--- title: "Book Notes: \"How to: Catholic Family\"" description: "Win one of 6 copies of Tommy and Karen Tighe's book, \"How To: Catholic Family,\" new from The Word Among Us Press." --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2019/02/26/book-notes-and-giveaway-how-to-catholic-family/#) [BOOKS](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/books) # Book Notes: "How to: Catholic Family" Feb 26, 2019 1:30:01 PM  |  by [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) ["We can only hope that this book is as much fun to read as it was to write," Tommy and Karen Tighe note at the beginning of their new book, ](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/win-HTCF-book.png)[*How To: Catholic Family*](https://amzn.to/2EmDoVG)[. The book is definitely a fun read, but there's much more to it than just fun. The Tighes keep it real: children sneaking K'Nex swords into Mass, the cry room that felt "like viewing Mass through a tiny window from the abyss of hell," and a story about an accidental cheeseburger on Friday (there's a surprise ending for this one), but this isn't just a comedy routine based on all those unpredictable (and funny!) things kids do. There's inspiration from the saints and saints-in-progress, particularly Servant of God Dorothy Day. The book is filled with practical suggestions for living the faith, observing the liturgical seasons, and surviving Mass with a bunch of small children in the pew. ](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/win-HTCF-book.png) [There's a great chapter about Lent (read this first!) and another on Advent. You'll even find some out-of-the-box ways to live the liturgical year. I was pleased to see my namesake, St. Barbara, listed in the chapter on patron saints -- and, even better, the suggestion that December 4, her feast, be celebrated with a fireworks display.](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/win-HTCF-book.png) [**Leave a comment below, telling us what Catholic parenting question you'd ask Tommy and Karen.**](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/win-HTCF-book.png) --- *Copyright 2019 Barb Szyszkiewicz, OFS This article contains Amazon affiliate links; your purchases through these links benefit the author.* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F02%2F26%2Fbook-notes-and-giveaway-how-to-catholic-family%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F02%2F26%2Fbook-notes-and-giveaway-how-to-catholic-family%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F02%2F26%2Fbook-notes-and-giveaway-how-to-catholic-family%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Book%20Notes%3A%20%22How%20to%3A%20Catholic%20Family%22) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F02%2F26%2Fbook-notes-and-giveaway-how-to-catholic-family%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F02%2F26%2Fbook-notes-and-giveaway-how-to-catholic-family%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/BSzyszkiewicz%202022.jpg) ### [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) Barb Szyszkiewicz, senior editor at [CatholicMom.com](http://catholicmom.com), is a wife, mom of 3 young adults, and a Secular Franciscan. Barb enjoys writing, cooking, and reading, and is a music minister at her parish. Find her blog at [FranciscanMom](http://franciscanmom.com) and her family’s favorite recipes with nutrition information at [Cook and Count](http://cookandcount.wordpress.com). Barb is the author of *[The Handy Little Guide to Prayer](https://amzn.to/2LQB2oL)* and * [The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours](https://amzn.to/3wbDB8k)*, available from Our Sunday Visitor. ## Related Blog Articles [ Celebrate the Faith All Year Long with 'Living the Seasons' Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/celebrate-the-faith-all-year-long-with-living-the-seasons) [ Summer Serenity Series: Family Fun Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2019/05/27/summer-serenity-series-family-fun/) [ Resource for Sunday Mass Prep: Breaking the Bread Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/resource-for-sunday-mass-prep-breaking-the-bread) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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