COVID-19 Vaccines & Catholic Morality

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)

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.

Click Photo

(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

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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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

8/18/24 - Wisdom and the Sacrament of the Eucharist

Dear Families,

In this week’s Gospel of John, Jesus continues to say that he is the living bread that came down from heaven. Jesus told them that he is the Son of God, and whoever eats his flesh and drinks his blood will live forever. His listeners were troubled when they heard these words.

Every time we receive the Body and Blood of Jesus in the Eucharist Jesus makes himself one with us. He promises us that when we eat his flesh and drink his blood, we will have eternal life.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions.
Why do you think Jesus’ listeners were troubled when Jesus said, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day”? What do you think Jesus meant when he said they would have eternal life?

Family Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for your Eucharist, for the gift of yourself. Amen.

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

8/25/24 - What is "Real Presence"? - Cycle B

Dear Families,

Last week we heard Jesus teach that whoever eats his flesh and drinks his blood will live forever. In this Sunday’s Gospel we hear that many people stopped following Jesus because they could not understand what he was teaching.

However, the Apostles stayed with Jesus. Like Peter, they knew he is the Holy One of God.

There are times when we have a hard time understanding what Jesus teaches us. We need to be like the Apostles and choose to follow Jesus even when it is hard to understand his teachings.

Watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions.
Do you have a hard time understanding what Jesus teaches? What helped the Apostles believe that Jesus was the Holy One of God?

Family Prayer: Jesus, you are the Holy One of God. Help us to believe in you even when it is difficult to understand what you teach us. Amen.