Advancing the Mission for dynamic spiritual evangelization for today's Catholic family life.
Created by Holy Cross Family Ministries, The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life is a collaborative think tank of distinguished theologians, social scientists, Catholic school educators, and pastoral ministry professionals noted for their work and writings on family life and spirituality. We do relevant research and content creation. The Institute provides support and educational opportunities for Educators whose work is helping the families and Pastoral Ministers whose task is form the domestic church in prayer and faith. Sharing in the Holy Cross Family Ministries mission and charism, the Peyton Institute are educators in prayer and formators to help awaken the spiritual life of Catholic families.
Pope Leo XIV reminds us that the Church's mission is to "accompany families...by becoming companions along the way and offering tools in the search for God." Most contemporary families experience a high level of distress, and many are in crisis. School, church, work, social media, organized youth sports, and friendships all have legitimate claims on the time and presence of families. The noise and busy schedules within our contemporary culture make it difficult for families to develop habits and practices that lead to healthy spiritual and religious lives. Catholic families are not immune to these daily pressures and challenges, and many find it difficult to even schedule regular family meals.
Catholic families are called to be different! Many parents need support, encouragement, and solid resources in order to unite and live a joyful and rich Catholic family life. The Institute, together with their collaborators, will take an in-depth examination of the best ways to strengthen families as the basic cell of Church and society.
As we look to the future and how we can better understand and meet the spiritual needs of the 21st century family, The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life will gather data and commission new research through partnerships to develop effective models of family prayer and spirituality for church leaders and families.
The Institute is based at The Father Peyton Center in North Easton, Massachusetts.
Created by Holy Cross Family Ministries, The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life was formed to create a collaborative think tank of distinguished theologians, social scientists, and pastoral ministry professionals noted for their work and writings on family life.
Father Jenga, a priest of the Congregation for 17 years. Prior to being appointed as the new president of HCFM, Father Fred has served as a corporate member on the board of directors for 5 years. He also served in a pastoral role as Regional Director of Holy Cross Family Ministries in East Africa for 7 years where he helped lay the foundation for the dynamic growth in ministry outreach to families and youth. He introduced digital and in-person mission events to help families pray and grow spiritually. He built several teams of lay people, teams that have helped the ministry grow in East Africa. He also creatively educated and helped the members of Holy Cross in East Africa to learn about and embrace the ministry as an important part of the Congregation’s efforts.
The first Peyton Prayer Guild Chapters for children were formed under Father Jenga’s leadership. He developed a program that brought children in schools and parishes together to learn the Rosary, pray for their families and learn about the life of Father Patrick Peyton. This program has grown and now thousands of children are participating.
Father Jenga has multiple degrees in Communications, including San Francisco State University, Makerere University, Kampala, as well as a Bachelor of Theology from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Nairobi, and a Bachelor of Philosophy from the Pontifical Urban University in Rome. Father Jenga recently completed a Doctorate in Communication from the University of Texas. He is an active researcher in the area of Communication and Religion; and he has published and presented several papers at academic conferences.
Father Jenga was born in Uganda, where he grew up on the banks of the River Nile and Lake Victoria, in the Ugandan district of Jinja. Father Jenga speaks several languages, including his ethnic language, Lusoga, as well as Luganda, Rutooro, Swahili, and Kinyarwanda.
Dr. Gulino is a lay ecclesial minister with over 30 years' experience in pastoral ministry and teaching in higher education. She has served in Diocesan Ministries for a total of 22 years—Diocese of Fall River and Diocese of Providence. Additionally, she has several years in Parish Ministry.
Lisa received her Doctorate in Ministry from the Catholic University of America in Spiritual Formation with emphasis in evangelization and catechesis. She wrote her dissertation on the spiritual and faith formation of the domestic church.
Since 2007 Lisa has served as an adjunct professor at St. Joseph College for both theology and pastoral ministry courses. Her work with the Congregation of Holy Cross began in 2018 as a facilitator and advisor with the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame's STEP Program. And she also serves as a faculty member for the Permanent Diaconate program for the Diocese of Fall River.
Lisa grew up in Attleboro, Massachusetts in the shadow of our Lady’s Mantle as she lived close to Lasalette Shrine and visited often with her family. She is the fifth of six children. She is the proud aunt of 11 nieces and nephews and 14 great nieces and nephews.
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