This week our parish is participating in the 40 days for Life by having 40 hours of Adoration.  Each day, Monday through Friday this week, the Blessed Sacrament is exposed for people to come and pray especially for Life.  Coming and praying at church alone, with your spouse, or with your children, in addition to Mass on Sunday, is an excellent way to grow in your faith. Of course you can pray anywhere but there is something about getting away from everything and the busyness of life and entering the quietness of the church.  Even if you don’t make it this week while the Blessed Sacrament is exposed, coming with all or part of your family to pray helps them to know God is important all the time and not just on Sundays.  Jesus is always present in the tabernacle, even when we can’t physically see him.  Before and after Mass on Sundays is a good time to stay and pray but often we are distracted by something going on afterwards, or someone we need to catch and talk to, where by picking another time to come in and pray we can use that time without being so easily distracted.  It also gives you an opportunity to explain to your child where the tabernacle is, what it is, how to genuflect, and just other basics you might not always have time to talk about as you’re rushing in on Sunday.  I do not want in any way to diminish the importance of taking time on Sunday or at Mass to pray but just want to encourage everyone to stop in and take some quiet time during the week to also grow closer to God with your family.

Often when we think about fasting we immediately think of Lent and giving up food or meat in particular.  However, fasting isn't just for Lent and it doesn't have to be about food!  This week's idea for families is something you can do any time of the year but I would encourage you to try it especially during Lent when you are thinking of things to do.  Try doing a fast from noise with your family - now I don't mean no talking, I mean a fast from outside noise.  Some families have done game nights where they turn off the T.V. and play games together.  This is an excellent way to grow closer as a family by turning off the "outside noise" of the T.V.  There are times I remember being in households where there was no talking allowed except during commercials.  What does this teach except that a television program is more important than what a family member might have to say?  T.V. can have it's good things but sometimes it's very good to turn off that "outside noise" and listen to the people around you.  However, "outside noise" doesn't just come from the T.V.!  This morning I woke up hearing birds singing outside my window - what a refreshing sound I would not have heard had my alarm clock been set to the radio.  Try fasting once a week from T.V., radio, computer programs, anything that brings "outside noise" into you life. You'll be able to catch up on the news the next day and it will be amazing how much easier it will be to hear God speak in your heart, and all your family does have to say!

This weeks idea of something you can do to help your family grow in their faith has to do with Lent.  Lots of times, during Lent, we think of things we can give up, however, what is often more helpful to a family is something you can do together.  In addition, children don't have the same things to give up that parents might have like coffee, pop, or sweets.  Most of those things parents already monitor and children don't have as much say on what they eat or drink anyway.  So especially with little ones it's a good idea to think of something you can do with them each day.  Make it something simple or it's almost guaranteed you won't stick with it for 40 days!  Maybe it's adding an Our Father, or Hail Mary, or Glory Be to the end of your meal prayer when you eat dinner.  Maybe it's lighting a candle together once a day and praying for someone in your family.  Maybe it's going to the Stations of the Cross on Fridays or 5:30 Mass on Mondays.  Father had some packets with other ideas for each of the kids, use those to do each day, every other day, or a couple times a week.  The Church encourages us to use Lent to grow closer to God and our faith.  Take advantage of this time to find something special to grow in your faith together as a family!

"Feast of Faith, The Transforming Power of the Eucharist" by Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio is a 4 part adult faith program on the Eucharist that will be offered during Lent.  Sessions will be held Sundays at 9:00 a.m., 7:00 p.m., Mondays at 7:00 p.m. and Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. beginning the week of February 21st.

In this enlightening, four-part adult faith formation series, Dr. D'Ambrosio takes you on a journey of discovery, offering profound reflections on the nature of the Holy Eucharist - the "source and summit" of the Catholic faith.  Part one, Sacrifice, discusses how the Mass is a true sacrifice, the "re-presentation" of Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross.  In part two, Real Presence, the uniqueness of Jesus' presence in the Eucharist is contrasted with the other ways He is present in the world.  Our need to be properly prepared to receive Jesus in the Eucharist is discussed in part three, Preparation - we need to have more faith, more appetite, more repentance, and more forgiveness.  Finally, part four, Adoration, offers practical ways we can grow in our devotion to the Holy Eucharist.

For more information or to sign up please call the rectory at 462-2179.

Recently I was listening to Catholic Radio on the internet and heard a program about a family and what they do to strengthen the faith of their children.  This gave me the idea to share simple suggestions of things families can do with you.  I am going to try to start posting weekly ideas that you are free to use as you would like.  The first one is what I heard on the radio the other day.  Each time this family ate their evening meal together they would go around the table and each person would share one way Christ was present in their lives that day.  It reminded me a little of what some families do at Thanksgiving - sharing something they are thankful for, but this was something they did every time they ate together.  Doing this has a couple of different effects.  First of all, it helps everyone to look for Christ in our daily lives when we otherwise might just look for him at church or on Sunday.  Second, it is a way for parents and children to share with each other the impact Christ has on each of us daily.  It doesn't have to be anything big - it might just be Christ was present in a beautiful sunrise you saw or in holding a little child.  Although it might seem uncomfortable at first and you might have to help little ones come up with ideas I think it's an excellent way to keep Christ present in our lives every day!