May 20

Seventh Sunday of Easter

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Read Sunday’s gospel, John 17:11b-19.

Gospel Summary
As Jesus prepares to return to God, he is in the midst of a long prayer for his disciples. It is a prayer for unity even though Judas is no longer among the disciples. Jesus asks his Father to seal and strengthen the disciples as they will now be the ones to carry out the work begun by Jesus. He especially asks that they not be influenced by the evil one.

Reflection for Families
It is likely that John is making a connection between Jesus asking God to commission the disciples and the fact that the Church is being passed on from the first generation to the second. As parents (and probably as every generation of parents) we know how unsettling that can be! We worry about things like the next generation not working hard enough, not saving enough money, not valuing important things, and in general, they just don’t think like we do! But isn’t it amazing how life goes on and pretty well at that. We need to be clear to our children that we believe in them and have faith in God. Try for one week (or even one day) to consider each statement you make to your children or in their presence. Will they have the feeling that you are really hopeful for the future their generation will bring?

Bringing the Gospel Into Your Family
Designate a special cup as a “blessing cup” in your home. At a meal when the family is gathered, pour wine or grape juice into the cup. Have one adult begin by stating one thing about his/her faith that is important to pass on to the children. The adult may then take a sip of wine and pass the cup to the next person. Children may decide if they want to share something important that has been passed on to them or something they hope some day to pass on to their own children. When the cup has returned to the person starting, s/he may say these or similar words: “Let this cup be a reminder to us of all that has been passed down through the years. Amen.

Discussion Starters

  1. The most important thing I want to pass on about my faith is…
  2. I believe that God is leading me to take the next step as a disciple by…
  3. One way in which I do not belong to the world is…

 

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May 13

Sixth Sunday of Easter

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Read Sunday’s gospel, John 15:9-17.

Gospel Summary
A complete circle of love is found in this gospel reading. God loved the Son, Jesus. The Son loves his followers, and the followers show their love for God through their love for one another. It is clear in this reading that while we are part of this circle, we are only part of it because God chose us to be. Our response to God’s choice for us is simply to show our love for God through the love we show to other human beings.

Reflection for Families
The lives of parents are very full and busy. It’s like juggling apples and catching each falling one to prevent it from splatting to the floor while tossing the others high in the air. But sometimes we need to think beyond the immediate demands of jobs, family, and home. When we widen the circle of those we include in our love, our children see first hand how we live this gospel message. When we reach out to others, especially those who are difficult to love, they learn by our example what Jesus asks us to do in showing our love to one another just as he shows his love to us.

Bringing the Gospel into Your Family
Jesus asks us to love one another as he has loved us. It’s easy to love those who love us, but what about the hard part of this command? How do we show love to the person that does not show us love? Think about who those people are in the lives of your family members. Allow each person to offer suggestions about how they will show Jesus’ love to the person that is difficult for them to love.

Discussion Starters

  1. I recall a time when I was excluded from someone’s love. I remember feeling…
  2. The one person who always loves me and makes me feel welcome is…
  3. I know that God loves me. Without thinking too highly of myself, I also love myself especially for the way…


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May 06

Fifth Sunday of Easter

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Read Sunday’s gospel, John 15:1-8.

Gospel Summary
By using the image of a vine and its branches, Jesus helped his listeners understand the interconnectedness of relationships between the Father, Jesus, and his followers. Jesus is the vine and we, the followers, are the branches that grow from the vine. The gardener, the one who provided the growth and did the trimming, was God. When we are living examples of God’s love and act as Jesus did, we provide much fruit. When we fail to do this, we create a lot of dead wood and produce no fruit.

Reflection for Families
For many of us, there are certain things we enjoy in our lives. There’s a good chance that some of our pleasures stem from days before we became parents such as a weekly golf outing, shopping, a night out with friends, or short get-aways. Of course it is healthy to take care of ourselves, but this reading gives us an opportunity to see if there are some things that no longer contribute to our growth on the branches. The fruit we bear is faith and love. Do we need to do some pruning in order to show our children that we are truly fruit-bearing branches on Jesus’ vine?

Bringing the Gospel into Your Family
If your family can get to a real grape vineyard, that would be great! Otherwise, go for a walk in a park or your own yard and notice how bushes grow. Point out the new branches and look for dead branches—even parts of the bush that have fallen to the ground. Make connections as a family about what are the parts of your lives that are good, healthy, and fruit bearing. Look then at the dead wood and parts of the tree that have fallen away. What are those things in your lives? Take time to pray together as a family asking God to help you prune away the deadwood.

Discussion Starters

  1. I am good fruit on Jesus’ vine because…
  2. Sometimes I’m deadwood when…
  3. I find comfort knowing I am a branch on the vine of Jesus, especially when…

 

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May 02

May Is Stroke Awareness Month

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May is National Stroke Awareness Month, a time to elevate stroke in the mindset of everyone in the U.S. Simple prevention and treatment education can help reduce stroke incidence. Learn more about how to make others be aware by sharing lifesaving stroke information and more.

Warning Signs          

A stroke is a brain attack that occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery or a blood vessel breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain. Brain cells begin to die.

There are many types of warning signs that indicate a person is having a stroke. Most people in the U.S. are unaware of the warning signs and how to respond by calling 9-1-1. Stroke should be treated as an emergency because there is a treatment that can be given within the first three hours after symptoms start.  Recognizing stroke symptoms can be easy if you remember to think FAST.

F= Face            Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A=Arms            Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S= Speech        Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Does the speech sound  slurred or strange?

T=Time             If you observe any of these signs, then it’s time to call 9-1-1.

Read: STROKE_101_Fact_Sheet

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Apr 29

Fourth Sunday of Easter

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Read Sunday’s gospel, John 10:11-18.

Gospel Summary
Jesus tells us in today’s gospel that he is the Good Shepherd. He makes a distinction between good shepherds, hired hands, and wolves. As a good shepherd, Jesus knows his sheep and his sheep know him. He is so devoted to his sheep that he is willing to die for them. Not only is this image fitting for Jesus and God’s people, but it helps explain the love of God for his son.

Reflection for Families
When we consider the people in our children’s lives, we find most of them represented in this scripture. There are the good shepherds. Mostly they are parents and grandparents or other relatives who significantly take care in our children’s up bringing. In this group we go to the limits for our children. Then there are “hired hands” who help us because they benefit in some way—usually monetarily. But when push comes to shove, how much of themselves will they invest? It even happens that sometimes the people we thought were shepherds turn out to be hired hands. Finally there are the wolves—all the things that distract the shepherds or lead the sheep away. As parents we need to be aware of who these people are in our children’s lives. We even need to look into our own hearts and desires and be certain that there are no wolves luring us from our precious sheep.

Bringing the Gospel into Your Family
Make a list of all the possible wolves in the life of a family. They are the people, places, situations, or entertainment that pull us away from the love, comfort, and care of the fold. The list might include work, social commitments, or friends. Identify the more serious “wolves” and make a plan as a family about how you will protect your family from them.

Discussion Starters

  1. Most of the time I am a sheep in the flock, but once in a while I am a wolf when…
  2. Sometimes it is difficult for me to be a shepherd because . . . I will try to overcome this by…
  3. Looking back on this situation, I recognize that I was a lost sheep and Jesus, the Good Shepherd, called me back by…

 

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Apr 22

Third Sunday of Easter

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Read Sunday’s gospel, Luke 24:35-48.

Gospel Summary
At the end of Luke’s gospel, the disciples were still trying to understand what happened to Jesus, and Jesus was still trying to help them figure it out. Following his resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples again. They still had a hard time recognizing him and figuring out if he was a ghost. To help them know he was really there with them, Jesus ate a piece of fish and asked the disciples to go out into the world to tell others the Good News. The early Church of Luke’s community had the same problem, and much of Luke’s writing was intended to help these new Christians see that the resurrection was indeed real. As he did at the Last Supper Jesus once again broke bread with the disciples and offered them his body.

Reflection for Families
Changes take place in all of us that prevent people who have not seen us for some time from recognizing us. When friends and relatives see our children after a long absence, they almost always comment on the changes in size, height, hair color, voice, and mannerisms. While Jesus appeared changed to the disciples and we have never even seen him at all, we still know he is with us. Each week at Eucharist, Jesus appears to us. Sometimes it is we who have to change in order to recognize Jesus and receive the joy he brings us in the Eucharist.

Bringing the Gospel into Your Family
Bring a globe or world map to your family prayer table or area. Try to name as many places as you can where the Good News has reached the people of the world. Share your ideas with one another about what this means to us Christians and Catholics. How are we united throughout the world? What work still lies ahead for us? How can we help accomplish that work? Conclude your discussion by praying for our church and its missionaries.

Discussion Starters

I have helped bring the Good News into the world by…
One way I see the breaking of the bread build up the family of our parish is by…
One of the best examples I have recently seen (or heard of) where someone shares the Good News is…

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Apr 16

Earth day Activities for Kids

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Earth Day is a great time for kids to learn about how to save the environment. Here is a list of Earth Day activities for children to explore.

A new look at junk, or change the world, one bit a a time…

Things to discuss when it comes to saving resources…

Recycling is when an object can be shredded, melted or otherwise processed and then turned into new raw material — for instance, aluminum cans can be melted down to make more cans, glass can make more glass, cardboard and paper make more cardboard and paper, plastic bags and containers can be turned into other plastic products. This takes some energy (very little for aluminum), but it is a good choice.

Reusing is when you find a use for an existing item – like decorating a bag and using it as a gift bag instead of buying wrapping paper; putting leftovers into a clean container from some other food; turning a used box into storage; decorating a can to hold pencils; saving packing peanuts and boxes and using them the next time you need to ship something or give a gift.

It is important to ‘reuse’ items wisely — reusing packing peanuts to pack an item is by far the best way to use them. Recycling them, if it is available, would be the next best thing. Turning them into an art project would be the least effective, and eventually they will end up in the landfill. Now many of us love art projects, and would be using materials to make crafts anyway, and so using an item that would otherwise be discarded may still be a sensible choice, it depends on the project. Our Earth Day Messenger Card and Laundry Bottle Pet Food Scoop crafts are great ways of making art out of would-be “junk.” For more great ideas on recycled crafts, check out our Earth Day Crafts section.

Giving things in good condition that you no longer need to charity is another good way to reuse things like outgrown clothing or toys. Reusing is often the best way to save resources. This is something to consider year-round, not just around the winter holidays.

Shop Wisely to save resources. Can the container be easily recycled or reused? Will a larger container reduce the amount of packaging and perhaps cost less per serving? Is everything that can be recycled being recycled?

Save resources (and money) by asking yourself if the item is something you really need, and if it is well suited for the task, and if it will last. Not only can this save you money, it can save you space and work, too. Five toys that are loved an played with are more fun than 10 toys that are broken or are boring to play with. And it’s quicker to pick up 5 toys and put them away than to pick up 10. Sometimes my kids and I imagine what it would be like if we bought everything we ‘liked’….. and we realize that there wouldn’t be any room left for us in the house…. and that really doesn’t sound like that much fun, even to my kids.

And, when you’re out shopping in the stores, bring your own reusable bag instead of taking a plastic bag you’ll eventually just throw away.

Plant a Tree

Sally Sullivan writes:
I teach a 4 year old preschool class and one of the ways we celebrated Earth Day last year was to purchase trees through the National Arbor Day Foundation to be planted in honor of each child in our class. The trees last year were to be planted in the John Denver Memorial Grove in Aspen. It was only a $1 donation per tree.

We printed up a letter/document for each child telling them about the tree that was purchased on their behalf and how it would help our earth.

Plant-It 2020 is also a nonprofit tree-planting foundation. For every dollar contributed to this foundation a tree will be planted, and the contributor selects where the tree(s) will be planted from an international site list. (click here to visit the Plant-It 2020 site)

 

Clean Up and Beautify

Organize a project to clean up or beautify some area in your town. It could be at your school, or some other spot. Make sure to have a plan for how to take care of the spot after you’ve made it nice.

You can read about what some kids did in this International Center for Tropical Ecology Newsletter – scroll down and look for ‘Windstar Kids at Broadview Elementary’

 

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Apr 16

Earth Day Novena

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Day One

Let us pray today for: trees, plants, crops, and forests.

“… the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirty fold.” Matthew 13: 23

Creator God, we thank you for your gifts of trees, plants, crops and forests. We repent the abuse we have given to these your creations. And we now ask for your guidance in restoring the face of the earth.

“O, my merciful Savior, you know my weakness. Vouchsafe to assist me with your powerful grace.” Catherine McAuley

Day Two

Let us pray today for: water, oceans, rivers, streams and ponds.

“Wherever the river flows, every sort of living creature that can multiply will live, and there will be abundant fish, for wherever this water comes, the sea will be made fresh. Everything will live wherever the river flows.” Ezekiel 47: 9

Creator God, we thank you for your gifts of water, oceans, rivers, streams and ponds. We repent the abuse we have given to these your creations. And we now ask for your guidance in restoring the face of the earth.

“O, my merciful Savior, you know my weakness. Vouchsafe to assist me with your powerful grace.” C. McAuley

Day Three

Let us pray today for: air, wind, climate and weather.

“When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were…And they were all filled with the holy Spirit…” Acts 2: 1-2, 4

Creator God, we thank you for your gifts of air, wind, climate and weather. We repent the abuse we have given to these your creations. And we now ask for your guidance in restoring the face of the earth.

“O, my merciful Savior, you know my weakness. Vouchsafe to assist me with your powerful grace.” Catherine McAuley

Day Four

Let us pray today for: sun, clean energy and prevention of global warning.

“O radiant dawn, shine forth in glory! Christ has burst forth from the tomb. Give praise, O peoples of the earth. Death is overcome, God triumphs. Alleluia!” Morning and Evening Prayer of the Sisters of Mercy

Creator God, we thank you for your gift of the sun. We repent the abuse we have given to this your creation. And we now ask for your guidance in restoring the face of the earth.

“O, my merciful Savior, you know my weakness. Vouchsafe to assist me with your powerful grace.” Catherine McAuley

Day Five

Let us pray today for: animals, especially endangered species.

“Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea creatures, you wild beasts and all tame animals, you creeping things and you winged fowl. Praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; His majesty is above earth and heaven…” Psalm 148: 7, 10, 13

Creator God, we thank you for your gift of all the varied species of animals. We repent the abuse we have given to these your creations. And we now ask for your guidance in restoring the face of the earth.

“O, my merciful Savior, you know my weakness. Vouchsafe to assist me with your powerful grace.” C. McAuley

Day Six

Let us pray today for: humankind.

“I will make you a new heart, breathe new spirit into you. I will remove your heart of stone, give you back a heart of flesh. I will give you my own spirit to lead you in my ways, faithful to what I command.” Ezekiel 36: 26-27

Creator God, we thank you for your gift of life. May we always remember our roles as stewards of your creation and sisters and brothers to each other. We repent the sins we have committed against all of your creations. And we now ask for your guidance in restoring the face of the earth.

“O, my merciful Savior, you know my weakness. Vouchsafe to assist me with your powerful grace.” Catherine McAuley

Day Seven

Let us pray today for: recycling and moderate personal consumption.

“Jesus said to them, ‘There is no reason for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.’ …Taking five loaves and two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied…” Matthew 14: 16, 19-20

Creator God, we thank you for the abundance of resources with which we are blessed. We repent the abuse and overuse of these gifts. And we now ask for your guidance in restoring the face of the earth.

“O, my merciful Savior, you know my weakness. Vouchsafe to assist me with your powerful grace.” Catherine McAuley

Day Eight

Let us pray today for: proper use of chemicals and disposal of toxic waste.

“The wrath of God is indeed being revealed from heaven against every impiety and wickedness” Romans 1: 18

Creator God, we thank you for your gift of chemicals which improve our lives. We repent our abuse of them and our improper disposal of toxic waste, which pollutes our earth and your creations. We now ask for your guidance in restoring the face of the earth.

“O, my merciful Savior, you know my weakness. Vouchsafe to assist me with your powerful grace.” C. McAuley

Day Nine

Let us pray today for: Earth and unity.

“Let us seek to know the Lord, whose coming is sure as dawn, who descends like the rain, spring rain renewing the earth.” Hosea 6: 3

Creator God, we thank you for creating such a wondrous and magnificent home for us. We repent all our sins against creation. We now ask for your guidance in restoring the face of the earth.

“O, my merciful Savior, you know my weakness. Vouchsafe to assist me with your powerful grace.” Catherine McAuley
Concluding Prayer

“God has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6: 8

Creator God, we thank you for all of creation. We ask your forgiveness where we have failed to be just stewards. And we now ask for your guidance in restoring the face of the earth. May we learn to live in harmony, safety and just sharing of resources among all so that we achieve the kingdom of God.

“We should be as shining lamps, giving light to all around us.” Catherine McAuley
Blessing

Peace be to this community. Amen.
Peace be to this land. Amen.
Peace be to this people. Amen.

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Apr 16

The Annual Meeting of the Youngstown Diocesan Council of Catholic Women

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The Annual Meeting of the Youngstown Diocesan Council of Catholic Women is scheduled for Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at St.Barbara’s Parish, 2813 Lincoln Way W. in Massillon, Ohio.The theme for this year’s meeting is Saying “Yes!” to God.

The day will begin with registration, a continental breakfast, and conversation between 8:30 and 9:30 am. Following a short business meeting, the morning program will feature a presentation on the 3 Doctors of the Catholic Church who are women. Each of whom said “Yes!” to God in her own time and place.

After a mid-day Mass, lunch will be served. The afternoon program again centers on the day’s theme of Saying “Yes!” to God. A panel discussion with time for questions and answers will explore this important part of our lives as Catholic women. There will be time during the day for prayer and conversation.

All Catholic women of our six county diocese are welcome to for this year’s annual meeting of YDCCW.

Reservations are required and must be received by Friday,
May 4, 2012. Send your check for $20.00 made out to YDCCW
with your name and phone number. Indicate whether you prefer
a ham or turkey sandwich as part of your lunch. To make your reservation, send the above information to Diana Leone, YDCCW Teasurer, 474 Garden Ridge Ct., Boardman, OH 44512.

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Apr 16

Women’s Heart Day

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HUMILITY OF MARY HEALTH PARTNERS, Heart & Vascular Services/Laboratory Services will present Woman’s Heart Day from 6:30am-2pm on Thursday, May 10th at the Covelli Centre.

Admission, health screenings and all activities are free.

Registration is required. To register, call Humility of Mary Health Line at 330-480- 3151 or online at http://www.HMpartners.org.

More Information: Women’s Heart Day

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