A leading figure in the exorcism ministry on Wednesday lamented the disappearance of family altars and what he described as a decline in communal rosary prayer inside Catholic homes.
Speaking during a Mass for the Western Visayas Exorcists and Lay Collaborators Regional Gathering on the Ministry of Exorcism in Bacolod City, Bishop Marvyn Maceda urged Catholics to strengthen their homes as centers of prayer and faith amid what he called increasing spiritual threats.
He said many households have gradually set aside traditional signs of devotion, including home altars that once served as focal points for prayer and were replaced by entertainment and digital distractions.
“Put it (the altar) back to signify that Jesus is the King of the house,” Maceda said. “A big television set is now at the center of the living room, while the images of faith have been relegated to the sidelines.”
He also raised concern about whether families still gather regularly to pray the rosary together, noting that in many homes the practice has been reduced to older generations.
“Lolo and lola are the only ones praying the rosary now,” he said. “The children and grandchildren are no longer there.”
Maceda stressed that his appeal was not rooted in sentimentality about religious objects but in what he described as a need for a more intentional practice of Christian life in the home.
“This is not emotionality. This is a call to live,” he said.
The bishop of San Jose de Antique said Christian families are confronting mounting challenges that require stronger spiritual foundations, including prayer, moral discipline and closer adherence to Church teaching.
“Parents, protect your families,” Maceda said. “They are being attacked now, our Christian families.”
He urged Catholics to return to basic devotional practices and to deepen their relationship with Jesus, saying holiness remains the central goal of Christian life even amid modern pressures and distractions.
