COVID-19 Vaccines & Catholic Morality

7/28/24 - The Miracle of the Eucharist - Cycle B

Dear Families,

In this Sunday’s Gospel of John, we listen to how Jesus saw the huge crowd of people that had come to hear him and needed food. When he asked his disciples to feed them, they don’t think they can help. They told him that there were only 5 loaves of barley bread and two fish that a boy had brought with him. Jesus took the bread and gave thanks to God, and over 5,00 people were fed plus there were twelve baskets of leftovers. Jesus’ miracle was a sign that he is truly the Son of God.

Let us remember that God feeds and nourishes us. He fulfills our physical as well as our spiritual needs. At Mass we offer the gifts of bread and wine to God and He turns it into the Body and Blood of Jesus. In the Eucharist we are fed by Jesus himself, and our spiritual needs, works, and talents are blessed and multiplied to help us live and serve others.

As a family watch video in its entirety and ask each other this question.
What gifts do you have that Jesus could multiply to help others?

Family Prayer: Jesus, sometimes we are hungry too. We hunger for love, encouragement, or peace. Please help us to turn to you to give us all the things we hunger for and also help others. Amen.

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

8/4/24 - The Bread of Life Cycle - Cycle B

Dear Families,

In this Sunday’s Gospel, we learn that after the multiplication of the loaves and fishes the crowd follows Jesus. Jesus teaches them that he will give them something greater than bread that fed their physical hunger, he will give them bread that will give them eternal life.

When we are hungry, Jesus knows we need to eat food. Jesus also knows that our souls also get hungry. Jesus wants to give us the gift of himself. (Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity) in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist (Communion). Jesus teaches us that he is the Bread of Life. Just like our bodies need food to stay alive, our souls need God to have eternal life.

As a family watch video in its entirety and ask each other these questions.
Why does Jesus tell us that if we eat the bread he gives us, we will never be hungry? What does that mean?

Family Prayer: Jesus help us to see beyond our material needs, and seek you who gives us eternal life. Amen.

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

8/11/24 - When You're Stuck - Cycle B

Dear Families,

In this week’s Gospel of John, people were upset because Jesus told them that he had come down from Heaven. They did not understand when Jesus said “I am the Bread of Life.” They think they know Jesus because they knew his father and mother but didn’t listen to understand what he was saying.

By praying and listening to God’s Words we learn to have faith that Jesus is God’s Son. Jesus tells us that those who listen to him will see beyond just seeing bread. The Eucharist is the Bread of Life. When we receive the Eucharist at Mass, we are receiving the Bread of Life that came down from heaven which gives us eternal life.

As a family watch video in its entirety and ask each other these questions.
Who sends the Bread of Life? Who is the Bread of Life? What gift is given to those who eat the Bread of Life?

Family Prayer: Jesus, it is hard to believe what we cannot see. Help us to have faith in you and your promise that the Eucharist is really you - Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. 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.