Family Formation

This week’s Home Lesson on the Holy Spirit may seem like the concept is a little more difficult to grasp, but Scripture and Tradition offer lots of symbols that help us bring the picture more clearly into focus.  Fire, water, oil,  a dove … the list goes on and all are ways to help us build our relationship with the third person of the Holy Trinity.

There are two activities with this lesson:

• The first one is the Pauline Family Holy Spirit Songbook which takes simple melodies you’re sure to know and “baptizes” them for the holy purpose of teaching you all some of the truths of the Faith!  If you have younger students, make this part of the lesson your priority!  You’ll learn a little catechism of the Holy Spirit in very simple, memorable songs.
• The second activity is a visual reminder of the effects of the Holy Spirit using origami doves.  There are multiple directions for your family’s focus (Baptism, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, or the Fruits of the Holy Spirit), so think a bit about which you’d like to highlight ahead of time.  You may also find it helpful to test out the origami project so you’re familiar with it before trying to help your kids make their own.

Dear First Communion Parents,

This is just a reminder that your children are invited to dress up in their First Communion clothes again and join this year’s Corpus Christi procession on Sunday, June 2nd immediately following the 10:30 Mass.

Listen to the announcements at the close of Mass for the special directions on when you should leave to join the procession in a special place of honor.

This is a wonderful way to show your love for Jesus, truly Present in the Blessed Sacrament, and newly received by you at your First Holy Communion.

Mark your calendar!

Your family is invited to join in on the summer praise and adoration nights June 21, July 26, and August 23.    All are on Friday nights at 7 p.m. in the chapel.

for Older Saints

Throughout the history of the Church, special honor has been given to the name of Jesus. His name was given to Joseph by an angel, and St. Paul tells us that the very name of Jesus is so powerful that “At the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” Philippians 2:10-11 St. Paul also instructs us that we should “do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus” Colossians 3:17 and Jesus Himself told us, “Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.” John 16:23

So you can see that the Holy Name of Jesus is so important that we should use it with reverence and care (as the second Commandment tells us). Past popes have recommended that Catholics bow their heads slightly whenever they hear the name of Jesus during Mass or prayers (you can still do this today—it will really help you pay attention to the words of the prayers!).

There is a litany to the Holy Name that you can pray, and a novena (a prayer that is said for nine days in a row, for a particular intention). The novena prayer goes like this:

Start with an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be

Merciful Jesus, who started Your work of salvation as an infant by taking the name Jesus (“God saves”), thank You for showing Your love for us. Together with the angels and saints, we honor Your Holy Name.

Because we believe in Your words and Your mercy, and because you said, “where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them,” we ask that you come into our hearts. Through the power of Your Name, which is honored in heaven and feared in hell, and comforts those who suffer, we ask you to grant our petitions (name your petition here).

Mary, Mother of God, we ask you to bring our intentions to your Son, in His Name. Also ask Him to imprint His Name on our hearts so that it is always with us, in rejoicing and suffering, now and at the moment of our death. Amen.

The last lesson we had in April was on God the Father and this month we’re going to continue our study of the Three Persons of the Holy Trinity with lessons about God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  This week’s lesson on Jesus has lots of activity choices, so it will be easy for you to tailor it to the particular ages of your students.

The first major theme is the name of Jesus.  Scripture tells us that at the end of time, the sovereignty of Jesus will be made known to everyone who has ever lived and ALL will bend his knee at His holy name.  Right now though, we can see the importance of God’s name by simply reading the 2nd Commandment.  (See CCC 2142-2155.)

The next focus shifts a bit to the Incarnation.  Because Jesus was fully human He has some things in common with us, namely, His life can be plotted in a linear way (as on a timeline).  He was conceived, born, grew up, and died.  Use the scrapbook pages from this lesson to go over those events with your younger children and if you’d like an extra challenge, cut them apart like flashcards, mix them up, and see who can put the events back in order.

Finally, test your knowledge about the life of Christ with a family game ofSovereignty!   Each board has 30 questions about Jesus and you can play at two different levels for beginners or experts.  You can play competitively for the point value listed on each question, or just have everyone shout out the answers they know.

PARENTS: Be sure to do your homework ahead of time by preparing the game boards!