Yes, it is also the Year of St. Joseph, which began on Dec. 8, 2020, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and will end on Dec. 8, 2021.
In a press conference about the Amoris Laetitia Year, Cardinal Farrell said “it was providential that the Holy Father dedicated this year to St. Joseph, husband and father, who was so loved that he was chosen by God to care for the Holy Family.”
“The pandemic has had very painful consequences for millions of people. But the family itself, despite being hit hard in many respects, once again showed its face as ‘keeper of life,’ as was St. Joseph. The family remains forever ‘guardian’ of our most authentic and original relationships, those that are born in love and make us mature as people,” he said.
Is anything special happening for this year of the family?
The Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life is coordinating many different initiatives for the Amoris Laetitia Family Year, starting with a webinar on March 19 dedicated to pastoral and theological reflections on the family.
The opening of the webinar will also include a video message from Pope Francis.
The dicastery announced that they will also organize other “spiritual, pastoral, and cultural initiatives,” including a video project with Pope Francis on each of the chapters of Amoris laetitia.
“Pope Francis intends to address all ecclesial communities throughout the world, exhorting each person to be a witness of family love,” the dicastery said in December.
The Vatican office will share resources with dioceses, parishes, and other Church groups and family associations on themes related to marriage and family life, such as family spirituality, marriage preparation, and holiness for married couples.
It also plans to hold international academic symposiums to examine different aspects of Amoris laetitia in-depth.
Where can I find out more?
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The dicastery has created a new webpage for the year at www.amorislaetitia.va, where more information about events and resources can be found.
You can also read Catholic News Agency for all the latest updates.
Hannah Brockhaus is Catholic News Agency's senior Rome correspondent. She grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and has a degree in English from Truman State University in Missouri.