Conventual Franciscan Parish in North Carolina Encourages Parishioners to Spend Quality Family Time

Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Since being Franciscan is – amongst other things – about being brother and sister to everyone and everything, it is not surprising that the Conventual Franciscan Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Winston-Salem, North Carolina is starting to focus on family time.

Machinery often replaces family bonding time

America and Canada are both very busy nations.  We ferry our children to soccer practice, swimming lessons, and tutors. Dinners are often rushed and not eaten together. Television and video games seem to offer a constant accompaniment to family time. Surely, this is not the ideal picture of togetherness? How can families bond with so many distractions?

Quality family time is important

Aware that a situation of  virtually non-existent family time exists in many a household, Our Lady of Mercy Parish with its Pastor Friar Bill Robinson encouraged families to attend the recent Take Back Your Family Time program run by Dr. William J. Doherty at St. Leo Parish’s Bishop Begley Parish Center (also in Winston-Salem). Dr. Doherty outlined the issues concerning families and the time they spend together. Through discussion, planning, and encouragement, he empowered all attendees to take charge of time once again and start spending it connecting with family. Humans are by nature social creatures. Those family bonds are more important than we often let on.