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Domestic Church & Integral Human Development
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Supporting Families, Upholding Human DignityThe Office of the Domestic Church and Integral Human Development promotes the dignity of the human person and strengthens family life across all stages of life, from conception to natural death. Rooted in Catholic teaching and pastoral accompaniment, the office assists parishes in their ministry to families and individuals by fostering a culture of life, supporting healing and recovery ministries, and encouraging works of mercy that uphold human dignity.
As a diocesan resource for pastors, parish leaders, families, and individuals, the office supports parish-based pro-life ministry, post-abortion healing and recovery initiatives, young adult outreach, and pastoral care for the elderly, the sick, and the homebound. In collaboration with Catholic Charities Maine, the Office of Lifelong Faith Formation, and other diocesan offices, the office helps form families, strengthen the Domestic Church, and advance Catholic Social Teaching throughout the Diocese of Portland.
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What are the Principles of Catholic Social Teaching?
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The principles of Catholic Social Teaching embody traditional Church wisdom as well as particular teachings, such as Pope Leo XIII's 1891 encyclical, Rerum Novarum.
- Life and Dignity of the Human Person: We believe that every human life is sacred from conception to natural death; that people are more important than things; and that the measure of every institution is whether or not it enhances the life and dignity of the human person.
- Call to Family and Community: The God-given institutions of marriage and family are central and serve as the foundations for social life. They must be supported and strengthened, not undermined.
- Rights and Responsibilities: All people have a fundamental right to life and a right to those things that allow them to live a decent life. Likewise, all people have a duty to fulfill their responsibilities to their families, to each other, and to the larger society.
- Option for the Poor and Vulnerable: The Church calls on us to show a "preferential" care for those who are poor and vulnerable, and to work to ensure that their needs are considered in public policies and priorities.
- Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers: The economy must serve people, not the other way around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God's act of creation, a way of fulfilling part of our human potential. The basic rights of workers, owners, and managers must be respected.
- Solidarity: Because of the interdependence among all the members of the human family, we have a moral responsibility to commit ourselves to the common good at all levels.
- Care for God's Creation: Our stewardship of the earth is a kind of participation in God's act of creating and sustaining the world. We must be guided by our concern for the welfare of others and by a respect for the intrinsic worth and beauty of all God's creatures.
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Meet the DirectorSuzanne Lafreniere, JD, serves as the director of the office. Previously she was the director of public policy for the diocese and also served as its pro-life liaison. Ms. Lafreniere works closely with statewide partners to promote a culture of life in Maine. She collaborates with organizations such as Maine Right to Life, the Christian Civic League, the Knights of Columbus, and 40 Days for Life, helping connect parishes and individuals with pro-life initiatives, resources, and volunteer opportunities.
Central to Ms. Lafreneiere’s ministry is supporting mothers, fathers, and families before and after birth. She helps promote crisis pregnancy centers, maternity housing programs, ultrasound initiatives, and Walking with Moms in Need, a program of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops that accompanies parents facing challenging pregnancies. She also advocates for compassionate education about end-of-life care and played a key role in advancing legislation that brought Safe Haven Baby Boxes to Maine in order to protect vulnerable infants.
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For further information, please contact:
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Suzanne LafreniereDirector of the Domestic Church and Integral Human Development
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