Services
(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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Read more: Fifth Sunday of Lent Cycle B / Quinto Domingo de Cuaresma Ciclo B (Faith Formation)
(La versión en español sigue al inglés)
Dear Families,
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus appears to his disciples and gives them the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The season of Easter ends with today’s celebration, Pentecost. On Pentecost we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit. Before Jesus Ascended into heaven, he promised to send the Holy Spirit, and he kept his promise.
This Sunday, the story of Pentecost is found in the first reading of Acts of the Apostles. The Holy Spirit descends upon the Apostles gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit comes like wind because it is God’s life breathed into us and fire because it gives us light to show us God’s ways. The Holy Spirit helps us to understand who God is and enables us to be his witness to share his love throughout the world.
As a family, watch video in its entirety and ask each other this question:
How is the Holy Spirit light and strength in your life?
Family Prayer: Lord Jesus, I thank you for the gift of Pentecost and for new life in the Holy Spirit. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and set my heart ablaze with the fire of your love that I may serve you in joy and freedom.
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Read more: What is Pentecost / ¿Que es Pentecostés? (Faith Formation)
(La versión en español sigue al inglés)
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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(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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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)
Dear Families,
Did your brother or sister ever get allowance when they did not do their chores?
It can feel unfair when someone gets paid when they did not work as hard as you did.
Jesus says, “The last will be first, and the first will be last.” Jesus is generous.
He reminds us there is room for everyone in his Church and in Heaven.
As a family, watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.
When did you want to be first, but did not get to be?
Name something positive about being last or putting others first.
Family Prayer: Dear Jesus, show us how to put others first. Remind us that you love
all of us and you want us to love each other. Amen
