Services

Dear Families,

In this Sunday’s Gospel Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do you say that I am”, and Peter declares that Jesus is the Christ. Jesus then tells his disciples something they may not have wanted to hear. That he was going to suffer and die. Peter objects to what Jesus has said. Jesus tells Peter you don’t understand you are not thinking as God does, but as human beings do. Like Peter we too may not understand. We also may have ideas about what we think God should be doing in our world. We risk limiting God’s plan by thinking only in human ways. God’s plans are always more than we can ever imagine. Jesus suffered, died, was buried, and is Risen!

As followers of Jesus, we need to take up our cross and follow him. Jesus gave everything for us, and he wants us to love him and trust him with our whole hearts. Jesus wants us to offer our lives in service to others. As James tells us in today’s Second Reading, we can’t just say we have faith. We need to show our faith by works of love.

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

What does Jesus mean when he says we must take up our cross and follow him?

Family Prayer: Jesus, teach us to believe in you and trust in you completely, even when it seems difficult. Amen

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Watch video as a family.

(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

Dear Parents,

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells his followers that unless a grain of wheat is planted into the ground the seed remains just a single grain. But, when a grain of seed falls to the ground and dies, the seed produces many other grains of wheat. It produces a harvest.

Jesus compares himself to a grain of wheat that needs to die. In his death and resurrection Jesus gives his life on the Cross. This sacrifice brings salvation to all his people and offers us the promise of eternal life.

When we become the seed for others, we join with Jesus in a process that transforms our lives and the world.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions.

Planting seeds means doing positive things. What seeds have you planted this week?

How can you be like a seed and help increase faith in others?

Family Prayer: Lord, help us to put you first, seek your will, and help others grow in faith. Amen

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Watch video as a family.

(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

Dear Parents,

Alleluia! this Sunday we celebrate Jesus Resurrection! We have made it through the forty days of Lent, and walked with Jesus on his journey to the cross in Holy Week. It is celebration time and Easter doesn’t end today. Easter never ends, what Jesus did through his death and resurrection never ends. Let’s look at the season of Easter, and for the next fifty days reflect on how the apostles responded to this good news. Jesus’ resurrection changed everything for the apostles. They were no longer afraid, now nothing was more important to them than sharing the good news.

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

What does Jesus’ resurrection mean to us as his disciples today?

Family Prayer: Jesus, you have triumphed over the grave and you have won new life for us. Give us the eyes of faith to see you in your glory. Amen

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Watch video as a family.

(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

Dear Families,

Sunday’s Gospel tells us that Jesus performed miracles. He cured the sick and even raised the dead. In each case he was moved by the faith of the people who requested the miracle. We don’t think of ourselves as being in need of healing, but we all need healing in different ways. We are human and we have physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual needs and perhaps need a bit of healing every single day. Jesus wants us to ask him when we need help and to ask with faith.

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

What does it mean to ask Jesus for something with faith?

Family Prayer: Jesus, please help us to have faith. Teach us to ask for what we need with faith. Amen

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Watch video as a family.

(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

Dear Families,

This Sunday we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord. Epiphany is a Greek word that means “unveiling” where something is revealed. After Jesus was born, Magi came to see him from far away in the east. The Magi had studied the stars and saw a special star. They knew it meant a new king had been born so they followed the star to Bethlehem, it led them to Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. When they saw Jesus, they got down on their knees and worshiped Him. They gave him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. They were not Jewish, but these foreigners honored Jesus as a King. On the Feast of the Epiphany, we celebrate that Jesus is revealed not just to the Jewish people, but to the world. God revealed love for all people by sending us his Son.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions. What does the story of the Magi teach us? What gift can you bring to Jesus that shows your love for God and others?

Family Prayer: Lord Jesus, may Your light shine our way to you as it once guided the steps of the Magi, so that we too may be led into Your presence to honor and worship You. Amen