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Retreats

Clergy

Clergy

Spiritual support for families.

The priests involved in Domestic Church circles are a special feature of the Movement, and they are an incredible gift. Their presence provides the spiritual paternity vital for true spiritual growth.  

Each Domestic Church circle includes a priest.  Circles meet once a month in the homes of the couples , and his presence provides a fatherly guide, a doctrinal help, and a vital connection to the life and gifts of the Church. The animator couple facilitates the meetings and presents the materials, so the priest is not responsible for organizing, preparing, or leading the meeting.  His role is one of presence and spiritual fatherhood, and is therefore necessary and deeply appreciated.

Additional Resources for Priests

"I have been a chaplain for several Domestic Church circles for almost four years, and it has truly enriched my priesthood. Being invited into the marriages of circle couples has shown me the way the Holy Spirit is working in their lives and drawing them to greater conversion. It has also given me the opportunity to form relationships that foster my own pursuit for holiness in my own vocation. Being a part of this movement has been a special grace, and I encourage every priest to consider becoming a part of this fruitful ministry."

Fr. Daniel Williams, Diocese of La Crosse, WI

“As a priest I recognize the importance of my monthly priest support group meeting, being able to share my life and ministry with my brother priests is a great help. As a priest for a Domestic Church group, I would best describe these beautiful groups as a support group for married couples. It has truly been an honor to witness married Catholic couples coming together to share their joys and sorrows through prayer, testimony, and friendship. Domestic Church can be a beautiful help for renewal in parish and family life and I am happy to support its growth!”

Rev. Fr. James Andrew Wickersham, Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
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Retreats

The Seven Commitments

1

Daily individual prayer

Each spouse finds a daily quiet space to fully enter God’s presence. This calls for each person to develop a personal time and space with God.

2

Daily study of Scripture

In a quiet, separate space, the individual takes advantage of the gift of the living Word of God. There are no particular verses to read and reflect on, just the challenge to dive into Scripture each day and encounter God there.

3

Daily couple prayer

The couple takes time each day to pray together aloud and usually in their own words. There is no length of time or other regulation set on this prayer. The focus is two-fold: to allow your spouse to witness your conversation with God and to offer shared prayers to God as a couple.

4

Daily family prayer

Couples make time each day to lead their family in prayer, if the couple has children in the home. Each family will discover and grow in their own way of praying together in a way that is fruitful for the different stages in their particular family’s life (small children, older children, adult children, etc).

5

Monthly couple dialogue

The monthly couple dialogue is an intentional, prayerful, and structured conversation done under the watchful gaze of God for an extended period of time. The couple thoughtfully considers the spiritual, practical and personal needs of each spouse, of the marriage, of children, and of the family as a whole.

6

Rule of life

Particularly in connection with their monthly dialogues, each couple decides upon specific changes or policies they will put in place in their individual lives, their marriage, and their household that reflect God’s will for them and their efforts to grow in holiness according to His promptings. Some rules of life always remain the same, but others will change and grow with the couple’s discernment and the family’s needs over time.

7

Yearly Domestic Church retreat

Each couple commits to attending a Domestic Church retreat at least once per year. Retreats can be for just the couple or for the entire family. These can be longer retreats or weekend retreats. To learn about the available retreats click here.

The beauty of these commitments is that the movement provides formation, using the Church’s spiritual traditions and official teachings, for how to pray, how to use Scripture in prayer, and how to grow in a real relationship with God, our spouses, and our children in light of our Baptism.