“Family, become what you are” – the mission of the family
“The family has the mission to guard, reveal, and communicate love, and this is a living reflection of and a real sharing in God’s love for humanity and the love of Christ the Lord for the Church His bride.” (St. John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio no. 17)
Celebrate and grow in faith as a family
“We know that the New Testament speaks of ‘churches that meet in homes’ (cf. 1 Cor 16:19; Rom 16:5; Col 4:15; Phlm 2). A family’s living space could turn into a domestic church, a setting for the Eucharist, the presence of Christ seated at its table.” -Pope Francis in Amoris Laetitia, 15.
Try these ideas and tools at home to deepen family faith and strengthen your relationships with one another and with God.
Creation Camino: Your Adventure with God Awaits
Starting on Laudato Si’ Week through the Season of Creation, reconnect to faith & family with wellness in the wildnerness of our “Common Home.”
Under the title “Radiate Love,” the bishops of California invite every Catholic to celebrate the beauty and goodness of marriage and family. We invite all families to radiate their love to the world—parents, grandparents, children, spouses, sisters, and brothers.
See the suggestions below from the California Catholic Conference!
5 ways your family can radiate love together:
Pray Together Daily
Unite as a family in prayer, to thank the Lord for his gifts. There are many ways to pray together. Begin with what works best for your family and try some new ideas too.
Dinner Table Topics
At family dinner, bring your faith into the discussion and chat about saints, scripture and service. Encourage kids to be curious about the faith. If parents don’t know the answers, search the Catechism!
Join in Service Together
Kids learn by example, and when you serve as a family, that experiential learning influences their faith.
Practice Hospitality as a Family
Host a game night for families or invite young adults to dinner to experience the gift of loving, messy family life!
Talk to Kids about God’s Plan for Human Sexuality, Marriage, and Family
When you talk, your kids listen more than you think (even if they roll their eyes). Tell your kids that God has a plan for their sexuality and about the gift of marriage.
Faith + Family Collective Gathering Boxes
The Faith & Family Collective Gathering Box is an intentional, hand-crafted, and inspiring resource designed for families – just like yours! These boxes include everything you need to ignite important faith-filled conversations and create family traditions that will be passed down for years to come.
PRAY TOGETHER NOW campaign
“The family that prays together stays together.” -Fr. Patrick Peyton, CSC
Holy Cross Family Ministries invites you to be a part of an epic prayer campaign: 10 million people pledging to pray together daily. Start by watching the inspiring film, PRAY, about Father Patrick Peyton CSC, then pledge to pray as a family. The PRAY TOGETHER NOW Family Prayer Kit is available for purchase or use their free digital book.
Plant a Mary Garden
Cultivate and care for a garden dedicated to the Mother of God with your family. Be creative as you plan together and take this as an opportunity to begin or deepen a habit of family prayer. Family Rosary of Holy Cross Family Ministries provides a guide on How to Plant a Mary Garden with instructions and the history of this practice.
Family Rosary by Holy Cross Family Ministries
FamilyRosary.org provides more ideas and reflections on praying together as a family from Holy Cross Family Ministries.
Additional resources:
- Take the quiz: How healthy is your domestic church?
- Start a family ritual: The ‘rite’ way to do family rituals
- Check out other Catholic resources such as books and podcasts for parents and families.