The Diocese of Roseau is preparing to observe Family Week 2026, a week-long series of spiritual, social, and community-based activities aimed at strengthening family life and deepening faith within households across Dominica.
According to a press release from the Diocese, activities will begin on Sunday, June 21, and continue through June 27 under the theme “Carrying the Graces of the Sacraments Home.”
The observance opens on Father’s Day with a special focus on fathers and men, who are being encouraged to attend Mass or worship services in their respective churches and chapels. The Diocese said the occasion will celebrate the Ordinary Priesthood of Fathers and their role as spiritual leaders within the family.
As part of the celebrations, fathers attending services will receive a special blessing, while outstanding fathers from various communities are expected to be recognized. Several Family Life Units across the island have also organized social activities to honor fathers throughout the day.
The release said that this year’s observance centers on the concept of the family as a domestic church. The Diocese explained that the week’s activities will highlight different elements of the Liturgy of the Domestic Church Life, an approach designed to strengthen family spirituality through a variety of rites, traditions, and faith-based practices carried out within the home.
On Monday, the emphasis will be on outreach and service. Families are being encouraged to reach out to neighbours, other families, and individuals who may be experiencing hardship or need support.
Tuesday’s activities will focus on celebrating Christian relationships. Families are being asked to make a deliberate effort to express affection and appreciation for one another through meaningful gestures and acts of love.
Wednesday will provide an opportunity for family discussions centered on how the rites and practices associated with the Liturgy of the Domestic Church Life can be incorporated into daily family life. The goal is to help strengthen both relationships and spiritual growth within households.
The Diocese noted that additional activities throughout the week will include family prayer gatherings, prayer sessions among groups of families, participation in Holy Hours, pilgrimages, and prayer walks, seeking guidance and blessings for families throughout the Diocese.
The Diocese asserts that Family Week offers families an opportunity to grow more fully into their role as domestic churches by nurturing faith, unity, and spiritual development within the home.
The Family Life Commission of the Diocese of Roseau, together with Family Life Units in parishes across Dominica, is encouraging families to take part in the week’s activities. Organizers hope the observance will serve as the beginning of a renewed journey toward stronger family bonds and the transformation of households into vibrant domestic churches rooted in faith and community.
