Young Family
Beatitudes Meal Prayer
This month, the children learned that we are created with a great capacity for good. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave us the beatitudes, a list of attitudes we should have to follow Him and choose to do good. Click here for a Beatitudes Table Prayer.
Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer
Monday, January 15 is a national holiday when we honor the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr., a man who employed and inspired nonviolent resistance to bring about peace and justice. He was also a pastor whose preaching many of us are familiar with. As a pastor, he also wrote many beautiful, inspirational prayers. As we remember him, and do the work that Jesus calls us to in bringing about the Kingdom of God, let us pray this prayer that he wrote:
"We thank you for your church, founded upon your Word, that challenges us to do more than sing and pray, but go out and work as though the very answer to our prayers depended on us and not upon you. Help us to realize that humanity was created to shine like the stars and live on through all eternity. Keep us, we pray, in perfect peace. Help us to walk together, pray together, sing together, and live together until that day when all God's children -- Black, White, Red, Brown and Yellow -- will rejoice in one common band of humanity in the reign of our Lord and of our God, we pray. Amen."
"We thank you for your church, founded upon your Word, that challenges us to do more than sing and pray, but go out and work as though the very answer to our prayers depended on us and not upon you. Help us to realize that humanity was created to shine like the stars and live on through all eternity. Keep us, we pray, in perfect peace. Help us to walk together, pray together, sing together, and live together until that day when all God's children -- Black, White, Red, Brown and Yellow -- will rejoice in one common band of humanity in the reign of our Lord and of our God, we pray. Amen."
Beatitudes Video Reflection
During their sessions this month, the 5th and 6th graders watched a short video reflection on the Beatitudes. Here is a link to that video so families can watch and discuss it together.
Pope Francis and the Beatitudes
In 2016, during the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis proposed that we might add a few Beatitudes to reflect the conditions and needs of our modern times. To learn about these, click here.
Valentine's Day Fun!
Valentine's Day and Ash Wednesday fall on the same day this year. As we look forward to the fun cards and treats, we can also think about the saint whose feast we celebrate and the meaning behind the day. St. Valentine was a real person who lived in the early years of Christianity (about the 3rd century) and who was martyred for the faith. Not much is known about his life, but there are various legends surrounding him. We do know that he loved God and his fellow Christians so much that he laid down his life for them.
We know that God loves us so much that he sent his Son Jesus to us. Here is a fun art activity for Valentine's Day that helps us to reflect on John 3:16.
Here is a craft that helps us count down the February days to Valentine's Day. Each heart leads us to a Bible verse about God's love. This is a great way to continue to practice looking up Bible verses, as we've been learning in Parish Intergenerational Faith Formation the past few months!
We know that God loves us so much that he sent his Son Jesus to us. Here is a fun art activity for Valentine's Day that helps us to reflect on John 3:16.
Here is a craft that helps us count down the February days to Valentine's Day. Each heart leads us to a Bible verse about God's love. This is a great way to continue to practice looking up Bible verses, as we've been learning in Parish Intergenerational Faith Formation the past few months!
Beatitudes Video with Sign Language
During the January PIFF session, the younger students experienced a video in which the Beatitudes were set to music with sign language. Click here to view the video with your family.
Beatitudes Coloring Pages
Go here to find an interesting reflection on the Beatitudes for young children, in which the author likens each of them to a different flower.
