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November 10, 2022Christ the King Catholic Church in Oklahoma City hosted the first Together in Holiness conference on Oct. 29. Together in Holiness is a marriage enrichment initiative that inspires couples to grow together in holiness and empowers and equips parents to form their children in the Catholic faith. The conference began with Mass celebrated by Archbishop Coakley.
Many couples, ranging from newly engaged couples to couples who have been married for more than 30 years, gathered for Mass and a marriage blessing, engaging presentations, reconciliation and eucharistic adoration.
The Together in Holiness Conference also allowed couples to socialize with other Catholic couples. During his homily, Archbishop Coakley discussed counter-cultural scripture passages and stressed the importance of understanding what the pattern of a Christian life is.
“Husbands and wives should be subordinate to one another out of reverence to Christ,” extolled Archbishop Coakley, quoting from scripture. “The pattern of the Christian life is to become a gift for others and to receive a gift from others.”
Mass was followed by several presentations. The first speaker, Roland Millare, S.T.D., vice president of curriculum and director of clergy initiatives at the Saint John Paul II Foundation, spoke about the Eucharistic Form of Life.
“We are called to integrate the sacraments into our daily lives, which is why the ‘eucharist must become the very form of our lives,’” explained Millare.
Alexander Schimpf, director of Marriage and Family Life Ministry for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, spoke on a panel discussing the meaning of the domestic church. He emphasized the Christian family as being the first place of education in prayer.
The domestic church “reminds us that we will be judged on the religious migration of our families,” said Schimpf. “In the end, what will be important is, ‘did you help your family get to heaven?’”
After the panel discussion, couples were encouraged to spend time in prayer together and to participate in the sacrament of Reconciliation. The final speaker of the conference was author Haley Stewart. She discussed the importance of liturgical living in the home. The first Together in Holiness Conference concluded with closing comments and a sending forth.
Learn more about the Saint John Paul II Foundation at forlifeandfamily.org.
Courtney Rhone is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.
Photo: Archbishop Coakley celebrated Mass at the Together in Holiness conference for married and engaged couples on Oct. 29 at Christ the King Catholic Church in Oklahoma City. Photo Courtney Rhone/Sooner Catholic.
