Think tank to develop new models of family prayer and spirituality.
Created by Holy Cross Family Ministries in collaboration with Pastoral Solutions Institute, 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.
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. Combined with the negative impact of consumerism, drugs, pornography, violent video games, music, films and other activities, many families find it difficult 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.
Under the leadership of HCFM, the Institute is directed by Dr. Greg and Lisa Popčak of Pastoral Solutions working closely with Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C., and other Holy Cross Family Ministries staff. Initial work will consist of commissioning research on Catholic families who successfully pass the faith to their children. From that data, practical programs and materials will be developed both for families as well as leaders in the church, particularly those in family life ministry.
The Institute is based at The Father Peyton Center in North Easton, Massachusetts.
Created by Holy Cross Family Ministries in collaboration with Pastoral Solutions Institute, 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 Willy Raymond, C.S.C., a member of the Congregation of Holy Cross, is President of Holy Cross Family Ministries, a worldwide family of ministries founded by Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C., as Family Rosary and Family Theater Productions. Father Raymond continues the ongoing mission to promote family spirituality and prayer, furthering Father Peyton’s vision: “The family that prays together stays together.” The Institute is one of the most recent efforts of HCFM.
Dr. Gregory Popcak is the Founder and Executive Director of the Pastoral Solutions Institute. The author of over 20 popular books & programs integrating solid Catholic theology and counseling psychology, he is an expert on the practical applications of Pope John Paul the Great’s Theology of the Body. Together with his wife, Lisa, he hosts More2Life Radio, a call-in, advice program heard M-F at 10am E/ 9amC on almost 400 stations affiliated with the EWTN radio network and SiriusXM Satellite Radio Channel 130.
In addition to his counseling and broadcasting work, Dr. Popcak is the Executive Director of the Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life. He is the former Chair of the MA in Pastoral Studies Program at Holy Apostles College and Seminary and has served as an adjunct professor of both psychology and graduate theology at Franciscan University. Dr. Popcak’s articles appear regularly in various Catholic periodicals and his work has been featured on FoxNews, NPR’s Here and Now, the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Ladies Home Journal, and The National Enquirer.
Lisa Popcak, CFLC is the Vice-President of the Pastoral Solutions Institute. She is a professional educator, a lactation consultant, and Certified Family-Life Coach. An expert in learning styles/strategies, early childhood development, adoptive family issues, and women’s spirituality, she is the co-author of two books (including; Parenting with Grace: A Catholic Parent’s Guide to Raising (almost) Perfect Kids (1st & 2nd editions) and Beyond the Birds and the Bees: Raising Sexually Whole and Holy Children). Since 2001, together with her husband, Dr. Greg Popcak, she has hosted several nationally-syndicated, call-in radio advice programs including Heart, Mind and Strength (Ave Maria Radio), Fully Alive! (Sirius/XM-The Catholic Channel), and most recently, More2Life. They have also hosted programs for EWTN. Dr. Greg and Lisa Popcak are sought-after public speakers and trainers and have been honored to address audiences across North America, Australia, and Hong Kong.
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