THE FAMILY ZONE

Equipping the Domestic Church/ISSUE 89/ 6.26.22

Welcome to the summer editions of The Family Zone...a bit of faith, a bit of fun, a whole lot of FAMILY!!

June 29 is the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul

Sts. Peter and Paul are two very important figures in the history of our Church. Peter, one of the twelve apostles, was named the ROCK of the church by Jesus and served as the very first Pope. It is because of Peter's leadership, that our church began after Jesus died and was resurrected. Because of Paul, who never met Jesus in person, the church grew. St. Paul worked tirelessly to spread the word of our faith! Together, St. Peter and St. Paul are the Patron saints of Rome. Watch this interesting video about their influence on Rome and the beautiful buildings that bear their name!
Sts. Peter and Paul: Their Basilicas & How they made Rome a Christian city | EWTN Vaticano
LIVE THE EUCHARIST

LIVE THE EUCHARIST

This summer we'll explore great ways your family can be the Hands and Feet of Jesus out in the World!


Since 4th of July is coming up, why not direct your family's service experiences toward our active and retired military? Here are some ideas from the USO: https://www.uso.org/stories/2853-how-can-i-support-the-troops-5-ways-you-can-help-deployed-soldiers


In addition, spend some time in prayer. Pray in gratitude for the freedoms we have and pray for those, around the world, whose freedoms are in danger.

LIVE THE EUCHARIST
READ!

READ!

SUNDAY READINGS:

Click on the link below for the readings that you will hear at the Sunday's Mass for the coming two weeks. This will give you a chance to prepare your heart and mind for full and active participation in Mass this weekend! For a Mass schedule in our diocese click on the grey button below.




Family Stories:

For Fourth of July: Pie is for Sharing by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard
And since Moses led his people to freedom:
Moses and the Very Big Rescue by Tim Thornborough

Miriam at the River by Jane Yolen

READ!

LOOK!

Check out these beautiful pieces of Sacred Art! What do you see in the picture? What do you like best? Who is in it?
Big picture

The Finding of Moses, Salvator Rosa, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In Exodus 2 of the Bible, we hear the story of Moses' birth and the incredible tale of him being sent in a basket down the river by his mother who feared for his safety. Moses was found by Pharaoh's daughter and raised as her own. He grew up to be a great leader for freedom!

What do you see in this picture? What do you notice about the picture that might not seem right for Moses' time period? What do you like most about the picture? How does it help you to understand the story of Moses? Take some time to read the story of Moses' birth in Exodus. What else belongs in this scene??

LEARN! Catholic Trivia you May Not Know!

LEARN! Catholic Trivia you May Not Know!

With Independence Day approaching, it is interesting to hear about Catholic figures during the Revolutionary War. John Carroll was the first U.S. Bishop and was appointed in 1789. He founded Georgetown University and worked alongside many of the founding fathers of our country. His cousin, Charles Carroll was the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence and donated land to begin Johns Hopkins University. Daniel Carroll, John's younger brother, signed both the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. The Carroll family did much to introduce Catholicism to America.
LEARN! Catholic Trivia you May Not Know!
IMAGINE THE SCENE

IMAGINE THE SCENE

Exodus 3:1-6 tells another story of Moses that many people remember about the important Old Testament Hero. Read it here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+3&version=NABRE, then make a drawing of what you imagine in the scene as you hear the story of Moses and the Burning Bush. Do you think God still talks to people like he spoke to Moses? How do you think God might talk to you one day?
IMAGINE THE SCENE

FEAST on Fun Summer Treats!

Try this family friendly smoothie recipe from A Mom's Take; sure to be a crowd pleaser!
PRAY!

PRAY!

Gather to pray these beautiful prayers (below) from the National Shrine as part of our Fourth of July family festivities
PRAY!
PLAY!

PLAY!

Enjoy fun, family time together!


Try some old-fashioned races this Holiday! Egg and Spoon, Sack races and three legged races are always fun! Or you could try a grinning match! This old time game involves making the silliest faces and getting others to laugh! No using your hands in the grinning match! In the old days, they used to make participants hold a horse collar around their neck to keep their hands busy; so grab a towel and hold it around the back of your neck while you make silly faces! How long will it take to make your family members laugh??

PLAY!

BUILD!

Did you have to buy wide straws for your patriotic smoothies?? Wash and recycle them by building a fun maze! Watch to find out how!
DIY Easy Ball Maze | Making a Sphere Labyrinth with Straws and Cardboard | Easy Cool Toys
Quiet Yourself!

Quiet Yourself!

Step outside and spend some time just listening to God's creation. What do you hear? What do you like most about what you hear? Take at least 5 minutes of screen free, nature loving silent time each day this week!
Quiet Yourself!
WONDER!

WONDER!

This summer we are wondering about God's CREATION!! Let's wonder about God's amazing creation of spiders! They may be scary to some, but they have incredible skills!


  • How do spiders create such intricate webs?
  • Spider silk, used to build webs, is stronger by weight, than steel! Why were spiders given such an amazing material? What can we learn from spider webs?
  • Spiders can use their silk to make modes of travel through the air or under the water! What other creatures can design their own transportation?
  • Why do spiders have so many legs?
  • Should I be afraid of spiders?

What do you wonder about spiders???
WONDER!
Office of Evangelization and Catechesis

Office of Evangelization and Catechesis

Office of Evangelization and Catechesis

Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester

Debtor in Possession
Diocese of Rochester, Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY, USA oec@dor.org 585-328-3210 oec.dor.org

Missed the previous editions of our newsletter?

See them all here!