ROYAL OAK — If Unleash the Gospel is intended to reinvigorate the Church, then it must start with the domestic church — more commonly known as the family.

In Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron’s pastoral letter, high importance is placed on strengthening Catholic families in southeast Michigan, specifically urging families to reclaim their identity as Catholics, as part of a broader plan for evangelization in the Archdiocese of Detroit.

The letter calls on families to make Sunday a day for intentionally spending time together, sharing meals together and recommitting to receiving the sacraments with one another.

Priests, deacons and religious educators play an important role in teaching the faith, but parents are the key to determining whether children will continue to practice the faith as adults, the archbishop stresses.

As far as practical ways families can live an authentic Catholic identity, Harry and Leslie Kemp of the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in Royal Oak and their five children start simply: pray together.

“We feel as parents it’s important for us to be examples for our children, to show them we are living our faith,” Leslie Kemp told The Michigan Catholic. “If they see it is something important to us, then they are more likely to follow. It’s leading by example.”

Leading by example means seeking out other Catholic families with whom to socialize after Mass or at parish functions, Harry Kemp explained, creating a culture where prayer and talking about Jesus is a normal thing to do around the home.

“When we have guests, whether they are Catholic, non-Catholic or have no faith at all, we still stick to our routine and pray,” Harry Kemp said. “We still talk about God because it’s important to who we are as a family. We’re respectful, but it shows our children and our guests that faith is important to us.”

Harry Kemp added the Christian family identity expands beyond the confines of life at home or at the parish; it also includes going on vacation to places of importance to the faith, praying the rosary on longer car rides or in the hotel room.
“When we go on vacations, we make sure we get to Mass (looking up parishes in the area),” Harry Kemp said. “When planning out vacations, often with other Catholic families, we make sure we have time scheduled out to pray together.”



A core element of establishing a Christian identity in the family starts with cultivating a personal relationship with Jesus, said Marguerite Lampertius of St. Owen Parish in Bloomfield Hills.

“When (my husband and I) talk about family culture, it starts with a personal relationship with Jesus that is real and authentic,” Lampertius said. “We look with eyes of gratitude for the faith of our parents and grandparents. We felt called and blessed to adopt our four children from Guatemala; especially because of the same strong Catholic and family heritage the Hispanic culture shares.”

Marguerite and her husband, Jim, said grounding all family and parenting decisions in a relationship with Jesus is key to a strong family faith.

“As a married couple, we strongly believe praying together is a foundation for your family,” Jim Lampertius said. “Prayer really forms your family, protects your family. It opens communication and helps with your choices.

“Like most families today, our children have a lot of activities, and that’s great,” Jim Lampertius continued. “But taking the time, even if it’s 10 minutes here or five minutes in the car while pumping gas, it brings in the Holy Spirit and a sense of calm, into a shared joy that anchors our family.”

Marguerite Lampertius said devotions like Eucharistic adoration help her and her children slow down and hear the voice of God.

“We’re trying to teach them to take the time to listen to the voice of God, to slow down, go unplug and listen to him,” Marguerite Lampertius said. “Ask God to speak to you and help direct you; whether it’s adoration or going to Mass, receiving the Eucharist together really feeds us.”

Taking the time to pray together, to read Scripture together and to receive the sacraments together instills a sense of grace in the Lampertius family, but also allows them to take the day-to-day rigors of life in stride.

“When we pray together, we learn to laugh more at ourselves,” Marguerite Lampertius said. “We look at blunders and funny things that happen and you keep smiling. It’s looking at the longer-term picture, keeping your eyes on the real goal of heaven. During the difficult times, prayer really lightens the load. And during the joyful times, prayer really gives you gratitude for all you have.”