Side Dishes for Families
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April
He is risen. Alleluia, Alleluia! The Resurrection of Jesus is such overwhelmingly Good News that a single day is not enough to celebrate it. The Lord’s Resurrection is meant to be celebrated intensely for the whole week following Easter (known as the Octave), the whole liturgical Season of Easter (lasting 50 days until Pentecost, this year May 23rd), and every Sunday thereafter (each as a mini-Easter).
Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase, “We are an Easter people.” Good Friday was not the end. The “Season” in which we live. . . waiting for Jesus’ second coming. . . is Easter. . . or perhaps, more fittingly, Pentecost. Ponder that. Celebrate that...and testify to it!
The following resources from the Diocese of Des Moines will help you celebrate the Easter Season in your household:
Living This Easter Sunday
Tone for our day: Completely joyful and happy! Jesus has won. He is with us. He has opened heaven for us!
https://www.dmdiocese.org/filesimages/Catechetical%20Services/Lent%202021/Living%20This%20Easter%20Sunday.pdf
Living This Easter Season
While Lenten observances get a lot of attention, they are means for preparing us to fittingly celebrate the Easter Season, which also deserves our mindfulness. We continue to embrace Lent’s call to prayerful reflection and generous action, but in a new context, the Easter context.
https://www.dmdiocese.org/filesimages/Living%20This%20Easter%20Season.pdf
Easter Season Sunday Faith Conversations
Find some time in your week, perhaps at a mealtime, to have meaningful conversations with loved ones (under the same roof or virtually) centered around the Sunday Mass readings.
https://www.dmdiocese.org/filesimages/Catechetical%20Services/Lent%202021/Easter%20Season%20Faith%20Conversations.pdf
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March
Pray
Pray the Liturgy of the Hours as a Family
Liturgy of the Hours
Watch
Explore
Reflect
Sunday Connections from Loyola PressGod speaks to us in many ways, including through the Sunday Scripture readings. The Sunday Connection provides useful background and activities to better understand the upcoming Sunday's Scripture readings, helping you to connect the Scripture to daily life in a meaningful way. Find connections for every Sunday of the liturgical year at https://www.loyolapress.com/catholic-resources/liturgical-year/sunday-connection/
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February
Pray
Gratitude Jar. Prayer jar,
http://www.ssww.com/blog/how-to-make-prayer-jars-religious-craft-activity-lesson/
Watch
Exploring the New Testament:
Kingdom of God video, Ed Sirois: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQvc-ajNuFI&%3Bt=145s
Explore
Calm down :
https://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/2021/01/classroom-spiritual-breaks/
Click here to view Family Lenten Plan.
Reflect
Sunday Connections from Loyola Press
God speaks to us in many ways, including through the Sunday Scripture readings. The Sunday Connection provides useful background and activities to better understand the upcoming Sunday's Scripture readings, helping you to connect the Scripture to daily life in a meaningful way. Find connections for every Sunday of the liturgical year at https://www.loyolapress.com/catholic-resources/liturgical-year/sunday-connection/
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January
PrayBible Story: Jesus growing up. There are not many stories in the Bible that tell us of Jesus’ childhood. We do know that he was a baby and grew up just like each of you.
Video: Jesus Growing Up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irTmdgAOPfA&list=PL5aPdmniG3y_n7hXEKTV4qQnIeCe-p6Ws&index=10
This video mentions that Jesus had brothers and sisters. In his time and culture, relatives such as cousins were often referred to as siblings. Some Scripture scholars believe that reference to the brothers and sisters of Jesus in the gospels may point to children of Joseph from a previous marriage.
Watch
Domestic Church podcast
https://www.domesticchurchproject.com/dcp-podacst
Explore
Giving Kids a moral compass
https://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/giving-kids-a-moral-compass/
Reflect
Here is a brief video reflection about the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Hgycmwzw1k
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December
PrayLiving this Christmas Season: A Christmas Journey
Remember that Christmas is a whole season -- from December 24 - January 10! Click here for a fun guide full of simple ideas for tweaking or creating some family traditions, adding some prayerful reflection, and incorporating acts of kindness into the fullness of the Christmas Season.
Stations of the Manger
http://www.communityofthegospel.org/Library/Stations_of_the_Manger.pdf
Advent Dinner Prayer
https://www.rclbenziger.com/sites/default/files/sites/default/files/Prayer%20Per%20Month-December.pdf
Explore
Parent Christmas Message
from Tom Quinlan, Ministry Director, St. Joseph Educational Center, West Des Moines, December 2020
Dear parents, at this time of the year, with long nights and impending winter weather, life can become a little tough for some of us. And in the midst of Covid, probably most of us are struggling on some levels. Never more than in this time do we need to open our hearts and our homes to grace. Grace is the gift of God’s mercy and power and love freely offered to sustain us in our challenges and our responsibilities.
I’d like to invite you and your family to make this Christmas and Christmas Season a time filled with the grace of Christ Jesus through intentional actions that welcome the Holy Spirit into your home. Pray more as a family. Explore the Scriptures together, especially the Gospel from each Sunday. Develop habits of generosity and kindness, in the name of Jesus, with people both in the home and beyond...
Click here to read the rest of this Christmas message.
Watch
Christmas resources
https://www.dropbox.com/s/fp6dxkb06figok8/Free%20Christmas%20Resources.pdf?dl=0
Mary Video
https://bustedhalo.com/video/mary-in-two-minutes
Christmas Story list:
http://bibliozealous.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-jesse-tree-in-picture-books.html
http://bibliozealous.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-christmas-motherload-ten-top-10.html
12 Days of Christmas:
https://www.courageouschristianfather.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/12DaysofChristmas.pdf
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November
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Pray
Thanksgiving Thanks: as a household create a list of all the things you are thankful for this year. Don’t forget to include the big and small things. Read the list aloud at your thanksgiving meal. Ask guests to add the things they are thankful for.
How you can make prayer a priority in your family:
Thanksgiving Prayer service:
file:///U:/ThanksGivingPrayerServcieFamilies.pdf
https://www.loyolapress.com/catholic-resources/family/family-faith-and-fun/inspiration-in-daily-family-life/5-ways-to-make-prayer-a-priority-in-your-family/
Family Prayer Bookmarks:
https://cathfamily.org/family-prayer-bookmarks/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=cathfamily-oct-4-10-enjoy-your-week-with-god
Watch
Explore
https://www.reallifeathome.com/building-memories-with-a-thanksgiving-tablecloth-project/
Gratitue Games:
https://ourpastimes.com/christian-games-bus-trips-5488531.html
Fall Family Activities:
https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/95641/docs/We_Believe_Blog_Assets/Fall_Family_Activities.pdf?utm_medium=email&_hsmi=20938089&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_R0v9Z1zXstMRzqcUxpoOHSRaPriHtje29JNWtGopyoGy7gCAwftrYNkpm55HMdpgbFXwAx5q-MoB1p8FVq6t-DtYHYA&utm_content=20938089&utm_source=hs_automation
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October
Learn
We hear the term “domestic church” these days. For some, this may be a new idea, but it actually has deep roots in our tradition. This article helps us to understand.
Domestic Church
Watch
This month, we continue our focus on the Acts of the Apostles and discover the story of St. Paul. These two videos help us in our exploration:
Acts 13-20
Acts 21-28
Pray
Prayer Journal
Each month we will be adding to our prayer journal. Print one to complete as a family or one for each family member. However you use your prayer journal, it's for you--make it your own.
Prayer Journal
Resources
A wonderful resource for busy families, this podcast is made especially for children. Tune in each day to learn more about our Catholic faith in a way children can understand.
https://catholicsprouts.com/catholic-sprouts-podcast/
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September
Tabs for BibleAs we explore and learn more about the New Testament this year, take the opportunity to put fun colorful tabs in your Bible to help you find the books easily. One easy way is to use one color sticky note for each section. Write the name of each book on one sticky note. Attach the sticky notes to corresponding pages. Now you can quickly flip to the book of the Bible you are looking for.
For another option check out these "color your own" Bible tabs to use in your Bible to help you find the books.
https://www.catholicicing.com/the-worlds-cutest-bible-tabs-ever-and-theyre-printable/
Table Talk
As families we are busy running between activities and meeting obligations. If you have no table routines or have an established table routine, here is a set of table talk discussion starter cards. Print these cards and add them to your dinner table. You can find creative ways to use them: cut them apart and put in a basket on your table, take turns picking one, start the day with a discussion starter, pick one at supper, or choose one before bedtime.
https://cathfamily.org/table-talk/
https://cathfamily.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/cf_activities_tabletalk.pdf
Prayer Space
At our September Faith Formation session we talked about setting up a prayer space in your home. Before our next online Faith Formation session, prepare a prayer space in your home, if you do not have one. Use it for family prayer, and plan to use it when we gather for Faith Formation each month. Consider adding something personal to your family to your prayer space. Watch a short video about how to set up a prayer space in your home.
How to set up a prayer space in your home:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhy_o0-9HUQ&feature=youtu.be
https://lifeteen.com/blog/making-home-prayer-space/
Prayer Journal
Prayer journals are one way to focus prayer and help children be active in the prayer. Each month we will post new pages for a household, family, individual prayer journal. Print one for your whole family to use, print one for each child, send one to your grandchildren out of state and do it over the phone. The possibilities are endless.
Link here
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