Holy Family Catholic Church PSL FL
  • Welcome
    • About
    • Ministries >
      • Altar Servers
      • Black Catholic Ministry
      • Dementia and Alzheimer's Caregivers Support
      • Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
      • Filipino Ministry
      • Garden Ministry
      • Grief Support
      • Lectors
      • Men's Club
      • ministerio hispano
      • Ministers of Hospitality
      • Ministry of Mothers Sharing (MOMS)
      • Music
      • Prayer Groups >
        • Eucharistic Apostles of Divine Mercy
        • Rosary Confraternity
        • Santo Nino
      • Religious Articles Store
      • Thrift Shoppe
    • Organizations >
      • CCW >
        • Trumpeter Archives
        • CCW Board Roster
        • Events and Projects
      • Knights of Columbus
      • Legion of Mary
      • Respect Life >
        • Upcoming Events
      • Society of St. Vincent de Paul
  • New Here?
    • New and Current Parishioners
    • Events
  • The Sacraments
    • baptism
    • reconciliation
    • eucharist
    • confirmation
    • matrimony
    • holy orders
    • anointing of the sick
  • Making Disciples
    • Ryan Center for Young Children Ministry >
      • Ryan Center Donors
    • Religious Education >
      • CY1
      • CY2
      • Donum Talenti
      • Theology of the Plate
      • Upcoming Family Activities! >
        • Special Celebrations
    • Youth Ministry >
      • Photo Galleries
    • Adult Formation >
      • Welcome Home
  • Contact Us
    • Fr. Tri's Missions
    • Hall Rental

Class Start Time + Floresta Construction

1/12/2023

0 Comments

 
Good morning, Favorite Families!

Last night during class it was brought to my attention that there will be some construction along Floresta Drive beginning Monday, January 16, 2023, and continuing through August 4, 2023.

To clarify, construction will be along Floresta Drive (from PSL Blvd. to Thornhill Dr.) to expand a small bridge along that stretch. PSL Blvd. will not be closed, nor will any bridges on PSL Blvd. be closed. For details view this Facebook post or read this article.

I know how difficult it is being a parent on the Treasure Coast. Getting one child to his or her activities is stressful; getting multiple kids to multiple activities can be a nightmare, even on a good day with no traffic on the streets. What we're going to do is the best we can do. I want you to know that I know there are potential traffic slowdowns for you in the remaining months of the program. While accurate and factual attendance records must still be kept (recording present on time, tardy, or absent), I understand you are doing the best you can. We will continue with our soft start at 5:15 in the church with attendance taken at 5:30 at the start of class. Please do not drop your children off earlier than 5:10.

And for each and every one of you: I know that you and your family have prioritized your faith by  seeking out our program and enrolling your kids in it year after year. Father Tri and the Program staff recognize and acknowledge that. We pray for you, and particularly for your driving safety at this time.

See you in class next week, in the midst of the Holy Spirit,
Mary Acevedo, Director of Religious Education
337-4313

PS: Keep going to Mass! 
😊
0 Comments

Work of Mercy Project #1, Faith Formation Levels

9/14/2022

0 Comments

 
Work of Mercy Project #1, Faith Formation Levels
Twice a year, we would like to work on a “Work of Mercy” or “social action” project with our Faith Formation students. The works we perform will change annually and will be directly related to the works defined by the Holy Catholic Church. All works will be interpreted and tasks will be age appropriate. This portion of our program is described in the Faith Formation Parent Handbook with the white cover as well as in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2447.
Corporal Works of Mercy:
  • Feed the hungry.
  • Give drink to the thirsty.
  • Clothe the naked.
  • Shelter the homeless.
  • Visit the sick.
  • Visit the imprisoned.
  • Bury the dead.
Spiritual Works of Mercy:
  • Counsel the doubtful.
  • Instruct the ignorant.
  • Admonish sinners.
  • Comfort the afflicted.
  • Forgive offenses.
  • Bear wrongs patiently.
  • Pray for the living and the dead.
Catholic Social Teaching (social action):
  • Life and dignity of the human person
  • Option for the poor and vulnerable
  • Rights and responsibilities—all things required for human decency and a healthy society (family and community building)
This fall, the staff, volunteers, and families in our program will minister to the families of the victims of the May 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. We will send a perpetual Mass intention to each of the families. This act alone encompasses bury the dead (for the victims); pray for the living and the dead (for the victims and their loved ones); and visit the sick, visit the imprisoned, and comfort the afflicted (for the families and friends of the victims). It is an act of love to show respect for the bodies of the dead, since during life, they were temples of the Holy Spirit and received the Body and Blood of Christ in Holy Communion.
We will need to raise money in order to pay for the intentions; any excess money will be sent to
Sacred Heart Church: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/30/us/uvalde-church-sacred-heart.html
Catholic Extension: https://give.catholicextension.org/page/43130/donate/1?en_txn6=2207DGDDPR1&en_txn7=PR&utm_medium=PR&utm_source=app&utm_campaign=2208uva
First State Bank of Uvalde: https://texasaflcio.org/who-we-are/resources-support-uvalde-community
See also: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251417/eleven-funerals-to-take-place-at-uvaldes-catholic-church-in-coming-weeks
Parents’ Role in this Project
How do we explain school shootings to our kids?  Jane Ripperger-Suhler, a child psychiatrist at Seton’s Texas Child Study Center, Gary Steck, the chief executive officer and a marriage and family therapist at Wellmore Behavioral Health, and Julia Hoke, a psychologist and the former director of psychological services at Austin Child Guidance Center, had this advice for parents about how much we should say about a mass shooting:
Check in with yourself, and prepare your talk and your answers
Not all parents are able to have a conversation on this topic with their kids, and that’s ok. If they need, parents can talk with a friend, pastor or mental health professional before talking with children. Parents will want to not only discover their own thoughts and feelings but will also be ready to express them with precise language that kids will understand.
Be ready to talk but be ready for your child not wanting to talk. Don’t force them to talk about it.
Remember that many kids already will know what is happening because schools will be talking about it, their friends will be talking about it, and they have access to social media. They are looking to their parents and teachers to reassure them. Your goal in talking to your child is making sure they are feeling safe.
Start the conversation
First, check your emotions before you talk to them. Remind yourself of the facts and how you will state them.
The conversation can start by asking the child what they already know and gently correcting any misinformation. You can ask things like: “What do you think about this?” “What questions do you have?” Gauge if they want to talk about it, knowing that they might not want to talk about it. Don’t force them to talk about it.
If your child does want to talk, listen to what a child has to say and be attentive to their concerns.
It may be easier for young children to have a tough conversation if they’re doing something they enjoy such as playing outside, taking a walk, or coloring, while they are talking.
Let your children know that there are many people who love and care for them.
Let them ask questions
Children may have questions about what happened in Texas. Experts say you should answer those factually, honestly, directly, clearly, and simply. The amount of information a child needs to know will vary based on their age and even between children of the same age. An example of what you could say is: “A kid walked into a school and shot students.”
Kids don’t need to know every detail of a tragedy, particularly if they don’t ask about it. Don’t go into graphic or gory details. Even with older kids, you don’t want to overshare.
Very young kids might not need you to say much of anything.
Make sure children know they can ask questions later.
Reassure them
Remind your children again that they are loved and that the adults in their lives are doing everything they can to keep them safe, every day. Depending on your child’s age and level of understanding, some specifics about safety measures, such as door monitors (here at Holy Family we call ours “the God Squad”) and police officers at school, door locks, catechist and teacher skill and expertise, and practice drills might help reassure some children.
Most importantly, remind your kids that you—as their mom and dad-- will keep them safe.
Remind them that, as a family and as a parish community, we stick together.
Remind them that if they see something strange/odd/unusual with one of their friends or classmates or are concerned about one of their classmates, they should tell an adult immediately. We have to work together to stay safe.
Be a role model
Parents can tell their children how they’re feeling using age-appropriate language and in age-appropriate ways. You can model that it’s OK to have certain feelings (sad, scared, angry, etc.).
You can focus on how you are feeling, that you’re upset and that you also don’t understand why this happened, but be careful about how you are reacting.
Stay calm when you talk; don’t become worked up and frantic. You want to be authentic and genuine, but you have to put up a wall and not show them the true depths of your own fear or anxiety.
Watch for long-term effects
Kids might react to the shooting at different times and in different ways, so parents should keep communicating and monitor their kids for long-term mental health effects. Some of those symptoms include changes in appetite, sleep, behavior, moodiness, or excessive worry. In young children, symptoms may manifest in persistent headaches or stomach aches. Early on, those symptoms aren’t likely a cause for concern, but if they’re having continual symptoms over a longer period of time, parents should seek professional mental health help.
Sources
https://www.statesman.com/story/news/healthcare/2022/05/24/texas-school-shooting-uvalde-robb-elementary-school-talking-to-kids/9916475002/
https://ctmirror.org/2022/05/25/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-the-texas-school-shooting/
0 Comments

Receiving Holy Communion

8/2/2022

0 Comments

 
Hello New Religious Education Families!

We are so happy that you have joined our Religious Education Program here at Holy Family. We are excited about our start -- in about one month!

I just want to take a moment to remind everyone that your children are not to receive Communion. Your children are preparing for this beautiful privilege, but they are not to receive right now.

1-When you approach the Blessed Sacrament, please have your children walk and stand in front of you.

2-Their arms should be crossed over their chest in a position we call "pretzel arms." It looks like this:
Picture
Picture
Picture
3-The kids will receive a special blessing. The Ordinary or Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion will likely hover his or her right hand over the child's head and whisper a very short blessing. Some may touch your child's head or forehead; some will hover over the head. Your children do not have to respond, but they can say, "Amen" if they want to. The blessing will look like this:
Picture
Picture
Picture
4-You will then be given Communion, which you may receive either in the hand or on the tongue. Please practice the Sacrament of Reconciliation by going to Confession; we suggest at least twice a year, once before Christmas and once before Easter.

5-If you receive in the hand, please take a side-step toward your pew and place the the Host in your mouth while you are facing the altar. Then turn and walk to your pew.

Under no circumstances will you or anyone else share the consecrated Host with your children who have not formally received the Sacrament. Please share this information with other family members who go to Mass with you. 

If your child is crying, begging, or otherwise "offended" that you are not sharing: do not share! Please teach your child that this is a very special communion with God that s/he needs to learn about first. Very soon, s/he will be able to receive and it will be a celebration. Until then, s/he needs to be patient and pray to Jesus that that fervor remains. It might be good to learn about and talk about Saints like St. Tarcisius, St. Therese of Lisieux,
 St. Gemma Galgani, and Blessed Imelda Lambertini.

6-Don't forget to have your Mass Signature Card signed -- we'll be collecting June, July, and August's cards in September.

Thank you for following this extremely important protocol.

If you have any questions, please leave a voice message and we will return your phone call after we get back from vacation in very late August/early September. We hope you have a fun start to the public school new year!


See you soon,
Mrs. Acevedo, DRE
0 Comments

Sponsor Selection - due 9/27/22

7/14/2022

0 Comments

 
  1. Start by reading the instructions in the "Sponsor Selection CY2" file (below).
  2. Ask an eligible Catholic to be your sponsor, and help him or her get the "Sponsor Recommendation Letter" to Mrs. Acevedo ASAP but no later than September 27, 2022.
  3. This letter has to be mailed to Mrs. Acevedo; the Parish mailing address and phone number is listed in the Religious Education Parent Manual or on the Holy Family website if your sponsor has any questions.
  4. Mrs. Acevedo must receive the original sealed copy, which is why emails and faxes will not be accepted.
  5. Ask your sponsor to "like" and "follow" our parish Facebook Page.
sponsor_selection_cy2.pdf
File Size: 147 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

  • Your sponsor's parish will probably write its own sponsor letter.
  • However, some pastors just like to fill out a form. If your sponsor is having a hard time getting a letter, s/he can bring this one to her/his church and ask them to sign and seal it.
confirmation_sponsor_recommendation_letter_2022.pdf
File Size: 123 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

0 Comments

Cell Phones During Class Time

11/5/2021

0 Comments

 
Hello Favorite Families!

This program year has gotten off to a strong start despite all of the uncertainty. I want to thank you for following the mask policy. We continue to keep class sizes quite small for the space while utilizing the air purifiers and air conditioning in every room. We've had a higher number of absences this semester, but it's because we are all following the "out-of-an-abundance-of-caution" mindset. No one has been out due to COVID-19, thanks be to God. For those who are approaching 3 absences already, catechists will be sending home assignments to help your kids keep God at the forefront of their minds, building the habit of trying to see God in the events of their day.

Speaking of habits... kids are challenged to remember appropriate classroom behavior both in the schools and here in our parish program. Home-life and school-life can be so different! We've had to institute a cell phone use policy, effective immediately. Please review this with your children who bring phones to class.

1-Volume on phones will be turned to off so that we cannot hear any notification sounds between 5:10 and 6:30pm. 
2-During class, phones will be kept in pockets or purses-- out of sight.
  • If anyone in the class looks at his or her phone without permission, the entire class will take out their phones and place them upside down, an arm's distance away, on the table that the child is using as a desk.
  • If anyone attempts to use or uses a phone that is on the table, the entire class will place their phones on a table at the front of the classroom, within sight, but out of reach.
  • Students will pick up their phones at dismissal, after the closing prayer. 
3-Please do not call or text your children while they are in their 1.25-hour class.
  • If you have urgent news to share, you should either call our office or come to the Parish Hall and sign your child out of class early.

This has never been a real problem before; I'm sure it's just part of the transition from pandemic school-at-home to post-pandemic school-in-classrooms. Thank you for encouraging your children in this self-discipline.

Mary Acevedo, Director of Religious Education
0 Comments

Rosary, SORROWFUL Mysteries

3/19/2021

2 Comments

 

Fifth Decade: The Crucifixion

The Crucifixion
Giotto di Bondone (1304-1306)
fresco, Large: approximately 6.5 feet high by 6 feet wide
Currently located in Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua, Italy
Picture
Let's just take this in. Take a deep breath in, nice and slow; breathe it out, nice and slow. Move your eyes over the painting. What do you see?

Giotto's painting is divided into three distinct scenes with Jesus on the Cross in the center.
How many angels do you see? Three of them have work similar to the work we saw angels doing in Huguet's painting that showed Jesus' scourging. You can look back at that if you want. What is the work that they are doing? They are holding vessels collecting the Precious Blood of Our Redeemer. ​
Picture
Picture
The woman who is kneeling at the foot of the Cross and gently touching Jesus' wounded foot is St. Mary of Bethany. In the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 7, Verses 36-40, we hear about a woman who washes Jesus' sacred feet and dries them with her hair. St. Luke never tells us the name of the woman, but St. John tells us it was Mary of Bethany, who is the sister of Lazarus and Martha (John 11: 2). 

​John also states that St. Mary Magdalen was at the foot of the cross (John 19: 25). We're not exactly sure which Mary this painting shows.
On the left side of the painting, you see four saints. We know they are saints because of their halos. You already know one is one of the Marys. Two more are St. John the Apostle and St. Mary of Cleophas (John 19: 25-27). 

​Our Lady, in the blue robe, is being consoled by St. John. The Blessed Virgin is obviously upset, but she knew that it was for this very reason that her Son came into the world. Seeing her Son suffer so much pain, and knowing that He had suffered even more before the crucifixion, she stood quietly through it all, another act of complete and perfect submission to the Will of God.
Picture
Picture
To the right, the soldiers are arguing over who will win the prize of Our Lord's garment.

Jesus' cloak looks fancy, doesn't it? We know that Jesus didn't wear something so fancy. This is a symbol; Giotto painted the garment to look like a priest's vestment to show that Jesus is the High Priest.

Did you notice there is one soldier with a halo? This man is St. Longinus. He was the Roman centurion who instantly became a believer that Jesus is the Son of God. When St. Longinus used his spear to pierce our Savior's side, he exclaimed, 
“Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15: 39)
Let's stop for a minute and use our eyes to re-trace our study. We started with the angels, then we looked at Jesus' feet and St. Mary Magdalen, then we looked at the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints with her, then we looked at Jesus' garment and the soldiers who are arguing. The complete image is below. Look at it one more time, paying attention to the shape your eyes are making: angels, feet, Virgin, soldiers. What shape did your eyes make? Isn't the artist Giotto clever? He helped you pray while you looked at this painting of a holy scene.
Picture
Who saw the skull under the rock beneath the crucifix? ​The skull is symbolic of a couple of things. First, Our Lord was crucified on a hill called Golgotha; translated into English, Golgotha means Place of the Skull (Matthew 27: 33). Second, ancient tradition holds that Jesus was crucified directedly over the burial place of Adam, the first man, so the skull is Adam's. Do you remember what we learned when we studied the Agony in the Garden? I wrote, "It was in a garden where man first sinned and cut himself off from God and His grace. It was in a garden where Jesus made up for what Adam and Eve had done." Here again, God's Providence caused the act of man's Redemption to take place over the burial place and body of the first man who sinned.
Picture

First Sorrowful Mystery: Agony in the Garden
Second Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging
Third Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning of Thorns
Fourth Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross

Now, with The Crucifixion in our imagination, let us pray.

For families with very young children, or for families new to the Rosary, simplify by only praying the Sign of the Cross, the Lord's Prayer, and the Hail Mary. These prayers are inside the front and back covers of your child's workbook. Follow the graphic:
Picture
For families ready to push it forward, add in one new prayer each week until you have a complete decade. Follow the outline:
Hold the Crucifix in your right hand. Make the Sign of the Cross properly, using the right hand only.

Still holding the Crucifix, state what you believe as a Catholic by saying the Creed.

Move to the first bead. Pray one Our Father.

Move to the next beads. Pray the Hail Mary three times, once on each bead.

Move to the next bead and pray one Glory Be.

Stay on the same bead. Announce the Mystery by saying these words: The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery, The Crucifixion. For three hours our dear Lord hung on the cross. He was taking on Himself the punishment for our sins. After some time, He knew that God had forgiven our sins. Once more, we had the right to enter Heaven. So He dropped His head and died. ​God, His Father, allowed this punishment. We praise and thank Jesus and God our heavenly Father for the glorious victory the Christ gained for us through His death and resurrection: Father, although this glorious triumph was completed more than 2000 years ago, it is still as potent and powerful in the lives of believers today as it was when the angels declared, "He is not here - He is risen." Keep me ever looking to Jesus, knowing that this glorious victory has not lost any of its ancient power, but is the single means of overcoming the world, the flesh and the devil. I pray that I will run the race that is set before me looking to Jesus, and that I may finish the course that You have given to me, as I yield through word and deed to the working of the Holy Spirit within. This I ask in Jesus' name, Amen. (Source)
​
Stay on the same bead. Pray one Our Father.

Move through the next ten beads, praying the Hail Mary on each one.

Move to the next bead. Pray one Glory Be.

Stay on the same bead. Pray the Fatima Prayer.

Make the Sign of the Cross using the Crucifix. AMEN!

Lenten Application

Dear holy families,

Through your meditations of the Sorrowful Mysteries over the past five weeks, you have encountered the Passion in the Scriptures several times. On Palm Sunday, we will participate in the Gospel reading that recounts the events of the Passion, Mark 14: 1 through Mark 15: 47.

Starting with Mark 15: 34, we are told that Jesus speaks while He hangs on the Cross. 
I invite you to use this resource to meditate on the Seven Last Words of Christ, words of great meaning that I want you to know. This devotion may be spread out over a week, commemorating one of the Seven Last Words each day (different links are available for each day), or you may pray it as a whole devotion in a single day. As always, you choose what is best for your family, but I encourage you to participate fully.

Please, bless your Lent with prayer and meditation.


​In Christ's Love,
Mary Acevedo, Director of Religious Education
2 Comments

Rosary, SORROWFUL Mysteries

3/12/2021

0 Comments

 

Fourth Decade: The Carrying of the Cross

Le Christ quittant le prétoire (Christ Leaving the Court)
Gustave Doré (1874-1880)
oil on canvas, Very Large: approximately 16 feet high by 23.5 feet wide
Currently located in Museum of Fine Arts, Nantes, France
Picture
There are two figures that really pop out of this scene because they are so bright. Can you point to them? One is a man, the other is a woman. Can you tell me their names?

Read the title of this painting. Do you know what is happening here? I'm sure you remember the story we've been reading the past few weeks: Jesus was in Jerusalem celebrating the Jewish holy day of Passover with His friends. On Holy Thursday, He knew that the time had come to fulfill His purpose. While He was in the Garden of Gethsemane, He was arrested. He was brought to many places and accused of many things; while He was there, He was beaten in many ways.

Pontius Pilate, the Roman authority in the Holy Land, presented Jesus to the crowd and asked them, "Should I free Jesus, or should I free Barabbas?" Barabbas had committed horrible crimes; Jesus committed no crime. It didn't matter to the people in the crowd. They shouted that they wanted Barabbas to be set free.

This painting shows the moment when the soldier broke the crowd apart to make room for Jesus to walk forward to pick up His Cross. 

There are so many people in this crowd. It would take us a long time to count them all! But we could do it if we wanted to. I would count pretty slowly because I would want to look carefully at each person. Can you see how each one is so distinct, so set apart from the rest of the crowd? Each one is his or her own individual, reacting to the judgment of Jesus in his or her own unique way. There's also a lot of moving: running, falling, talking, jostling. Take a minute to just look at the people. Talk about some of the people you see. Who are they? How do you know? What are they doing? Can you see their faces? How do you think all of these people feel?

I see a man holding the cross. How do you know that he's not Jesus? Who is walking with Jesus? How do you know who he is?

The only calm faces in this emotional scene are those of Our Redeemer and His Blessed Mother. This surprises us because they are the ones who are suffering the most here-- they should be the ones crying out, pushing to escape! But they don't because they have complete faith in this work of God. Jesus and Mary look noble, dignified, and perfect.

Do you remember how we talked about Jesus' glow when we studied our Advent art? Jesus is glowing here, too, isn't He? Jesus' body seems unusually long to me. The artist may have chosen to draw Jesus this way to emphasize Jesus' supernatural and divine quality.  

​Let's look at a statue now.
Christ the Redeemer, also known as Christ Carrying the Cross and Risen Christ
Michelangelo (1514-1521)
marble, a little bigger than life-sized: approximately 7 feet tall
Located in the Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome, Italy
Picture
I enjoy sculpture even more than I enjoy painting because I find it so amazing that artists can turn a solid slab of hard, cold stone into something that looks lifelike, soft, warm, and human, so I am really excited about sharing this one with you! Look at the hands and fingers, hair, and muscles that the artist Michelangelo was able to carve! It all looks so real! Everything looks so respectful of God's creation!

Two weeks ago I told you about the symbol for St. Mark's Gospel. Do you remember what it is and why? The lion, because it is powerful and noble. Jesus looks powerful, noble, and perfect here. This statue shows Christ carrying the cross, but there is no evidence of the wounds Our Savior suffered at the scourging or crowning. Both Michelangelo and Doré, who painted the work above,
chose to show Jesus without wounds because they wanted to focus on Christ's nobility, dignity, and perfection as well as His perfect sacrificial offering of Himself so that we could be redeemed (or saved) from our sins.

Jesus is not only carrying the Cross in this depiction; He hugs it, reminding us that He was happy to do this for us. How grateful we need to be for that! We must show our gratitude and love by improving ourselves every day and by participating in all of the sacraments of the Church: being baptized into God's family, going to Confession and receiving Communion as often as we can, being confirmed, being married in the Church-- or maybe becoming a deacon, priest, or religious-- and asking for God's healing oils when we are sick or dying.

If you look carefully, you will see a rope wrapped around a staff. The rope indicates that the devil is now bound and under the feet of the risen Christ. The wooden staff that you see the Good Shepherd holding originally had a cloth banner attached to it: Jesus rose from the dead and is the King of the Universe!

Now, with The Carrying of the Cross in our imagination, let us pray.

First Sorrowful Mystery: Agony in the Garden
Second Sorrowful Mystery: Scourging at the Pillar
Third Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning of Thorns
Fifth Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion
For families with very young children, or for families new to the Rosary, simplify by only praying the Sign of the Cross, the Lord's Prayer, and the Hail Mary. These prayers are inside the front and back covers of your child's workbook. Follow the graphic:
Picture
For families ready to push it forward, add in one new prayer each week until you have a complete decade. Follow the outline:
Hold the Crucifix in your right hand. Make the Sign of the Cross properly, using the right hand only.

Still holding the Crucifix, state what you believe as a Catholic by saying the Creed.

Move to the first bead. Pray one Our Father.

Move to the next beads. Pray the Hail Mary three times, once on each bead.

Move to the next bead and pray one Glory Be.

Stay on the same bead. Announce the Mystery by saying these words: The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery, The Carrying of the Cross. Pilate heard the people cry out, "Crucify Him" so he ordered Jesus to be nailed on a cross. But first, Jesus had to carry His own cross up to Calvary. The cross was very heavy and the wood was splintery, not smooth. The soldiers put it on His shoulder and it rubbed against His already torn flesh. As He walked the streets of Jerusalem, the people laughed and shouted at Him. When He fell, the soldiers made Him get up immediately. Once along the way, He met Mary, His Mother, but she could do nothing to help her dear Son. Veronica ran out of the crowd and wiped His face with her veil. Some good women wept for Him. And Simon of Cyrene helped Him carry the cross a short way. God, His Father, allowed this punishment because He knew how many people commit sins by ignoring their responsibilities. Jesus took on the punishment for our sins so that we have the chance to go to Heaven. We recognize this Sacrifice, and we ask for Jesus' help with battling temptations of complaint and irresponsibility. Jesus, help me to be better at carrying the cross that you have assigned to me, and help me be sensitive to the crosses that those around me must carry.
​
Stay on the same bead. Pray one Our Father.

Move through the next ten beads, praying the Hail Mary on each one.

Move to the next bead. Pray one Glory Be.

Stay on the same bead. Pray the Fatima Prayer.

Make the Sign of the Cross using the Crucifix. AMEN!

Lenten Application

​Hello Faith-filled Families!

I know that the public schools are on spring break this week. If you aren't going anywhere, it's a nice time to do some crafts to decorate for the Triduum and Easter. Have fun with it, and use this relaxed time together to enjoy some informal catechesis (discussion, praying, etc.) with your kids.

Blessings,
Mary Acevedo, Director of Religious Education

​The Resurrection Garden is an "easy" project incorporating living grass, stones, and wood that will bring some meaningful beauty to your prayer table or your kitchen table. Here is another with a more complex floral design.
Picture
Picture
The Jesus Tree is a project completed slowly over a longer period of time and requires a purchase. It looks similar to the Jesse Tree, which is normally used at Christmas and that traces Salvation History, beginning with Adam and Eve and finishing with St. John the Baptist; both the Jesse Tree and the Jesus Tree consist of an actual paper tree (or real twig) decorated with ornaments that show a symbol of an event. However, the Jesus tree's ornaments show symbols from important events in Jesus' life, starting with the Nativity, through His teaching and miracles, through the Triduum, His Ascension, and Pentecost.
I'm sure everyone's going to the beach over spring break! While you are there, collect tiny shells of all sorts and bring them home. After you've cooled down with two popsicles each (it is spring break!! plus....), rinse the wooden sticks to clean them while the kids are taking their showers. Then make these Florida rustic seashell crosses, one for each child, to hang in their bedrooms over the door, near the bed, or wherever they feel they want it.
Picture
Picture
If you enjoy baking more than crafting with glue, make these Resurrection Rolls with your kids. The recipe is "easy" and the end product allows you to talk about the empty tomb while you are eating them.

Here is recipe for Resurrection Cookies with a kid-friendly explanation of why each ingredient is needed. There is also a link to several other Lent, Holy Week, and Easter season recipes in the blog.
0 Comments

Rosary, SORROWFUL Mysteries

3/5/2021

0 Comments

 

Third Decade: The Crowning with Thorns

Christ Crowned with Thorns
Anthony van Dyck (1618-1620)
oil on canvas, Large: approximately 7 feet high by 6.5 feet wide
Currently located in the Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain
Picture
Jesus was arrested, then He was questioned over and over by different authorities. A judgment was made: everyone then knew that He would be crucified. Behind the scenes, the torture continued. Do you know where we are now? Here He is, in a prison, being made fun of with a crown of thorns.

This painting is dark, isn't it? I wouldn't be surprised if you needed to step a little closer if you were in the Museum-- or zoom in here on your phone or computer-- to see all the details. But wait. Let's look from a distance first. I see seven people with Jesus. All of them look really worked up. Despite that agitation, the dark colors that the artist Anthony van Dyck uses cause a very quiet pause. We hear nothing, we might feel our souls reaching out, as we reverently look at our exhausted Jesus, Whose Heavenly Father bathes Him in light. That light isn't coming from the window, is it? Look out the window; it's still twilight outside. God is always with Him, and us.

Let's lean in.

Jesus is surrounded by five men. They are probably soldiers who just finished scourging Him. Now they are jeering Him; they are making fun of Him.

Do you remember the Jusepe de Ribera painting called The Adoration of the Shepherds painting that we looked at during Advent? One of the shepherds was genuflecting as he recognized God in the Holy Infant. His hands are held in prayer, and his knees and feet are respectfully placed.

The man who helped torture Jesus is genuflecting in front of Him, too, in the same exact position and the same exact placement on the canvas as that shepherd, but this genuflect is not sincere. He is in bare feet, and one of those dirty soles is shown directly to us. This was a common technique Renaissance and Baroque artists used to show rudeness and disrespect. ​How different their attitudes are! The man makes fun of Jesus while he hands Jesus a pretend scepter before he yells, "Hail, King of the Jews!"
Picture
Picture
Yes, that is a dog. It's barking. It's not threatened by Jesus; it's not barking at Jesus. This dog is upset with what's going on. When we read Scripture, the Gospel writers don't say anything about a dog being in this place at this time. The artist has chosen to include this element to bring to our attention that, even though many humans were completely unaware of Who Jesus was and consumed with evil, the simple creatures and living things in nature as well as the climate and weather were disturbed at the sight of Jesus' suffering. In Matthew 27, we read that the sky became dark (Mt 27: 45), that there was an earthquake (Mt 27:51).​
Picture
Picture





​The hand of the man behind Him (on our left) looks like it's ready to punch Jesus, or maybe it already did.
Look at the man in red (on our right). Look at his hands. What is he feeling? What is he doing? I wonder about him. Do you think that maybe he, for just a moment, recognizes Who Jesus really is? I wonder what that man will do next. You know, even nowadays, lots of people recognize Who Jesus is but then they ignore what they know to be true, turn their backs on Jesus, and commit sins anyway.

How do you feel when you are looking at all of this?
Picture
Picture
o Jesus.... He is so weak from the scourging. Through it must be painful beyond imagination, He does not scream, groan, or even show pain on His Face. He just sits there as the soldier dressed in a suit of black armor places the crown of thorns upon His divine Head. We can see how painful the thorns must be because the soldier is wearing iron and heavy leather gloves rather than using his bare hands to drive the thorns into Christ's Head. 

Soldiers living in the Holy Land during Jesus' lifetime did not wear suits of armor. So why is this soldier wearing something that was invented a thousand years after Good Friday? There are several possibilities why the artist chose to include this anachronism. Sometimes artists include contemporary items to remind us that we are a part of the ancient Christian scene. Sometimes artists include objects that viewers are familiar with to express an abstract idea; here, van Dyck may have wanted to remind us of the constant fight between good (symbolized by the innocent, loving, accepting Jesus) and evil (symbolized by the cold, hard, unyielding armor). The battle axe held by the man behind Jesus is also an anachronism. In religious art the battle axe is used as a symbol of martyrdom.
Picture


​Who is that looking in the window? When all this happened to Jesus, all of the Apostles ran away to hide because they were afraid that they might be crucified, too. All except two ran away, actually. These two people looking in are probably St. Peter and St. John. You can tell by the anxious expression on one face that they must be Jesus' friends. 

Now, with The Crowning with Thorns in our imagination,
let us pray.

Picture

First Sorrowful Mystery: Agony in the Garden
Second Sorrowful Mystery: Scourging at the Pillar
Fourth Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
Fifth Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion

For families with very young children, or for families new to the Rosary, simplify by only praying the Sign of the Cross, the Lord's Prayer, and the Hail Mary. These prayers are inside the front and back covers of your child's workbook. Follow the graphic:
Picture
For families ready to push it forward, add in one new prayer each week until you have a complete decade. Follow the outline:
Hold the Crucifix in your right hand. Make the Sign of the Cross properly, using the right hand only.

Still holding the Crucifix, state what you believe as a Catholic by saying the Creed.

Move to the first bead. Pray one Our Father.

Move to the next beads. Pray the Hail Mary three times, once on each bead.

Move to the next bead and pray one Glory Be.

Stay on the same bead. Announce the Mystery by saying these words: The Third Sorrowful Mystery, The Crowning with Thorns. We believe and know that Jesus is the King of Kings, the King of the Universe! On Good Friday, Pilate charged Him with claiming to be "the King of the Jews." The Roman soldiers thought this was funny and made fun of Him by twisting a branch of cruel thorns into a crown. They pushed it into the head of our Savior. It hurt Him terribly. The thorns tore His skin and reached toward His brain. Blood ran down into His eyes.  Then the soldiers put a reed in His hand and threw a dirty cloak over His shoulders, which were already torn from the scourging. They laughed at Him and yelled, "Hail to the King!" God, His Father, allowed this punishment because He knew how many people commit sins with their thoughts. Jesus took on the punishment for our sins so that we have the chance to go to Heaven. We recognize this Sacrifice, and we ask for Jesus' help with battling sinful thoughts: pride, lust, envy, anger. Jesus, help me to become pure and loving. Cleanse my mind. Let my mind focus on praising and worshipping You and You Alone. 
​
Stay on the same bead. Pray one Our Father.

Move through the next ten beads, praying the Hail Mary on each one.

Move to the next bead. Pray one Glory Be.

Stay on the same bead. Pray the Fatima Prayer.

Make the Sign of the Cross using the Crucifix. AMEN!

Lenten Application

Hello to all families who are walking with me this Lent! ​

Speaking of walking ... What about the Stations of the Cross?

The Stations of the Cross, also known as Via Crucis, Via Dolorosa, and Way of the Cross, is a devotion that began in the 1600s to commemorate the Christ's last day on Earth as a man.
 It mimics the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem that many modern-day Catholics walk nowadays. That pilgrimage was reverently mapped under the Emperor Constantine and has been walked by pious Catholics since the earliest times. Catholic Pilgrims stop at 14 places where 14 significant events happened to Jesus on Good Friday while they walk the same path that Jesus walked from the praetorium to Calvary.

Local Catholic parishes have made the Via Dolorosa accessible to their parishioners by creating a path on parish property with 14 stops along the way. While the original Via stops at 14 buildings and gates, parishes ha
ve some form of art depicting each scene from that day. Most churches have plaques, but some have statues or paintings. Participants move from artpiece to artpiece. They stop at each one and say a series of prayers; as they walk to the next artpiece, they sing the "Stabat Mater" hymn (linked below). The stations are most commonly prayed during Lent on Wednesdays and Fridays, and especially on Good Friday, the day of the year upon which the events actually occurred. 

At Holy Family, we have Stations plaques inside the main church, inside the chapel, and outside near the gazebo. You may pray these with our community; times are on the website, and you'll receive a little booklet of prayers on your way in.

Alternatively, you can pray these on your own time with just your family. If you don't have a Stations booklet, you could use these 
Stations of the Cross written for families.

Kids and grown-ups of all ages are able to pray this devotion. I encourage you to be creative and active with your prayers!

​Blessings,
Mary Acevedo, Director of Religious Education

Sing this ancient hymn as you walk between plaques. In this video, it is sung in Latin first followed by English. Lyrics are on the screen, and you only need to choose just one to sing:
0 Comments

Rosary, SORROWFUL Mysteries

2/26/2021

0 Comments

 

Second Decade: The Scourging at the Pillar

The Flagellation of Christ
Jaume Huguet (1450s)
oil on wood, Large: approximately 3.5 feet high by approximately 7 feet wide
Currently located in the Louvre, Paris, France
Picture
After celebrating a Passover meal with the Apostles, Jesus went into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. While He was there, God permitted Jesus to see all He was going to suffer. Then Judas Iscariot and a band of soldiers, the tribune of Pharisees, and the Jewish guards came to arrest Jesus. They took Him to a priest named Annas in the Temple. During the Liturgy of the Word on Palm Sunday (Mark 14: 1 through 15: 47) and again on Good Friday (John 18: 1 through 19: 42), you will have the chance to read the events that happen next: the questioning of Jesus before Annas in Annas' house, Jesus' trial in the Temple before Caiaphas, His first trial before Pontius Pilate in the prætorium, His questioning before Herod in the Jerusalem palace, and finally His second trial before Pilate.

We are called to meditate on Jesus' Scourging at a pillar inside the prætorium as we pray the second decade of the Sorrowful Mysteries. The scene in the artist Jaume Huguet's painting is crowded and full of earthly and heavenly action. Let's take a slow and close look.

The first thing we see is Jesus in the center of the painting. His arms are tied around a pillar in the room, and His hands are bound at the wrists. His knees are bent, and His chest and right shoulder are leaning against the pillar.


Do you remember what a halo is? Point to Jesus' halo. Do you see the cross shape inside of His halo?

There is a white cloth with blue stripes around our Savior's waist. This is a prayer shawl that Jewish men cover their heads with when they pray. We know that Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane right before He was arrested. We also know that Jesus' suffering is a prayer that He offered to God the Father for our redemption.
Two soldiers take turns scourging Jesus. What is in the soldiers' hands? What are they doing? Can you guess what scourging means? Christians like us feel very sad when we see what happened to Jesus. It's ok to feel sad; as a matter of fact, feeling sad means that you care about Jesus and that you love Him. But then we need to feel confident: Jesus knew that He was being punished for our sins. Jesus knew that by dying He would open the Gates of Heaven so that we would be able to go there after our deaths to be with God forever. Jesus is passionate about getting you into Heaven, so for Him, this punishment is worth it.

​Remember, too, that we know about Jesus' Resurrection. He died, but He rose from death, and He is alive now in Heaven.
Picture
There are three small angels whom God sent to minister to our Lord-- can you point them out?

The angel near Jesus' Head is wiping His Face.

​The two angels on the floor are holding bowls. They were sent to collect Jesus' Precious Blood. We never want that to spill on the ground.
​
Picture
Picture
Jesus is surrounded by crowds on His left and on His right. Look at the crowd on the left. Find the two two men who have halos. Good news! There were holy men in the crowd, watching Jesus, praying with Jesus, loving Jesus! They are Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. They are Jesus' friends! Both men were members of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish council. Joseph is the man who got permission from Pilate to remove Jesus from the Cross; he is also the one who found a tomb for Jesus. Nicodemus brought the one hundred-pound mixture of myrrh and aloes to prepare Jesus' Body for burial; he helped Joseph of Arimathea to wrap Jesus with burial cloths and place his body in the tomb. These two are saints who love Jesus very much.
Picture
Caiphas the high priest is part of the crowd on the right; he sits on his chair. He holds a stick called a scepter, and he's pointing it toward Jesus like he is encouraging the attack on our Savior by giving instructions or commands.

There are many more people in the crowd besides these three men. Most of them are some of the chief priests and scribes of the Temple. Many of these men were present when the Child Jesus spoke in the Temple. 

ABOUT THE FRAME

The painting is bordered by a frame that has four small pictures in each corner. Three of these pictures show animals, and one is a man. These four pictures are symbols of the four Gospels, each of which focus on a different event in the life of Christ:
Picture
MATTHEW
This Gospel is always symbolized as a man, sometimes with wings, because God came into the world as a human being.


Catholics believe that Jesus is 100% divine and 100% human. Chapter 1 of St. Matthew's Gospel emphasizes and explains Jesus' human nature. It starts by tracing Jesus' family tree.

In the New Testament, Jesus is called "The Word." Christmas Day is Jesus' birthday. Jesus is God who lived among us. The name for when Jesus was born as a human is incarnation, which means "Word made flesh" in English.

All this explains why a man is the symbol for St. Matthew's Gospel.

Picture
MARK
This Gospel is always symbolized as a lion, sometimes with wings, because God is
omnipotent, which means He is Almighty, all-powerful.


St. Mark's Gospel focuses on God's power, which we call omnipotence ("om-NIP-po-tense"). Mark's Gospel opens with St. John the Baptist coming out of the desert and "roaring" the announcement of God. The stories of St. John the Baptist and of all martyrs teach us Christians that we must be courageous, a characteristic of lions.

We call lions "kings of the jungle" -- St. Mark's Gospel reminds us that, because we are sons and daughters of the King of the Universe, we are royalty. 

​Finally, Jesus rose from the dead and came out of His tomb at His Resurrection, showing His unlimited power. 

All this explains why the lion was chosen to symbolize the Gospel of St. Mark.

Picture
LUKE
This Gospel is always symbolized as an ox or bull, sometimes with wings, because God's final covenant with man was His own sacrificial death.


St. Luke writes a detailed account of the sacrificial death of our Savior. In the Old Testament, the Jewish people-- Jesus' people, and God's Chosen People-- used bulls and oxen as "tabernacle offerings." This type of offering used to worship God visually emphasized that sin has terrible consequences, and the only remedy for sin is the shedding of blood. Jesus shed His Precious Blood for us, to atone for our sins.

St. Luke's Gospel also reminds us Christians that we must be prepared to sacrifice in all ways. ​

All this explains why the ox symbolizes the Gospel of St. Luke. 

Picture
JOHN
This Gospel is always symbolized as an eagle because we believe that Jesus ascended into Heaven.


Every Sunday at Mass, Catholics say a list of things we believe, including: "For us men and for our salvation, He came down from heaven. By the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary and became man. For our sake, He was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He suffered death and was buried. On the third day He rose again, in fulfillment of the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father." St. ​John's Gospel is symbolized by the eagle because, from John 1 to the end of Revelation, we are carried on eagle’s wings to the throne of heaven.​
​

Additionally, Christians are called to higher aspirations. God helps us with the guidance of His commandments and the Holy Spirit.

All this explains why an eagle is the symbol for St. John's Gospel.

First Sorrowful Mystery: Agony in the Garden
Third Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning of Thorns
Fourth Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
Fifth Sorrowful Mystery

Now, with The Scourging at the Pillar in our imagination,
​let us pray.

​For families with very young children, or for families new to the Rosary, simplify by only praying the Sign of the Cross, the Lord's Prayer, and the Hail Mary. These prayers are inside the front and back covers of your child's workbook. Follow the graphic:
Picture
For families ready to push it forward, add in one new prayer each week until you have a complete decade. Follow the outline:
Hold the Crucifix in your right hand. Make the Sign of the Cross properly, using the right hand only.

Still holding the Crucifix, state what you believe as a Catholic by saying the Creed.

Move to the first bead. Pray one Our Father.

Move to the next beads. Pray the Hail Mary three times, once on each bead.

Move to the next bead and pray one Glory Be.

Stay on the same bead. Announce the Mystery by saying these words: The Second Sorrowful Mystery, The Scourging at the Pillar. On Palm Sunday, Jesus was cheered and welcomed into Jerusalem. Within one week, the people turned against Him and cheered for Jesus to die. Pilate ordered Him to be whipped. God, His Father, allowed this punishment because He knew how many people commit sins with their bodies. Jesus took on the punishment for our sins so that we have the chance to go to Heaven. We recognize this Sacrifice, and we ask for Jesus' help with battling temptations of the body: lust, greed, and gluttony. Jesus, help us to become pure and loving. Jesus, help us understand that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.
​
Stay on the same bead. Pray one Our Father.

Move through the next ten beads, praying the Hail Mary on each one.

Move to the next bead. Pray one Glory Be.

Stay on the same bead. Pray the Fatima Prayer.

Make the Sign of the Cross using the Crucifix. AMEN!

Lenten Application

Hi Parents!

Sometimes parenting is hard. (!!! obvious!!) As people of faith, even our beliefs can be difficult to talk about with our children. How do we appropriately explain the sixth commandment about adultery to our elementary school aged kids? How are we going to appropriately explain the tortures and crucifixion Christ endured to our elementary school aged children, or sensitive older children? Sin is ugly; explaining it is awkward and hard.

How do you feel showing this art of our Savior's tortures and death to your kids? Do you hesitate? Why? When--at what age-- do you think it is appropriate​ to begin talking to your kids about this? It should be at around age 5 or 6 if you want your child to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Communion at age 7 or 8, right?

We are praying the Sorrowful Mysteries during Lent. My hope is that no one avoids this prayer at this time because they are nervous about bringing the images to their children. While my own children -- 16 and 18-- have not yet seen
Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ, they have meditated on other forms of art showing our Redeemer's experiences since a young age. Let's address how to confidently and lovingly share the Greatest Story Ever Told to your "young children" (pre-K and Kindergarten through third grade, depending on the individual) and "older children" (fourth grade through late teens, depending on the individual).

How to explain the Passion and Resurrection to a Young Child

The events of the Triduum are powerfully disturbing, even for adults.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that parents are "the principal and first educators of their children" (read paragraph 1653). You know more than anyone how to discuss these events with your child because you are most keenly aware of your child's developmental readiness. Remember that when kids ask questions ("How are babies made?"), we often read way too much into it. It is usually best to allow them to take the lead in the discussion (by you asking them questions) so that you know what their objective is and what exactly they are searching for. Your children's curiosity and need for information will probably be satisfied sooner than you anticipate. You can see that I model asking kids questions in my art meditations in these posts.

It's impossible to talk about Jesus' Resurrection without talking about His death, and it's impossible to talk about His death without talking about His crucifixion. So how do you explain the Passion and Resurrection to young children? First, use language and experiences that your children will understand. 
Jesus didn't do anything bad ever, but He was still punished. Jesus accepted this mission to help us get into Heaven. That's why we call Jesus "our Savior." Savior sounds like save. Save means the same thing as rescue. From Adam and Eve through the lives of people living at the same time as Jesus, no one got into Heaven. Jesus rescued all faithful human beings from the time of Adam and Eve all the way to us and beyond. He rescued us from Hell and made it easier for us to get into Heaven. This is why we love Him so much. This is why it's so important to learn to be thankful and to express our gratitude to Him. This is why we pray to meet Him one day. This is how we know that we need to always try our best to be good.

Second, sticking with historical facts helps. When Jesus lived in the Holy Land thousands of years ago, people who did bad things were hung on crosses as their punishment. Sometimes their hands and feet were tied to the cross but other times nails were used. It hurt a lot. Even the worst pain we've ever felt doesn't match the pain the crucified experienced, and certainly not the pain Jesus endured with His additional tortures.

The graphic detail provided in the real story isn't necessary to convey Jesus' act of love and sacrifice. Again, if you allow your kids to take the lead in the conversation about the fine art, you will notice that they can see that He was treated badly; young kids might also understand the concept of being treated unfairly or even getting punished for something they didn't do. Also remember that "death" is an abstract concept that their young minds don't fully understand yet, so there is a lot in fine art presentations that children don't even "see."


How to explain the Passion and Resurrection to Older Children, Tweens, and Teens

If we've been doing our jobs correctly as parents and catechists, our older children, tweens, and teens know what sin is. They know that they have a choice and can either avoid sin or participate in sin. The challenge now is teaching them that they need to be held accountable for their choices, accept responsibility, apologize, and make up for their sins. They are also moving toward an understanding that God lives outside of time, so when we say "Jesus died for your sins," yes, Jesus really did. The journey of understanding all of this shows growth and maturity.

While praying the Rosary, the Mystery is announced. You will notice that within each announcement, I use words that will help older kids start moving toward accountability. I use words like "commit sins with their bodies" or "sins of thought and pride." As we move toward maturity, we realize that we are the ones who cut Jesus' skin, who penetrated His Head, Hands, and Feet. Our sins did that. The Divine Mercy Chaplet, which we will study after Easter, provides interesting meditation on our participation in each of Jesus' wounds; I quote two meditations below, and invite you and your teen to read the entire meditation linked here.
The Second Decade of the Chaplet 
​During the second decade, we reflect on the wound that pierced His right hand. We venerate the wound that He endured. In faith, we accept the awesome truth that out of His love for us, Jesus made reparation for the actual sins committed by the right hand. Examples of this include those who have struck out at others in rage, stolen things, or violated the sacred personhood of another. 
The Third Decade of the Chaplet 
​On the third decade, we reflect on the wound in Jesus' left hand. .... His willingness to take upon Himself all the punishment due to our indifference toward sin. The left hand also serves as a metaphor for being insensitive to the needs of others who now may have to forgive us. Our indifference to the beggar or the plight of another person also needs atonement. Our sins of omission or insensitive mistreatment of others cry out to heaven for justice. In addition Jesus endured the suffering due to the sins of indifference against those who were abandoned, either in the womb or through someone's unwillingness to care for them. 
Older children and tweens will understand the scenario in this video; some will be ready to take the step in maturity:
The gravity and the glory of the Cross: wow. What a juxtaposition. But, you know? There's balance there. Let's always focus on finding that balance. Keep coming back to (and repeating) that we sin and, through the Sacrament of Reconciliation--not just whispering that you are sorry and not just "having faith" that God forgives us-- our sins will always be forgiven. Keep coming back to (and repeating) that Jesus has risen from the dead and that He is alive!

Blessings,
Mary Acevedo, Director of Religious Education
0 Comments

Rosary, SORROWFUL Mysteries

2/19/2021

0 Comments

 
Dear Families, 

We are inviting you all to pray the Rosary with us. We will pray one decade of the Sorrowful Mysteries per week over Lent. Meditation materials are provided within the posts, which you will receive every Sunday morning during Lent. Praying the Rosary is not simply saying the Hail Mary and Our Father prayers; while we pray the Rosary, we are supposed to be thinking about Christ's life here on earth. Click here to understand why you shouldn't just launch into the prayers.

Each weekly meditation consists of three parts:
  • a child-focused examination of the mystery as presented in fine art;
  • the praying of the Rosary;
  • and some activity I present in the "Application" section at the end.

You choose how to approach this. There will be some families who do not do any of the activities; I'm praying that most families will do something.
  • Some may do all three activities back-to-back in a one or two hour stretch.
  • Other families may do all three, but space them out over a day or two.
  • Still other families may do only one or two of the three activities. 

Before beginning, parents may wish to review. Parents can look in their children's workbooks or click here to become familiar with the parts of the Rosary. A visual guide is also provided in each of these posts. If you need a Rosary, please stop by our office and we can give you one.

The season of Lent is a grace-filled season, a time to pause and step back from "the daily grind." Through the intercession of Mary, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, I pray this Lent will be a time when God’s grace and goodness may be more fully manifested in all of your lives and those of your loved ones.

Mary Acevedo, Director of Religious Education

First Decade: The Agony in the Garden

Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane
Duccio di Buoninsegna (c.1308-1311)
tempera on wood, approximately 20" high X 30" wide
Currently located at the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo (Cathedral Museum)
, Siena, Italy
Picture
Can you find Jesus two times in this painting? Point to Him. Yes! We see Jesus two times because this one painting shows two different events happening in the same place on the same night.

This story from Jesus' life happened on what we call "Holy Thursday." Many things happened on Holy Thursday. Look carefully at the painting. Can you name the three things you see going on in the painting? If you need help, answer these questions:  
1: Do you see a group of men sleeping?
Picture
2: Do you see Jesus talking to a small group of three men?
Picture

​3: Do you see Jesus praying?
Picture
The Gospel of Luke 22: 7-23 tells what Jesus and His Apostles did on Holy Thursday. Jesus and His best friends were in Jerusalem because they were celebrating the Passover. Early in the evening, these men ate the Passover meal and then decided to take a walk into a nearby garden. That's where we are in the painting. Can you see the five olive trees in the background?

​Jesus wanted to walk in the garden, but He didn't want to go alone this time. He invited His friends to go with Him. Jesus was in agony. This means something like He was stressed out to the maximum and feeling a lot of pain. Not only was He suffering mentally, He was also suffering physically. What does that mean; can you give some examples of those two types of suffering?


All of that is how Jesus felt. Do you know why He was feeling that way? Here's why: Jesus is God, and as God, He knew all the terrible sufferings, humiliations, pains, and tortures He would experience soon. Holy Thursday night is when Jesus was arrested and tortured. The next day, Good Friday, is when He was crucified. We'll talk about the Crucifixion more when we pray the Fifth Sorrowful Mystery. Easter Sunday is when He rose from death, victorious and alive! We'll talk more about when we pray the First Glorious Mystery.

Look at the painting again. The garden is not lush; it's barren and rocky, isn't it? Look at the colors the artist used for the garden. The colors are almost monotone, which makes us feel that something somber is going on. Even though there is a golden glow, it is not bright and happy. The artist is helping us to remember the seriousness of what will soon happen to Jesus.
Picture

The scenes in this painting show what happened before Jesus' arrest.

To the left, we see the Apostles. How many can you count? Who is the twelfth one who is missing? His name starts with a J-U-?-?-?. Do you know why he isn't painted here? Do you know where he is and what he is doing? If you don't, read the
Gospel of Luke, chapter 22, verses 1-3 and 21-23 and you will find out.

The middle scene shows Jesus begging the Apostles not to go to sleep. He wants and needs them to stay awake and pray with Him. (
Luke 22: 39-46) He has to wake them up and ask them this favor more than once. This must have made Him very, very sad. All of us want our friends to show us they love us by paying attention and supporting us. Even Jesus wanted that attention and support from His friends.

In the right corner, we see the third scene. You can see Jesus praying alone here. His knees must have been really hurting because they are balancing His body's weight on a hard, bumpy stone. He was in such distress that He was sweating blood instead of water.
(Luke 22: 44)

But His friends are not helping Him; they are sleeping.

Remember that Jesus is fully human and fully divine. In His human nature, He begs God like we do: "If it's possible, please don't let this happen to Me. Please take this suffering away from Me." But Jesus knows that there is no other way for us sinners to get into Heaven and that His purpose is to set us free and open the Gates of Heaven. Because He knows this, He also tells God, "Not My will, but Your will be done."
(Luke 22: 42) And do you know what God did when Jesus told God how He was feeling? God sent Him a Guardian Angel. (Luke 22: 43) God sends us Guardian Angels, too. You have a Guardian Angel.
Do you know how the Gates of Heaven were shut? Sinning made them shut. The "Original Sin" of Adam and Eve closed the Gates. Do you know about Adam and Eve and Original Sin?

​When Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden, they had the ability to live forever and never die. Can you imagine that? They could actually hear and talk to God! Think about that for a minute. They had it all! But then they listened to the Devil, who confused them. The Devil told them that they could have even more, but that God didn't want them to, so that's why God wouldn't let them eat from the Tree of K
nowledge of Good and Evil. Why would they want to know about evil?! They were already good -- God Himself said so and made them so! How silly and thoughtless they were when they ate from that tree. 
​
Picture
Human life changed drastically: humans now get sick and we die, we hurt each other. We sin. Do you see the two fruit trees close to the kneeling Jesus? The artist put those trees there to remind us of Adam, Eve, Original Sin, and all of Eve's children -- us -- for whose sins Jesus is about to die.
Picture
The doors to Heaven were shut. Only Jesus could open them. Can you see the angel who is with Jesus? The angel is giving Jesus a chalice. We read about this chalice in Luke 22: 42 when Jesus says, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup away from Me; still, not My will but Yours be done.” This is the fourth cup of the traditional Passover meal; it's called the Cup of Judgment, and you can read more about its meaning and importance here.
It was in a garden where man first sinned and cut himself off from God and His grace. It was in a garden where Jesus made up for what Adam and Eve had done. In sacred art, the Garden of Gethsemane is never lush. It is always dark and barren -- this is to show how sin affects the world. 

Picture

Second Sorrowful Mystery: Scourging at the Pillar
Third Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning of Thorns
Fourth Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
Fifth Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion

Now, with The Agony in the Garden in our imagination, let us pray.

For families with very young children, or for families new to the Rosary, simplify by only praying the Sign of the Cross, the Lord's Prayer, and the Hail Mary. These prayers are inside the front and back covers of your child's workbook. Follow the graphic:
Picture
For families ready to push it forward, add in one new prayer each week until you have a complete decade. Follow the outline:
Hold the Crucifix in your right hand. Make the Sign of the Cross properly, using the right hand only.

Still holding the Crucifix, state what you believe as a Catholic by saying the Creed.

Move to the first bead. Pray one Our Father.

Move to the next beads. Pray the Hail Mary three times, once on each bead.

Move to the next bead and pray one Glory Be.

Stay on the same bead. Announce the Mystery by saying these words: The First Sorrowful Mystery, The Agony in the Garden. God's greatest desire is for all of us to be with Him forever in Heaven. God loves us. He is passionate about getting us back home with Him. Jesus was sent to Earth to help us sinners get into Heaven. He helped us by taking all of the blame for all the bad things we do. He received terrible punishments for sins He did not commit. On Holy Thursday, Jesus went into a garden called Gethsemane. While He was praying, God allowed Him to see how horribly He was going to suffer. He saw His friends' sins: betrayal, denial, abandonment. He saw all our sins: mean, immoral, evil. And the thought of His Passion and our sins made Him sweat blood. This blood poured out in His agony. Then Judas came with the soldiers who led Jesus away to many hours of torture and finally death on a Cross.
​
Stay on the same bead. Pray one Our Father.

Move through the next ten beads, praying the Hail Mary on each one.

Move to the next bead. Pray one Glory Be.

Stay on the same bead. Pray the Fatima Prayer.

Make the Sign of the Cross using the Crucifix. AMEN!

Lenten Application

Hello!! on this first Sunday of Lent,

Do you know what the word "Alleluia" translates to in English? Truly, there is no adequate translation into English words because the communication behind Alleluia 
(sometimes spelled “Hallelujah”) is more emotional, like wild excitement and sheer joy. Really, it's like when you announce something fantastically amazing to your kids and they all scream and shout a good ol' "HOORAY! YAAAA-HOOOOO!!! AAAACCKKKKK!!! YES! YES! YES!" while bouncing up and down with clear, powerful joy in their tone. Linguists and scholars translate it to "Praise God!" Meh. Keep the visual -- it's important.
Picture
We Catholics sing the word Alleluia in Ordinary Time before hearing the Gospel reading. Before the Liturgy of the Word, we sing the Gloria. Both of these prayers are omitted from Mass during Advent and Lent because they are closely associated with seasons of joy (Christmas and Easter, and Ordinary Time); they are in stark contrast with the somber penitential attitude of Lent and even the contemplative anticipation of Advent. 
This discontinuance of the Alleluia is called the depositio. We participate in self-denial when we can't express our true feelings of love. It's a kind of fasting-- if we are aware of it. 

I invite you to "bury the Alleluia" with your family today. Literally. This is a craft activity you should do at home sometime between Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras and the First Sunday of Lent. You decide what your family can handle; a very simple "Kids, copy this word Alleluia in your own handwriting and decorate it with these markers" is sufficient. If you like computer graphics and have access to a printer, choose a beautiful font and make a banner out of cardstock and ribbons. If you've got time and some money to spend on a permanent family keepsake, create shelf art out of wooden letters and spray paint. (Click on the links for visuals and instructions.) Whichever type of art you create, "bury" the Alleluia you make in an envelope, in a box, under rocks on your prayer table, or in some other way. Then, at the Easter Vigil, "dig it up": take your art out and display it until the end of the Easter season (a 50-day period!).
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Talk to your children. Challenge them to take notice that these prayers are missing now from Mass. Give them the heads-up that at Holy Family we sing, "Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory!" during Mass at Lent. Then, on Holy Saturday morning, remind them to pay attention that the Alleluia and Gloria are back and stronger than ever. Help them notice that during the Easter season, a period of great joy and exultation, we can't stop singing Alleluia over and over and over again. You might even challenge them to count how many times we say it during the Easter Vigil or on Resurrection Day. 

If you do this craft, email me your creations so I can see them!

Blessings,
Mary Acevedo, Director of Religious Education
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Upcoming Family Events

    here in our program, here at our parish, and throughout our Diocese.

    Categories

    All
    2018 2019 Program Year
    2019 2020 Program Year
    2020 2021 Program Year
    2021 2022 Program Year
    Confirmation
    COVID 19
    Lent
    Reconciliation And Communion
    Rosary Joyful
    Rosary Sorrowful
    Summer Programming
    Youth Ministries

    Archives

    January 2023
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    November 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    February 2020
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    September 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Welcome
    • About
    • Ministries >
      • Altar Servers
      • Black Catholic Ministry
      • Dementia and Alzheimer's Caregivers Support
      • Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
      • Filipino Ministry
      • Garden Ministry
      • Grief Support
      • Lectors
      • Men's Club
      • ministerio hispano
      • Ministers of Hospitality
      • Ministry of Mothers Sharing (MOMS)
      • Music
      • Prayer Groups >
        • Eucharistic Apostles of Divine Mercy
        • Rosary Confraternity
        • Santo Nino
      • Religious Articles Store
      • Thrift Shoppe
    • Organizations >
      • CCW >
        • Trumpeter Archives
        • CCW Board Roster
        • Events and Projects
      • Knights of Columbus
      • Legion of Mary
      • Respect Life >
        • Upcoming Events
      • Society of St. Vincent de Paul
  • New Here?
    • New and Current Parishioners
    • Events
  • The Sacraments
    • baptism
    • reconciliation
    • eucharist
    • confirmation
    • matrimony
    • holy orders
    • anointing of the sick
  • Making Disciples
    • Ryan Center for Young Children Ministry >
      • Ryan Center Donors
    • Religious Education >
      • CY1
      • CY2
      • Donum Talenti
      • Theology of the Plate
      • Upcoming Family Activities! >
        • Special Celebrations
    • Youth Ministry >
      • Photo Galleries
    • Adult Formation >
      • Welcome Home
  • Contact Us
    • Fr. Tri's Missions
    • Hall Rental