catholic family faith

March for Life 2010

This past Friday, January 22nd, thousands of people (half of them under age 25) gathered in Washington, D.C., to mark the 37th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling that legalized abortion.  Many more participated in the pro-life demonstration through a Virtual March for Life.  To join your voice with the thousands speaking out for the dignity of human life, follow this link:  http://www.virtualmarchforlife.com/.

A World on Its Knees, an E-Prayerbook for Our Brothers and Sisters in Haiti

As the world continues to respond to the devastation in Haiti, the Daughters of St. Paul are offering a free book of prayer for the victims.  Sr. Kathryn James Hermes, FSP (Franciscan Sister of Peace) has compiled a collection of prayers to pray with and for our brothers and sisters in Haiti.

The website states:

Now, more than ever, we need to stand with our Haitian sisters and brothers,
both those in Haiti and their friends and relatives around the world
worried about their well-being.

This e-prayerbook is a useful way to focus intentions
and be in spirit with those who need us most.

Let's get this into the hands of millions of people around the world
who can't go to Haiti in person but can pray.
The Haitians are giving us an impressive example of faith and prayer.
Let us lift up their needs now that they will be able to
rebuild their lives, their church, and their nation.
 

Use the prayers in bulletins, prayer groups, parishes
or in the silence of your own heart.

 

To download this e-prayerbook, click this link:  http://www.pauline.org/FreeEbookofPrayersforHaiti/tabid/375/Default.aspx

 

Featured Website: CRS's Operation Rice Bowl

Each year, Operation Rice Bowl calls us to pray with our families and faith communities; fast in solidarity with those who hunger; learn more about our global community and the challenges of poverty overseas, and give sacrificial contributions to those in need.  For resources, including interactive resources, for your parish community, small faith community, or household to participate in Operation Rice Bowl this Lent, go to http://orb.crs.org/.

CRS' Operation Rice Bowl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbrwXLLCZxo

Each Lent, Catholic parishes throughout the U.S. participate in Catholic Relief Services' Lenten program, Operation Rice Bowl.  Since 1975, Operation Rice Bowl has inspired Catholics to pray, fast, learn, and give as we increase our understanding of our global community.  ORB connects to the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, helping us to understand how our actions impact others around the world.

Video & Virtual Tours:  http://orb.crs.org/interactive/index.cfm

Interactive Map:  http://orb.crs.org/interactive/map/index.cfm

World Awareness Quiz:  http://orb.crs.org/interactive/awareness-quiz/index.cfm

ORB Recipes:  http://orb.crs.org/features/recipes/index.cfm

For more information on Operation Rice Bowl, go to http://orb.crs.org/.

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/