Domestic Church

Family, despite its daily challenges, is one of God’s greatest gifts to us. It is in the family where we learn to love and be loved rightly, to forgive, to welcome others, to sacrifice and care for others, and most importantly to know, love and trust God. Jesus chose to enter our human world within a family; He grew in stature and virtue through the love, care and example of his earthly parents Joseph and Mary who trusted God above all.
Every family is called to be a place of love, service and prayer where God is encountered, known and made present by word and example– a “church of the home” or so called “domestic church”. The Catechism of the Catholic Church 2204 says the Christian families should be domestic churches. This means that the same things that happen in a church should happen in a family: God is worshipped, the faith is handed on, the faith is spread, and disciples are made! As Christ is the center of the Church, so he should be the center of family life.

This amazing mission of families as domestic churches should be embraced with joy and hope. God gives us the grace we need in prayer, worship and participation in the Sacraments. This is why the “domestic churches” need to receive nourishment from the Church, especially at Sunday Mass, and live it out through the joys and challenges of their day-to-day lives. Once the Christian families have encountered Jesus and His love in the Church, they can effectively invite other families to an encounter with Jesus Christ. Pope Francis has said, “Christian families are missionary families in everyday life, in their doing everyday things, as they bring to everything the salt and the leaven of faith!”  Watch this Video on “The Domestic Church” for greater insight.

Considering the challenges faced by the family nowadays, the Church calls catholic families, in all shapes and forms, to build their unique domestic churches through the grace of God, as a place where love, forgiveness and prayer are the norm. We have included below some suggestions from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on how to build your domestic church through a life of prayer for the whole family:

• Begin praying as a family and reading from Scripture daily, certainly before meals, but also first thing in the morning or before bed. Find a time that works for your family. Use the liturgy of the Church as a model for prayer, and try to include heartfelt unstructured prayer as well.
• Pray a Family Rosary (each member leads a decade, and everyone shares intentions).
• Have a crucifix in a prominent place in the home, and in every bedroom.
• Make the Sacraments a regular celebration – take the whole family to Confession and Mass!
• Begin family traditions based on the seasons celebrated in the liturgical calendar.
• Make your vacation a holy pilgrimage by visiting the shrines and saints of our land and the world.
• Make worshiping God a priority. Never miss Mass, even while traveling – go to: www.MassTimes.org to find a church near you!
• Teach stewardship and charity to your children, through word and example.
• Demonstrate love for your spouse, your children, your neighbors, and the world. Remind their children that they are loved by God and have been given gifts to serve others.
• Talk freely about the presence of God in the joys and sorrows of your life.
• Welcome into your home and support priests, brothers, sisters, deacons, and lay ministers in the Church.
• Participate in the lay ministries and activities of your parish community.
• Allow your children to witness you in private prayer. Encourage your children to pray daily on their own, to listen for God’s call, and if heard, to respond.

At St. William, we strive to offer support and resources for families that will enrich and strengthen their mission. Additional resources in the left column.