By their witness as well as their words, families speak to others of Jesus. They pass on the faith, they arouse a desire for God and they reflect the beauty of the Gospel and its way of life.
(Amoris Laetitia, 184)
Train the young in the way they should go;
even when old, they will not swerve from it.
(Proverbs 22:6)
For the last three years, 52 Sundays (52sundays.com) has responded to Archbishop Vigneron’s call to help families strengthen their Christian Identity and build the domestic Church (UTG, Action Step 1.3). 52 Sundays is a weekly resource designed to help families reclaim the Lord’s Day for faith and family. This resource reflects on the Sunday Gospel, explores the lives of the saints, introduces various forms of family prayer and offers suggestions for food and family fun. 52 Sundays has helped families make Mass a priority and grow in the habits of discipleship in a distinctly Catholic way. In 2020, when the pandemic closed churches across the nation, 52 Sundays was there to help families celebrate Sunday at home. In 2021, 52 Sundays was expanded to include Family Connections (a way to use 52 Sundays in the context of a family small group setting) and a Family Challenge (a way to put the Gospel into action). In 2022, a vocations theme was integrated into the weekly content. Vocations to the priesthood, religious life, Holy Matrimony and consecrated single life were highlighted through the saint stories, activities and discussion questions throughout the year, allowing parents to discuss vocations in a home setting.
What’s next for 52 Sundays? An all-new digital format with downloadable PDFs and a podcast! The newly re-designed website will make it easier for parents, catechists and teachers to engage with and share the content. Here are some highlights from the new website:
A fresh look with a bright and inviting design
The ability to quickly navigate to any Sunday of the year
The ability to print or download a PDF for easy distribution to catechists and parents or reprint in your parish bulletin
The ability to print or download individual sections of the weekly content, making it easy to share a recipe, prayer or family activity
Links to the USCCB online Bible for all the Sunday readings, Catechism references, recipes and activity pages
An easy way to sign up for a newsfeed to deliver weekly content
A mobile-friendly interface that can be viewed on smartphones and tablets
The new 52 Sundays will be free to all users, and the content will be available in English and Spanish. Click here to check out the new website.
In addition, we will introduce a new podcast called Beyond Sunday in 2023. This podcast will explore relevant topics that will help Catholic parents navigate the culture and build the domestic Church.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that parents should initiate their children at an early age into the mysteries of the faith and associate them from their tenderest years with the life of the Church (CCC 2225). Unleash the Gospel calls parish leaders to accompany and support families as they live out their vocation. Consider introducing (or reintroducing) 52 Sundays and the new podcast to the families in your parish to equip them to live their faith more intentionally on Sunday and beyond.
