Teach the Basics of Kindness

Helping our children grow in their Catholic faith. September 2015 St. Kilian Parish June Strobel, Director of Religious Education Teach the basics of kindness

Kindness is defined as the quality Come home and tell me how it felt.” of being friendly, generous and Display kindness. Teach children to considerate. For followers of Jesus, hold the door open for another St. Robert Bellarmine however, it doesn’t stop there. person, to say “thank you,” “please,” A Jesuit like our Pope Francis, Christians know that Jesus wants us “may I?,” and Robert was also to show others “you’re devoted to studying the love of welcome.” and writing about God, just as he Using a level church history, did. This can be tone of voice, Scripture and the done by avoiding fathers of the teaching yelling, using Catholic Church. children, when kind words are He taught against they are young, all ways to involvement of kings to be kind. display in the Church and accurately wrote Draw out kindness in about Church doctrine to explain kindness. your home. and protect it from attack by Children start Reward Protestants. Although a respected by being kind to kindness. cardinal and counselor to Pope themselves. They want to be first in Help children understand the link Clement VIII, he lived and ate like line for recess, to receive a treat, or to between what they do and how others the poor. He was canonized and climb on a lap to receive affection. feel about it. Parents can do that by declared a doctor of the Church. Connect the kindness they show rewarding with specific praise. “The themselves to how they can behave reason I am so proud of you is that Teach love toward others. “Today I am giving you you made your sister smile when you Children feel most secure when two of your favorite cookies in your did her chore. Did you see her happy they grow surrounded by love. Pope lunch so you can give one to a friend. face?” Francis recently said that kissing in front of the children is a "beautiful witness." Children watch their parents carefully and "when they see that dad and mom love each Why do Catholics believe other, the children grow in that in the Real Presence at Mass? climate of love, happiness and security," he said. “Tell your When Jesus said, (Matthew 26:26-28). The children of it, and “whoever eats my flesh and Catholic Church calls this let your children drinks my blood has eternal action transubstantiation. tell their children, life” (John 6:54), he spoke When the priest consecrates and their children literally. Later, taking bread the bread and wine into the another generation” and wine, Jesus changed Holy Eucharist, Jesus is (Joel 1:3). them into his body and literally present—body and blood, saying, “Take and eat; blood, soul and this is my body” and “this is my blood” divinity—just as he said.

If you have ever raced into the pew after Mass has important to building up the Catholic Church. started, juggled a crying child during the homily or Those occasionally scruffy, sometimes noisy shuffled in children dressed in less-than-Sunday children you bring into the church are our future. best, you may feel that the Church is only suited The Church is for you. What do you need? to perfectly behaved and pious families. Yet all Do you have questions or doubts? No the messy, wonderful families of God are question is too big or small for your pastor welcome in the Catholic Church. or priests. They want to help. Come to Mass The parish is your home. It is in the parish weekly and give them opportunities to get to that we share faith. Parents are the most know your family. Ask for support in your influential teachers of that faith and catechesis family faith journey. It’s what the Church is for their children. That makes you valued and meant to do.

Mark 9:38-48, Work together for God

In this reading, the disciples were Some of Jesus’ words sound strange upset because a man they didn’t but he is very clear; we avoid sin at I am always convinced that each new know was healing in Jesus’ all costs and keep it out of our lives. gadget I get will make me more name. Perhaps they were Giving up a friendship, an activity, or efficient and help me accomplish all afraid of losing the a habit that causes us to do wrong tasks. My new phone was no spotlight, or they may may seem as painful as cutting off a exception. From its large screen I can have been concerned hand. But the access our family calendar, my work because he was consequences of our calendar, all my different from them. choices last forever. documents, email, Faithful followers of What can a parent the news and it Jesus don’t all look alike do? The caution against reminds me to pray or talk alike, but we do act harming little ones in the Angelus at noon alike. Christianity is a faith applies to us as and the Rosary at kingdom, not a competition. parents and teachers. 3:00 pm. All are welcome to work together to Our thoughts and actions must be Kara wasn’t build it up. Those who share a motivated by love so that we can pleased the common faith in Christ cooperate, not model Christian behavior for our first time I was compete. children. They are watching. late picking her up because I was engaged in a long email exchange with a client after hours. Tessa got annoyed when Son. All we have to do is ask. she had to wait in the parking lot Sept. 15 – Our Lady of Sorrows. before walking into school while I In Luke 2:35, Simeon predicted finished editing an article for work. Sept. 9 – St. Peter Claver (1654). A Mary’s sorrows as “a sword piercing” Finally, when I was texting during young Jesuit in Colombia in 1610, St. her soul. This partly referred to a dinner, my husband asked me to stop Peter Claver was horrified by the slave time when Mary would stand at the and give my full attention when the trade. He hurried down to each foot of her Son’s family was together. I agreed. It seems arriving slave ship and brought water, Cross. Despite her that efficiency (and my phone) had medicine, food, and clothing to its sorrow, Mary stood become my false god. inmates. He taught them about God dignified and and baptized nearly 300,000 slaves. fearless while Sept. 12 – The Most Holy Name of others fled. Mary: we honor Mary’s name out of Mary shows To help parents raise faithful Catholic children Success Publishing & Media, LLC respect for her relationship to Jesus. us how Publishers of Growing in Faith™ and Partners in Faith™ One of Mary’s titles is “Help of respond to (540)662-7844 (540)662-7847 fax Christians.” No matter where we are in suffering: http://www.partnersinfaith.com (Unless noted Bible quotes and references are from our faith, we can always look to Mary with love the Revised Standard Version and the New American Bible.) to lead us back to her and faith. © Copyright 2015 Success Publishing & Media, LLC