Services

7/24/22 - The Our Father - Cycle C

Dear Families,

In this week’s Gospel, when the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, the Lord taught them the “Our Father”. It is the prayer we pray in many languages at each mass throughout the world.

At mass before we pray the Lord’s Prayer the priest says “At the Savior’s command and formed by divine teaching we dare to say”: and we pray the Our Father. As a community we give glory to God by praising Him, we ask for our daily body and spiritual needs, and we ask for forgiveness of our sins, to forgive others, and to keep us away from temptation and evil. The Lord’s prayer is truly a challenge to live by every day, no wonder the priest says “we dare to say”.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.
Which line in the Lord’s Prayer is a challenge for you?

Family Prayer: Jesus, help us pray the Our Father and sincerely think what each line means. Amen

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

6/9/24 - What Is Most Important - Cycle B

Dear Families,

In this Sunday’s Gospel of Mark, Jesus returns home with his twelve disciples. A crowd has gathered, and he is accused that his miracles were done through the power of the devil. Jesus speaks to them in parables and warns against their denial of the love of God, the forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit. When they tell Jesus that his family is outside, waiting for him, he explains that whoever does the will of God are his brother, sister, and mother.

Jesus teaches us that when we believe in him, we are members of his family. God is our Father, and we are brothers and sisters in Christ.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions.
What are some of the things we do as a family. What are some things we do with our Church Family?

Family Prayer: Jesus, thank you for our family and our Church family. Help us be loving and kind to all people. Amen.

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

9/11/22 - The Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, and Prodigal Son - Cycle C

Dear Families,

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus responds to those complaining about him keeping company with sinners. He tells them three parables about something or someone being lost and then found. The first parable is about the shepherd who leaves 99 sheep to search for one and when he finds the one, he rejoices. The second parable is about a woman searching for one coin and when she finds it, she also rejoices. Finally, the third story is about the son who asked for his inheritance before the father died. He leaves home and spends all his money on foolish things, and when he returns home his father is waiting for him, forgives him and he too rejoices and celebrates by throwing him a party. However, his brother is upset and does not think his brother, a sinner, is worthy of such rejoicing.

Jesus is teaching us in these parables, that when we do something wrong and sin, God never stops loving us. God does not lose hope or give up on us. He rejoices when we are lost and come back to him, we are always worthy of his love.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.
What do these parables teach us about sin and forgiveness?

Family Prayer: Jesus, thank you for always being there for us, no matter how lost and alone we may feel. Amen

Click Photo

(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

8/7/22 - Vigilant Servants - Cycle C

Dear Families,

Last week we heard about the foolish greedy rich man who never enjoyed his wealth. We learned we are to share our wealth with others.

In this week’s Gospel, Jesus continues teaching and gives us many parables. He tells us not be afraid, sell all your belongings and give to the poor. Your Father will take care of you. For where your treasure is your hearts will be. Light your lamps, open the door, be vigilant you do not know when the Son of Man will return.

When Peters asks if this parable was meant for everyone, Jesus answered him with a question. Would a prudent master put in charge servants who knew their master’s will, but did not prepare because they were ignorant or distracted because of their bad behavior? In other words, Jesus’ message is, much is expected from us and we need to share our gifts. We need to be vigilant servants waiting for our master’s return.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions.
Are you vigilant, prepared for Jesus’ return? Are you ignorant or distracted when it comes to your faith?

Family Prayer: Jesus, we don’t know when you will come again. Help us remember that we should always be ready. Amen

(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

1/30/22 - People Reject Jesus - Cycle C

Dear Families,

This Sunday’s Gospel is a continuation of last week’s Gospel. Jesus fulfills the words of the prophet Isaiah as he announced in last week’s Gospel. In this Sunday’s Gospel, people begin to recall that he is the son of Joseph the carpenter. Jesus confronts them about what they are thinking. He said they wouldn’t appreciate a prophet from their own town. They get angry when Jesus reminds them that sometimes people of other countries believed more in Israel’s prophets than their own people. He gives them the examples of Elijah and the widow of Sidon and Elisha and General Naaman who were not Israelites but believed in the prophets. The crowd did not want to hear the truth, they became so angry that they rejected him and forced him to leave town.

Jesus words were challenging to the people of his hometown Nazareth. He wanted them to respond to him differently from the way others had responded to the prophets. But they wouldn’t let his words change them or see a different perspective. At times we can be like the people of Nazareth, we don’t trust Jesus’ message because we find his words to us challenging. We need to trust his words to us and rely on his guidance in our lives.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions.
What is love? How difficult is it to listen to those who love you, especially if they are trying to inform or correct you?

Family Prayer: Jesus, help us to be humble enough to listen when we are corrected by people who care about us. Help us to remember that they are looking out for our good. Amen