Your Domestic Church

What is a Domestic Church?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) tells us, “The Christian home is the place where children receive the first proclamation of the faith. For this reason, the family home is rightly called 'the Domestic Church,' a community of grace and prayer, a school of human virtues and of Christian charity.” (1666)

“It is here that the father of the family, the mother, children, and all members of the family exercise the priesthood of the baptized in a privileged way ‘by the reception of the sacraments, prayer and thanksgiving, the witness of a holy life, and self-denial and active charity.’ Thus, the home is the first school of Christian life and ‘a school for human enrichment.’ Here one learns endurance and the joy of work, fraternal love, generous — even repeated — forgiveness, and above all divine worship in prayer and the offering of one’s life.” (1657) 

Ways to grow in your own spiritual journey at home:

  • Pray a morning offering every day
  • Read Scripture daily
  • Pray the Rosary anywhere
  • Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy
  • Learn to pray with the Magnificat missalette
  • Learn to pray the Liturgy of the Hours
  • Read Catholic books that help you learn more
  • Consecrate your family to Jesus through Mary
  • Use the free Catholic app: Laudate
  • Sign up to receive emails with the daily readings, an excerpt of the Catechism, or other Catholic podcasts
  • Listen to Catholic radio: 1310AM
  • Listen to contemporary Christian music or sacred music
  • Have a crucifix and other sacred art on the walls
  • Celebrate Catholic feast days

If you are married

Ways you can serve your spouse:

The best way to be strong parents is to have a strong marriage!

  • Pray together and for each other daily
  • Attend Mass together
  • Go to Confession together (but separately!)
  • Be grateful to your spouse for the sacrifices that he or she makes for you
  • Learn your spouse’s “love language” and “speak it” (The Five Love Languages book by Gary Chapman)
  • Make time for each other without the children
  • Learn more about your faith together, especially any teachings that challenge you
  • Attend a marriage enrichment class or retreat
  • Go to adoration together or split a weekly holy hour commitment

Ways to serve your children:

Babies:

  • Meet all of their sensory needs
  • Bring them to Mass
  • Let your baby hear you pray
  • Sing church hymns in the car or at home

Toddlers:

  • Bring them to Mass with a special “Mass bag” that includes quiet, children’s toys or books; whisper to them explaining parts of the Mass so they understand what’s going on
  • Read stories from a Children’s Bible
  • Listen to Christian/Catholic music
  • Use virtue beads to teach positive virtues and catch your kids being good
  • Pray before meals and at bedtime
  • Point out God’s creation all around us
  • Pray for patience with your child in their presence
  • Celebrate their Baptism date or their Patron Saint day
  • * Bring them to Corpus Christi’s Atrium class, which allows toddlers to use their 5 senses

School-Aged Children:

  • Attend Mass regularly
  • Send your children to Catholic schools or Children’s Faith Formation at Corpus Christi and take them to Adoration
  • Ensure each child receives the sacraments (Confession-2nd grade, Confirmation and First Holy Communion-3rd grade)
  • Pray the Rosary; pray before meals, and with each child at bedtime and when you notice opportunities to express praise, thanks, contrition, or help from God
  • Read and discuss the Sunday readings before Mass
  • Let your kids become altar servers
  • Read Bible stories together or talk about faith topics during mealtime

Adolescents:

  • Give your teen a copy of YouCat, read and review with them, discuss challenging topics and teachings
  • Encourage them to attend Youth Ministry and volunteer at organizations like St. Vincent de Paul, Feed My Starving Children, etc.
  • Encourage teens to keep a holy hour in the chapel and become involved at Corpus Christi