Kate Dawson is kind of the reason my marriage is doing okay right now. Just kidding. But only a little bit kidding.
Kate is a stay-at-home mother of five, she blogs at Day to Day Dawsons, and she is a happy wife to husband David. Kate and David are responsible for bringing the Domestic Church movement for Catholic married couples to the United States, where their diocese in Lake Charles, Louisiana was the first English-speaking diocese in the world to have a Domestic Church circle.
Kate gives us some great information about Domestic Church in this episode, including the neat backstory of how David Dawson first learned about Domestic Church, how a certain not-the-Pope-yet John Paul II was an enthusiastic supporter of the movement, and how David and Kate discerned the process of bringing Domestic Church back home to the United States.
Kate and I also talk about marriage in the trenches of day-to-day life, and how the Domestic Church’s “gifts” of daily couple prayer, family prayer, individual prayer, a monthly marriage dialogue, and developing a rule of life nurture strong, faith-filled homes and marriages. Domestic Church couples also meet monthly with a group of other couples and a priest, and we discussed how the community that naturally forms through that is a great blessing in marriage as well.
We had a lot of laughs in this episode, mostly because Kate is hilarious and honest and engaging and awesome. You’ll want to be her friend too after this episode. If I had enough time and energy, I’d produce a little outtakes add-on for this episode, because we had to stop more than once because we were goofing off so much!
Michael and I have been friends with David and Kate for years, and it was my pleasure to have Kate in the studio with me to record the show. I was slightly disappointed that she didn’t bring precious newborn Mary Claire to sing backup for the show, but she assured me that David had all five children completely under control for the evening so she could record with me. What a guy!
After listening to this episode, you might enjoy reading about how Domestic Church has changed my marriage. It’s been a game-changer for us.
Links from this episode:
The Domestic Church website (English)
Day to Day Dawsons (Kate’s blog)
How Domestic Church Changed My Marriage (Michael and I’s story about joining Domestic Church)
Phoebe Eunice says
I just finished listening to this podcast, which was recommended to me by a priest after I shared with him some of the struggles my family has been having finding formation and community within our parish church and homeschool group. He suggested prayerfully discerning whether the Domestic Church movement might be what God is calling us to. So many of the things you both said really resonated with me. My husband and I have done many of the the seven commitments ourselves, but without community and shepherding, we’re kind of vulnerable to being tossed around at sea. I get some Catholic community from our homeschool group, but my husband is really not part of that, and I have long wanted our faith life to be a family enterprise. I really loved too that you described the community aspect of this as not being to get together to hang out so much as to get together because we all love Jesus and for the sake of our marriages. That’s just beautiful. My husband is also excited about the possibility the we could form a domestic church circle group. Thank you so much for sharing this.
Erin Franco says
I know what you mean about wanting your faith to be a family enterprise. One of my favorite things about DC is that it gets the guys to open up and talk out loud about their faith with other men living it out and struggling right alongside them. Guys so often have more shallow friendships because they don’t jump right into the deep stuff like us girls like to do every chance we get.:) Let me know if you have any other questions after reading my email back to you. 🙂
Melissa says
Hi! I just started listening to your podcasts because my friend Mary Lou (who is also your friend, I believe :)) mentioned your podcasts and blog. I have listened to 3 of them so far and have been blessed by each one in different ways. I wanted to comment on this one, because although I will probably not be joining the Domestic Church movement in the near future (since its not in my area of the country), my family is–or should be–a domestic church. I gleaned many good insights and ideas to apply to my own marriage and family, even if we are not a part of the group. In particular, the “state of the marriage” meeting, importance of intimate prayer together, and establishing a “rule” for your family. Thank you for doing this podcast!
Erin Franco says
The couple dialogue (state-of-your-marriage meeting) has been a marriage-saver for us. So often you can’t figure a problem out in just one dialogue, and you have to keep coming back to it each month and talking about how to move forward with it. It’s such a great practice, and it’s one that I’m glad we have that gentle accountability to do now. Having three small children is an easy excuse to not make a monthly couple dialogue a priority! My marriage is the strongest and best it has ever been, and I know that God has used the Domestic Church to form us, strengthen us, heal us and speak to us in our struggles.
Angelle Palombo says
My husband and I enjoyed listening to the podcast on Domestic Church. What a refreshing look at marriage and faith with your spouse. Keep it up, Erin! We are listening! 🙂
Erin Franco says
Hi Angelle! So honored that you and Hampton listened. It’s been a blast to do (and the Domestic Church one with Kate was so much fun!). The couples in Shreveport who do Domestic Church are amazing–I’ll send some names your way per our email conversation.:) Hugs from Baton Rouge, Angelle!
Jacqueline Novak says
I love this! Now I am motivated to bring it here!
Kathryn H. says
Erin and Kate, I appreciated your description of the list of things couples commit to doing together. I think it’s tempting, when you know something is wrong with your spiritual life or your relationships, to get overwhelmed by imagining how much might “need” to change. The things you described are actually quite simple, while being powerful. Taking small steps can have dramatic effects in our relationships with God and with each other. We shouldn’t be afraid to take those little steps that can end up bringing a lot of joy and healing.
Erin Franco says
So spot-on, Kathryn. Domestic Church has brought a lot of peace to me because I feel like the structure will kind of ensure that we can’t let things get as bad as they were. If we go to the circle meeting and put in the faithful work to prayer with the kids and one another and individually at home, then the big stuff isn’t going to get swept under the rug, but rather dealt with.
And “joy and healing” as you wrote, are the perfect words for it. 🙂
Ali rodriguez says
I loved this one and it makes me really excited about recently starting a circle here on the north shore. Also, I loved how hall went over all of the commitments. After I finished the podcast I was inspired to open my bible to read some scripture and I’ve been doing it a few times a day since. Thanks for that! 🙂
Erin Franco says
Yay! They suggest starting with the Gospels in Domestic Church, but I’ve found the Psalms to be wonderful for memorizing little phrases and short verses lately…there is so much treasure in Scripture. I’m learning that Scripture really is a necessary part of my spiritual “diet”.:) Hugs from BR, Ali!
Jenay Franco says
What a blessing! I felt like I was right there having coffee with y’all. I for one cannot WAIT to get involved with Domestic Church! THANK YOU for your beautiful witness, Kate (and David!!).
Erin Franco says
It’s been such a gift, Jenay! I love your comment about feeling like you were right there with us–that is my goal! 🙂
Angela says
Loved this podcast. I cannot wait to get back to the US and learn more about how to get involved with Domestic Church! My husband and I are praying about this!!
Erin Franco says
It will be so nice to have ya’ll back, Angela! I am glad for your family to have the experience of living abroad for a while, though.:)