COVID-19 Vaccines & Catholic Morality

12/25/22 - Nativity of the Lord

Dear Families,

Merry Christmas, know that you are in my prayers. Wishing all of you hope, peace, joy, and love.

In this video, “The Nativity” Mary and Joseph welcome their son into the world. Shepherds visit and marvel at the baby before sharing the news of Jesus’ miraculous birth with others. The Magi visit and pay homage to Jesus. Mary accepts the visitors praises and stores them in her heart.

Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus in our world. In Jesus, God becomes one of us and lives among us. Let us shine the light of God’s love by sharing the birth of Jesus with everyone.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.
What gift can you give to Jesus?

Family Prayer: God, we welcome Jesus into our hearts this Christmas. Help us to believe that Jesus is with us every day. Amen.

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

9/3/23 - God Forbid! - Cycle A

Dear Families,

In last week’s Gospel, Peter tells Jesus he is the son of the living God. This week Peter tells Jesus God forbid he shall suffer when he hears Jesus predict his death. Jesus who had just given Peter authority in the Church, scolds Peter for his lack of trust. Even someone as important as Peter needs to be corrected. Peter would learn that if he wanted to be like Jesus, he would have to trust Jesus, pick up his cross, and follow him.

Jesus never said it would be easy to follow him. Sometimes it is easy to be a disciple of Jesus. Other times it is difficult to follow Jesus. During difficult times we need to trust Jesus. Faithful disciples are called to sacrifice and serve others as Jesus did.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions.
Have you ever behaved like Peter and been an obstacle to others in their following Jesus? How does God use others to correct you or teach you?

Family Prayer: Lord, help us to think of others before ourselves. With God’s love, let our little crosses of each day be offered up to you for the love of others. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

4/14/24 - What does the Resurrection mean for us? - Cycle B

Dear Families,

Happy Easter!

On this Third Sunday of Easter, we hear in Luke’s Gospel how Jesus again appears to his disciples. They are afraid, and he greets them “Peace be with you.” He asks them to touch his wounds and give him something to eat. Jesus is risen and still has his human body. He is Risen and is fully human and fully divine. After they ate, Jesus gives the disciples a mission, to tell others about his Life, Death, and Resurrection and His message of God’s love and forgiveness.

As disciples of Jesus, we also are invited to eat at his table and receive the Eucharist, share scriptures, and announce the Good News of Jesus’ message of God’s love and forgiveness of sins. We are to be witnesses of what we have experienced with him.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.
How can I be a witness of God’s love to others?

Family Prayer: Jesus, help us bring the Good News of your Resurrection to our family, friends, and neighbors. Amen.

Click Photo

(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

3/24/24 - Palm Sunday and the Passion

Dear Families,

This week is Palm/Passion Sunday. When we participate in the reading of the Passion, it is hard to say the words, “Crucify him.” It reminds us that we all choose to sin and that Jesus loves us anyway. He loves us so much that he died and rose for us and our salvation.

In Church focus on the Passion of Jesus during the Mass. Follow along carefully and say the crowd responses strongly. Consider what it would have been like to be there when Jesus was crucified.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.
When have you gone along with the crowd, even when you knew it was not the right thing to do?

Family Prayer: Jesus, we want to choose you. Show us how to do what is right, even when others want us to do what is wrong. Amen.

Click Photo

(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

12/26/21 - Christmas Day and Feast of Holy Family- Cycle C

Dear Families,

In this Sunday’s Gospel, at the age of 12 Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Jewish feast of Passover, an event where family and friends traveled together each year. On their way back home, they realized Jesus was not with them. They were worried when they could not find Jesus with any of their families or friends. They finally found Jesus when they went back to the Temple. When they found him and they told him how concerned and anxious they were, Jesus asked them why were they concerned since he was in his Father’s house, but he was obedient and returned with them to Nazareth.

As a family watch Merry Christmas video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions.
How can Jesus be born into your heart this Christmas? What can you do to show your family that you love them?

Family Prayer: Lord, help our family to seek and see you as we celebrate Jesus’ coming this Christmas.