July 26, 2024

Families encouraged to create 'tribes' of like-minded families to 'life with'

David Rafferty places a hand in prayer on the shoulder of his wife Katherine, as do their five children, during a time of prayer in the July 20 Cultivate (Family) Impact Session at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis during the National Eucharistic Congress. The Rafferty family is from the Diocese of Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Natalie Hoefer)

David Rafferty places a hand in prayer on the shoulder of his wife Katherine, as do their five children, during a time of prayer in the July 20 Cultivate (Family) Impact Session at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis during the National Eucharistic Congress. The Rafferty family is from the Diocese of Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Natalie Hoefer)

By Natalie Hoefer

At the Cultivate (Family) Impact Session on July 20, Damon and Melanie Owens spoke about the communal relationship of families and the need for families to create “tribes” of like-minded families to “life with.”

The couple of 31 years and parents of eight are the co-founders of the Joy Ever After marriage and family ministry.

“It’s essential to build a tribe, those families you can trust to share in forming your children, your family with,” said Damon. “Kids provide opportunities to meet families with other kids. But it’s about finding those who really share your faith, your vales and mission, and making the decision to share with them.”

Those relationships don’t have to be perfect.

“Each family meets a different need of your family,” said Damon. “With some families the dads may click, or the mothers or the children.”

Melanie caution moms, especially in homeschooling families, to find a “collective of women to open up your heart with, where you can trust and support each other.

“I wanted Damon to fulfill me and make me happy, especially after I’d been with the kids all day. But I needed to form a collective with women to do that. That helps create better families.”

The session closed with a time of prayer, alternating between families placing hands on the father and mother. †

 

(See all of our coverage of the National Eucharistic Congress at www.archindy.org/congress.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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