It is the call of the Domestic Church to live the Gospel of Jesus in a day to day experience with includes the proclamation of the life, passion, death, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ.

Begin Evangelization for Children at Home –What our children see and experience at home teaches them what matters most to us. Kim Cameron-Smith in her excellent book for Catholic parents, Discipleship Parenting, Planting the Seeds of Faith, states that the primary responsibility of parents is to evangelize their children. “The DRE and the faith-formation program are there to support us in evangelizing our kids, not to replace us. With all the tasks that keep us busy as parents, it’s easy to forget that faith formation is our most important duty to our children” (14). Where can parents begin evangelizing? At home!

Sacred spaces and sacred art –Creating a sacred space in our home that includes a family altar with a Bible that is open and read; articles of Faith, such as a crucifix, rosaries, and candles; icons and images of the Blessed Mother and the Saints; and religious literature can all show the importance of living our faith daily. These reminders can be real calls to our families to grow in faith and should extend throughout our homes.  Beauty ignites a young child’s gift of wonder, and children are particularly responsive and sensitive to the beauty of our natural, created world. Sacred art and music can enable our children to grow in the history and tradition of the Church, and having beautiful images of our faith in our homes is an easy way to share our love of God. Many books are available that capture the beauty of worldwide cathedrals, basilicas, shrines, and other sacred spaces. Virtual tours are available of many of these locations (DP 174-180).

Virtual tours of the Vatican can be found at: http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en.html.

Observe special sacred times at home –Family prayer is an essential part of family life and critical to developing children as disciples of Jesus. Choose a particular time of day or day of the week dedicated to the reading of the Word or practicing special devotions. Prayer before meals and bedtime is a good place to start. Have family moments of faith that are playful and joyful and allow a child’s imagination to be celebrated. It can be a time of introducing our heroes of faith through Bible stories and the stories of the saints, particularly our patron saints. Telling our family story and celebrating important religious dates – a child’s Baptism date, anniversary of First Communion – can engage children of all ages and draw them to a love of Jesus.  Pope Saint John Paul II daily prayed a prayer to the Holy Spirit, a prayer taught to him as a boy by his father. Praying a simple form of the Divine Office or Liturgy of the Hours as a family is a celebration of the ancient prayer of the Church (DP 180-190). Four forms of prayer are highlighted at the end of this document Link to Four Forms of Prayer, and Our Sunday Visitor has excellent family prayer resources:  https://teachingcatholickids.com/category/prayer/.

Talk to children about God –Very young children understand love. They want to be physically close and important to us. We keep them close. We talk to them and show them how wonderful it is to be a child of God and how special they are to us and to God. A young child’s expression of faith should not be squashed. They find it easy to believe in God. Even with toddlers, we can begin wondering aloud with them about God’s creation. Mary is easily introduced as the mommy of Jesus. A Nativity scene that a child can play with gives an opportunity to share the story of Jesus’s birth, Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, and the Wise Men’s visit.

When children reach school age, they are more capable of learning about Church teaching and reflecting on it. They are ready to learn about the Sacraments, the Trinity, and faith. Children look to their parents for cues about God. Early attention to family faith forms a foundation for this age.   The stories and family prayer traditions during early childhood become a source for intellectual and moral formation. They may begin to compare Gospel accounts of the same story. They may notice discrepancies in what they find in a science book vs what they read in the Bible (DP). There are a multitude of  books and resources for school age children. Many can be found in our Diocesan Resource Center. You can check out what is available to borrow at:  https://biloxidiocese.org/resource-center. Many parishes belong to FORMED https://formed.org/, which is a great resource for families and individuals. It is a subscription service of the Augustine Institute that “provides the very best Catholic content from more than 60 organizations to help parishes, families and individuals explore their faith anywhere. Supporting thousands of movies, children’s programs, eBooks, audio, parish programs and studies direct to your browser, mobile or connected device.” Check with your parish office to see if you are already a member. Individuals can also subscribe.

Teen years can be a good time to introduce Catholic apologetics. Most teenagers want to belong and to be connected. Peer-oriented teens may be drawn leave their own church to join the faith group of a friend. Family remains the most influential source of faith identity, and belonging to a parish and the larger Church faith community can enrich that identity. When the family remains a secure base, and children feel cherished and accepted, other groups can be a healthy part of faith development. It is imperative that we walk with children when natural doubts emerge rather than making them feel guilty. Do not be afraid to reach out to your pastor or youth leader for help with difficult faith questions. Doubt is part of our faith journey and can be particularly unsettling for teens. Our role is to help them know how to handle doubts, questions, and conflicts respectfully and with integrity. When we let our children be honest about their doubts, they can move on to more mature stages of spiritual growth (DP 190-195).

Connecting young children to Mass –The Mass is a celebration of thanksgiving for God’s generosity in our daily lives and an opportunity for us to bring to God the joys and sorrows we experience as a family. What do little ones need to know to fall in love with the Body and Blood of Christ? What do they need to realize they are not alone, but that during Mass they join a community of faith and a community of Saints in communion with Heaven? 

Mass provides special moments to help little ones face losses and learn about gratitude. Living a Eucharistic life leads to communion and intimacy with Christ. We go to Mass to offer the best of ourselves to God and not necessarily to be entertained. Even so, it can be hard for adults to focus at Mass, and it is understandable that children may also struggle to pay attention. Using a children’s missal can be helpful. No matter the age, gentle guidance can help a child in appreciating, respecting, and loving the Mass. Encourage children to pay attention to what is happening on the Altar, especially during the Consecration. Perhaps hold up young children so they can see what is happening, and whisper in their ears how special the moment. Afterward, discuss the Mass with children and listen to what they have to share or to ask. Only God offers perfect acceptance, but within a Eucharistic family, children can be themselves, share their joys, reveal their wounds, admit their mourning, and know that they still will be cherished and loved.  (DP 195-202).

The Domestic Church: Domestic Church is a ministry formed in Poland to strengthen marriage and families that is expanding in the United States. It is for married couples and families. Couples meet once a month to share and pray together as they progress in the following areas: daily individual prayer, daily Scripture study, daily couple prayer, daily family prayer, rule of life, and yearly retreat. “The movement provides formation, using the Church's spiritual tradition and official teachings, for how to pray, how to use Scripture in prayer, and how to grow in a real relationship with God, our spouses, and our children in light of our Baptism.” (www.domesticchurchfamilies.com/)

Tools for Building a Domestic Church from the USCCB:

• 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 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 observe you in private prayer. Encourage your children to pray daily on their own, to listen for God’s call, and if heard, to respond.
• For more ideas on how to build your home as a Domestic Church, go to: www.domestic-church.com or visit The Family Fully Alive (kofc.org/en/what-we-do/faith-in-action-programs/family/family-fully-alive.html), sponsored by the Knights of Columbus.