Families: Making Responsible Strides Both Traditionally and Non-Traditionally Toward a Synodal Church

Roles and Responsibilities of Families Within the Church

            Jesus knew there had been doubt in His disciples’ hearts. He knew of the challenges that plagued their lives and the lives of their families. However, Jesus called them and tasked them with a deep, yet beautiful responsibility of going into the world and making disciples of all nations while baptizing them, teaching them to share what He shared, and resting in comfort that He is with them always regardless of time and circumstance (Matthew 28:16-20). Isn’t this the heartbeat of what families’ roles and responsibilities are within the framework of the Domestic Church?

            The Church itself is, in fact, a “family among families.” There is a shared responsibility for the mission of the Church where families join in the building of the intricate and woven layers of the Church. Because of the pastoral activity surrounding families, there is a distinct role of proclaiming the Gospel and witnessing solidarity not only within individual families, but also between other families. The love of a family is a constant source of strength for the life of the Church. Therefore, it enables them to be both the Domestic Church and a beacon of evangelization within communities and society at-large. This is not only accomplished through their active love and care of one another, but also their active listening to the needs, ideas, and challenges of others which proves to align poignantly with the synodality of the Church.[1]

            Families are called to transmit faith. What does that entail? Simply put, it is the passing of faith and religious practices to their children, the next generation. The fruits of labor are not always known until the children have grown to an age of autonomous independence. At that time, hopefully, they reflect upon the roles and responsibilities they have been raised with and how those faith practices are kept within the integration of their identity and lives.[2]

            The foundations of faith are laid in childhood through a distinct sharing of the salt (unique flavor and zest) and the light (the hope, the love, the joy) that parents share with their children (Matthew 5:13-16). Parents are always transmitting faith whether they are consciously aware of it or not. They are responsible for talking with their children about faith matters. Additionally, their role, as a parent, is to be people of faith themselves and be role models for their children. Are they involved in church? Do they engage in acts of charity and service with their children? Do they ask for forgiveness when they make a mistake or sin? Do they cultivate a respect for creation? Do they sing with their children? Do they introduce good examples for their children to follow?[3]

The daily household actions, routines, and behaviors reflect this within the context of grace before meals, discussion of what is to come in each day or with a specific goal, praying together for the celebration of a birthday or anniversary, mourning together for the loss of a loved one, deciding which weekend mass to attend while juggling the schedules of other activities and obligations.  Even Jesus himself gave the instructions to his disciples to go to a man in the city to acknowledge that his family home will be utilized to celebrate Passover together (Matthew 26:18). It truly is the role and responsibility of each family to recognize and form their own heart modeled after the heart of Jesus so that, in turn, they can reach out and minister to many other hearts in the world.

            So how does the Church bring forth an evangelizing and catechetical support for families? Catechetical leaders are encouraged to reach out directly to families, not only in their scheduled faith formation sessions, but also those who may feel disconnected from the Church. Reengaging conversation through a phone call or email or a simple warm smile and “hello” goes a long way. For the Church to genuinely hear the voices and the needs of the families so that they may be fully able to carry out their roles and responsibilities, the outreach must extend beyond the church building walls. Home is an important and essential place to learn and live in a synodal way. Families who live in a synodal manner by being loving and authentic listeners at home then help build more loving and empathetic parishes.[4] 

            When parishes and leaders can find and/or develop home resources for families to have and take with them, it builds an extra layer of confidence and hope for their own faith lives. Topics such as celebrating the Easter season at home, family discipleship, racism and Catholic Social Teachings, synodal listening at home, and the Year of the Family, give families an opportunity to genuinely to discuss, reflect, pray, decide, and be Church in their homes, their communities, and in the world at-large.[5] Having monthly family gatherings at the parish and gaining insight and feedback from varying age groups is another key element in guiding families to be synodal and active agents of the Gospel message.

Synodality and Families on the Periphery:  What does the Future Hold?

            Marriage and family in the modern world can be both joyous and challenging. When Pope Francis was asked, “Who is Jorge Mario Bergoglio?” his response was, “I am a sinner. This is the most accurate definition.”[6] While he is just like any other human being, he is also a blessed and powerful witness of Jesus who offers a future filled with hope. This is much like the members of any given family. There is brokenness within each person and throughout society. Just as any parent loves their child unconditionally, God, the Father, loves humanity, and humanity is worthy of His mercy and grace regardless of circumstances. God is love so God is naturally present even in the most “broken” of families, both traditional and those developing out of contemporary experiences.[7]

Pope Francis recognizes the challenging issues related to families and the need for synodality within any family unit. As a result, the nature of the Church should function in the context of these challenges to assist and serve families of all backgrounds and social classes. He is aware of the complexity of these issues in modern culture and the Church itself must exercise synodality while ministering to and serving families. There is a distinct need to revise approaches to pastoral care as it relates to single-parent families, divorce, contraception, sane-sex unions, and pre-marital cohabitation.[8] Instead of focusing upon doctrine or hyper-focusing on the lessening of family values, there should be a recognition that most people do value family relationships that are permanent and highlighted with mutual respect.[9]

            The focus of traditional Catholicism without synodality may need to be reconfigured.  Pope Francis notes that concepts such as same-sex unions and contraception should not be the heart of the pastoral care focus. Instead, the Church, the people of God, should draw their eye and heart to the vulnerability of young people who may be plagued with physical, mental, emotional, and/or spiritual hardships. This is the injustice that threatens family values and where families need the most assistance. It is at this point where families relate to each other and connect as one single human family of God.[10]

            There is a dream of building a world in which no one person will ever feel alone. It is imperative that the Church not remain closed within itself, but become more forth going, caring for others, and transformative in the world. Family is a place of warmth and love to not only identify serious challenges, but also cultivate an inclusive nature focused upon both respect and social justice. This is what has made it possible for families to see their reality and hopes in the ideals of the Church and to embrace the Church like a home.[11] This is how and where everyone can be heard.

Saint Teresa of Calcutta once asked what one can do to promote world peace? Her response to her own question was to simply go home and love your family. Additionally, when asked by someone if they could join her work in Calcutta, she responded with, “Find your own Calcutta.”  Both responses from Saint Mother Teresa were poignant and meaningful. It is up to families to be communally and globally effective, be the hands and feet of Jesus, and in doing so, they must begin within their own homes and family lives. In the same connective light, it is the Church’s responsibility to reach out to families, especially those struggling with their own versions of “Calcutta” and be the salt and light in ministry to them so that families may indeed be effective agents of the Gospel message in God’s wondrous world. This is the essence and truth of how families develop, grow, and become the synodal necessity of forming the Church.

[1] Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life, “Family,” 2017-2022, http://laityfamilylife.va/content/laityfamilylife/en/il-dicastero.html.
[2] John Roberto, “Practices for Forming Faith with Families and Parents,” Insights from Research and Theory, Lifelong Faith Associates, 2023, http://www.ncclcatholic.org/insights-practices.html.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Archdiocese of Newark, “Synod Effective Catechesis Helping Families Journey Together in New Way”
[5] Ibid.
[6] Katarina Schuth, “Open to All: The Emerging Ecclesiology of Pope Francis,” America, March 17, 2014, 16.
[7] Julie Hanlon Rubio, “Family,” In A Pope Francis Lexicon, 69.
[8] Katarina Schuth, “Open to All: The Emerging Ecclesiology of Pope Francis,” 14.
[9] Julie Hanlon Rubio, “Family,” In A Pope Francis Lexicon, 69.
[10] Ibid, 70.
[11] Ibid, 71.