WOW! Once again God has given me my come-up-ance. My first reaction to reading the latest Great Lakes Bay Catholic (Sept/Oct. 2026 P. 22) was one of dismay and disappointment. In the article, “Christ’s Mission Appeal”, described how the money each parish gives to the diocese is spent. What frustrated me was that even though we have 56 parishes in 11 counties, we have 24,326 households! Perhaps we need to relabel the term, “household”, to “domestic church”. Why not say that we have 24,326 domestic churches?
Once I was asked to teach on the structure of the Catholic Church. I talked about the parish, the role of the priest and laity, and its structure and function, the diocese, the national church and its function, the Vatican, the Pope and Cardinals and much that happens there. I really felt pretty good about the presentation until afterwards. As I was contentedly walking to my truck, the thought hit me. In my enthusiasm to teach about the Catholic Church and its structure and the roles of its members, I never once mentioned the most important level of Church, the Domestic Church, the family. I apologize and I repent!
The old adage is simple and direct, “If it is not happening at home, it is not happening.” If prayer is not happening at home, will it become part of the children’s lives? If love, forgiveness, teaching the Bible and Gospel and the virtuous life is not experienced at home, will they become lifelong habits? Children learn from and in the family. Parents and schools have children six days and twenty-three hours per week. How much influence do you think one hour of church will have?
Then I began looking at the entire Great Lakes Bay Catholic. While much of the focus was on needing more vocations to the priesthood and religious life, an amount of the magazine was geared to helping parents become spiritual leaders in their families. Yet, the major thrust was the need for more vocations. Quite frankly, I am wearied of hearing over and over again how we need more priests. I already know that without priests there is no Eucharist, Confession, and Anointing of the Sick. Our priests are stretched beyond their abilities to meet their parishioners needs. I appreciate all priests, especially those who are serving beyond retirement. I pray for more vocations.
Vocations come from families. The domestic church is the place where, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, children are inspired to live their particular vocations. How many parents have discussed the possible calling of their sons and daughters to vocation? I would bet that most parents, rather than encouraging a vocation, discourage it. I would not want to have Jesus say to me upon meeting him after death, “I wanted your daughter (son) to enter religious life, but you discouraged it,”
“May the Lord bless and keep you. May he let his face shine upon you, be gracious to you, and give you his peace.”
