The Family Zone
Lectionary-Based Playlist /Issue 59/May 16, 2021
"And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were.'
A Note About Our Newsletter
Journeying with St. Joseph
According to legend, burying a statue of St. Joseph in the front yard of a house you are selling, will help the sale go quickly. There are many thoughts on this – you should bury the statue facing the house that you are trying to sell, or may you bury it upside down facing the street, or near the for-sale sign. The Church does not endorse the superstition that goes with the tradition, but does endorse praying for St. Joseph’s intercession. As the patron of realtors, St. Joseph is our “go-to” for prayers when moving and selling. This comes from the Holy Family's experience of moving homes when fleeing for safety to Egypt after the birth of Jesus and again when returning to Nazareth; the Holy Family were refugees. Joseph experienced the need to move his family and possessions, and for that reason, we pray to him when we undertake the same task.
A prayer to St. Joseph that is often associated with burying the statue, but which is a good one anytime is:
“O St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession
and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings
through Jesus Christ, Our Lord.”
READ!
SUNDAY READINGS:
Click on the link below for the readings that you will hear at this coming Sunday's Mass. 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. Here are next weekend's readings so that you can prepare for full and active participation in the Mass!
Family Stories:
Do you love to read to your kids? These stories will help you apply this week's theme to other areas of life and connect the lines between our beliefs and daily life!
- Breathe: A Child's Guide to Ascension, Pentecost and the Growing Time by Laura Alary
- The Day When God Made Church: A Child’s First Book about Pentecost by Rebekah McLeod Hutto, Illustrated by Stephanie Haig
- Wind by Carol Thompson
- Because by Mo Willems
Parent Articles on the topic:
How the Holy Spirit works in Our Lives: https://catholic-link.org/holy-spirit-prayer-changed-life/
How to Talk to Children About the Holy Spirit is a pamphlet from Bayard Faith Resources. Click on the link below to consider purchasing this handy guide
For Teens to Grow on their Discipleship Journey:How Can the Holy Spirit Help You in Real Life? https://catholic-link.org/7-daily-situations-to-ask-for-the-gifts-of-the-holy-spirit/
Write!
Below you will find "at-home" assignments if your child learns best through writing and completing worksheets:
FOR SMALL CHILDREN:
- Help your child to write or draw everything they need help with. Then chat, do they need mom or dad's help? Could they ask the Holy Spirit to help them be brave with certain things they can learn to do themselves?
FOR ELEMENTARY AGES:
- Learn about the Holy Spirit with these free downloads from Ministry to Children: https://ministry-to-children.com/worksheet-learn-about-the-holy-spirit/
FOR ADOLESCENTS:
- Use the PDF below to learn more about the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Look up the definitions and put them into your own words
- In honor of this Month of Mary, challenge yourself to complete this quiz on Our Lady of Fatima, one of the many names for Mary and whose feast day we celebrated on May 13: https://www.catechist.com/catholic-iq-mary-lady-fatima/
LISTEN!
PRAY!
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful.
And kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.
And you will renew the face of the earth.
Lord,
by the light of the Holy Spirit
you have taught the hearts of your faithful.
In the same Spirit
help us to relish what is right
and always rejoice in your consolation.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
WATCH!
Play!
Children learn through play; here are some ways for you to keep learning about the faith theme of the week in a "hands-on" way!
FOR SMALL CHILDREN:
- One of the symbols for the Holy Spirit is wind. Use a parachute or a sheet and a fan to play a wind game. Let the parachute or sheet billow over their head and talk about the Holy Spirit blowing through their lives. You can also use a fan and watch together how you can make the wind move through the parachute. Use the silly "fruits of the spirit" video, above, to bring the language of the Holy Spirit into play time!
FOR ELEMENTARY AGES:
- The Holy Spirit is a guide for us in our everyday lives! Set up an obstacle course at your home. Blindfold a family member and see if you can guide them (slowly!) through the obstacle course!
- Discuss the fruits of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. Put 9 cups out and put a different type of fruit in each cup (or seed, chocolate, etc.) Blindfold your child and see if they can guess what they are eating!
FOR ADOLESCENTS:
- Play a game of Mastermind with a family member. If you don't have the game or the app, you can create your own board with different colored pieces!
Here are instructions on how to play: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsYPsrzCKiA. Figuring out life can sometimes be like cracking a code, but we can pray to the Holy Spirit to help guide us through life's challenges!
Create!
Great projects for you to create something together for quality time!
FOR SMALL CHILDREN:
- Continue to connect the Holy Spirit to the wind by making a wind sock with your child! Take a paper bag. At the opening, attach colorful streamers or ribbons. Attach a string to hang it so that it can catch the wind! Invite your child to decorate the bag.
FOR ELEMENTARY AGES:
- Make a Pentecost Story Bag: http://flamecreativekids.blogspot.com/2013/04/pentecost-story-bag.html
FOR ADOLESCENTS:
- Make a Fruit Pizza with your family! https://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/easy-fruit-pizza/a765c571-37d5-4916-8747-e944a923c83b Can you add fruits to represent each Fruit of the Spirit??
ALL AGES:
- Have a birthday celebration for the Church after Mass! Enjoy a cake and red foods as red is the color of Pentecost! Play some family favorite games!
Wonder with St. Joseph
As a father, I never wanted Jesus to be alone. I always wanted him surrounded by people who loved him and wanted what was best for him. Oh, sure, there were times he was on his own, but he was never alone. He knew his mother, his Father in Heaven, and I were all constantly surrounding him with love. Later in life, his disciples and friends would surround him with that love.
But you know what is the most amazing part? After he died and returned to Heaven to sit at the Father’s right hand, he sent the Holy Spirit so EVERYONE could be surrounded and empowered by HIS love! What a gift!!
Parents – We all want our children to have friends, but we also want them to have the healthiest relationships possible. How do you help your children value their friendships? How do you help them know which “friendships” might be better to avoid?
Young People – Friends are amazing gifts from God! We really are made to be with others and not alone. Think about your friends, and what you share in common with them. How great is it to be around people who make you a better person? What makes someone a good friend?
FAITH WORD OF THE WEEK!
Consecration: the part of the Eucharistic prayer when, by the power of the Holy Spirit and through the words and actions of the priest, the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ
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