THE FAMILY ZONE
Equipping the Domestic Church/ISSUE 102/12.25.22
BEHOLD! A CHILD IS BORN IN BETHLEHEM!
MAY YOUR FAMILY ENJOY THE LOVE AND PEACE OF CHRIST, OUR SAVIOR, AND LORD!
Making Jesus Part of Your Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebration:
- Attend Mass! Invite family and friends to join you!
- Read the Christmas story from the Bible (Luke 2:1-20)
- Place the Baby Jesus in the manger and sing Happy Birthday to him
- Place a lit candle in the window to signify that the light of Christ is present in the world
- Before opening gifts, share a prayer of gratitude for the non-material gifts God has given to your family!
- Tell the Christmas story with a simple lunch. Follow the link below for a great way to involve kids in the Infancy Narrative!
LIVE THE EUCHARIST
It invites us to consider Bethlehem as any Catholic Church where Christ is present. When we talk about the Real Presence, we acknowledge that Jesus is present to us each time we receive the Body of Christ. Jesus didn't just reside in the world 2000 years ago. Jesus is PRESENT to us here and now; he loves US and desires to be with us. Consider ways in which you can be present to him this coming year and show that same love in return!
***From: therealpresence.org/archives
READ!
SUNDAY READINGS:
Click on the link below for the readings that you will hear at the Sunday 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 red button below.
Sunday Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010123.cfm
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010823.cfm
Family Stories: Here are some stories about EPIPHANY and the MAGI:
We Three Kings by Gennady Spirin
They Followed a Bright Star by Joan Alavedra
Strega Nona's Gift by Tomie dePaola
WRITE!
Send a card to a child in the hospital: https://sendasmile4kids.blogspot.com/
Reach out to a child in foster care: https://braidmission.org/cards-of-hope/
Send a letter to a soldier: https://www.operationgratitude.com/volunteer/anywhere/letters/
Write to a senior citizen: https://loveforourelders.org/letters
LISTEN!
WATCH!
JUST FOR FUN...A SWEET LITTLE FILM
CREATE!
New Year's Day is a Holy Day of Obligation, when we observe the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Most churches have a vigil Mass on New Year's Eve. Attend Mass and then enjoy an EARLY New Year's celebration with your kids by ushering in midnight in another country. Here are some family fun ideas that kick off your celebration with a connection to the Blessed Mother: (SEE ALL LINKS FOR THE MARIAN PRAYERS in the PRAY SECTION BELOW)
- At 6:00 PM, it is MIDNIGHT in Ukraine! We have been praying the Memorare, a prayer that seeks the Blessed Mother's intercession, for Peace in Ukraine. Pray it on New Year's Eve, for peace there and around the world. Then enjoy a feast of Deruny https://natashaskitchen.com/deruny-ukrainian-potato-pancakes-%D0%B4%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%83%D0%BD%D0%B8
- At 7:00 PM, it is MIDNIGHT in Rome! Say a prayer for the Holy Father, Pope Francis and Pray together a favorite Marian prayer of his: "Mary Undoer of Knots" and enjoy your favorite pasta or pizza! Children in Italy sometimes enjoy an unusual game called Tamburello. This would add to some New Year noisemaking fun! You will need tambourines and a balloon for indoor fun! Simply hit the balloon back and forth as in tennis, but use the tambourine as your paddle! (No tambourines? Be creative with something that could make noise!)
- At 8:00 PM, it is MIDNIGHT in Portugal! Celebrate by eating 12 raisins (a Portuguese tradition on New Year's Eve) and pray to Our Lady of Fatima (A Portuguese title for the Virgin Mary who appeared to children in Fatima, Portugal.) St. Jacinta, one of the children who witnessed the appearance of Our Lady was said to have loved flowers and make garlands of them for her cousins. Make some special garlands to celebrate the New Year, out of flowers, paper, or materials of your choice! You can also make this easy and tasty Portuguese dish for dinner!
PRAY!
PLAY!
Continue the star-themed fun by bundling up and star-gazing on a dark winter's night!
Enjoy the Christmas game below by clicking on the PDF to download. You will need paper, something to draw with, and a pair of dice to play!
BE WELL!
"do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, ²⁰for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." Let's resolve to take better care of ourselves because life is a beautiful gift from God! What will your New Year's Resolution be?
Fr. Mike Schmitz recently made a video about the difference between working out and training. Check it out:
TEACHABLE MOMENT!
Gerard David, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Public Domain
WORD OF THE WEEK!
WONDER!
- Did the Wise Men understand what they would find when they set out to find the Baby Jesus?
- How did they feel when they saw the baby in the middle of a barn? Were they skeptical?
- What if the Wise Men hadn't listened to the dream warning?
- Where did the Wise Men go when they left Bethlehem? Did Herod find them?
- They brought Jesus presents. Have you ever been excited about giving somebody something? Were they excited to receive it? Were the Wise Men excited to give Jesus their treasures?
- How did Mary and Joseph feel when they saw the Wise Men with the treasures for their baby?
Office of Evangelization and Catechesis
Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester
Debtor in PossessionEmail: oec@dor.org
Website: oec.dor.org
Location: Diocese of Rochester, Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY, USA
Phone: 585-328-3210