Pontifical Council for the Family to Introduce Families Receiving The Gospel During Papal Mass and Global Initiative to Provide Heating to 6,000 Syrian Families

The Pontifical Council for the Family (PCF) today will officially introduce the six families from around the world who have been selected to receive the Gospel of Luke from Pope Francis during Mass on Sunday, September 27 at 4:00 p.m. on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The countries represented are Australia, Congo-Kishasa, Cuba, France, Syria, and Vietnam.

In keeping with The Holy Father’s call for continued support of the persecuted people in Syria, the PCF will also announce a global initiative to provide heating for 6,000 Syrian families. A partnership with the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA), this campaign will seek financial contributions from around the world. Beginning Monday, September 28, 2015, donations can be made online by visiting www.cnewa.org.

The event and media availability will take place:

Friday, September 25, 2015
3:00 p.m.
The Pennsylvania Convention Center: Hall A
1101 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107 

Key speakers will include:

  • Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, President, Pontifical Council For The Family
  • Michael J. LaCivita, Communications Director, Catholic Near East Welfare Association
  • Representative from the Coorey Family – Australia
  • Representative from the Sargi Family – Syria

About World Meetings of Families

Beginning with 1994, The Year of the Family, the Pontifical Council for the Family has been responsible for organizing the World Meetings of Families in Rome (1994); Rio de Janeiro (1997); Rome (2000); Manila (2003); Valencia (2006); Mexico City (2009); Milan (2012); and now, Philadelphia (2015).  Since its inception by Saint John Paul II, the World Meeting of Families has sought to strengthen the sacred bonds of family across the globe.

About Catholic Near East Welfare Association

Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) has been a lifeline for the poor throughout the Middle East, Northeast Africa, India and Eastern Europe for more than 85 years.

Founded by Pope Pius XI in 1926, CNEWA works for, through and with the Eastern Catholic churches to identify needs and implement solutions. From forming priests to serve the people of God in Egypt to providing irrigation to farmers in southern Lebanon — from teaching needy children in Ethiopia to educating sisters in India — from providing emergency relief to Syrian Christian refugees to counseling for war-scarred children in Gaza, CNEWA connects you to your brothers and sisters in need. Together, we build up the church, affirm human dignity, alleviate poverty, encourage dialogue — and inspire hope.

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