Synod Evangeliztion Team (SET)

The 2026-2027 Year 3B of the St. Paul/Minneapolis Archdicoesan Synod is focused on Parents as the Primary Educators of their children in the Catholic Faith. We sometimes call this the “Domestic Church”.  What do we mean when we talk about the domestic church? The term “domestic church” was formally used in the Catholic Church in the 1960s, when the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) described the family as the Ecclesia domestica — “the domestic church” — in its Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium (No. 11) This ancient expression, rooted in early Christian thought, emphasized that the family is the first place where the faith is lived, taught, and passed on. While the idea of the home as a “little church” dates back to the first century AD and was understood by the Early Church Fathers, the modern, official use of the term “domestic church” in Catholic teaching emerged with the Council’s writings. The Council’s formulation drew on the belief that, in a world often hostile to faith, believing families are vital centers of Christian life, where parents are the first heralds of the faith to their children.

 

Please take some time to explore the information presented by Archbishop Hebda by following the link below: 

Only One Thing Is Necessary: How Catholic Families Can Strive To Be United In This Life And The Next by Archbishop Bernard Hebda

www.arachspm.org/familyletter/


 

 HOW CATHOLIC FAMILIES CAN STRIVE TO BE UNITED:

The Catholic Church wants us to be friends with Jesus. But before we can become friends, we must know who Jesus is, what he has done for us, and how we are to be strengthen by his graces and live by his example. This task is not easy in the modern world. How do we invite our children and grandchildren to want a relationship with Jesus?  The answer is through intentional Catholic Formation.   

Each month the SET team as part of the SYNOD INITIATIVE will have bags available for parents/grandparents to take home to share with their children/grandchildren. The bags are FREE they will include ideas on how to share your faith and fun crafts to indulge in as a family. Please only take one bag per household. ENJOY! Watch for updates on the Domestic Church and Whole Community Catechesis as the year progresses. 

 

 Contact Teresa Neuman for more information.

 

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