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4/21/24 - The Good Shepherd - Cycle B

Dear Families,

Happy Easter!

This fourth Sunday of Easter is called Good Shepherd Sunday.  Jesus tells us that he is the Good Shepherd who knows his sheep, we belong to him and he will lay down his life for us.  Jesus reminds us how important we are to him, so important that he died and rose again so we can go to Heaven.

 

Jesus is our leader and leads the way a good shepherd leads a flock of sheep.  Jesus heals the blind, lame, and deaf.  He reaches to outsiders and feeds crowds of hungry people.  He shows us the way to live by showing how to love one another and be good shepherds and leaders in our communities.

 

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions.
How is Jesus like a good shepherd?  How are you like a good shepherd?

 

Family Prayer:  Lord, help us become leaders who follow you and care for our neighbors.  Amen.

 

 

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4/28/24 - The Vine and the Branches - Cycle B

Dear Families,

Happy Easter!

 

This fifth Sunday of Easter, Jesus tells us he is the vine we are the branches.  Jesus uses this parable to explain how branches grow out from a vine and receive their food from the main stem.  The gardener prunes and tends the garden so it will grow and bear fruit.

 

Jesus teaches us 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 the gardener prunes and tends a garden so it will grow strong.

 

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.
How can you stay connected to Jesus, like branches are connected to a vine?

 

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

 

 

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5/5/24 - Unconditional Love - Cycle B

Dear Families,

Happy Easter!

 

This Sixth Sunday of Easter, Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you.  Remain in my love.  If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete.”

 

In this 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.  Sharing Jesus’ love is not simple.  This love requires putting others first, giving up a special treat, or being a friend to someone who is not easy to love.  Jesus teaches us that we will be happy and complete when we love one another as he loves us.

 

This week during the Sign of Peace, try to see Jesus in each person you greet and smile at them with love.

 

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.
How can you find new ways to spread Christ’s love and joy to others?

 

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

 

 

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

Dear Families,

In this Sunday’s Gospel Jesus calls Andrew, Simon (Peter), James and John to leave their jobs as fishermen and to follow him.  When God calls, we must be ready to drop everything and follow.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question. What would you have to leave behind to follow Jesus?

Family Prayer:  Lord, help us to follow you because you know what will make us truly happy.  Amen

 

Jesus gathers followers

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5/12/24 - Jesus Prays for His- Cycle B

Happy Mother’s Day!

 

This week I am sending a video on you tube from the Gospel of John 17:1-26.

 

The Gospel video is just after Jesus shared the Last Supper with his friends the disciples.  He knew he was about to go to the cross.  He prayed for his friends the disciples and asked God to unite, protect, and guide them.  It is very important to understand that when Jesus was praying for his disciples, he was praying for us too.

 

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.
What are the three things Jesus asks God when he prayed for his friends the disciples and us?

 

Family Prayer:  Dear Lord, pray to help us live with God’s presence in the world.  Unite, protect, and guide us always.  Amen

 

 

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Dear Families,

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus loves teaching others about God the Father!  Jesus’ power is shown when He sends away a bad spirit.  Jesus has authority over all things, including us.

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

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

 

Jesus authority

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5/19/24 - Pentecost Sunday

Dear Families,

The season of Easter ends with today’s celebration, Pentecost Sunday.  On Pentecost, we celebrate the birthday of the Catholic Church.  In John’s Gospel, we see Jesus giving his Apostles the gift of the Holy Spirit and passing on the ability to forgive sins.  Jesus appoints the Apostles as the Catholic Church’s first leaders.  Jesus gives us a beautiful gift in the healing Sacrament of Reconciliation – his peace.

As we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, our Gospel reminds us that this same Holy Spirit helps us be agents of God’s peace and forgiveness in the world.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.
How does the Holy Spirit help you bring peace to your family and friends?

 

Family Prayer:  Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth. Amen.

 

 

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Dear Parents,

In this Sunday’s Gospel Jesus cured Simon’s mother-in-law.  Jesus also cured many others who were brought to him, healing their illnesses and driving out demons.  The Gospel also remind us that Jesus took time to pray so he could carry out his healing ministry.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question. How do you feel when you see people who are sick or struggling?

Family Prayer:  Jesus, help us to do your work of feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, and comforting others.  Amen

 

Jesus cures simons mil

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Dear Parents,

In this week’s Gospel, Jesus meets a man who is sick with leprosy and people stay far, far away from him.  When the man pleads with Jesus to heal him so he can be with other people.  Jesus sees and hears the man and feels compassion for him.  He heals the man.  In this Gospel story, we learn that God loves every one of us, even outsiders, even those no one else seems to like.  When people found out Jesus could heal, they constantly asked him to do so.  He tried to find rest and quiet in the desert, but people followed him there too.  Still, he helped many people who needed healing.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions. How do you reach out to people in your area that need help?  How can you find the strength to help them?

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

 

Jesus meets a leper

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Dear Parents,

After Jesus is baptized, he is led into the desert by the Holy Spirit and for 40 days he was tempted by Satan.  Jesus was among wild animals and angels ministered to him.  During Lent, we too need to be led by the Holy Spirit and remember the vows of Baptism in which we promise to reject sin and follow Jesus.  Just as Jesus was ministered by the angels, God also supports us in our struggles against sin and temptation.  Therefore, let us hear, listen, and act to what Jesus proclaims, “This is the time of fulfillment.  The kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent and believe in the Gospel.”

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions. Do you believe that Jesus will help you do what’s right when you are tempted?  How does the Holy Spirit help you live as a follower of Jesus?

Family Prayer:  Holy Spirit, help us to make good choices as followers of Jesus.  God, send your angels to minister to us the way you sent them to minister to Jesus in the desert. Amen

 

 

temptation of jesus

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Dear Parents,

In this week’s Gospel, Jesus took Peter, James, and John on top of a high mountain and they see the Transfiguration of Jesus.  Jesus clothes became dazzling white.  Two great men appeared with him.  Moses who gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments, and Elijah a great prophet who taught the people to be faithful to God.  From a cloud they hear God say “This is my beloved Son.  Listen to him.”  They wondered what all of this means.  Jesus disciples probably wanted to tell everyone what they saw, but Jesus asked them to wait until after his death.  Jesus died and resurrected, now they understood and shared this special memory with others that Jesus is God’s beloved Son.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question. How will you change and grow during Lent?

Family Prayer:  Lord, help us to remember we also are God’s beloved children.  Amen

 

 

transfiguration

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Dear Parents,

Jesus does not like injustice or bad actions.  In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus is not happy with the people who are using the Temple for profit rather than for love of God.  He says the Temple will be destroyed and built again in three days, but he is talking about himself!

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question. What things in your life do you need to get rid of so you can focus more on God?

Family Prayer:  Holy Spirit, show us how to let go of things we do not need.  Amen

 

 

cleansing of the temple

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Dear Parents,

In this Sunday’s Gospel Jesus tells Nicodemus that as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert to save the grumbling Israelites who had been bitten by snakes, the son of man must be lifted up.  Jesus is the light of the world and whoever looks at Him lifted up on the cross and believes in Him will be saved. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (John3:16).

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.

How can you reflect the light of Christ to others?

Family Prayer:  Lord, keep us close to the light of Christ and help us avoid the darkness of sin.  Amen

 

 

Jesus lifted up on the cross

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Dear Parents,

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells his followers that unless a grain of wheat is planted into the ground the seed remains just a single grain.  But, when a grain of seed falls to the ground and dies, the seed produces many other grains of wheat.  It produces a harvest. 

Jesus compares himself to a grain of wheat that needs to die.  In his death and resurrection Jesus gives his life on the Cross.  This sacrifice brings salvation to all his people and offers us the promise of eternal life.

When we become the seed for others, we join with Jesus in a process that transforms our lives and the world.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions.

Planting seeds means doing positive things.  What seeds have you planted this week? 

How can you be like a seed and help increase faith in others?

Family Prayer:  Lord, help us to put you first, seek your will, and help others grow in faith.  Amen

 

 

grain of wheat

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Dear Parents,

This Sunday, called Palm/Passion Sunday is the first day of Holy Week.  During Holy Week we follow the last days of Jesus’ life on earth.  Listening to the Gospel readings we hear how Jesus came into Jerusalem, people waved palm branches and shouted, “Hosanna!”  We remember Jesus’s Last Supper with his Apostles, how he is arrested and put to death on the cross.  When Jesus died on the cross, they put a sign above him that said “King of the Jews”.  Most people misunderstood who Jesus was, but the soldier who watched him die said “This man truly was the Son of God!”. 

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.

As a family, how will we reflect on the events of Jesus’ passion and death?

Family Prayer:  Christ Jesus, your love is made visible through the mystery of your death and resurrection.  Transform us into people of mercy to embrace you in those who are suffering in our midst.  We ask this, as a people reconciled to God through the blood of your cross.  Amen

 

 

Palm Sunday

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Dear Parents,

Alleluia! this Sunday we celebrate Jesus Resurrection!  We have made it through the forty days of Lent, and walked with Jesus on his journey to the cross in Holy Week.  It is celebration time and Easter doesn’t end today.  Easter never ends, what Jesus did through his death and resurrection never ends.  Let’s look at the season of Easter, and for the next fifty days reflect on how the apostles responded to this good news.  Jesus’ resurrection changed everything for the apostles.  They were no longer afraid, now nothing was more important to them than sharing the good news. 

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.

What does Jesus’ resurrection mean to us as his disciples today?

Family Prayer:  Jesus, you have triumphed over the grave and you have won new life for us.  Give us the eyes of faith to see you in your glory.  Amen

 

 

resurrection

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Dear Parents,

This Second Sunday of Easter is about faith and divine mercy.  Last week Jesus was resurrected.  The Apostles were scared and confused.  This week we hear how they were hiding behind locked doors when Jesus appeared and said "Peace be with you.”  He wanted them to be at peace.  He loved them; he would always be there for them.  Thomas one of the apostles was not there when Jesus appeared, and he did not believe the apostles when they told him Jesus had appeared.  Jesus came back a week later and doubting Thomas was there and Jesus showed him his wounds.  Jesus asked him to touch his wounds.  Then he said to doubting Thomas “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?”  “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

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

What doubts or questions about God are you struggling with?

This Sunday is also the celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday.  On this day we thank God for His forgiveness and love.  We know how much he loves us because he suffered and died for us.  It is the mercy of God that lets all of us come back to Him after we have sinned.

Family Prayer:  Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.  Amen

 

 

divine mercy

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Dear Parents,

In this Sunday’s Gospel of Luke, two of Jesus’ disciples were sharing with the other disciples what had taken place on the road to Emmaus and how Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.  As they were sharing their story Jesus suddenly stood among them and said “Peace be with you.”  They were confused, frightened.  Were they seeing a ghost?  “Look at my hands and feet.  Touch me.  Do you have something to eat?”  They all watched Jesus eat.  Ghosts don’t eat.  He reminded them to remember all he had taught them according to the Scriptures.  Jesus opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.  He had died and risen on the third day for the repentance and forgiveness of our sins and they were to be witnesses of this truth and preach this truth to all the nations.

St. Pope John Paul II said in Australia in 1986.  “We do not pretend that life is all beauty.  We are aware of darkness and sin, of poverty and pain.  But we know Jesus has conquered sin and passed through his own pain to the glory of the Resurrection.  And we live in the light of his Paschal Mystery – the mystery of his Death and Resurrection.  We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song!”.  Witness my dear families to this truth with joy.

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

How will you witness Jesus’ resurrection?

Family Prayer:  “We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song!”  ALLELUIA!

 

 

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Dear Parents,

This Sunday is called Good Shepherd Sunday because Jesus tells His friends that He is the Good Shepherd who will lay down His life for His sheep.  He explains that a hired shepherd runs away when a wolf comes.  A hired shepherd only wants to be paid.  Jesus says, “I know my sheep, and they know me.”  He tells us that we belong to Him and He will lay down His life for us.  Jesus reminds us how important we are to Him, so important that He died and rose so we can go to Heaven someday.

This week our video is a reflection on the First Reading and the Gospel.  As a family, watch video in its entirety and ask each other these questions:  How is Jesus like a good shepherd?  How are you like a good shepherd?

Family Prayer:  Teach us Lord, to hear your voice and answer you.  Amen

 

 

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

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

 

 

vinebranches

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