THE FAMILY ZONE
Equipping the Domestic Church/ISSUE 69/ 9.19.21
WWJD?
JOURNEYING WITH ST. JOSEPH
We can imagine that St. Joseph had to bring many decisions to prayer as he wrestled with the enormity of God's plan for his family. Before Jesus was even born, Joseph had to discern the safest decision he could make for Mary and then, as his family traveled as migrants to Bethlehem and on to Egypt once Jesus was born, he needed to constantly discern the safest path for Jesus, Mary and himself. This week is National Migration Week. Let us hold in prayer all those who are displaced and struggle toward safety in a new home and may we be mindful of the example of the Holy Family, who were migrants themselves. St. Joseph and St. Mary, Pray for us!
The Flight into Egypt by Giotto di Bondone (1304–1306, Scrovegni Chapel, Padua)
READ!
SUNDAY READINGS:
Click on the link below for the readings that you will hear at the Sunday's Mass for the coming two weeks. 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 orange button below.
Family Stories: Story Time with a Positive Message. This week's stories focus on making tough decisions!
- Chalk by Bill Thomson
- A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams
- The Cloudspinner by Michael Catchpool
- Tidy by Emily Gravett
Parenting Articles:
Teaching Your Child How to Discern their Choices
https://breakthroughhomeschooling.com/teaching-kids-discernment/
WRITE!
Good and Bad Choices List or Collage
What's right and wrong in God's eyes? Make a list of those actions that please God and those that might make God ask us to choose better next time! Or cut out pictures from a magazine and paste them in the correct categories!
- Use the packet below from Lifelong Faith to help you better understand and teach your family the Christian practice of Discernment.
LISTEN!
Here is a podcast that further explores the WWJD acronym:
WATCH!
(for teens or adults)
(for teens or adults)
(For kids)
CREATE!
PRAY!
Use this scripture verse from Phillipians 1:9-11 as a prayer for discernment:
And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.
Amen.
PLAY!
**You can also try the listening game on the Martha and Mary video above! It reminds us that discernment is about listening to God!
GET MOVING!
Word of the Week!
WONDER WITH THE HOLY FAMILY
Wonder with the Holy Family
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” … How often is that question asked in a family? Deciding on our vocation is a big thing! In the Church it’s called discerning, and it’s less about choosing what you want and more about listening to what God wants for you. Jesus had it easy in this one – he knew from a very young age he was meant to teach and guide God’s children. He was born for a purpose and he knew it. But Mary and Joseph both had to discern where God wanted them – and both prayed hard about it. God’s plan affects the whole family, but when we listen to God and not our own desires, we find great joy!
Parents – What was it like deciding to grow your family? Have you told your child(ren) about making that choice? What wonders and joys have resulted in that?
Children – What brings you joy? Ask your parents what brings them joy. Isn’t it amazing how God gave each of us different things that bring us joy? Because we are all different and play a different part in God’s plan. Think about how special it is to be a part of God’s plan, and not just our own.
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