Family Faith News
Holy Family Parish
Sunday, February 7, 2021
Preparing for Our Lent Journey
Next week marks the beginning of our Lent. On Wednesday, February 17, we celebrate Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of Lent. Lent is a six week period in which we are drawing closer to God and seeking Him with greater intensity. This time ends on the day before Easter, which is Saturday, April 3. As we begin to prepare for Lent, this is a good time to discuss with your children different ways to become closer to God and how these ways can be a part of your family daily routine.
Below are a few Family Faith reminders...
- Family Faith Newsletter link to Family Form questions - Each week, a google link to a survey with questions will be included in each newsletter. As a family, you will have an opportunity to respond to these questions. Your family's response will count towards attendance/completion of the activities.
- Attendance at monthly Parent Zoom sessions - Our next scheduled Zoom meetings will be the week of February 21. Deacon Nelson will lead our sessions together. More information and zoom links will be included in upcoming weekly newsletter as we are closer to this date. Please click on the button below to view our Family Faith 2021 Calendar.
- Stay Connected - Since email is our primary way of communication, it is important that we have your updated email address. Please contact us if you have a change in email or phone number. In addition, check our parish webpage, Facebook, and Twitter for important updates! Below is the link to Family Faith updates on Holy Family Parish website:
https://www.holyfamilyforall.org/faith-formation/family-faith-formation-updates/
If you have any questions or would like to share your updated email address with us, feel free to contact the parish office.
Mass Readings for Sunday, February 7: Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
This weekend's Gospel continues Mark's story from last weekend describing how Jesus heals the people. Following the miracles He performs in the synagogue in the town of Capernaum, Jesus travels with his disciples Simon, Andrew, James and John to the home of Simon. At that time, Simon's mother-in-law was sick with fever. Jesus, unlike any leader or healer of that time, warmly approaches Simon's mother-in-law:
"He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.
Then the fever left her and she waited on them."
During that time, people who were sick did not have the medicines we have today, and often were isolated from others. But Jesus did not isolate from those who were sick. Instead, He embraced and healed them. Often seen as a sign of love and caring (the opposite of isolation), Jesus healed by being near them, touching them, and ultimately curing those in distress.
As followers of Jesus, we welcome and do our best to heal others. Whether they are physically sick or isolated from social groups, Jesus models for us the courage and love to show others.
Activities for Family
Jesus Heals, We Can Help!
In this weekend's Gospel, we hear how many people were amazed and shocked to discover that Jesus had the power to heal the sick and cast out demons. If Jesus had the ability to do this when He walked the Earth, then He still has the power to help us today. Through this activity, children recognize that they can pray when they need help, and that Jesus has the power to heal them. Through His ways, children can also help others.
Materials: Construction paper, band aides, markers/crayons, glue, ribbon
Procedure:
- Cut a large heart shape out of construction paper or cardstock.
- Glue the heart onto another piece of different color paper
- Decorate the heart with band-aids, including two in the center of the heart that form the shape of a cross.
- Add verses and captions to remember that “Jesus heals our hearts.”
- Add extra decorations such as stickers, glitter, or other elements. If desired, add a string to hang the art work.
Write a personal message and surprise a family member or friend for Valentine's Day!
Project IMT Corner
NeXt Level was formed two years ago as part of a pilot project through the Center for FaithJustice, with a grant from the Lily Endowment Foundation. NeXt Level was tasked with creating a passion project. As we came together, we agreed our project would be connected to immigration. Our project is Immigrants Matter Too. Along the way we have had to find ways to reach out to other people in our parish and to expand our knowledge of immigration to help others.
Over the past two years, we have tried to educate people in different ways. We have written and produced, in coordination with George Street Playhouse, a play. Due to Covid-19, we performed the play via zoom. We created our own logo which represents everything we stand for. We have conducted workshops about ICE and immigrants’ legal rights that involved and helped immigrants. We have also helped educate non-immigrant parishioners with an “Ally Training” workshop. This workshop not only educated people but showed them how they could be helpful to their immigrant neighbors and fellow parishioners. We knew this subject would be important to many people so we created a YouTube channel so that we could extend our audience and reach out to many more people.
As we go forward, we will be working with all people within the parish. We will keep you up-to-date and informed on new immigration initiatives. As an ongoing mission of NeXt Level, we want to work with the adults in the parish, but the youth in the parish are just as important. We, the young people of NeXt Level, want you, the young people of the parish to join us. We are the future. We can work together to come up with great ideas on how to help the immigrants around us. The more the merrier. You can contact us at Jenniferh@holyfamilyforall.org.
Uplift Video of the Week!
I Miss You DAD!
As this military Dad arrives home, he is greeted by the most sincere and loving hug by his daughter! Watch this adorable embrace!
Holy Family Parish
- Register online: holyfamilyparishnewbrunswicknj.flocknote.com
OR
- Text holyfamilyforall to 84576 (or 202-765-3441 in Spanish)
Email: catherinek@holyfamilyforall.org
Website: holyfamilyforall.org
Location: 56 Throop Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
Phone: (732) 545-1681
Facebook: facebook.com/holyfamilyparish
Twitter: @holyfamily4all