The head of the Family Life Commission of the Diocese of Roseau, Father Herman Shaplis, has emphasized the importance of recognizing the family as “the first school of human values, where we learn to use freedom.”
His remarks were made during his homily at the closing Mass for Family Week 2025, as reported by a . Speaking to the congregation at the Church of Our Lady of La Salette in Pointe Michel, Father Shaplis referenced one of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortations—*Amoris Laetitia* (On Love in the Family).
Father Shaplis, who also serves as chair of the Family Life Commission within the Diocese of Roseau, underscored that “it is in the family we learn to relate, listen and share, to be patient, show respect and love one another and live as one.” He strongly advocated for viewing the family as the Domestic Church and highlighted the significance of the Liturgy of the Domestic Church Life, a concept developed by Dr. Grey and Lisa Popcak.
This liturgy encourages families to prioritize “schedule family time first; exhibit extravagant affection and affirmation; exhibit prompt, generous, cheerful and consistent attention to each other’s needs and discipleship discipline.”
Father Shaplis further explained that these practices can be strengthened through “family prayer rituals, family play rituals, family talk rituals and family work rituals.”
Family Week in the Diocese of Roseau concluded on Saturday, May 17, with hundreds of participants taking part in a Family Pilgrimage from The Holy Spirit Chapel in Loubiere to the Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Pointe Michel.
The day’s events culminated in a Holy Eucharist celebration, with Father Nigel Karam, Vicar General of the Diocese, serving as the main celebrant.
The theme for Family Week 2025 was “Our Families, Our Hope,” and the week’s activities were part of the Jubilee Year, which is being celebrated under the overarching theme “Pilgrims of Hope.” The event was organized by the Family Life Commission and the Family Life Units across the various parishes.
97 % of our social problems starts at home. Broken homes lead to broken communities, to broken parishes, to broken country. lack of proper parental guidance, discipline, and values is detrimental to the country. Just see what is happening in our country. The root of the problems can be traced right back to the homes.
In today’s society the discourse among adults is too coarse – vulgar, bellicose, bullying, thuggish,……
Children learn what they see and hear. They are like sponge in water. Hence, it’s no surprise that ur society is so crude, uncouth, unsympathetic and violent. There is moral decay all around us – on the TV, on the radio’, in the schools, in the whole society.
The most important institution in any community is the home. When the home is dysfunctional the whole of society becomes dysfunctional.
When a child grows up with an abundance of morals, virtues and values he/she seldom departs from them. The home is the chief school of human virtues.