Domestic Church Movement a testimony of grace and invitation
By Jake Samour
The Domestic Church Families Movement has begun to take root in the Diocese of Wichita, offering married couples and families a concrete way to grow in prayer, unity, and mission.
Monica Habashy recently shared how her family’s encounter with the Domestic Church Movement quietly transformed her marriage and family life. Monica and her husband, Tony, who are members of Wichita’s Church of the Magdalen, were introduced to the Domestic Church Movement early last summer and felt a strong call to begin living its commitments right away, especially daily couple prayer. Domestic Church does not prescribe a specific method of prayer, and the Habashys felt drawn back to practicing Lectio Divina, which they had done during their engagement and early years of marriage.
During her remarks, Monica emphasized the value of a dedicated time and place for prayer. Even during a season filled with wedding planning, ministry commitments, and demanding work schedules, they committed to waking up 30 minutes earlier each morning – before Tony left for the day – to read the daily gospel, reflect, and share how the Lord was speaking to them.
Monica described feeling closer to her husband than ever: spiritually, emotionally, and even physically. Longstanding areas of tension began to soften. Praying together helped her feel united with her husband and rooted them in a shared mission, in contrast to feeling isolated or overwhelmed.
The effects of this simple daily commitment also extended to their children. Their younger children quietly joined them, bringing a children’s Bible, while they prayed. One particularly moving moment came when their fourth grader woke early on the first day of school to offer the school year to God in prayer. Although nothing else in their schedule changed, Monica described a new sense of peace in their home, a feeling that family life had slowed and become more grounded.
The movement’s heart
The Habashys’ experience reflects the heart of the Domestic Church Movement, which strives to help married couples grow closer to God and one another, while accompanying their children in the life of faith. Founded by Venerable Fr. Franciszek Blachnicki and deeply beloved by St. John Paul II, Domestic Church has formed thousands of couples worldwide and recently received Bishop Kemme’s official blessing to begin in the Diocese of Wichita.
The movement invites couples to live out seven simple but intentional commitments, including daily prayer, scripture, couple dialogue, and an annual retreat, supported by small “couples circles” that foster community, formation, and accountability.
Blessed Sacrament parishioners Sarah and Andy Allen have also seen fruit in the commitments. “Since attending the retreat, we have been able to fully participate in the commitments set forth and have seen a positive impact on ourselves, our marriage, and our family,” they said. “What was set before us, through the Domestic Church, was a means of centering ourselves more fully on God and the relationship we have with him. Helping us to center ourselves has then allowed us to bring him more fully into our family in ways that weren’t there before. The commitments themselves are simple and don’t interfere with daily routines, yet they do pull together who we are and our commitment as a married couple.”
The first step
The Evangelization Retreat is the first step for couples who want to learn more and discern whether Domestic Church Families may fit them. These retreats are welcoming, practical, and firmly rooted in the realities of married and family life. Upcoming retreats include:
• March 14-15 at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Wichita; and
• Aug. 14-16 at the Spiritual Life Center in Bel Aire.
Couples interested in a simple introduction before they sign up for a retreat may attend a Domestic Church information night. The first was to be held on Thursday, Feb. 19 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Colwich. There will be another information night at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Wichita.
As the Habashys attest, the Lord often works through small, faithful steps, sometimes as simple as 30 minutes of shared prayer, to bring about lasting transformation in marriage and family life. Learn more about the Domestic Church Movement’s history and formation at https://domesticchurchfamilies.com/. For more on the movement in Wichita, visit https://dcwichita.org or e-mail [email protected].
Jake Samour directs the Catholic Diocese of Wichita’s Office of Marriage and Family Life.