Child and Family Ministry Update
St. Joseph Parish
We are a community striving together for Heaven
Chocolate Chip Rosary
Today Pope Francis is calling on all people to pray the rosary together today on St. Joseph's Feast Day. A fun way to do this with kids is to put a chocolate chip (or other treat) on each space of where we would say a Hail Mary and "eat" our way through the Rosary. As today is a feast day, Lent restrictions are lifted so even those who gave up sweets can participate! The print out below should have enough room for you to put the chocolate chip on each "bead" of the rosary. I'll be doing it at 3:00 today with my kids. Join me if you can and share pictures with me too!
Explaining COVID-19 to Kids
Have any of you struggled with explaining COVID-19 with your kids? We've spent a lot of time easing fears in our house and still maintaining the importance of why we are isolating to protect others as well as ourselves. We had a big discussion last night regarding "Didn't God make this virus?" Wow! Big question! I did my best to explain that God did not make this virus, and essentially it came down to Father Kevin's homily from a few weeks ago in which he spoke of how Adam and Eve's sin is what introduced sickness into the world. But we spent a lot of time talking about the ways that God can work within this virus. God can help us connect with our families more, He can call us to more prayer and a feeling of gratitude for all we have. I hope this message of hope will resonate with my kids. How are others of you having this discussion?
Facebook Live Mass
Today we were able to Facebook Live Father Kevin's Mass on the Feast Day of Saint Joseph. If you "like" St. Joseph's facebook page you can watch it! It was a beautiful Mass in which Father suggested that we can relate to Joseph's upheaval of life during this upheaval of life now. We will be doing the same thing for 10:30 Mass on Sunday. You can watch it live at 10:30 or you can watch the post later.
Daily Readings
If you'd like to read the daily readings, you can use the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website. This link should bring you to the general page and then you can click on the current date.
Father Kevin's Recorded Homilies
If you go to this link, you will be able to listen to Father Kevin's homily from this weekend. I urge you all to take a few minutes to listen as he spoke to remind us all about how we don't have control.
Prayer Intentions
If you have any prayer intentions that you'd like for Father to offer during his private daily Mass, or during his Sunday Facebook Live Mass, please contact me (or any of our staff) using our website https://www.stjoesbb.com/contact and we will get it to Father.
Church Open for Prayer
St. Joe's doors will be open for individual prayer Monday through Friday 9 am - 7 pm. Eucharistic Adoration will be available from 5 pm - 7 pm. Please be mindful of staying at least 6 feet away from each other, only having 10 or less and using hand sanitizer. If you are sick in any way, please, please stay at home.
Stations of the Cross
Though we cannot gather to celebrate the Stations of the Cross. However, there is an online Stations of the Cross connected to our Rice Bowls. They have video and are narrated. Very good for us to remember how fortunate we are even in the midst of this difficult time around the world. We do have it better than many! https://www.crsricebowl.org/stations-of-the-cross
Faithbooks as part of your child's daily work
As we are all trying to navigate what schooling at home looks like in our families, I encourage you to encourage your kids to spend time in prayer. Have your children write their prayers in their composition notebooks.
Sacramental Prep
Kids who are preparing for their First Eucharist are encouraged to continue on with session 3 of their Blessed book. This lesson focuses on the Liturgy of the Word. You can find the links to the videos HERE. Continue to prepare in understanding the importance of this amazing Sacrament. I will let you know as decisions are made regarding expectations.
Family Pictures
We were able to get a few more pictures from families. Keep them coming. Feel free to email them to me and I can print them off!
Child and Family Ministry
Forming a community of Christ's disciples
Email: acollins@stjoesbb.com
Website: https://www.stjoesbb.com/for-children
Location: S89 W22650 Milwaukee Avenue, Big Bend, WI, USA
Phone: 262-662-3317
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StJoesBB