The Holy Family of Jesus OrganizationThe Holy Family of Jesus OrganizationThis publication contains information about the structure and functions of The Holy Family of Jesus Organization. It also defines our governing policies and lays out recommendations for those who become members.
The Holy Family of Jesus Organization is a global organization; by global we mean we do not set geographical boundaries. Our activities are not confined to one location. We are committed to the judicious application of talents and resources to the fundamental and desperate needs of people. We exist to help improve the human condition and promote human dignity from conception to natural death. We carry out our mission by prayers, practical devotion and works of charity. We are committed to helping people in their endeavors to solve problems and attain a better standard of living and reasonable degree of self-sufficiency. We do this by providing means and skills to meet basic human needs.
We collaborate with other organizations, religious institutions, government agencies, churches, international foundations, religious groups, and individuals to fulfill their mission provided their policies are not contrary to our own mission and governing policies.
This history is intended to provide members and the public at large with a summary of why The Holy Family of Jesus Organization came to be and what has been accomplished to date.
Revelation 21:4, referring to the sick and the suffering, says, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Herein lies our call to know, love, and serve God in this life so that we will be with him in the life to come. We are called to be part of the Body of Christ, or in other words, human hands and feet for God to use to wipe away tears, heal spiritual distress, and offer comfort for mourning, crying, and pain.
As followers of Christ, we are all called to imitate our Master Jesus, who had so much compassion for the sick and the suffering. Jesus cared so much for the sick and the needy that He spent many hours providing for them. He commended the caring action of the Good Samaritan. Sending His first disciples on a mission, He commissioned them to heal the sick. When He saw that His followers were hungry, he fed them with fishes and bread in abundance. He wept for the city of Jerusalem.
God yesterday, today and forever, the same Jesus cares for us every moment of our lives. He cares for us through the Church, our neighbors, our family members, and our friends. We are all called to carry out His mission of reaching out to the sick and the suffering - those who are spiritually and physically poor. All mankind is from the same
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God and therefore from one family. In recognition of this, The Holy Family of Jesus Organization was born and shaped. It strives to richly communicate God's caring for the sick and suffering by being the "hands and feet" to do His work.
The Holy family stated in Nigeria by Rev. Fr. Augustine Chibuzo Alilonu in 1995, then it was known as "Ave Maria" dedicated to Blessed Virgin Mary. At this time, Fr. Augustine was a Seminarian and would order spiritual materials like Chaplets and Bibles and distribute them mostly free to people. In 1998 the organization was established in the USA. Between 2000, 2001 and 2002 the organization was incorporated in the States of North Dakota, Oklahoma and was recognized as non profit organization with 501 (c ) 3.
The overall organization has grown to an international level and remains devoted to the continuation of living out the love of Christ through the programs outlined in The Holy Family of Jesus organizational structure.
A. Conceptual Basis
The purpose of this Organization is exclusively religious, spiritual, charitable, scientific, literary, and educational within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or corresponding provisions of present or future United States Internal Revenue Law. We engage only in activities that are permitted for an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or corresponding provision of present or future United States Internal Revenue Law.
B. Unifying Concept.
We are non-denominational in our membership and we work with all denominations. Nevertheless, the leadership of the Holy Family of Jesus Organization embraces everything contained in God's word as divinely revealed and calling for faith.
C. Justification of Our Mission.
The Holy Family of Jesus Organization is an organization of men and women who believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, be-gotten, not made, one in being with the Father. Through Him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation, He came down from heaven. By the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of Mary, and became Man. For our sake, He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died and was buried. On the third day, He rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His Kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son, He is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one, holy, universal and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and life of the world to come.
D. Emphasis
The Holy Family of Jesus Organization does not set geographical or membership boundaries.
1. Membership is open to any person (s) willing to accept our
mission statement - or at least, agree not to work against it.
2. The Organization strives to reach all geographic locations.
3. Staff and volunteers are committed to the judicious application of talents and available resources to meet the fundamental and desperate needs of people.
4. The overall goals of the Organization are to provide assistance to the spiritually and financially poor and maintain the dignity of human life, from conception to natural death.
A. The Holy Family of Jesus Organization embraces a balanced
mission to encourage the development spiritually, mentally, socially, and physically healthy people. Members carry out the mission through prayer, training, technical skills, fostering community love, and providing assistance to the needy.
B. The Holy Family of Jesus Organization strives to teach the word of
God by word and practical acts of love.
The goals stated above are the core or nucleus of The Holy Family of Jesus Organization. The purpose of the following objectives is to breathe life and action into those goals:
1. To care for the spiritual needs of our brothers and sisters in the world by praying diligently and faithfully.
2. To utilize available resources for teaching disadvantaged brothers and sisters how to provide for their own needs while accepting temporary assistance from the Organization.
3. To be involved in all aspects of education - whether formal, civil, or religious education - at elementary, secondary, and post-secondary levels.
4. To support agricultural and other sustaining programs that provide for the needs of the poor and disadvantaged.
5. To assist missionaries and refugees become established in their individual locations.
6. To become deeply involved in our various local Church activities.
7. To promote social development through planned activities.
8. To care for the Spiritual and physical health of all people, locally, national and international.
A. PASTORAL UNIT.
This unit emphasizes the priority of assisting individuals to maintain his/her spiritual and social welfare: We achieve this by:
1. Participating in the life of our local Church
2. Visiting families
3. Door to door evangelization
4. Visiting the sick in homes and hospitals
5. Collaboration in apostolic and missionary undertakings sponsored by various Churches
6. Weekly apostolate.
7. Hospital Visitation.
B. PRAYER.
Prayer is the thoughtful exercise of the heart and the mind through which we seek to draw near to God in worship and dependence on Him because of who He is as our sovereign support. God is our strength. Without God, we can do nothing - so prayer is our powerhouse. The idea behind becoming prayerful is to unite with God and come to hope, trust and rely on Him in all we do and experience. The Holy Family of Jesus Organization strives to educate and encourage all people to develop a deep relationship with God through prayer life and intercession.
1. Individual Prayer: Holy Family of Jesus Organization encourages members to be intentionally prayerful.
2. Group Prayer: It is a good idea to make it a point of duty to pray daily together with those you live with or join prayer groups at your local churches.
3. Prayer for the sick, the poor, and the needy: Members can gather in their local Churches, at least weekly, to offer special prayers for the sick, the poor, and the needy. Those who are physically able to do penance are encouraged to do so. In the case of members who are Catholic, we encourage you to attend daily Eucharist and to pray for the sick and the suffering. Where Eucharist is not available, we encourage you to go to your nearest church and offer prayers for these intentions. In situations where you cannot get to a church, offer prayers at home.
4. Intensive Prayer: This is 24 hours, 7 days a week intercessory prayer. When we receive prayer requests, we pray with you or for you and your intention. We also forward prayer requests to our centers, other prayer groups, and religious houses we affiliate with throughout the world. To protect the confidentiality of all who request prayer, we edit each request before we send it in order to remove information that would identify the person requesting - or his/her situation.
5. Global Prayer Chain: We forward all requests we receive, especially for intensive prayer, to our centers throughout the world.
6. Pious Prayer Groups: We are affiliated with various Pious Prayer groups, and we encourage members to get involved in prayer groups available in their local churches.
7. Marian Prayer Group: Mary, the Mother of God, has a special place as the Mother of our Redeemer. We are, therefore, involved in Marian movements, and we send our prayer requests to Marian movements we are affiliated with.
8. The Prayer Unit receives and coordinate prayer requests from members and others around the world. They distribute the requests among their members who intensively offer prayers, sacrifice, and penance.
B. VOCATIONS .
Vocation is a call from God. God calls each person by name to different levels of service. Each call is unique, whether it is individual or group. We affirm and value each vocation and help people and institutions to be open and recognize the variety of ways in which God calls His people. The Vocational Unit works with Church ministers and both married and single people. Together we strive to achieve healthy and spiritual society. We work with interested individuals to assist them in discerning their vocation in life. We assist with planning, organizing, and directing programs for religious education.
1. Religious life
2. Married Life.
3. Single life.
C. SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT UNIT.
The Social Development Unit strives to promote and establish programs that ensure balanced physical, mental, and spiritual health. These includes:
1 Youth group
2. Other Social groups.
D. EDUCATIONAL UNIT.
The Educational Unit works for the continuous improvement of and provision of services for all educational needs. Our goal is to make a positive difference in the quality of life by providing services to educators, schools, students and their families. We carry this out by assisting with or providing Basic education; at least elementary education. We also work toward helping people receive a formal education, especially in the underdeveloped world where many parents cannot afford to send their children to school and teachers are not paid or provided for, resulting in massive illiteracy.
1. Civil Education
2. Religious Education
E. MEDICAL UNIT.
1. Components: The Medical Unit covers all aspects of health: medical care, nutrition, health conferences, research, disease prevention - especially cancer, AIDS, and leprosy.
2. Functions: The Medical Unit is especially charged with caring for the most abandoned human lives from conception to natural death. The goal is to arrange for the provision of basic medical care, at least, for the poorest of the poor. We work to achieve this through:
3. Medical Teams/professionals: Recruiting doctors, pharmacists, and Nurses to volunteer time working in our clinics as the needs of our programs demand.
4. Medical Supplies: Providing medical supplies (at least vaccinations) to the poorest of the poor.
5.Clinics/Hospitals: Establishing and maintaining clinics where there are none existing.
