The Catholic ministry that brings you the popular message, “The family that prays together stays together,” is launching a new institute to develop programs to help Catholic families flourish spiritually in an authentically Catholic way.
Most contemporary families experience a high level of distress and many are in crisis. School, church, work, social media, organized youth sports and friendships all have legitimate claims on the time and presence of families. Combined with the negative impact of consumerism, drugs, pornography, violent video games, music and films and other activities, many families find it difficult to develop habits and practices that lead to healthy spiritual and religious lives. Catholic families are not immune to these daily pressures and challenges, and many find it difficult even to schedule regular family meals.
“Catholic families are called to be different! Many parents need support, encouragement and solid resources in order to unite and live a joyful and rich Catholic family life,” said Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C., President of Holy Cross Family Ministries. “This is where the new Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life can make a difference. We are focusing our efforts and resources on coming to know the 21st century family and its challenges through solid research shared with church leaders at several levels.”
In addition to research, the Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life is collaborating with The Pastoral Solutions Institute to gather professional leaders in family spirituality for in-depth examination of the research and theological reflection on the best ways to strengthen families as the basic cell of Church and society. These two organizations worked together on the Catholic Family Life Symposium held in July 2019 at the University of Notre Dame. Our Sunday Visitor Institute and Holy Cross Family Ministries were major sponsors of the symposium which took place at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame. At the symposium more than 30 authorities in the fields of theology, social science and pastoral ministry to families gathered to explore how families can encounter Christ and live out their vocation as Catholic families.
The high quality of presentations at the ‘invitation only’ symposium impressed all the participants and experts in the field. As an intended benefit from the symposium, a book and video of all the presentations will be available in the spring of 2020.
At that meeting, the participants expressed the desire to continue exploring ways to assist church leaders in their service to families to think with new thoughts and see with new eyes, and listen with new ears to discover new ways of living the baptismal call to holiness for married couples and families.
One of the highlights of the symposium, and a graced moment, was the fresh presentation on this very theme of living the baptismal call of the family to be priests, prophets and kings by Greg and Lisa Popcak. The participants were inspired by the new ground being explored by this call to a family spirituality rooted in Baptism itself.
The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life grows out of the awareness that there is much work to do in developing a spirituality that is family-centered and home-based. “Our hope is that the Church itself will become more deeply empathetic and sensitive to the nature of the family as ‘God’s Masterpiece.’ This may very well mean developing a spirituality not originating in a monastic or consecrated religious model but originating in the family itself as God’s special creation,” said Father Raymond.
“Families are under more pressure than ever today making it difficult to find a spiritual connection,” said Dr. Greg Popcak, Director – Pastoral Solutions Institute. “We want to help families understand how to live as a Catholic family, provide them with best practices and materials that are flexible for all families. We want them to know and live in a way that can change their family life and ultimately have an impact on the world around them.”
The Institute will begin with commissioning research on Catholic families who successfully pass on the faith to their children. From that data practical programs and materials will be developed both for families as well as leaders in the church, particularly those in family life ministry.
The Institute will be based at The Father Peyton Center in North Easton, Massachusetts. Sponsored by Holy Cross Family Ministries and founded by sainthood candidate, Venerable Patrick Peyton, known worldwide as “The Rosary Priest.” Father Peyton’s entire priestly life was devoted to bringing families together in prayer, particularly the Rosary.
Development is underway and the Institute website will be launched in Spring 2020: www.PeytonInstitute.org.
HOLY CROSS FAMILY MINISTRIES
Holy Cross Family Ministries (HCFM) is a family of Catholic ministries dedicated to inspire, promote and foster the prayer life and spiritual well-being of families throughout the world. Families are served through video, retreats, radio, daily family prayers via app or email, Rosary app, weekly eBooks, and reflections through social media and blogs! We provide for families 24/7 online. We strive to be a respected and reliable catalyst for inspiration, support and dynamic content on family life through a focus on spirituality and prayer, especially the Rosary. Ministries include Family Rosary (FamilyRosary.org), Family Theater Productions (FamilyTheater.org), Father Peyton Family Institutes (FatherPeyton.org) and Catholic Mom (CatholicMom.com). Founded by Venerable Patrick Peyton, a priest of the Congregation of Holy Cross, was known worldwide for his message, “The Family That Prays Together Stays Together.” (FatherPeyton.org)
PASTORAL SOLUTIONS INSTITUTE
The Pastoral Solutions Institute was founded in 1999 to provide resources to religiously committed Catholics need to live more faithful and abundant marriage, family, and personal lives. Since that time, The Pastoral Solutions Institute has become nationally-recognized for its leadership in integrating cutting-edge counseling psychology with solid Catholic theological principles. The Institute offers a wide variety of resources and professional services intended to help committed Catholics overcome problems like marital conflict, childrearing problems, depression, anxiety, stress and the difficulties associated with major life transitions. The Pastoral Solutions Institute (CatholicCounselors.com) is an independent non-profit organization that has earned a listing in the Official Catholic Directory.
No comments:
Post a Comment