Equipping Pastoral Leaders in Ministry with Families:
An Inter-Disciplinary Workshop on Family Life
Held April 13th 2026
This workshop took place on Monday, April 13. If you were unable to attend live, please review the presentations below, respond to the breakout questions at the bottom of the page, and submit your responses to Dr. Ana Machado (amachado@catholiciu.edu)
Your input will be invaluable as we continue to develop academic programs dedicated to the formation of family life ministers.
Where are we now? Marriage and Family Life Ministry in the United States
with Julia Dezelski, STL, STD
The Importance of a Marriage Catechumenate for Ministry WITH Families
with Ximena DeBroeck, MSP, STL, PhD
Defining an Interdisciplinary Model of Family Formation for Church Leaders
with Ana Machado, PhD, STD
Featured Speakers:
Breakout Questions:
A. The Family and the Diverse Church Ministries
In our society (both in civil society and in the Church), family / families have problems, but are a fundamental solution.
1) How does the ministry that I am engaged in directly or indirectly serve families as domestic churches?
2) What are some intentional and culturally informed ways of supporting the family as a cohesive unit in my ministry?
3) What does the ministry that I am engaged in directly or indirectly receive from families as domestic churches?
4) How could the ministry that I am engaged in directly or indirectly rely more on families?
B. Building Blocks of Family Formation for Church Leaders
Christianity has the wisdom that can help families to become what they are, to quote a phrase from Pope John Paul II. In spite of that, we are not always successful in conveying this wisdom, especially at a time when, more often than not, many do not know how to live as a family.
1) What aspects do I consider fundamental for Church leaders to be personally well-prepared to serve families today? Areas of knowledge, practical expertise, etc.?
2) From the viewpoint of the ministry that I am engaged in, what are the main obstacles to having well-prepared Church leaders to accompany families?
3) What are the relevant strengths for someone in my ministry to embark on a process of changing the paradigm of family accompaniment in the Church?
4) What would be the essential characteristics of a university program designed to enhance the preparation of Church leaders to help families live and build an authentic, faithful family life?
In our society (both in civil society and in the Church), family / families have problems, but are a fundamental solution.
1) How does the ministry that I am engaged in directly or indirectly serve families as domestic churches?
2) What are some intentional and culturally informed ways of supporting the family as a cohesive unit in my ministry?
3) What does the ministry that I am engaged in directly or indirectly receive from families as domestic churches?
4) How could the ministry that I am engaged in directly or indirectly rely more on families?
B. Building Blocks of Family Formation for Church Leaders
Christianity has the wisdom that can help families to become what they are, to quote a phrase from Pope John Paul II. In spite of that, we are not always successful in conveying this wisdom, especially at a time when, more often than not, many do not know how to live as a family.
1) What aspects do I consider fundamental for Church leaders to be personally well-prepared to serve families today? Areas of knowledge, practical expertise, etc.?
2) From the viewpoint of the ministry that I am engaged in, what are the main obstacles to having well-prepared Church leaders to accompany families?
3) What are the relevant strengths for someone in my ministry to embark on a process of changing the paradigm of family accompaniment in the Church?
4) What would be the essential characteristics of a university program designed to enhance the preparation of Church leaders to help families live and build an authentic, faithful family life?
Post Breakout Discussion
watch after answering your breakout questions