Chaplain's Corner

Cultivating Virtue at Home by Role-Modelling the Faith

As we close Term 3, I’m reminded that the most powerful classroom is the family home. Children learn virtues: faith, hope, love, honesty, courage; not only from what we say, but from what we consistently do. In our Orthodox tradition we call the home a “little church”: a place where prayer, forgiveness, and joyful service are practised daily. When parents and caregivers quietly model the life of Christ, virtues begin to take root in the hearts of our young people.

Here are simple, realistic ways to nurture this at home:

• Keep a prayer corner: an icon, candle, and a short morning/evening prayer (3–5 minutes). Let children take turns leading.
• Sunday first: commit to the Divine Liturgy as a family. Speak briefly afterwards about one thing each person heard or learned.
• Name the virtue: when you see honesty, patience, or courage, say it aloud “That was courageous because…”.
• Model repentance: children learn forgiveness when they hear us say, “I’m sorry,” and “I forgive you.”
• Prayer at meals: a simple thanksgiving and a weekly “gratitude round” builds joy and contentment.
• Scripture in small bites: one psalm or a few verses from the day’s Gospel; ask, “How can we live this today?”
• Serve together: choose a small act each fortnight: visit a neighbour, write a card, prepare a meal for someone in need.
• Screen sanity: create device-free times (meals, prayer, car rides) to make room for conversation and attentiveness.
• Family fast & feast: keep fasts in age-appropriate ways, then celebrate the feast day together—teach restraint and joy.
• Bless and be blessed: make the sign of the Cross on your children’s foreheads before bed or school.
• Create a “virtue jar”: each time someone lives a virtue, add a note; read them together on Sunday evening.

• Guard speech: speak well of others at home; little ears become big hearts.

   

None of this requires perfection only faithfulness. Virtues grow through imitation and repetition, like learning an instrument: a little, often, and with love. As we look to Term 4, may our homes continue to be places where Christ is encountered, where mistakes become moments for mercy, and where the seeds of virtue are watered daily.

With prayer for a restful break and renewed strength,

Rev Fr Stavros Kakavas 

Parish Priest and School Chaplain