Archbishop Gabriel Malzaire of Castries has called for renewed recognition, compassion, and structural support for single-parent families, describing their perseverance as “heroic” and essential to the moral and social fabric of Caribbean society.
In a YouTube video message titled ‘In Praise of Single-Parent Families’, released November 21, the Archbishop offered a sweeping reflection on the historical roots, present challenges, and spiritual significance of single-parent households.
He opened by acknowledging the Church’s ideal of family life but stressed the need to affirm families who fall outside the traditional structure.
“These single parents have done what they could with what they had, refusing to let their children become victims of circumstance. The love has often been the glue that held families together through uncertainties and want. In them, we find a living example of faith in action. Faith that God’s grace is sufficient even in human limitations,” the Archbishop said.
He underscored that the prevalence of single-parent households must be understood within the context of slavery, colonialism, economic hardship, and migration. “The effects of that historical wound linger to this day,” he said
Describing the daily labour of single parents, Archbishop Malzaire paid tribute to their resilience: “These are the parents who rise early in the morning to prepare breakfast… come home tired, yet still find energy to help with the homework, listen to a child’s worries, and whisper a prayer before bedtime.”
He added that many have faced poverty, discrimination, and absent partners, yet “their faith in God, their devotion to their children, and their hope for a better future have sustained them.”
To these families, he offered an explicit message: “Well done. You are not forgotten.”
The Archbishop said the Church had not always treated single-parent families with compassion. “There was a time not too long ago when children born out of wedlock were made to feel unwelcome… Baptisms for these children were conducted on Mondays rather than on Sundays.”
But he emphasised the Church’s evolving understanding: “In the eyes of God, no child is illegitimate…Today, we recognise that our role is to accompany, not condemn, to heal, not to wound.”
Despite hardship, he highlighted the strong moral foundations laid in many single-parent homes. “They taught their children to pray, to be honest, to work hard, and to respect others.”
He pointed out that many national leaders and community builders were raised by single parents whose “legacy is written in the lives of the sons and daughters they formed.”
Archbishop Malzaire also praised the men who parent alone, stating: “Their example challenges stereotypes and invites other fathers to take responsibility with pride and tenderness.”
While affirming single parents, the Archbishop warned against romanticising their struggles. He urged the region to address the factors that lead to broken families: “Few persons choose single parenthood…Our prayers therefore must be accompanied by empathy and prayer.”
Archbishop Malzaire appealed for renewed responsibility among men, empowerment of women, and a cultural shift that values stable unions and responsible parenthood.
“Young men must be taught that fatherhood is not an accident but a vocation… Young women too must be empowered to expect and demand that respect.”
The Archbishop urged parishes and communities to take concrete steps: “Let every parish and community ask, how can we support single parents among us?” He called for mentorship programmes, family life education, and practical assistance to lighten the burdens many parents carry alone.
His final words were a blessing and a thank-you: “To every mother…to every father…to every grandparent or guardian who has stepped in…Thank you. You have shown us what real love looks like…May God who is both father and mother to us all bless you abundantly for your courage, sacrifice, and enduring faith.”
