Home is a Holy Place
Home is a Holy Place is about seeing, knowing and responding to God's presence at home in our families, in the ordinary events of our daily lives, in the deep joys and sorrows we experience together and in our relationships with one another, whether we are children, siblings, parents, spouses, friends or neighbours.
"Your home is a holy place. In your home God is with you. In your family life God is inviting you to know him, love him and serve him. There, in everything that happens between you, are the opportunities to please God in all that you do. You walk the path of holiness in your kindness, patience, forbearance; in your search for fairness and peace between you; in your struggle for understanding and tolerance; in your faithfulness and honesty; in your self-sacrificing love, each time you give up something you want personally for the good of the family. Everyone in a family has their part to play, as a parent or a grandparent, as a child or brother or sister.”
Archbishop Vincent Nichols. Feast of the Holy Family 2006 (Read more)
Home is a Holy Place aims to raise greater awareness of God's presence at home, not only among families but among all those who serve them in any way within our Catholic community.
Over 120 people took part in Releasing Formidable Energy, an international symposium to prepare for Home is a Holy Place at Ushaw College, Oct 20-22 2006 - the first stage of reflecting on themes and strategies for Home is a Holy Place 2007. Participants came from every diocese, representing a range of lay and ordained church experience in parishes, dioceses, organisations, communities, departments and agencies of the Bishops’ Conference. 32% of delegates were married couples attending together. 31% were married people attending without their spouse. 25% were ordained clergy or religious. A sprinkling of single, separated, divorced and widowed participants took part. Most of those married, separated, divorced or widowed were parents.Read more.
Family: Adventure in Love What family does not know the tension of a personality clash, the heartache of tragedy, the dull pain of daily irritations? Not to mention the juggling of millions of demands, the balancing act of home and work life and the never quite getting to the end of the to-do list. Family life is a challenge because the stakes are so high. What other relationships can hold out so much promise: a life-long sense of belonging, a rare depth of intimacy, the shelter of each other’s arms? Family life is indeed a risky adventure in love; a relational experience at the core of human existence with the power to make or break not only individuals, but society itself. A leaflet available to order from the Project Office, looks at family life like this from a Christian perspective. Based on themes found in The Christian Family in the Modern World. ( Familiaris Consortio) it also refers to the findings of Listening 2004. A core resource for Home is a Holy Place, copies cost £13 per 100 or £120 per 1000 plus p&p.
Home is a Holy Place Resource Pack for Homes, Schools and Parishes. Coming shortly a multimedia pack of resources to raise awareness of the holiness of our homes. To include a DVD, groupwork sheets, prayer cards, poster, and supporting background information. Contact the MFL Project Office to declare your interest in receiving a free copy (England and Wales only).