museum of family prayer

The chapel filled up quickly and was bursting at the seams, with families happily sharing seats. The opening prayer, offered by Father David Marcham, helped kick off the day in a prayerful spirit and gave families the chance to enter the quiet moment of the Advent Reflection.

Mr. Craig Dyke shared his family witness about the importance of pausing the hustle and bustle of life and taking time for family prayer. Craig invited families to reflect on the arrival of Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago and to ponder how the “inn” didn’t make room for the Savior among them, yet it was the humble “stable” that was sufficient and welcoming. He noted that the plight of the modern Christian family can find itself, at times, caught between the “inn” and the “stable,” where families desire peace, quiet, and a Christ-centered home, but often find themselves living in a society that can easily distract us from God and each other.

The reflection offered families an opportunity to begin or revive Advent/Christmas family traditions, ones that can help create an experience of prayer in our family homes, our “domestic churches.” Families were invited to consider how they might use prayerful traditions like the Advent wreath, the Christmas Novena, and the family Rosary to help spiritually focus their attention on Jesus and to make time for family prayer, no matter how imperfect our Advent or Christmas seasons might be. 

The Advent Reflection concluded with Father Boby John, C.S.C., leading families in a decade of the Rosary, focusing on the “yes” that the Blessed Mother gave at the Annunciation. Guests were then asked to join Father Fred Jenga, C.S.C., in the Rotunda for the blessing of the Advent Wreath, as well as the blessing of all families and guests present. Father Pinto Paul, C.S.C., then kicked off the remainder of the afternoon with a prayer and blessing over the food while the children enjoyed the craft stations.

At the close of the day, families shared in cheerful Christmas caroling, where one could easily feel joy radiating from the Faith Gallery. Families returned to their homes with a beautiful Advent calendar, a Nativity Christmas ornament, and a box full of cookies to share. Most importantly, however, is our hope that each family left the Father Peyton Center with a renewed spirit of making room for Jesus in their family life through prayer.