COVID-19 Vaccines & Catholic Morality

Dear Parents,

In this Sunday’s Gospel Jesus tells us He is the vine and we are the branches. He explains that we can only grow in faith and do the right things if we stay close to Him. Jesus will correct and guide us, just as a gardener prunes and tends a garden so it will grow strong.

Jesus calls us to grow good fruit with our lives. We grow fruits of love, kindness, patience, and goodness when we stay connected to Jesus. We do this by listening to Jesus’ teachings, following his example, and praying.

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

How can you stay connected to Jesus, like branches are connected to a vine?

Family Prayer: Jesus, help us to find ways to stay close to you so we can grow in faith and love. Amen

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Watch video as a family.

(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

Dear Parents,

This Sunday, called Palm/Passion Sunday is the first day of Holy Week. During Holy Week we follow the last days of Jesus’ life on earth. Listening to the Gospel readings we hear how Jesus came into Jerusalem, people waved palm branches and shouted, “Hosanna!” We remember Jesus’s Last Supper with his Apostles, how he is arrested and put to death on the cross. When Jesus died on the cross, they put a sign above him that said “King of the Jews”. Most people misunderstood who Jesus was, but the soldier who watched him die said “This man truly was the Son of God!”.

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

As a family, how will we reflect on the events of Jesus’ passion and death?

Family Prayer: Christ Jesus, your love is made visible through the mystery of your death and resurrection. Transform us into people of mercy to embrace you in those who are suffering in our midst. We ask this, as a people reconciled to God through the blood of your cross. 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

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Watch video as a family.

(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

Dear Parents,

In this week’s Gospel, Jesus meets a man who is sick with leprosy and people stay far, far away from him. When the man pleads with Jesus to heal him so he can be with other people. Jesus sees and hears the man and feels compassion for him. He heals the man. In this Gospel story, we learn that God loves every one of us, even outsiders, even those no one else seems to like. When people found out Jesus could heal, they constantly asked him to do so. He tried to find rest and quiet in the desert, but people followed him there too. Still, he helped many people who needed healing.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions. How do you reach out to people in your area that need help? How can you find the strength to help them?

Family Prayer: Jesus, teach us to see when people are in need, and give us the strength to reach out to them. 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 Nicodemus that as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert to save the grumbling Israelites who had been bitten by snakes, the son of man must be lifted up. Jesus is the light of the world and whoever looks at Him lifted up on the cross and believes in Him will be saved. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (John3:16).

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

How can you reflect the light of Christ to others?

Family Prayer: Lord, keep us close to the light of Christ and help us avoid the darkness of sin. Amen