COVID-19 Vaccines & Catholic Morality

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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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

12/12/21 - Third Sunday of Advent - Cycle C

Dear Families,

This Sunday is the third week of Advent, and we prepare joyfully for the coming of the Messiah. John the Baptist answers questions on how to prepare for the coming of the Messiah. He told them they can share food and clothing. Tax collectors can collect only what they are owed. Soldiers could treat people with respect. At first people thought he might be the Messiah, but he explained that one mightier than him would baptize with the Holy Spirit.

John the Baptist’s preaching raises people’s hopes. John helped people to see how they should act toward one another so that they are ready for God’s coming. People came to see and hear him, and he showed them the way to God. The people that heard John preach had a desire to change their lives for the better, they wanted to hear the truth.

As a family, watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.
How can we, like John the Baptist, show other people the way to Jesus?

Family Prayer: Holy Spirit, you move us and help us change. Teach us to follow Jesus in all things. Amen

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

9/8/24 - Be Opened! - Cycle B

Dear Families,

In this Sunday’s Gospel of Mark, we hear how a man who could not hear and did not speak well is brought to Jesus by his friends. Jesus touched him and healed him. Jesus asks people not to tell anyone what happened. However, they were so excited they could not keep the Good News to themselves.

Right before the Gospel is proclaimed, we cross our forehead (to remember God’s words), our lips (to proclaim God’s words) and our hearts (to love and feel what we learn in the Gospel). God wants us to listen, and open our hearts to his healing love for us. Jesus wants us to speak and share the Goods News of how he heals and loves our family and friends.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.
Do you need to listen to God’s words with your heart before you can use your voice to tell others about Jesus?

Family Prayer: Lord, help us to hear the Gospel, understand it, and tell others the Good News of Jesus. Amen.

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

11/3/24 - Jesus' Great Commandment - Cycle B

Dear Families,

In today’s Gospel of Mark, Jesus is questioned by a scribe about which was the first of the ten commandments. Jesus told him that the first is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Second to love others as much as we love ourselves.

Jesus teaches us that love is the commandment that sums up all the others. To love God, we praise God, and thank God. To love our neighbor as we love ourselves, is to treat others as we would like to be treated. When we love the way Jesus teaches, we are showing our love for God and shining the light of God’s love on others.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions.
What do you do with your whole heart, mind or strength? How does love of neighbor reflect love for God?

Family Prayer: Jesus, help us not to get caught up in our business and forget to put you first. Amen.

Click Photo

(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

2/5/23 - You're the Salt & Light of the World - Cycle A

Dear Families,

In this week’s Gospel, Jesus continues his Sermon on the Mount. He compares our lives to salt and light, things we need and use every day in our daily lives. When we taste food that is not salted it tastes bland, add the right amount of salt and its tastes good. When we enter a dark space and there is no light we cannot see where we are going, turn on the light or a lamp and you can see where you are going.

Jesus wants us to bring the right amount of salt to the earth with the goodness and truth that he gives us. Jesus wants us to be God’s light to the world by being kind and merciful with everyone. Jesus teaches us that we are to be the salt of the earth and the light to the world. We need to share his love with everyone.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.
Why do you think Jesus compares his followers to salt and light?

Family Prayer: Jesus, knowing that you love us makes a big difference in our lives.
Help us show others your love. Amen.