As the Cana and Pre-Cana Movements were sweeping through the United States in 1952, interested priests and laity formed a volunteer board to formulate and guide the future development of these marriage enrichment and preparation movements in the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

In 1962, the Apostolic Administrator John Patrick Cody incorporated all of the marriage and parenting work being done by volunteer couples and priests of the Archdiocese into the Family Life Bureau.  Its overall purpose was "the complete welfare of families."

In 1970, the Family Life Apostolate Board, realizing the rapid growth of family-oriented work, asked Archbishop Philip M. Hannan to hire the first full-time lay director.  During that decade the work of the Family Life Apostolate extended to include ministry to separated and divorced Catholics.

The United States Catholic Conference of Bishops proclaimed the decade of the 1980's as "The Decade of the Family."  That national commitment gave an increased impetus to the work of family ministry in the Archdiocese:  Natural Family Planning was moved under Family Life Apostolate in the early 1980's; peer ministries among specific types of families were encouraged; parish-based family ministries were strongly promoted, and ministry to persons with disabilities was initiated.

The 1990's brought A Family Perspective in Church and Society and the International Year of the Family.  FLA increased its efforts to bring to every church ministry, on the parish and the diocesan levels, an increased sensitivity to families.  Strengthening family relationships in diverse family situations became a strong focus in a all programs.

Entering the third millennium, Family Life Apostolate faces the challenge of enabling both the institutional and the domestic church to understand that family is the basic unit of the Church, and is called into full partnership with the larger church.

Primarily due to the commitment of many volunteers, Family Life Apostolate currently provides services to parish leaders, engaged couples, married couples, singles, divorced, widowed, remarried, newly married, those in hurting marriage, those who are disabled, parents and families.

 

Family Life Apostolate
7887 Walmsley Avenue
New Orleans,  Louisiana  70125-3496
(504) 861-6243  
Fax:  (504) 866-2906
Office Hours:  8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

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Please email all questions, requests, or suggestions to the Family Life Apostolate.

 
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Last updated September 25, 2007