(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

Dear Families,

In Sunday’s Gospel, we hear of a great storm.  Jesus is on a boat with his disciples and has fallen asleep.  His disciples are afraid of the storm and they wake up Jesus.  Jesus wakes up and orders the wind and sea to calm down.  Jesus asks his disciples: “Why are you terrified?  Do you not yet have faith?”

We all face personal storms of fear, anger, loneliness, rejection, loss of a loved ones.  We can share our worries and concerns with Jesus.  When we bring our worries to Jesus in prayer, he can help us see our worries from a different perspective.  He can help us face our worries with faith in God’s love and protection.

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

When you are afraid, do you remember that Jesus is with you?

How can Jesus help you when you are afraid?

Family Prayer:  Jesus, increase our trust in you especially when we are afraid.  Help us to trust that you will help us at all times. Amen.

 

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 (La versión en español sigue al inglés)

Dear Families,

The request of John and James in this Sunday’s Gospel brings to light how even Jesus’ followers had the desire to be approved and rewarded in worldly terms.  Whenever human beings gather, we ask who is best, number 1, champion, leader.  As a family, we also struggle with disagreements and power struggles.  Listen to the Gospel and learn how Jesus teaches us the importance of service and sacrifice in the life of a disciple.  Jesus wants his followers to imitate him by being humble and becoming servants of all.

Jesus came to serve, not to be served and gave his life as a sacrifice to save us.  Each time you go to Mass, know that the Lamb of God is offering himself for you in the sacrifice of the Eucharist.  See the glory of his life being poured out for you, then let it inspire you to go and pour yourself out for others.

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

In your family, how do you struggle with authority?  How do you put each other’s needs before your own?

Family Prayer:  Open our eyes Lord to see the needs of others and grow in our desire to serve them.  Amen

james john en

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 (La versión en español sigue al inglés)

Dear Families,

This Sunday we celebrate the feast of the Body and Blood of Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist.

In this Sunday’s Gospel, we hear how Jesus instructed his disciples to prepare for their special Passover meal.  Passover celebrates the Jewish feast where the Jewish people were freed from slavery by the Egyptians.  This was to be Jesus Last Supper with His disciples. During the meal, Jesus took the bread, blessed it and shared it with his disciples.  Then Jesus took a cup, blessed it and shared it with his disciples.  Jesus changed the bread and wine into His own Body and Blood.  He did this because he wanted to be with us always.  Every time we receive the Eucharist, we remember we are receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. The priest takes the place of Jesus, saying the same words that Jesus said at the Last Super, and the bread and wine becomes the real Body and Blood of Jesus.

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

How can you better prepare yourself to receive Holy Communion?

Family Prayer:  Lord, please help us to recognize you in the Holy Eucharist.  Help us to remember that you are truly present.  Amen

 

eucharist en

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 (La versión en español sigue al inglés)

Dear Families,

This Sunday we celebrate the Assumption of Mary into Heaven.  The Catholic Church teaches that Mary, who was without sin, was taken, body and soul by God into Heaven.  The Gospel reading recalls Mary’s actions after the announcement of her pregnancy with Jesus by the Angel Gabriel.  The angel told her that her cousin Elizabeth was going to have a baby and Mary immediately leaves to visit her.  In her womb, Mary brings Jesus to her cousin, and they greet each other with joy.  Elizabeth’s baby (John the Baptist) leaps with joy in her womb.  Elizabeth recognizes Mary as the mother of God and greets her saying “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” (Phrase in Hail Mary).  Mary responds to Elizabeth’s greeting and sings with her song of praise (The Magnificat).  With eyes of faith, they see the power and salvation of God breaking through into their lives and into the world.

Mary’s song of praise reminds us that God is always working for the salvation of the world.  Let us foster a spirit of praise and thanksgiving and bring Jesus to others as Mary brought Jesus to her cousin Elizabeth.

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

How do we praise and thank God for the things that God is doing in our lives and in our world today?

Family Prayer:  Let’s make Mary’s prayer of thanksgiving (Luke1:46-47) our own.

Our souls proclaim the greatness of the Lord.  Our spirits rejoice in God our Savior.  Amen

 

mary important en

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 (La versión en español sigue al inglés)

Dear Families,

Last Sunday, we saw Jesus perform great miracles moved by the faith of people.  The raising of Jairus’ daughter and the healing of the woman with a hemorrhage.  This Sunday is quite different.  People in Jesus’ hometown could not see who he really was.  They only recognized the person they remembered from when he was younger.  Because of their lack of faith, he did not perform many miracles.

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

Why did the people in Jesus’ hometown have trouble seeing him as the Messiah and doubted he could do miracles?

Family Prayer:  Dear Jesus, it is normal to doubt things sometimes.  Please help us to look past our doubt and trust in you for everything.  Amen

 

14OT en

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