On Sunday we are called to participate in appreciating the beauty that is all around us and participate in it. Beauty can evoke in us an appreciation for what God has created in our life and lead us to participate in that creation through the materials around us. We are called to find and assist in creating beauty through the ordinariness of family life.

In November’s videos of our Reclaiming Sundays series, Bernadette Gockowski, Catholic artist, wife and mother, shares her appreciation of the “wow factor” of beauty in our Catholic faith and what her family does to lean into the fullness of the beauty of the Catholic Church. Beatriz Lopez shares the tradition of preparing altars with creativity, prayer and recognition of the presence of God. It all comes together to reveal the beauty that comes from life. Let’s reclaim Sundays for the Lord and our families.

SAMPLE ACTIVITIES FOR NOVEMBER:

• Explore the beauty of our cathedral, basilica, or your parish by taking time to
  explore the art. Learn about the saints you see. If you have time, draw pictures
  of your favorite image or take a family photo with a beautiful sacred image in the
  background. Turn this into a small moment of evangelization by making it your
  Christmas card photo.
• Create a small sacred space (prayer table/family altar) in your home.
  Enlist contributions from everyone in your family to make it beautiful (flowers in
  a small vase, draw pictures for Jesus, etc.).
• Color with your children.
• Share passionate projects in which you create (the woodshop, knitting, etc.).
• Liturgical Living: Near the beginning of the month, visit a family member’s
  gravesite. Make it neat and bring flowers (if permitted by the cemetery). Pass on
  family stories about this person to your children. Learn the Eternal Rest prayer
  and pray it daily for those you know who have died. Pray for the souls in
  purgatory this month

• The project’s introductory video from our Archbishop
• Reclaiming Sundays document
• Other resources, including a monthly video with discussion questions 

BACKGROUND: Here at the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, we are in the middle of our synod implementation process, this year focusing on Synod Year III— “Parents as Primary Educators of Their Children in the Ways of the Faith.” To support parents as the primary educators of their children, they have published, “Reclaiming Sundays: Recover Sunday as a Day for the Lord and Family.”

This guide lays out monthly themes and practical suggestions for families — and the lay faithful in all walks of life — to build lasting habits and anchor their week in a joyful, prayerful and restful observance of Sunday. Family Formation has a long history of promoting this sort of thing, so we are very enthusiastic supporters!