all 5 deaneries and 60% parishes.
  • By Dec 2027, 50% of families of the diocese visited by using structured visit format and record system.
  • By Dec 2026, initiate Family Prayer and BECs participation in 50% parishes and by 2028, 100% in parishes.
  • By 2027, one deanery retreat (minimum 80 families) and 2 parish recollections (Advent and Lent) annually.

OBJECTIVE 02

Strengthening Family Relationships & Parenting.

KPIs

  • By July 2027, conduct parenting programs reaching 10% families.
  • By Mar 2028, increase to 25% families trained in parenting skills.
  • By May 2028, counselling services available in all deaneries.
  • By Dec 2027, the special days are celebrated in 100% parishes.
  • By Dec 2028, Annual Family Day celebrated in all deaneries.

OBJECTIVE 03

Providing Pastoral Care for Vulnerable Families.

KPIs

  • By Dec 2026, 100% vulnerable families are identified (widows, elderly, single parents).
  • By Jan 2028, ensure 70% of identified families receive pastoral support.
  • By 2028, establish support groups in all deaneries.

OBJECTIVE 04

Straightening Marriage Preparation and Post Marriage Enrichment.

KPIs

  • By Jan 2027, Ensuring 100% attendance in marriage preparation courses before weddings.
  • By Sep 2028, provide post-marriage formation to 50% young couples.
  • By June 2027, 100% irregular marriages are identified.
  • By Dec 2028, 80% irregular marriages identified are regularized.

OBJECTIVE 05

Ensuring Proper documentation of families.

KPIs

  • By Dec 2026, Documentation system for tracking marriages is set up.
  • By Dec 2027, 50% Marriages are tracked and documented.
  • By Dec 2028, 100% Marriages are traced and documented.

ACTIVITY PLAN MATRIX (2026-2028)

#1Parish

Establishing and training of 1 Missionary Family Cell (MFC) per parish (5–10 families each). MFC trained in family prayer, Gospel sharing, accompaniment.

By When?From July 2026, yearly
FinanceParish
ResponsibleCoordinator
MonitoringPastoral Coordinator
#2Parish

Introducing Family Visits Program with Record System covering 50% families by using structured visit format (spiritual guidance, needs assessment). Maintain record book/digital data.

By When?From Aug 2026, Monthly visits
FinanceParish
ResponsibleParish Priest
MonitoringSecretary
#3Parish

Forming and promoting BECs and Family prayer movement in parish level. BECs groups (10–12 families each/ in each group). Conducting monthly prayer meetings.

By When?From July 2026 (monthly – 1st Sunday)
FinanceParish
ResponsibleParish Priest
MonitoringSecretary
#4Parish

Conducting one annual retreat in every deanery (minimum 80 families) and Conducting 2 recollections in every parish (Advent & Lent).

By When?From July 2026 Retreat: Aug (2nd week); Recollection: Lent/ Advent
FinanceParish & Deanery
ResponsibleCoordinator
MonitoringSecretary
#5Deanery

Conducting a half-day Parenting skill workshop (Quarterly at deanery level: 40 parents per session) at deanery level on communication, discipline, faith parenting.

By When?From Feb 2027 (2nd Saturday), Repeat quarterly May-Aug-Nov
FinanceDeanery
ResponsibleCoordinator
MonitoringSecretary
#6Deanery

Forming Deanery Counselling centers and Identifying and training 5–8 counsellors per deanery. Provide marriage & family counselling services (50 cases/year).

By When?From Sept 2027 onwards
FinanceDeanery
ResponsibleCoordinator
MonitoringSecretary
#7Parish

Conducting survey to identify vulnerable families (widows, elderly, single parents in the parish).

By When?From July 2026 2nd Week - Dec 3rd week
FinanceParish
ResponsibleParish Priest
MonitoringSecretary
#8Parish

Forming parish level support groups 10–15 persons to Provide pastoral & social support to the vulnerable families.

By When?From January 2027, Quarterly follow-up
FinanceParish
ResponsibleParish Priest
MonitoringSecretary
#9Diocese

Conducting 2 days Pre-marriage course with 100% couples participation.

By When?From July 2026, Thrice a year Jul-Oct-Dec
FinanceDiocese
ResponsibleCoordinator
MonitoringSecretary
#10Diocese

Post-marriage workshops 50 couples per year theme on including sacrament of marriage and Family Life.

By When?From August 2026, Twice a year
FinanceDiocese
ResponsibleSecretary
MonitoringSecretary
#11Parish

Conducting survey in parishes to identify irregular marriage cases.

By When?Completed in Jan 2027
FinanceParish
ResponsibleParish Priest
MonitoringSecretary
#12Parish

Regularizing the irregular marriage unions at least 15 families in a year.

By When?From Feb 2027, Annually
FinanceParish
ResponsibleParish Priest
MonitoringSecretary
#13Diocese

Developing diocesan tracking system for marriages (Marriage preparation attendance, sacrament, post marriage enrichment).

By When?By January 2027
FinanceDiocese
ResponsibleSecretary/ Notary
MonitoringCoordinator
#14Diocese

Using the tracing system 50% marriages are documented by Dec 2027 and 100% 2028.

By When?From March 2027 (Review every Jun-Dec)
FinanceDiocese
ResponsibleSecretary/ Notary
MonitoringCoordinator
#15Parish

Celebrating Mother's Day, Father's Day, Grandparents Day in all the parishes.

By When?From 2026, Annually: June, July, Sept (fixed Sundays)
FinanceParish
ResponsibleParish Priest
MonitoringSecretary
#16Deanery

Celebrating Annual Family Day in all deaneries and Felicitating the Jubilarians (Silver, Ruby & Gold).

By When?From May 2026, Annually
FinanceDeanery
ResponsibleCoordinator
MonitoringPastoral Coordinator