Welcome

May 6-8, 2010: “Family’s Many Faces”. Interdisciplinary colloquium on the family
Organized by the "Sisters of Our Lady of the Cross" Chair in Christian Family Studies, the Faculty of Human Sciences and the Institut de pastorale des Dominicains (Montréal)

All of us have lived or are living in a family, in one form or another. Some people grew up in a “traditional” family, while others witnessed the divorce of their parents; some were raised in a blended or single-parent or other type of family. The high number of divorces and remarriages, as well as the wide variety of lifestyles in our society today turn upside down and even call into question a view of marriage that is unchanging. Marriage itself is called into question, and thus is put to the text. This shift leads to a range of pastoral, theological and ethical problems. In the contemporary context, it is natural, and indeed necessary, to wonder – as individuals, as Christians and as a society – about marriage and the family today, and to ask:

• Is marriage still considered to be a sensible way of life?
• Is there still an ideal to pursue?
• In a pluralistic society, is there still room to speak of a Christian family?

This colloquium aims to spark a conversation and create a space where people can share different opinions on the Christian family. This conversation will take place between

• Catholics, Anglicans and Orthodox
• the human sciences and theology
• more conservative and more progressive points of view.

The aim is to offer some ideas on how people can better live their Christianity in a pluralistic world, while keeping in mind that Christianity itself is pluralistic.

The colloquium will examine this topic through two lenses:

• The human sciences lens:

Person responsible: Dr. Martin Rovers, Associate Professor, Saint Paul University. Dr. Rovers is the former holder of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Cross Chair in Christian Family Studies. This lens emphasizes psychology and counselling.

• The theological lens: 
  

This lens will explore the following themes:

• Starting a family
• The couple
• Children
• The sacrament of marriage
• Divorce
• Blended families