Home 2 Home is NOT a program but is (first) a cultivation of catholic families towards a deeper communion of life and love with one another; and (second) is an emboldening of catholic families to share their spiritual riches generously with other families as God has intended for marriage and family since the beginning.

“They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need. 
 
Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.”

Acts 2: 42-47 (NABRE)

                     There are many obstacles that hinder genuine friendships. For a catholic family to flourish, it is fundamentally important for them to have opportunities of fellowship with other catholic families. Meaning, families must somehow gather intentionally with one another and engage in a communion of love. Historically, the “narthex” area of the Church was purposed for such gatherings. The faithful would meet one another prior to mass or after mass and intentionally enter-into fellowship.

Today, such engagements can be rarely observed as families have scheduled other activities together or individually and have little to no time for fellowship.  Some parishioners even avoid it if possible for a variety of reasons. Regardless, there still exists intrinsically in all families a desire to come together in communion.

"The most common place families gather is the home and just like the early church they still gather around the Grace of God’s bountiful food."

The most common place families gather is the home and just like the early church they still gather around the Grace of God’s bountiful food. There are many different reasons families get together, such as; a baptism, birthday, thanksgiving holiday, Christmas, Easter, a graduation, first communion, a team victory, confirmation, an anniversary and the birth of a new baby. Yes, such times of fellowship are splendid between immediate and extended family, but what of the fellowship that occurs between the two families, who every Sunday at mass see one another and still do not know each others names? Such a reality is not far from the truth in the existing universal Church. Why is this happening? Are not all those who uphold the faith brothers and sisters? Are they not family too?

The Church is the family of God and if families in parishes begin to neglect this truth then authentic fellowship may cease to exist. Something must be done and familial charity that is centered on Christ is key.

Fellowship is cultivated first in the family and it begins with the virtue of charity that comes forth from husband/father and wife/mother. For it is through the primary virtue of charity do all good works stem. These works are good because they have communion with God as its ultimate end. “All good giving and every perfect gift are from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.” (Jas 1:17) Jesus declared, “No one is good but God alone.” (Lk 18:19) Knowing that God alone is good then He (Christ) is the perfect Good in which all families should strive towards.

"as families gather to build one another in Christ by sharing their gifts, talents and time in charity, they are not only communing with another in love, but they are helping to do God’s work of salvation to all those they encounter."

When families gather in charity, they make possible a path for communion to take place. A communion that is only accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit and fully realized in the Catholic Church because of the sacraments bestowed upon her from Christ Jesus, especially the Eucharistic sacrifice in which they all share and long for. True communion begins in the family. For the family is known as the “domestic church” and through the family of husband, wife and offspring can the beauty, truth and goodness of the living Christ be shared. Hence, as families gather to build one another in Christ by sharing their gifts, talents and time in charity, they are not only communing with another in love, but they are helping to do God’s work of salvation to all those they encounter.