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THE CATHEDRAL FAMILIES MINISTRY: Building the Domestic Church and Cultivating a Culture of Holiness
A couple of years ago, the Holy Spirit tapped on the hearts of Will and Becca LePage, and they opened themselves up to His divine promptings. God only knows how many families will be blessed because of their openness, as well as the generosity of all of those who are working alongside them to start the Cathedral Families Ministry.
“Fr. Kastl told us about his desire for a vibrant family ministry at the parish,” Becca says. “We very much share that desire, especially after we had a tremendous experience with a family ministry in Ann Arbor during the early years of our marriage. With Fr. Kastl’s encouragement, we are eager to launch Cathedral Families this year. Our hope is that Cathedral Families will enliven faith in Christ, forge deeper friendships among families in our parish, and provide an engaging platform in which to invite new families, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, to join us.”
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The Cathedral Families is a ministry designed to help married couples and families grow in fellowship, faith, and evangelization.
“The mission of Cathedral Families is to build up the domestic church of every home of the parish,” Will says. “As a new ministry, we trust in the Holy Spirit to bless the married couples of Holy Family Cathedral. We pray that couples can abundantly serve their families and the Church in whatever state they find themselves — newlyweds, young families, or ‘emptynesters.’”
Cathedral Families will offer opportunities for casual, large-group gatherings that foster community within the wider parish family. These gatherings are meant to spark relationships among families who see each other at Mass but haven’t had the chance to meet, as well as among families that attend different weekend Mass times.
Gathering on the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, May 1, 2021
“We hope these large-group gatherings, hosted about every three months, will be stepping stones towards forming sincere friendships among families associated with the parish, as well as new families who might be interested in joining our parish and the Catholic Church,” Will says.
So far, the ministry has hosted two large-group gatherings — the St. Joseph the Worker Celebration in May and the Parish Picnic in July.
“They were open to the whole parish — not just couples and families — and we were humbled by the success of the two events, by the generosity of parish volunteers, and by the turnout of folks,” Becca says. “These two gatherings have really encouraged us to continue hosting large-group gatherings because it is clear that the people of the Cathedral truly desire fellowship as a parish family.”
In the coming months, Cathedral Families will be inviting men and women to join small groups, to help them form deeper, lasting relationships and grow as disciples in a very intentional way.
“These small groups need not all look the same, as each can adapt to suit the charisms and desires of its members — for example, a young dad’s group may choose to study about different saints or books from the Bible,” Will says. “We hope to have enough small groups so there is a good fit for everyone.”
Ultimately, evangelization will continually lie at the heart of the Cathedral Families Ministry.
Evangelization is a key component of this ministry,” Becca says. “The large-group gatherings are opportunities for families to invite their non-Catholic friends to a casual church event. It’s not always easy to extend an invitation to Mass with the family that lives across the street — however, it may be easier to invite them to have a good time with other families from your church who are eager to welcome a newcomer. Everyone is hungry to live a life of purpose and value, and the other families in our spheres are fertile ground waiting for the seed of faith in Christ to be planted on the soil of their hearts.”
Providentially, this ministry will meet an urgent need — not only in our parish family but also amid the cultural decadence of modern society.
“In this time when the morals and values of Christendom are frequently questioned or are in direct opposition to the values of the current American culture, it is critical to have support in cultivating a culture that embraces a life of holiness,” Will says. “What a beautiful gift to have a group of people who are traversing the waters of life as newlyweds, navigating the joys and uncertainties of parenting children, or redefining what family looks like in a more seasoned state of life — all under one domain to draw hope and joy from God, rather than the voice of the world.”
