Bishop Boyea Urges Lansing Diocese Families to Protect Sunday Rest

Bishop Earl Boyea is urging Catholic families within the Diocese of Lansing to protect Sundays from the pressures of modern consumerism and constant activity.

In a column released by the Diocese of Lansing on November 10, 2026, the Bishop addressed the tenth week of his “Year of the Family” initiative. He argued that maintaining Sunday as a “special” day is essential for spiritual and familial health.

Boyea suggested that while Sunday Mass serves to energize the Catholic community, the remainder of the day should be dedicated to rest and meaningful interaction with family members.

The Bishop noted that for many heavily scheduled individuals, this rest might manifest as sleep, but he emphasized the importance of a “regenerative” approach to the day.

Boyea shared a personal anecdote regarding the difficulty of stepping away from worldly distractions, noting that pulling away provides the strength necessary to move forward.

He highlighted the difficulty of avoiding Sunday commerce, stating that he personally attempts to purchase gasoline on Saturdays or Mondays to avoid supporting rampant consumerism on the Lord’s Day.

The Bishop also observed that while many Catholic schools have attempted to eliminate Sunday sports contests, the effort remains a difficult struggle.

He remarked that the broader society and government are unlikely to lead this effort, placing the responsibility on individual families to seek a “retreat” on Sundays.

Keeping Sunday Special | Week Ten | Year of the Family w/ Bishop Boyea

“On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound . . . to abstain from those labors and business concerns which impede the worship to be rendered to God, the joy which is proper to the Lord’s Day, or the proper relaxation of mind and body.”

The Bishop cited this specific guidance from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2185) to frame the practical application of his message.

To illustrate how these principles function in a modern household, Boyea pointed to the LaFave family of Saint Thomas the Apostle parish in Ann Arbor.

The family, consisting of parents Aerik and Sarah LaFave and their eight children, shared their experiences with attempting to keep Sundays special, according to Bishop Boyea.

Bishop Boyea Urges Lansing Diocese Families to Protect Sunday Rest

Boyea challenged parishioners to follow the example of the LaFaves by engaging in specific spiritual exercises during the week.

He suggested that families sit down to read the five paragraphs in the Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding Sunday as the Lord’s Day.

The Bishop encouraged families to use that time to pray, ponder, and discuss ways to better dedicate their Sundays to worship, rest, and the cultivation of social and cultural life.