During his homily at the World Meeting of Families, Pope Francis emphasized an important call for our world: a call to love and holiness. He said this all begins at home within the confines of the family.

About two weeks ago, the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) aired the network special DanceBattle America, which featured non-professional dance groups competing against one another. Several groups performed, most of which were families or close friends.

What does a TV show have to do with Pope Francis’ message at the World Meeting of Families?

Here’s the answer:

Michael, Michelle, and their daughter Ali Hoffman of Dallas were all featured on DanceBattle America, which aired Sept. 14 on ABC.  Back in February, Ali posted her family’s dance video, not realizing the amount of publicity it would get. The video went viral with almost 12 million views, and got the attention of ABC producers, who then asked their family of six to perform on the show.

What you may not know is that the family members featured in the viral video (Michael, Michelle, and Ali) are passionately Catholic. Throughout this journey, they used their publicity as an opportunity to spread the important message of family time, love, and togetherness—a message Pope Francis specifically highlighted during his visit to the United States last week.

“…Little gestures are those we learn at home, in the family,” Pope Francis said. “They are the quiet things done by mothers and grandmothers, by fathers and grandfathers, by children.  They are little signs of tenderness, affection and compassion.”

This small gesture made a huge impact. The Hoffman family was not looking for publicity, fame, or fortune. They just wanted to show everyone the fun they could have while being stuck in the house on an ice day in Texas. They could have used the publicity for something different. Instead, they used it as a means to spread the message of family, which is a message that definitely needs to be heard, most especially in our culture.

With all of the culture’s attacks on the family—abortion, promiscuity, homosexuality, etc. — it is obvious that God “snuck” a devout Catholic family into the media and made a profound statement: God is everywhere. He is even in the mainstream media, where He is often ridiculed, excluded, and more or less crucified again and again.

God had perfect timing too: He knew DanceBattle America would air just one week before the Pope’s arrival. He knew the Hoffmans would use this publicity for the greater good, and He knew people would want to see the message of love and joy radiate through this beautiful American family.

Seeing the Hoffman family’s interaction and dedication to one another is truly an inspiration and witness of what it means to live a unified, Christian family life. Cell phones and social media are a priority in our culture and often take the place of intimate, human interaction. It doesn’t take much to devote time to your family. Dance, sing, or play a board game. Pray together, read together, or make silly YouTube videos. The possibilities are simply endless.

Even if you do not have a good relationship with your family, always know that God is with you, He wants your love, and He wants to love you. He made his presence obvious when he put the Hoffman family on television. Yes, their video was definitely original, but they did not have to be discovered by producers and their video did not have to go viral.

Spread the culture of life by being a witness to your own family, friends, and to the world. Do not be afraid!

“Jesus tells us not to hold back these little miracles.  Instead, he wants us to encourage them, to spread them.  He asks us to go through life, our everyday life, encouraging all these little signs of love as signs of his own living and active presence in our world.” (Pope Francis, Sept. 27, Homily, World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia).