Evangelizing Today's Domestic Churches: A Theological and Pastoral Approach to the Family

The Catholic family is a domestic church, rooted in God's love and challenged to hope. Yet Catholic families today are beset with attacks from within and without, as were early Christian house churches. The latter faced persecution and rejection from society and even their own family members. Today's domestic churches face challenges of materialism, individualism, and secularism, coming through technology, media, and the contemporary culture. The Church must respond to these challenges by seeking new ways to minister directly to families. The future of parish life will depend largely on how a parish supports family life. Drawing on the experience of the early Church, Evangelizing Today's Domestic Churches invites pastors and those engaged in pastoral ministry to take the lead in helping families recognize their responsibility before God to become vibrant domestic churches.