THE FAMILY AS MODEL FOR A LAY-CENTERED CHURCH
Keywords:
Domestic Church, Family, Household of God, Lay-Centred Church, Lay Ministries, MissionAbstract
How could a lay-centred church come about in our time? With the challenges of the pandemic caused by Covid-19, people were confined to their homes to stop the stemming of the virus. This situation prevented the people of God to attend in person the services in places of worship. Most, if not all, resorted to watching online Masses live streamed or uploaded in different platforms while others began to pray as a family. Indeed, the central role of family in shaping and sustaining the church has been highlighted in this context. The early form of being a church, namely, “household of God,” which was totally lay in composition, is worth retrieving and revitalizing. The potential of empowering families as potent force for the church to move forward in its mission is reconsidered. Now, more than ever, the bond of love that permeates every good family, must inspire the same fellowship among the members of the institutional church. Afterall, is this not what Jesus reminded his followers to exemplify?
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