THE FAMILY ZONE
Equipping the Domestic Church/ISSUE 127/12.10.23
We hope your Advent is going well!
- Host an Advent Sunday dinner on the Third Sunday of Advent (December 17). This is the PINK or ROSE Gaudete Sunday where we celebrate JOY!
- Pray the O Antiphons (See them below in the prayer section)
- Attend Confession and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation
- Read an Advent story together (Check out Advent storybook 24 Stories to Share Before Christmas by Maja Dusikova, Antonie Schneider, and Marisa Miller
- Decorate slowly, to build toward the celebration of Christmas
- Take time for a mini-retreat by clicking on the link below:
Mass Class
The stanza above, known as the embolism, is shared by the priest at the conclusion of the Our Father and is so suited for our Advent attitude of waiting in joyful, blessed hope. When you hear these words, during the Mass, pause and reflect on your fears and the dreams you have for your family, yourself, and our world. We are called to be a people who believe in the promise that Jesus Christ will come again in glory. What can you place into God's hands, so that you might live in the "blessed hope" of the peace of Christ?
READ
SUNDAY READINGS: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121023.cfm
THIS WEEKEND'S READINGS:
Click on the links 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 the Mass!
Sunday Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121723.cfm
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122423.cfm
FAMILY FAITH CONVERSATION: On December 17, the Second Reading from 1 Thessalonians shares these words: "Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." These are three wonderful suggestions for living your daily life. Ask each family member to share which "attitude" is easiest: joyful living, consistent prayer or gratitude. Offer these questions:- What gives you the greatest joy when you are worried?
- Do you have a favorite prayer or way to pray?
- What are you grateful for?
Connecting to Our Church Year
PRAY
Here are many family-friendly ways to pray the O Antiphons from December 17-23. Traditionally, these antiphons accompany the Magnificat canticle of Evening Prayer.
SERVE
As Christmas Day approaches, consider who might be forgotten during the holiday season. Is there a shut-in neighbor you could carol to, or a nearby nursing home? Do you encounter a homeless person on your commute that you could give a toiletry kit to? Or are there some lingering names on the giving tree at your local bank, church or other community building? Who can you bring the love and joy of Christ to?
FAMILY MEAL
Milestone Moments and Family Traditions
Legend says St. Boniface was the first to connect evergreen trees to Christ. He is quoted as saying: “This little tree, a young child of the forest, shall be your holy tree tonight. It is the wood of peace… It is the sign of an endless life, for its leaves are ever green. See how it points upward to heaven. Let this be called the tree of the Christ-child; gather about it, not in the wild wood, but in your own homes; there it will shelter no deeds of blood, but loving gifts and rites of kindness.”[5] This practice caught on in Germany and eventually, German immigrants brought the custom to America.
(Read the full article at Catholic.com https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/st-boniface-and-the-christmas-tree)
Our faith has a special blessing for the Christmas tree, that can become a yearly tradition following your family tree decorating! Click on the link below!
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