Back to School

As usual, the folks at Vibrant Faith @ Home have some good ideas for incorporating faith in your daily routines. This time, it's all about BACK TO SCHOOL... here's an example, for your driving time.

Get out the popcorn!

Summer is a big time for movie watching, and if you would like a little help deciding which movies are appropriate for your child(ren), or ideas for discussing themes and situations with them, please check out this website, Sr. Rose Goes to the Movies.  Here's a brief overview video:  Watch this video!

Faith and the 4th

Here's an idea for a family activity connecting your faith and the founding principles of the United States.

Parents as stewards

Just in time for Mother and Father's days...   

a reflection on the bigger picture of parenthood.

Thinking about communion

Here is a very simple and beautiful post about relating the presence of Jesus in the Eucharistic celebration with our own life experiences. Maybe you have a similar example to share with your child(ren)?

What's Holy Week About?

If you've got 2 minutes, watch this!

Boys will be Boys & Girls will be Victims?

Parents-  not a happy post, but an important one to read....

Boys will be Boys &; Girls will be Victims?

The things a child thinks....

I heard an anecdote this week from a catechist who was teaching young children about Lent. She asked them where the ashes come from, and a young boy was certain that they were from dead people! And then when she told them that they were from last year's palms (from Palm Sunday), those young brains didn't remember back that far or make that connection.

So, parents- what DO your children think is happening? Now's the perfect time to clear up any misconceptions and help them recognize Lent for its connection to Easter. Need a primer, yourself? You could view the video in the previous post, and also read through another previous post.

A Quick Video for the New Season

Busted Halo's "Ash Wednesday and Lent in Two Minutes"

Enjoy!

For Moms, for Lent

Are you a busy Mom, and searching for some way to do something for yourself this Lent? Consider this on-line retreat.

Another blog to enjoy

I just came back from a three-day retreat, facilitated by Kathy Hendricks. She mentioned her blog, to which she posts weekly (on Wednesdays) and while visiting it, I though that it might be something parents would also enjoy. It could be a source of ideas for conversations with your children.
Here is a link to Kathy's blog, We Believe and Share, which is also listed in the column to the right. If you like it, there's a link at the bottom of her page for the RSS Feed.

The Christmas Season Continues!

Some gifts from the parish wish tree

Do you still have your Christmas decorations up? I am one of the very few in my neighborhood with lights going. And yet we are still happily in the Christmas Season (a festive time that begins, not ends, at Christmas!). We celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord this Sunday (bet we sing "We Three Kings"?!)- a feast that helps us remember that God became human to offer salvation to the entire world, and the best way we can celebrate that is to offer God the gifts of our own lives.

In most families, giving and receiving gifts has been a big focus recently! It is so much fun to share the enjoyment of others (and to get something you really like, too!). Many of you probably picked a card off our parish wish tree and bought presents for a stranger who might not have otherwise received any for Christmas. Wasn't that a wonderful way as a family to talk together about helping others?

And here is an article that might give you other ideas for future conversations and actions that could help you raise generous and thoughtful children, ones who are smarter than the slick ads they face everyday!