Bishop Boyea Releases Eighth Episode of Year of the Family
The Diocese of Lansing released the eighth installment of Bishop Earl Boyea’s Year of the Family video series on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, focusing on the history and practical use of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Father John Hardon Inspired Catholics in Michigan
During the episode, Bishop Boyea highlighted the contributions of the late Jesuit priest Father John Hardon, who is currently recognized by the church as a Servant of God. Father Hardon taught for many years in the Ann Arbor area within the Diocese of Lansing, inspired many Catholics to take their faith more seriously—an impact that is still bearing fruit throughout the diocese—and played a notable role in inspiring the creation of an updated universal Catechism.
The broadcast also featured the Bloomfield family of Grand Ledge, who came to know Father Hardon and consequently developed a love of the Catechism.
Bishop Boyea Shares Principles for Home Religious Education
Bishop Boyea outlined three primary principles for viewers regarding religious education in the home. He emphasized that proper catechesis is a vital part of family life aimed at helping children flourish and reach Heaven. Every Catholic household should maintain a physical copy of the Catechism as a reference tool for answering questions about the faith, and the bishop noted that God has revealed Himself through Jesus Christ while the Catholic Church serves as Christ’s mystical body to continue teaching today.
To demonstrate its accessibility, the bishop issued an on-air challenge. If viewers do not possess a Catechism, he urged them to buy one immediately. He asked viewers to open a Catechism and read paragraph 2201, or to let their children find and read the passage aloud. He also directed participants to use the back index to locate the bolded entry for the word “family” and scan its subheadings.
The broadcast concluded with an invitation from Bishop Boyea encouraging local Catholics to invite at least one friend or family member to participate in the ongoing Year of the Family programming.
