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A family doesn't have anything to do with biology, says Mary Fay, associate director of marriage and family life for the Albany Diocese.

Mrs. Fay is one of the coordinators for the Diocese's upcoming Summit on the Family, to be held Oct. 1, 9:15 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs in Auriesville.

The summit is an offshoot of a Vocations Summit sponsored by the Diocese in May. That event covered a variety of vocations, particularly to religious life. Though it mentioned marriage, said Mrs. Fay, "we didn't really focus on the fact that marriage and family is its own vocation."

The October Summit on the Family is also inspired by Pope Francis' apostolic exhortation on the family, "Amoris Laetitia" ("The Joy of Love").

The document, which opens by stating that "the joy of love experienced by families is also the joy of the Church," was published earlier this summer, sparking discussion among Catholics about the importance of the family as a space for spiritual and intellectual growth.

Those themes will be covered by speakers at the Summit on the Family. Participants can choose between three breakout-session speakers:

•  Marni Gillard, a storyteller from St. Kateri Tekakwitha parish in Schenectady, will detail the generational aspect of families. She has worked with schools and other groups around the Diocese.

•  Mike and Bernadette Bonanno of St. Mary's parish in Albany will co-host a session on how families change. Their talk, called "Seasons of Family: How to Love as the Seasons Change," will reflect on different aspects of a relationship throughout the years, including the introduction of children. The Bonannos are on the diocesan marriage preparation team and have been married for 34 years; Mrs. Bonanno contributes occasional columns on family life to The Evangelist (see www.evangelist.org).

•  Rev. Christopher Welch, pastor of St. Cecilia's parish in Fonda and Sacred Heart in Tribes Hill, will focus on what Pope Francis has to say about families, especially in "Amoris Laetitia."

The Summit on the Family will also feature prayer and a brief history and introduction to Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine by Beth Lynch, shrine historian. There will be a Mass in the coliseum and optional family activities, including family Rosary time and a tour of the shrine.

The afternoon will include "hands-on" activities: Set up under a tent, different stations will cover topics like family prayer. The tent activities were developed in part by Mrs. Fay's five children.

Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger will deliver a keynote address, ending with four accounts of different family lives. "We each define family as the people who love, nurture and support us," Mrs. Fay told The Evangelist, noting that all of the speakers have different familial backgrounds.

For example, Rev. Richard Lesser, pastor of Corpus Christi parish in Round Lake, will be among those delivering remarks. A widower, he became a priest after having a family of his own and now works with families in his parish.

Mrs. Fay, too, works with parishes. She invites people to events even if they're past the age of parenting: "We always have a need to belong," she said, and people can create families no matter their circumstances.

The summit will encourage people from all backgrounds to find, embrace and grow with their families, biological or not. "We're all called to love," said Mrs. Fay.[[In-content Ad]]

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