COVID-19 Vaccines & Catholic Morality

1/8/23 - Epiphany of the Lord

Dear Families,

This Sunday we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord. The Gospel tells us about the Magi. They were three wise men from the East that had seen a special star rising up in the sky and traveled to Jerusalem. They asked to meet with King Herod and asked him where was the child who had been born King of the Jews because they wanted to do him homage. Herod was very upset with this question. He was already the King of the Jews. He was upset someone would take away his power. Herod asked the Magi to let him know when they found him because he too wanted to do homage. But secretly he wished to learn his whereabouts so he could kill him.

The Magi followed the star to Bethlehem until it stopped over the place where the Child Jesus was. They bowed to the ground and did homage, and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. During the night they had a dream telling them not to go back to Herod, so they went back to their country taking another road.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.
What gift can you give Jesus that shows your love for God and others?

Family Prayer: Lord, like the Magi help us to seek and worship you as our King. Amen.

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

12/19/21 - Fourth Sunday of Advent - Cycle C

Dear Families,

On this fourth Sunday of advent, our Gospel reading recalls Mary’s actions after the announcement by the Angel Gabriel of Jesus birth and her cousin Elizabeth’s pregnancy. Mary immediately decides to visit her cousin Elizabeth. When Elizabeth hears Mary’s greeting, the baby (John the Baptist) leaped with joy in her womb. She was filled with the Holy Spirit and Elizabeth gives us the words that are central to the Hail Mary “Blessed is the fruit of your womb.” The mystery of the Incarnation, God taking on human flesh by the Virgin Mary. Both Mary and Elizabeth show how to trust God’s word that Mary would become the mother of Jesus and rejoiced in God’s blessings.

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

In what way can you imitate Mary and help bring Jesus to others?

Family Prayer: Jesus, teach us to love your mother, Mary, like you do. Amen.

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

4/2/23 - Palm/Passion Sunday - Cycle A

Dear Families,

In this week’s Gospel, we begin with Jesus triumphant entrance into Jerusalem and the crowds of people welcoming him waving palm branches. Then the Gospel moves us from triumph to tragedy. It tells us about Jesus’ suffering and Death. We also learn about Judas’s betrayal, Peter’s denial, and a soldier’s faith.

These events of Jesus’ Passion will be proclaimed again when we remember Jesus’ final days at Mass on Holy Thursday the Lord’s Last Supper, Good Friday the Passion of the Lord, and the Easter Vigil. As we journey into the heart of our Christian faith, let’s remember “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.” (John 3:16).

As a family watch video in its entirety then ask each other these questions.
Why does Jesus pour out his life for us? As a family what events will we participate in during Holy Week?

Family Prayer: Dear Lord, may we have the same mind and the same love you have for us. Help us to be selfless like you as we put other people’s needs before our own. Amen.

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

3/26/23 - Jesus Raises Lazarus - Cycle A

Dear Families,

This Fifth Sunday of Lent Jesus hears that his friend Lazarus is very sick, and when he returns to see Lazarus he has been dead for four days. His sisters Mary and Martha are very sad and Martha asks him why didn’t he come sooner? He could have healed Lazarus. Jesus said to Martha your brother will rise again. Yes, on the last day she replies. Do you believe that people who believe in me die, but that I give them life forever? She replies that he is God’s son. Jesus asks where he was buried and when he sees the tomb he weeps with the others. Jesus asks that the stone on the tomb be moved. He prays and commands Lazarus to come out from the tomb. He raises Lazarus from the dead. News of Jesus’ raising Lazarus travels fast. Many people come to believe in him, but many others are questioning his miracles and actions.

When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, he shows us his power over death. We believe that by Jesus’ death and Resurrection, he conquered death and won eternal life for us. Our faith calls us to be like Martha and Mary, and believe that Jesus is the Resurrection and eternal life.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions.
Why do you think Jesus wept? When someone loses a loved one, how can you comfort them in their sorrow? Do you ever think of Jesus weeping with you when you are sad?

Family Prayer: Jesus you are the Resurrection and the life. Help us to live a life of compassion and trust. Amen.

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

3/19/23 - Seeing and Believing - Cycle A

Dear Families,

This fourth Sunday of Lent is Laetare Sunday. “Rejoice”, Easter is drawing near!

In the Gospel of John, Jesus spits on the ground, makes clay with saliva, and smears the clay on a man born blind. Then sends him to wash off the clay in the pool and the man can see. Unfortunately, some people are upset because Jesus broke the Sabbath to heal him. However, the blind man rejoices because he can see. Jesus did not just heal him of his physical blindness where he now sees the glory of creation on earth. Jesus has also revealed to him that he is the Son of God and he believes.

Jesus invites us to use our eyes for both kinds of seeing, the wonders of creation and to see and believe in God’s unconditional love and in his healing actions. Each of us need to explore what Jesus wants us to see and believe who he is.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions.
What do you know about Jesus that you didn’t know before? Where do you see Jesus so that you can believe in him?

Family Prayer: God, open our eyes to see you in all of Creation and believe in you. Amen.