Family Life Office

Family relationships and family events are holy and sacred in and of themselves. There is no need for families to behave as if they are in church for their spiritual life to be all that it can be. We need to recognize and celebrate Christ’s presence in our ordinary days and lives.

No two families will have the same spirituality. While we affirm families as they are, we still challenge them to even greater accomplishments in some areas of their lives. Opportunities for a family to celebrate the sacred in their life together fall into two categories: “daily” and “special”.

The following are but a few ideas:

Prayer is a primary way of communing with our God and others.
Daily: mealtime – From an authentic Catholic perspective, the family meal is naturally Eucharistic. To share a meal is to say that we care for one another. We give thanks not just for the food we eat but for the many ways in which we love and serve each other.
Special: prayers when a son/daughter gets his/her driver’s license. Gathering the family to pray over and send forth of a son or daughter into the military.
Grace is the power of our harmonic relationship with God and others
Daily: intentionally living in the presence of our family members –physically, emotionally, verbally and most importantly listening.
Special: sharing the family history with the various generations has a unique spiritual value. Use picture albums, journals, diaries and story telling. These have a way of showing “graced” moments.
Bonding takes families beyond the rituals and traditions, it is the significant or sacred places in our homes; our place at the dinner table, the trunk where
special papers and mementoes are stored.
Daily: a small table or corner that is set aside for prayer/meditation.
Special: a special plate that it used to celebrate a person’s success or Birthday. Having trouble communicating with your teen? Try making a breakfast out date once a month, one on one. Excellent reconnecting & bonding opportunity).
Sacraments have an identity with the lived experiences of people. “It is often said, if the sacraments aren’t lived at home, the kids won’t get the meaning in church.”
Daily: nurture your marriage, cherish your relationships with extended members of your family.
Special: participate in anointing of the sick. Truly celebrate baptisms, First Holy Communion; make a special date with your spouse.
Beatitudes, Corporal & Spiritual Works of Mercy, Parables and Bible Stories. Opportunities to participate in these occur daily. Families can also make sure that they are intentional about their work. Helping each other and neighbors. Turning off the TV and sharing a scriptural passage or Bible story.
Special: Plan a monthly family service project such as visiting a nursing home, helping at a homeless shelter.

These are but a few ideas found in various materials from the National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers, www.nacflm.org .

Other recommended sites:

Christian Family Movement www.cfm.org

Claretian’s Home Faith Page www.HomeFaith.com

RCL’s Faith First www.faithfirst.com

Contact the Family Life Office for more suggested resources and speakers.