From Our Pastor: Feast of the Holy Family, Model and Intercessor for Holy Families

This feast day is a reminder we need every year. That reminder, YES, even YOUR family can be holy. I think at least from my experience, we need that yearly reminder that families can be holy. In fact, the good news about that family being holy is that it is possible.

The family, as the Church calls it, is the domestic Church! Your family in how you live and love the Lord should be the first experience your children and yourselves have of the Lord. We should strive to make our families holy.

Follow the example and model of holiness they set for us. Learn to love when it's tough to love. Our families teach us to love when it's tough. That love is a tried and more perfect love. That is the love our God calls us to. His grace is what makes our families holy.

We need to not only make time for the Lord for Mass on the weekends and holy days of obligations, but to invite the Lord home with you and make Him part of every aspect of your lives and homes. Put up religious art and crosses. Pray as a family before and after meals and at other times of day. Parents bless your children. Read the scriptures together. Watch movies and educational videos together on FORMED online that the parish provides. Use holy water at home and with your children. Make time to share God moments in your lives of where you saw God today. Share your faith with your children and if you struggle, that's ok, it isn't easy, but struggle together.

Start today. Make your family holy. Ask the holy family to help you make your family holy. Make Christ the center with Mary and Joseph to guide you and point you to their son. God bless you and your domestic Church...Your holy family.

Rev. Steven Arisman