Faith Formation

Special Religious Education

1/28/24 - "To him you shall listen" - Cycle B

Dear Families,

In this Sunday’s Gospel of Mark, Jesus heals a man when he is teaching on the Sabbath during synagogue worship in Capernaum. He heals the man with an unclean spirit. This unclean spirit recognized Jesus as the Holy One sent by God and asked if he had come to destroy him. Jesus rebuked him and told the evil spirit to come out of him and it did. The people who witness are amazed at his authority. Jesus has God’s authority to teach and heal.

Through this miracle Jesus teaches us a powerful lesson of God’s love, his authority, and his healing power. He doesn’t reject the man he heals him and we learn that Jesus brings God’s healing power to all people. We should all share the healing power of Jesus with others.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.
Do we recognize Jesus’ authority over us, his healing power, and his ability to teach us?

Family Prayer: Jesus, please help us to listen to you in all things. Amen.

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

Dear Families,

No one knows when Jesus will come back, but we know we will see him face-to-face someday. As we eagerly await Christmas and the celebration of Jesus’ birth, we remember that we should always be waiting for Jesus.

As a family watch video in its entirety then ask each other this question. When you are waiting for someone, how do you fill the time?

Family Prayer: Jesus, help us to pay attention to your words and teachings.

Help us to follow you always. Amen

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Watch video as a family.

(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

2/4/24 - Job and Jesus - Cycle B

Dear Families,

In this Sunday’s Gospel of Mark, Jesus visits the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law is sick and Jesus cures her. She immediately begins to serve Jesus and his disciples. When it was evening, all the ill and possessed by demons gathered at the door of Simon and Andrew’s house. Jesus healed them of diseases and drove out demons. After having a busy evening, Jesus woke up early the next day. He went to a deserted place and spent time praying to God.

We need to spend time with God in prayer. Even if we are busy serving him in a ministry, we still need to take time to talk with Our Father in heaven. Like Jesus, take time each day to go to a quiet place, pray and ask God to guide and direct your life.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions.
How does Jesus make a difference to people in need? How do you make a difference to people in need? Do you have a quiet place to pray?

Family Prayer: Loving God, we ask you to bless friends, family, neighbors, and members of our parish who are sick or suffering. Please help them to trust that you are with them and that you will always love them. Amen.

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

Dear Families,

It is the Second Sunday in Advent, and in this Sunday’s Gospel John the Baptist baptized with water as a symbol that the people were leaving their old, sinful ways behind. He was preparing them for when Jesus would baptize them with the Holy Spirit and change them forever.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question. How does your family prepare for Christmas? Are you preparing your heart for Jesus?

Family Prayer: Lord, please help us to prepare not only for Christmas celebrations, but also for your arrival in our hearts. Amen

Click Picture

Watch video as a family.

(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

2/11/24 - Be Made Clean! - Cycle B

Dear Families,

In this Sunday’s Gospel of Mark, we hear how Jesus was approached by a man who had leprosy. The man asked Jesus to heal his leprosy. Leprosy was a horrible contagious disease that had no cure, and during Jesus’ time lepers were not allowed to have contact with people who did not have the disease. Jesus in his compassion touched and healed the leper. He told the man not to tell anyone, but the man told everyone what had happened. When people found out Jesus could heal, he was constantly followed by people who wanted to be healed. He tried rest and quiet in the desert, but people followed him there also. Still, he helped many people who came to him to be healed.

The Gospel story tells us that God loves every one of us, even outsiders, even those no one else seems to like. Like Jesus we need to choose to love and help others.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions.
To whom does Jesus reach out? To whom can you reach out?

Family Prayer: Jesus, teach us to see when people are in need and reach out to them. Amen.