Faith Formation

Special Religious Education

Dear Parents,

In this Sunday’s Gospel Jesus tells us He is the vine and we are the branches. He explains that we can only grow in faith and do the right things if we stay close to Him. Jesus will correct and guide us, just as a gardener prunes and tends a garden so it will grow strong.

Jesus calls us to grow good fruit with our lives. We grow fruits of love, kindness, patience, and goodness when we stay connected to Jesus. We do this by listening to Jesus’ teachings, following his example, and praying.

As a family, watch video in its entirety and ask each other this question:

How can you stay connected to Jesus, like branches are connected to a vine?

Family Prayer: Jesus, help us to find ways to stay close to you so we can grow in faith and love. Amen

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Watch video as a family.

(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

Dear Families,

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus shares the depth of his love for us. It is simple and everlasting. He calls us to love one another, as God loves Him and as He loves us. Jesus explains that we will be happy and fulfilled only when we keep this one command: Love one another. But perhaps it’s not so simple. This love may require putting others first and giving up a special treat, or being a friend to someone who is not easy to love.

As a family, watch video in its entirety and ask each other this question:

How can you find new ways to spread Christ’s love to others?

Family Prayer: Lord, show us how to love and bring joy to others. Amen

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

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Watch video as a family.

(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

Dear Families,

In this Sunday’s Gospel, the Seventh Sunday of Easter, Jesus prayed for His disciples. He prays that they would be one as he and the Father are one. That God would protect them and that they would be made holy by the truth of God’s word.

This week’s video is on the Ascension of the Lord into Heaven. Thursday, May 13 we celebrated Jesus returning to the Father in Heaven. Forty days after Jesus rose from the dead, He gathered his disciples and told them to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit, and then he went up through the clouds and returned to God the Father in Heaven. Before Jesus ascended into Heaven, he asked his disciples to proclaim God’s salvation to all nations. Jesus wants us to tell and show others how much he loves them.

As a family, watch video in its entirety and ask each other this question:

How can you proclaim the Gospel to others?

Family Prayer: Lord, help us to spend time reading your Word in the Bible. Strengthen us to share it with others. Amen

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Watch video as a family.

(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

Dear Families,

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus appears to his disciples and gives them the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The season of Easter ends with today’s celebration, Pentecost. On Pentecost we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit. Before Jesus Ascended into heaven, he promised to send the Holy Spirit, and he kept his promise.

This Sunday, the story of Pentecost is found in the first reading of Acts of the Apostles. The Holy Spirit descends upon the Apostles gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit comes like wind because it is God’s life breathed into us and fire because it gives us light to show us God’s ways. The Holy Spirit helps us to understand who God is and enables us to be his witness to share his love throughout the world.

As a family, watch video in its entirety and ask each other this question:

How is the Holy Spirit light and strength in your life?

Family Prayer: Lord Jesus, I thank you for the gift of Pentecost and for new life in the Holy Spirit. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and set my heart ablaze with the fire of your love that I may serve you in joy and freedom.

Click Picture

Watch video as a family.

(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

Dear Families,

This week we return to the liturgical season of Ordinary Time, and we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells the Apostles to teach and baptize all nations in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is called the Great Commission. We name ourselves Christians as we pray in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Through our Baptism, we share in the life of the Blessed Trinity and in the Church’s mission to share God’s love with everyone.

As a family, watch video in its entirety and ask each other this question:

How can you share your faith with others?

Family Prayer: Lord, help us to learn more about the Blessed Trinity, so we can teach others about you. Amen