Archbishop Hebda's new letter calls families to prioritize faith over distractions
Archbishop Bernard Hebda has released a new pastoral letter, Only One Thing Is Necessary, urging families to deepen their faith together. The 2026 document builds on his long-standing focus on family life, first highlighted during his installation in 2016. His call comes as fewer U.S. couples marry in the Church and traditional family structures continue to shift. The archbishop’s letter draws its title from the Gospel of Luke, where Jesus tells Martha, 'There is need of only one thing' (Lk 10:42). Hebda uses this passage to emphasise the importance of prioritising faith and relationships over distractions. He points to Sts. Zélie and Louis Martin, the parents of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, as a model for modern families.
During the 2022 Archdiocesan Synod, many parents expressed a desire to guide their children in faith. A proposal to recognise parents as the first teachers of the faith received strong support. Hebda’s letter reflects these concerns, encouraging families to reduce screen time and focus on face-to-face connections.
The archbishop also references Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 7:13-14, urging families to embrace the 'narrow way' that leads to eternal life. His message arrives as U.S. marriage rates decline, with fewer couples seeking the Sacrament of Matrimony. Meanwhile, the share of Catholic adults in the U.S. has fallen from 24% in 2007 to 19% in 2023-24, according to Pew Research. The letter arrives at a time when traditional family structures are changing. Married-couple households with children under 18 have dropped from 54% in 1975 to 37% in 2025. Hebda’s guidance aims to help families strengthen their spiritual bonds amid these shifts. His focus remains on practical steps to keep faith at the centre of daily life.
