What’s It Like?
What does being in Domestic Church look like?
Couples in Domestic Church are like many other married Catholics. They work, raise families, participate in parish life, pray, and pursue holiness as best they can.
What’s different about Domestic Church couples is the accountability, stability and support they receive by being part of a Circle of other couples who are striving for the same things. They adopt Seven Commitments for their marriage and family that are the basis for consistent practice of faith in a Catholic home.
The Circle provides fellowship, enkindles friendship, and nourishes growth in holiness—all in the presence of the Circle’s priest.
"Throughout my time with my Domestic Church circle, I have come to understand the necessity of intentionality among every member of the group. Walking with the couples as they try and fail and stand up again with the assistance of their brothers and sisters has been an amazing experience. I have grown close to them not only as a priest to the people he serves, but as a friend and companion on the road to holiness."
What is a Circle Meeting?
In a typical Domestic Church Circle meeting, the couples come together in the home of one couple, rotating from month-to-month. The host couple provides a simple meal as the couples settle in and begin to share the Joys and Sorrows experienced in their spiritual walk since the previous meeting.
Next the couples pause to pray, especially for any intentions that arose in the sharing part of the meeting.
Using the Holy Rosary and Sacred Scripture, couples prayerfully immerse themselves in the Word of God and the life of Christ.
Then couples are invited to share, in turn, their recent experience in the practice of the Seven Commitments over the last month.
Special attention is placed on any of the commitments that was particularly emphasized at the last Circle meeting. Through this sharing couples reveal to one another their successes, struggles, and strategies for practicing the commitments.
Finally, in the last portion of the meeting the circle studies the formation materials for the meeting.
This is the catechesis, based on the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults that forms the individuals in the doctrines of the Catholic faith and deepens their meditations on the mysteries of Jesus Christ and His Church.
The meeting ends by choosing the date and host couple for the next meeting and reviewing the spiritual focus and scriptures for study before the next meeting. Many Circles participate in social fellowship following the official end of the meeting.
The Domestic Church has walked God down the aisle to the center of our union commanding responsibility as spouses to prioritize being set apart for holiness. Living out the promises of the Domestic Church gives us freedom to be vulnerable and humble, reminding us of Jesus's example and the need to be Christ to each other. Coming together with our circle we invite the Holy Spirit and are inspired as the circle couples are filled with consolation and encouragement. The relationship with our circle's chaplain connects our family with the love of the Father and Christ's Church, shepherding our marriage and family. Formation through the Domestic Church places at the forefront for us the incredible responsibility to protect the sanctity of our marriage, to have reverence, wonder and awe for each other and our family. We are so grateful for the opportunity to experience the intentionality of the Domestic Church and to participate with others in growing holy families.
