Apr 15
We need our spirituality to be re-energized. Matthew Kelly has been inspiring Catholics to explore the genius of Catholicism for twenty years.
If you have questions or just need your spiritual life invigorated, this series of videos is perfect for you.
Pillar 1: Confession
Pillar 2: Contemplation
Pillar 3: The Mass, The Mass: part 2, The Mass: part 3
Pillar 4: The Scriptures
Pillar 5: Fasting
Pillar 6: Spiritual Reading
Pillar 7: The Rosary
Apr 15
Read Sunday’s gospel, John 20:19-31.
Gospel Summary
Because they still did not understand all that Jesus had told them, the disciples were huddled together, frightened, in a room. The doors locked, notwithstanding, Jesus entered the room and greeted the disciples with a sign of peace. Some have interpreted this sign of peace as more than the “all be well with you,” variety but more of the “shalom” type which entails a perfect harmony with God. In any case, the disciples received the Holy Spirit and came to understand the peace Jesus intended. The authority and power to forgive sins was also given to the Church at that time. It happened that Thomas was not with the disciples when Jesus appeared, but the following week, Jesus returned and Thomas was present. He would only believe what he had heard about Jesus’ appearance if he could touch the wounds in Jesus’ body. Jesus invited Thomas to do so, but also told him that the people who believed without seeing or touching were truly blessed.
Reflection for Families
Our children often come to us frightened about one thing or another. It is our job to calm their fears and generally we do a pretty good job. But sometimes, our doubts or concerns are the same as theirs. When this happens, we’re not always sure how to answer them. And after reading today’s gospel, we may think that our faith is not strong enough. But doubt does not necessarily mean a lack of faith. Sometimes the best thing we can do is tell our children that we wonder about the same things they do and then together think about how our faith helps us answer the concern. Generally, these conversations revolve around a serious illness or death in the family and what happens when we die. It’s not “lack of faith” that causes us to not know. It is a lack of knowledge because, it’s true, none of us knows exactly.
Bringing the Gospel into Your Family
Since this gospel passage reminds us that the Church received the power to forgive our sins, this might be a good time to talk about reconciliation as a family and how receiving forgiveness–from one another or through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, helps us heal and grow. If your family did not celebrate the sacrament during Lent, this might be a good time to go to Reconciliation as a family.
Discussion Starters
Apr 08
Read Sunday’s gospel, John 20:1-9.
Gospel Summary
On Friday afternoon when Jesus died, the women had not been able to finish the customary preparation for burial. The Sabbath began at sundown on Friday, so Mary of Magdala hurried to the tomb Sunday morning to complete her task. She found the tomb empty. Certain that Jesus’ body had been stolen, she ran back to get the other disciples. Peter and the other disciple also found an empty tomb but with Jesus’ clothing rolled neatly and placed where his body had been. The disciples still didn’t understand about the resurrection and Mary wept. As she cried, two angels appeared asking why she was crying. She then saw a gardener and asked him where the body might be. When he called her by name, Mary immediately recognized Jesus.
Reflection for Families
Most parents have discovered by now that things aren’t always as they seem. A poured out bottle of laundry detergent wasn’t really mischievous behavior, but rather an attempt to surprise you with a generous gift of service. Or secret whispers are not an attempt to hide some wrongdoing but rather an effort to plan a surprise for you. Things weren’t as they seemed to Mary Magdalene either that first Easter morning. Our errors in perception often work to remind us that God’s plan is not always obvious, but that we are challenged to trust in the promise of the resurrection.
Bringing the Gospel into Your Family
Place symbols of Easter such as lighted candles, eggs, and lilies on your dinner table today. Ask some “wondering” questions about how these items might have become symbols for Easter. What do they suggest to us about the gospel story we read today? How can we be symbols of the Easter message to each other and those outside our family?
Discussion Starters
Apr 08
We are here to give you the good news that God has fulfilled the promise by raising Jesus from the dead.
In the beautiful light of a new day Although we can scarce understand Although our minds cannot really contain it we want to believe
Christ is risen
He is risen indeed
We want to believe because we need to. How else to explain the hope that fills our hearts the faith of those who built the church we love the fellowship we feel that binds us together so we affirm
Christ is risen
He is risen indeed
So we come to worship knowing we are not alone, isolated or in a vacuum. Rather believing that Christ is with us now as he promises he is always here where some are gathered in his name. That is the point and purpose of our worship today that despite the very worst humankind could do,the overwhelming love of God triumphed over all the evil and pronounced with the dry grating of the stone rolling away
Christ is risen
He is risen indeed.
Lord God, none of us and nobody else is worthy of what you have done. So we come pleading our frailty and asking for your forgiveness, but we do it with such confidence knowing that if we do ask for forgiveness you will grant it to us for
Christ is risen
He is risen indeed
And that is all we need today and every day to know we are surrounded by the living presence of God to encourage, strengthen and uphold us in all we do . This is our prayer offered in the name of Jesus Christ
Apr 02
A pysanka is a Ukrainian Easter egg, decorated using a wax-resist (batik) method. It is now famous all over the world as a colorful Easter egg which appears at Easter now. In this video clip learn how to make these beautiful Eastern European eggs.
Apr 01
Read Sunday’s gospel, Mark 14:1-15:47.
Gospel Summary
The Passion reading in Mark’s gospel is the shortest of all gospel accounts and is known for its swift impact and drama. It begins with an unnamed woman pouring expensive perfume on Jesus’ head and continues through the Last Supper, Jesus and his disciples praying in Gethsemane, the arrest of Jesus, his trial, crucifixion, death and burial. Of course the disciples scattered and made no claim to Jesus. He was left alone to die a degrading death. Some women stood and watched at a distance and a Jewish man, Joseph of Arimathea, gave him a tomb.
Reflection for Families
It’s human nature, even the nature of our own children, to cry out when an injustice has taken place. “I didn’t do it,” or “It’s not my fault,” are phrases that wear us thin dealing with infractions in our children’s lives day after day. But don’t we marvel at how much Jesus suffered without a word. He didn’t argue with Pilate. He didn’t even express sadness at the desertion of his disciples. In fact, he knew that Judas would betray him and Peter would deny him. Like Jesus, we hope for the best of strength and courage from our children, but things will happen in their lives where they fail. The most important lesson we can learn from Jesus is that of the unconditional love he had for his disciples. Even after they denied and deserted him, he still came to them in love and reconciliation.
Bringing the Gospel into Your Family
Throughout the Passion of Jesus, we see much suffering and disappointment. People accuse Jesus, desert him, betray him and in the end, execute him. There is very little joy in this long account of Jesus’ final days on this earth. But as Jesus promised, there was joy and that is truly good news for us. Where are the places in this world, in our community, or even in your family where all you can see is unhappiness and gloom. Take another look at these situations and see where is the hand of God, the Good News, the hope. Look hard and help one another find the joy. Share what you see.
Discussion Starters
Mar 25
Jesus announces that the hour is near when God will glorify him. Jesus knows that his earthly ministry will end and that he must endure the cross before he returns to be glorified by his father. In a way to help his disciples understand what must happen, Jesus compares the phenomena to a grain. A grain of wheat must die and therefore no longer look like itself, in order for new life to come from it. Like the disciples, we only know the finality of this world, but Jesus assures us that, like the grain of wheat, when we die, new life will come from that death.
One of the most valuable lessons we can teach our children is how to let go, because no matter how much we want things to remain the same, we know that change is a constant part of living. We can heal ourselves and help our children at the same time when we make a conscious effort to find the “silver lining” in every dark cloud. Only when we show our children that something good came from something that at first seems completely awful, will they understand that something must die before something new can grow. Many expressions such as silver linings and closing doors followed by opening windows, explain this concept; but nothing gives it meaning like the examples from our own lives.
Perhaps someone in your family or someone your family knows donated an organ when they died. This is a beautiful opportunity to help youngsters and adults alike find the good from something that was at first hard to accept. If your family is not familiar with organ donation, this might be a good time to learn how members might make provisions to donate their own organs.
Mar 18
God’s love is clearly demonstrated in this gospel reading. Some people of Jesus’ time had shallow faith and would believe only if they saw signs of God’s power. Jesus helped his listeners recall an event in which God instructed Moses to lift up a bronze serpent. Anyone who looked at the snake would be cured of poisonous snakebites. In the gesture of “lifting up” Jesus projected his own glory. God loved the world so much that he sent his own son. He did this to make clear to us how very much God loves us and wants to provide salvation for all of us who have failed.
It is not hard for parents to understand how much God loves his people. No matter how many times we have to discipline, guide, and correct our children, our love never diminishes. We know that our efforts and energy are shaping them into the best people they can be. We only need to show them the light of God’s way and walk with them in that light.
Think of someone your family knows who might be experiencing a time of darkness—a time when it might be hard for them to understand that God really loves them. Think together of a way your family can reach out to that person by sending a card, making a phone call, or sharing friendship with them.
Mar 15
Easter, 2012
Dear St. Edward Parish Family Members,
May you and all your loved ones have a most blessed and joyous Easter. May the Peace of Christ, which comes at this happy time, remain with you throughout the year.
Holy Week gives us all the opportunity to relive the sacred events of our Divine Lord’s suffering and death. By attending as many services as possible, we can show God that we really love Him and that we are really grateful for all that He has done for us.
Our divine Lord extends an invitation to you through your Parish Church to make Holy Week a truly Holy Week for you. Christ invites you – you alone can accept or reject that invitation.
For your convenience, a complete schedule of Holy Week services and confessions can be found here.
With our most sincere thanks for all your past help and with our very best wishes for a very Happy Easter, we are
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Very Reverend Monsignor Robert J. Siffrin
Parish Administrator
Mar 11
Read Sunday’s gospel, John 2:13-25.
It is not clear to scholars exactly what precipitated Jesus’ reaction at the Temple. In what would appear to be a fit of anger, Jesus used a whip to drive out the animals, and overturned tables sending people, animals, and coins scurrying in all directions. The people took Jesus’ words literally and because of their immature faith, they were looking for signs. That is why in this gospel where Jesus says he will destroy the Temple but raise it back up in three days, people were dumbfounded. The Temple had been under construction for over forty years and was still not complete. It is no wonder when they heard that Jesus would raise it up in three days, that they could not comprehend his meaning. They lacked the faith to understand that Jesus referred to the raising of his own body in three days—a temple they did not recognize.
How many times have we seen our children use objects for purposes other than what they were intended? On garbage day a skateboard might become wheels for a trash can, or a baseball bat might be used as a wood splitter, and a fishing pole used to retrieve a ball from the gutters. It stifles creativity to insist that items be used for the purpose they were intended, but it does ensure that they will last to do the job they were made for. In a sense, this is what Jesus meant for the people to do in today’s gospel. The Temple was God’s house and that’s the purpose for which it was to be used. It was not a marketplace or a bank. To see it used as such, brought out the passionate devotion Jesus had for his Father’s house. And with all he had, Jesus wanted to protect it.
Try to think of places where you know injustices occur. Consider how these areas are similar to the experience Jesus had walking into the Temple and seeing it misused. What steps can you as a family take to correct the misuses you thought of? How might forcefulness help remedy the situation?