The Family Zone
Lectionary-Based Playlist /Issue 55/April 18, 2021
"I know mine and mine know me"
Journeying with St. Joseph
St. Joseph used to have another feast day. The third Wednesday after Easter Sunday was “The Solemnity of Saint Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Patron of the Universal Church”. In 1955 Pope Pius XII removed this solemnity and added the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker on May 1. His other feast day remains March 19.
To keep learning about St. Joseph, visit https://oec.dor.org/year-of-st-joseph/ or follow us at
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 black button below.
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! Use the books about decision making, below, to connect to how and why we make decisions as a disciple!
- What Would You Do? by Jennifer Moore- Mallinos
- Beatitales by Jared Dees
- What if Everybody Did That? by Ellen Javernick
- Modeling faith on social media: https://bustedhalo.com/ministry-resources/go-and-make-disciples-on-facebook-a-guide-to-sharing-your-faith-on-social-media
- Intentional Disciples: https://www.thereligionteacher.com/forming-intentional-disciples-children/
- Struggling with doubts? https://uscatholic.org/articles/201711/when-doubt-creeps-in-for-parents-can-they-still-raise-faithful-kids/
- https://churchlife-info.nd.edu/teaching-the-saints-a-workbook-for-catholic-faith-formation Download a copy each month to learn how to model your life after the saints! Read a short reflection and then think about the decisions each saint had to make in comparison to your life! This is a great tool from The University of Notre Dame!
Write!
Below you will find "at-home" assignments if your child learns best through writing and completing worksheets:
FOR SMALL CHILDREN:
Cut out a few hearts and invite your child to share ways they will show love for Jesus by following Him!
Download the pdf coloring page "I follow Jesus" below
FOR ELEMENTARY AGES:
Visit the blog, MY CUP OVERFLOWS, for a great downloadable worksheet on following God! https://mycupoverflows-johnson.blogspot.com/2018/02/i-choose-to-follow-jesus.html
FOR ADOLESCENTS:
When are you challenged in following Jesus? What does it mean to be a disciple? What did it mean when Jesus talked about discipleship to his followers? Try filling out this chart! https://www.smp.org/dynamicmedia/files/d3cab33f8676c78db87f471b13dd173f/TX004671-2-D-To_Be_a_Disciple.pdf
ALL AGES: What does it mean to be a disciple? Make a list of all the things you know Jesus asks of you!
LISTEN!
PRAY!
This week, pray The Lord's Prayer (Our Father), and think of it as your DISCIPLE'S Prayer, since it is the prayer that Jesus, himself, taught. Say the words slowly and with thought. What do they tell you about discipleship?
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day, our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us
and lead us not in to temptation, but deliver us from evil.
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:
- Herd the Sheep! Hide cotton balls around the room! Can your child find all the "sheep"? Don't leave any behind!
FOR ELEMENTARY on UP:
- Play this active game to connect to the week's Gospel: Sheep and Wolves: https://www.educationworld.com/a_tsl/archives/04-1/lesson019.shtml
Create!
Great projects for you to create something together for quality time!
FOR SMALL CHILDREN:
Make a mask! : /https://www.danyabanya.com/paper-plate-sheep-mask-craft-activity-kids-chinese/
FOR ELEMENTARY AGES: Make a puppet! https://kidscraftroom.com/packing-peanut-sheep-puppets/
FOR ADOLESCENTS: Challenge yourself by following a tough recipe! You can do this with a parent as a fun weekend activity! While enjoying your delicious concoction, talk about how the steps to following Christ can challenge us too...some days it's easy and some days it's tough!
Wonder with St. Joseph
I raised Jesus in Nazareth. It wasn’t a big city, but it was a nice town for a family. He had opportunities to see the world from a “normal” perspective. I’ll never forget how drawn to the shepherds he was. Looking back, I’m not surprised. He understood that he was called to be the Good Shepherd that cared for others and to inspire others to care for one another. Imagine if the world caught on and thought of others the way shepherds think of their sheep!
Parents – How do you model the idea of a Good Shepherd? How do you parent with Jesus in mind? Imagine a world where caring for our young people was everyone’s priority! How can we make that happen?
Young People – Have you ever needed help when everyone else seemed okay? How did it feel to get help? Imagine if everyone took the time to go out of their way for others!
FAITH WORD OF THE WEEK!
PRECEPTS OF THE CHURCH: Rules Catholics follow to help them become good and moral people. They include attending Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation, confessing sins at least once a year, receiving communion at minimum during the Easter season, providing for the needs of the church and observing the rules of fasting and abstinence.
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