Catholic Minimalism

This episode is from the Catholic Money Summit. Amanda sits down in the WalletWin studio with author and speaker Katie Sciba to talk about Catholic minimalism — what it really means, why it matters for your faith, and how to actually live it.

What Is Catholic Minimalism?

Catholic minimalism is not a design trend. It is not about white walls, empty shelves, or a Pinterest style home. At its heart, Catholic minimalism is about ordering your possessions — and your time — in a way that serves your vocation and makes room for God.

Katie Sciba has been living and speaking about this for over a decade. She describes it simply: discern the specific call the Lord has for your life, keep what helps you live that call well, and trim everything else.

“What do you need in order to do well as a homeschooling mom of five?” she explains. “You keep that. Then trim the fat — what is getting in the way, materially or on your schedule?”

Katie’s Story: 1,200 Square Feet and a Third Baby on the Way

Katie’s journey into Catholic minimalism began about twelve years ago when she was expecting her third son. She and her husband were living in a 1,200 square foot home in Louisiana — minimal storage, no basement — and a well-meaning family member asked if they were going to move.

“I felt this pressure,” Katie recalls. “Oh, now we’re having our third, so we have to get a bigger house.” But then she stopped and asked herself: this is the home my husband can provide. We are a single-income family. So instead of chasing more square footage, she decided to make what they had ideal.

She made a list of every room. She went corner by corner, wall by wall, checking things off. When she finished just the living room — which had been flooded with toddler toys — cleanup time dropped from 45 minutes to five minutes.

“I realized: oh my gosh, look at the time it’s giving me back.”

Her boys also started playing in the living room more. The space felt welcoming again rather than overwhelming. That small shift opened her eyes to something much larger than tidying up.

The Rich Young Man — and Why This Is a Gospel Issue

Katie draws a direct line between Catholic minimalism and the story of the Rich Young Man — one she brings up in every talk she gives.

The young man approaches Jesus and says: I am doing everything right. What else do I need? And Jesus tells him: sell your possessions, give to the poor, and follow me. The man walks away sad, because he had many possessions.

What strikes Katie most is not that the man had wealth. It is that he walked away without asking for help.

“He should have turned around and said, ‘How do I do it? Help me do it.’ Peter walked on water because the Lord commanded him and gave him the grace. The paralytic picked up his mat and went home because the Lord commanded him and gave him the grace.”

The Lord does not ask us to do things and then leave us to manage on our own. He invites us — and then He equips us. Catholic minimalism, at its deepest level, is about saying yes to that invitation.

It Is Not Just About Stuff — It Is About Your Schedule Too

One of the most practical moments in this conversation comes when Amanda asks Katie about schedule minimalism. Katie meets a lot of women who want to purge their homes but have no time to do it — and her response surprises them.

“Your stuff is not where you need to start. It is your calendar.”

She asks: does your schedule for today reflect the unique call the Lord has for you? For Katie, that means her vocation as a wife and homeschooling mother has to come first. Everything else gets evaluated against that baseline.

Sometimes the most faithful thing you can do is say a big, hard no — to volunteering, to committees, to activities — so you can say a full yes to what the Lord is actually asking of you. It does not have to be forever. It can be a season of simplicity, a reset, a detox.

“Do a great job being a wife or husband. Do a great job being a parent.” Start there.

Practical Ways to Start Living Catholic Minimalism

1. Start with one room — or one corner

Do not try to simplify your whole home at once. Pick one room. Then pick one corner of that room. Work methodically. Check it off. Move to the next.

2. Ask: does this serve my vocation?

For every item you are unsure about, ask whether it helps you live out the call the Lord has placed on your life. If it does, keep it. If it is getting in the way — materially, emotionally, or spiritually — let it go.

3. Apply the same lens to your schedule

Make a list of your weekly commitments. Hold each one up to the same question: does this reflect what the Lord is asking of me right now? Be willing to say no — even to good things — for the sake of the best things.

4. Consider a capsule wardrobe

Katie has one herself. A small, versatile set of clothing that you can mix and match eliminates decision fatigue and helps you feel at ease in what you wear. Let go of anything you hate wearing — especially the things that make you feel bad about yourself every time you open the closet.

5. Let go so others can be blessed

Clothes your kids have outgrown, toys that no longer get touched, maternity items gathering dust — these things can become tremendous blessings for other families. Releasing them is generosity.

Minimalism as a Form of Fasting

One of the most beautiful threads in this conversation is the connection between Catholic minimalism and the spiritual practice of fasting. Amanda and Katie land here together near the end of the episode.

“Developing this minimalism, even if you have a lot of resources, is kind of just a form of fasting,” Amanda says. “Keeping it in check. This is what we do as Catholics — keep things in balance.”

That is why the Church gives us Lent every year, and Advent, and all the seasons of the liturgical year. She is always gently calling us back to the virtuous middle — not deprived, not indulgent, but free.

And freedom is exactly what Katie has found. She saved for three years — in a literal tin can — to take a solo trip to Iceland. She funded it by simplifying, selling things she no longer needed, and staying the course. The trip became a profoundly spiritual experience.

“If I had not let go of things to sell them, I would not have had that experience. It would not be part of my relationship with the Lord.”

The Heartbeat of It All

At the end of the day, Catholic minimalism is rooted in gratitude and detachment. It is the recognition that our things are gifts — to be received with joy, used well, and held loosely. It is the daily practice of asking: what is the Lord asking of me first? And then clearing away whatever gets in the way of that answer.

As Katie puts it: “When you detach, it does not mean you are going to be robbed of what brings you joy. It means you are saying yes to God — and putting yourself in a place to receive His blessing in return.”

There is more joy there. There really is.

Want to go deeper on faith and money together? Access all 40+ talks from the Catholic Money Summit at CatholicMoneySummit.com.

And to follow Katie Sciba and her work on Catholic minimalism, visit katiesciba.com or find her on Instagram and Facebook at @katiesciba.