Family Life Director
Building the Domestic Church – Devotions for Our Times
There’s been much talk about what may transpire after this year’s elections. Indeed, we should be concerned about the issues and candidates as they relate to the Church’s teachings and our freedoms but the wisdom and strength to discern the truth must come from within. Toward that end our Order has provided us with guidance in the form of devotions under the banner of Building the Domestic Church.
Strengthen Ourselves – “Into the Breach” (https://www.kofc.org/un/en/resources/college/into-breach-study-guide-10458.pdf) is a new spiritual resource to show us how to be men of Faith and men of action in these tumultuous times. It is promoted as a college study guide but its truths apply to us all.
Strengthen Our Relationships – “Fathers for Good” (http://www.fathersforgood.org/en/index.html) gives us examples for becoming better fathers, grandfathers and uncles, roles which our God has solemnly entrusted to each of us. This flies in the face of the image of fathers as bumbling fools relentlessly peddled by our media and pop culture. And, yes, there’s a very important topic addressed in this series of devotions: ‘You CAN Keep Yours Kids Catholic’!
Strengthen Our Families – “The Family Fully Alive” (http://www.kofc.org/en/domestic-church/parish-programs/family-fully-alive.html) has been around for two years but still has much to say to us. Pope Francis proclaimed the family is a domestic church each is the key to the New Evangelism of our nation. There is much to be discussed so the devotion is designed to be digested in stages broken down into monthly topics with prayers, scriptures reflections and practical exercises.
Light to the Nations – The Second Principle of our Order says we can’t fight this battle alone. We must be united with our priests, other families and individuals in our larger Faith Community. Our parishes should become no less than a ‘family of families’ pursuing common goals in Faith, Hope, Love and Action. Present these ideas to your pastor and ask if they can be used to conduct regular parish-wide talks given by him, a deacon or a lay person. The priests at a parish near Charlotte have independently established a quarterly Saturday seminar on topics such as the Year of Mercy. These have proven especially enlightening, so much so that the parishioners have been clamoring for more.
Some fear our Faith and our Freedoms may be challenged as never before, albeit subtly. Let us then prepare and arm ourselves and our loved ones for whatever may lie ahead by using and sharing these spiritual resources.
Vivat Jesus,
Fred Burton
Family Director