Laugh and grow strong.
-St. Ignatius of Loyola
Adventure + Generosity + Character = Joy
Sanctity Will Lead Us to Converse With God and Serve Others
Carpe Gaudium
We must always remember joy is a gift from God. Joy is at the core of our spirit. Countless saints have extolled the virtue of joy. As Alice Von Hildebrand said, “Whatever your state, whatever your situation, whatever your purpose, always remember that you are made for joy.” Pope St. John Paul II reminds us, “God made us for joy” and St. John Vianney exclaimed if we really understood what was occurring at Mass, we would die of joy!!!
The truth is each of us must choose to live in joy. As Father Henri Nouwen explained, joy does not simply happen to us, we must choose joy and keep choosing it every day. We work, sacrifice and suffer, but Catholics also need to relax, smile and simply soak in the joy of the Lord. We have so much to be thankful for. Within our families, let’s pray for a better sense of humor and for the divine gift of laughter. God’s deepest essence is joy because it is a glimpse of heaven. No matter the situation, God invites each of us to receive joy. We are not just called to “laugh and grow strong,” it is our duty. It is time for all of us to embrace being Joyfully Catholic.
Mary, cause of our joy. Pray for us.
Our Mission
Years ago, at one of our Catholic family retreats, Fr. Nathan Cromly challenged us to choose three words to describe our family mission. He challenged us to form a statement that our family is created around; certain indisputable principles that helps us see the world more differently. More joyfully. More Catholic. So, on a small chalkboard we wrote three words that summarizes everything about us. This chalkboard is still used today, not to hold us accountable, but as a reminder to dare great things for Christ.
With three simple words, “Adventure. Generosity. Character,” our family has embraced this mission and it is our compass in everything we do.
Adventure
There is an adventure in all of us. It is our role as parents to help our children discover it. We have an opportunity to share powerful moments with our children. Adventures create impactful memories for our children. Our challenge for you is-make those memories Catholic! Some of our fondest Catholic adventures consist of an annual road trip to a monastery for the Easter Triduum, backpacking excursions with some of our favorite priests, or a summer vacation to Catholic Familyland. But most of the time, it is a simple outing that begins with a rosary or some one-on-one time, that cultivates a relationship with each other. A Catholic memory only happens when you allow it.
Generosity
As St. Ignatius of Loyola has said, “God will not be outdone in generosity.” Each month our family reflects on how we can cultivate opportunities to become generous with our time, talent and treasures. We instill in each child that it is not enough to focus on just one of those three elements. And no matter how much we think we give of our energy, sleep, or financial resources, God is always there to replenish, rejuvenate and reward us.
Character
To proclaim that parents should “raise their children right” is to emphasize that children need to be formed in character. Our Founding Fathers called them virtues. We know it when we see it, however due to concupiscence, these virtues are buried deep in each of us and must be developed. To assist us in the formation of character, our family chooses a Catholic virtue each month and we write it on our chalkboard. The character virtue is defined, with both a reflection from the Bible and a saint’s quote of that virtue. Our family will conclude with a discussion on how that virtue will be practiced over the given month. Two great resources for virtues are Fr. Richard Heilman’s 54-day Novena and Catholic author Jim Stenson.
Catholic Family Camp
August 29th-August 31st, 2025
Ponderosa Retreat & Conference Center
Ready to join us in the joy of it all? Register Now!
Stalwart + Pious+ Joyful
Children growing up today are headed towards some formidable challenges. Therefore, they must be raised to be strong. They must have character as well as catechetical instruction. They must be savvy as well as pious. They must be brought up to be responsible, tough-minded, compassionate, and courageous. They must be humanly stalwart men and women, serious of purpose, whose confidence gives humor to their lives and light to their loved ones. These are the valiant men and women whom the Church and society will need in the next century to renew the face of the Earth.” - Jim Stenson
‘Come Follow Me’
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