catholic family faith

Lord's Day Faith Chat - April 20, 2008

Fifth Sunday of Easter

BEFORE MASS

Take 30 seconds:  What or who helps you to stay strong in your faith?

Scripture Readings:  Acts 6:1-7; Psalm 33:1-2,4-5,18-19; 1 Peter 2:4-9; John 14:1-12

Family Perspective:  Jesus is the cornerstone, the foundation, of our faith.  It is on this foundation that God builds the spiritual houses of our families.  And it is within the walls of these spiritual houses that we learn to trust in Jesus’ promises that through him we will have everlasting life with God in heaven.

AFTER MASS

Chat:

Adults:  How are the promises of this Gospel passage made real in your own life? How do you experience yourself doing greater works than even Jesus did?

Youth:  Jesus is "the way, the truth, and the life," and he asks us to do as he does. How do you try to follow Jesus’ way?

Children:  What are some ways that you can act like Jesus would if he were in your situation?

Family Response:  Invite your family to play “Follow the Leader.”  Give each person a chance to be the leader.  Each leader can have the followers do silly motions, go through an obstacle course, or follow directions to complete a task or project (like spring cleaning the house, garage, or yard.)

Pray:  Jesus, we believe that you are the way, the truth, and the life.  Help us to have faith in you and to do the works that you do.  Amen.

Care for God's Creation

Tuesday, April 22, 2008, is Earth Day.  People around the world take this day to consider what we are doing to care for our natural resources and the planet on which we live.  As Catholic Christians, we are called to celebrate Earth Day every day.  Care for God's Creation is one of the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching.  This theme challenges all of the faithful to show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation.  Care for God's Creation is not just an Earth Day slogan, it is a requirement of our faith.  We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God's creation.  This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored.

What will your family do this week to show care for God’s creation?

· Reflect on the stories of creation in the Book of Genesis.  Did you know that there are actually two different stories of creation?  In our minds, we tend to blend them together.  The first story is Genesis 1:1—2:4a.  The second story is Genesis 2:4b-9.  What is your favorite part of the stories?

· While it’s still a little early in Michigan to begin planting annual flowers, we can get outside and get the flowerbeds ready to be planted.  Rake some leaves, pull some weeks, till the soil.  Get your hands dirty and enjoy the feel and smell of God’s earth.

· Take a bag for a walk...As you walk around outside, take a bag along and put trash that you find along the way in the bag.  Then when you get home, throw the trash in your dumpster.

Check out these websites for Earth Day celebration ideas...

The Nature Conservancy — http://www.nature.org

Earth Day Network — http://ww2.earthday.net

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — http://www.epa.gov/earthday/

International Earth Day — http://www.earthsite.org

The Wilderness Society — http://earthday.wilderness.org/

World Wildlife Fund — http://www.worldwildlife.org/earthday2008/

Kaboose — http://holidays.kaboose.com/earth-day/

The Pope in America 2008

Pope Benedict XVI will be in the U.S. from April 15-20, 2008.  Check out these websites for information on the Pope and his visit to America.

Pflaum Publishing - http://www.pflaum.com/popesvisit/

USCCB - http://www.uspapalvisit.org/

Good Shepherd Sunday

On the fourth Sunday of Easter, the Church remembers that Jesus is the Good Shepherd.  Even though we're not sheep, we need to be shepherded, guided to make the right choices and do the right things.  As the Good Shepherd, Jesus offers us his example, his words and his life, to guide us in our lives.

As a parent, have you ever thought of yourself as a shepherd?  Recall a time when you had to get your family ready to go someplace, like church, or had to gather them to return home.  How did you feel through all of the activity?  Perhaps like a shepherd?

We are told when our children are baptized that we are to be examples of God's love and mercy to them.  We reflect God's love to our children.  Our children come to know God first and foremost through their relationships with us.  So it makes sense that we are shepherds of our families, guiding them as they learn to make decisions, leading them to God, protecting them from harm.  We follow Jesus' example of the Good Shepherd whenever we guide, lead, and protect our families.

As you take time this week to reflect on Jesus as the Good Shepherd and your role as the shepherd of your family, use this download as a guide in reflecting on Psalm 23.

Download Good_Shepherd_Sunday.pdf (118.7K)

Lord's Day Faith Chat - Fourth Sunday of Easter

BEFORE MASS

Take 30 seconds:  What do you know about sheep and shepherds?

Scripture Readings:  Acts 2:14a,36-41; Psalm 23:1-6; 1 Peter 2:20b-25; John 10:1-10

Family Perspective:  In our American culture, we have many voices calling us.  Media, politics, peer pressure, academics, music, literature…all these voices are clamoring for our attention.  As we grow up, we learn how to listen to the voices and learn what they have to say.  Our families have the responsibility of teaching us which voice to listen to and follow – the Voice of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.  May the Scriptures today remind us to follow the Voice of truth.

AFTER MASS

Chat:

Adults/Youth:  What “noises” keep you from hearing Christ’s voice?

Children:  How can you listen to and hear the voice of Jesus, the Good Shepherd?

Family Response:  Spend some time shutting out the noise of every day life.  Gather together as a family and, for one hour (or thirty minutes for families with very young children), be quiet.  Family members may read or pray or do crossword puzzles or put together a puzzle, but do it in silence.  While you are enjoying the quiet, listen for the voice of the Good Shepherd.

Pray:  Good Shepherd, open the ears of our hearts to your voice.  Amen.

Pentecost Kite-Flying Activity

The Church celebrates Pentecost on May 11, 2008.  One of the symbols of the Holy Spirit is wind.  With your family, check out the Internet links below for directions on how to make a kite.  When you have made your kite, read Acts of the Apostles 2:1-4.  Then go outside and have fun flying your kite!

Make Your Own Kite (Diamond Kite): 

http://www.skratch-pad.com/kites/make.html

20 Kids – 20 Kites – 20 Minutes (a quick way to make a kite):  http://www.aloha.net/~bigwind/20kidskites.html

Make a kite like Benjamin Franklin:  http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/exp_kite.html

How to Make a Kite from eHow:  http://www.ehow.com/how_1288_make-kite.html

Lord's Day Faith Chat - April 6, 2008

SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER

BEFORE MASS

Take 30 seconds: Recall a time when you knew, without a doubt, that Jesus was with you.

Scripture Readings:  Acts 2:14,22-23; Psalm 16:1-2,5,7-11; 1 Peter 1:17-21; Luke 24:13-35

Family Perspective:  The eyes of the men on the road to Emmaus were opened when Jesus broke the bread and shared a meal with them.  Our own eyes are opened to belief in the risen Jesus through our experience of Eucharist in our families.  Whenever we share our faith through loving family actions, we recognize that Jesus is truly with us.

AFTER MASS

Chat:

Adults/Youth/Children:  In what ways can you help others to “see” that Jesus is with them?

Family Response:  Enjoy some fresh baked bread with a meal.  You can make it yourself, allowing each family member to share in mixing and kneading, or you can purchase some fresh bread from a local bakery or store.  As you share the bread around the family table, talk about how each person helps family members to “see” Jesus Christ.

Pray:  Risen Jesus, we know that you are alive and dwell within us through the loving actions that we share with one another.  Amen.

Keeping Easter Alive

The Easter bunny has hopped away.  The stores have put all of the remaining chocolates and stuffed bunnies and chicks in storage.  Is Easter over?  NO!  Easter continues for us Catholics for another 37 or so days!  What can your family do to keep Easter alive in your hearts and home?

Click on the attached download to celebrate signs of new life with the canticle from the prophet Daniel. 

Download SignsofNewLife.pdf (156.0K)