Helping our children grow in their Catholic faith. September 2011 St. Parish Fr. Matt Stanley, Pastor Susan Clingingsmith, DRE Make your family top priority Strong schools, sports teams, and microwaved or home-cooked dinners. hobbies all make important Sharing meals at home creates an contributions in our occasion for families to bond over Religious education children’s lives. Experts agree, everyday activities. During the new school however, that the most Once a month: At the beginning of year, treat faith formation important lessons come from each month, gather to review what and religious education loving parents who spend is coming up on the with the same importance time with their children. calendar for the next few as your child’s academic The best way to make weeks so all are education. Be sure to family time a priority is informed. Also supervise religion to schedule it and discuss family homework or assignments. make it happen. issues and Reading, writing, and Once a week: problems. religion are important life Dedicate one night Let each skills your children will each week to your person be always need. family. Make it allowed to something fun bring up Heal together like playing topics or give The most effective way to convince board games, have suggestions for our children of the value of the a talent show so children can solutions. Sacrament of Reconciliation is to demonstrate progress in music or dance Once in a while: Introduce a seek it ourselves. If you haven’t been lessons, make popcorn and watch a learning opportunity. Have a short to Confession in a while, your priest movie from the library. Protect it on the lesson to teach a or a life skill you will be happy to remind you of how calendar and let nothing interfere. want your children to learn. Or, bring it is done. Welcoming a penitent Several times a week: Bring your home an outsider such as a priest or sinner back to God’s forgiveness is family together at mealtime whether for sister to visit and learn from. one of a priest’s greatest joys.

Volunteer early Getting children involved in parish What are the life makes it more likely that they will want to come to Cardinal ? Mass regularly. Ask if young children can To help us live a holy life us respect the rights of perform small jobs each day, the Catholic others and give God his such as handing Church has identified four due, fortitude – which out bulletins or necessary virtues we all gives us the resolve acting as need to acquire, called to resist greeters. Even . temptation and the minor roles can They are: – courage to do right, help children feel a the virtue that helps us to and prudence – the virtue part of the parish, control our impulses and that helps us to make the too. desires, – to help right choices.

© Copyright 2011 Success Publishing & Media, LLC September 2011 Page 2 Help children find time for prayer

One way to help children remember to pray asking that you remain aware of God’s presence in throughout the day is to combine prayer with your life. Or, perhaps pray the Guardian Angel regular daily activities. For example: Prayer asking for protection during the journey. On your knees. To remember to say Special intention jar. Keep a jar in a central morning prayers, put shoes under beds place in your home, such as a kitchen counter or the night before. When youngsters bend near a main door. Throughout the day, each down to retrieve them in the morning, person can write prayer intentions on slips of children can stay on their knees and say a paper and put them in the jar. Before going to quick prayer offering the day to God. bed at night, family members can pull a note Buckle up. Each time you buckle up a from the jar and pray for that need with their seatbelt in the car, offer a prayer together regular nighttime prayers.

Matthew 16:21-27, How can I gain salvation?

Jesus tells of the man who sent two can say we’re sorry, or we can show sons to the vineyard to work. The first we’re sorry. Jamal isn’t allowed to play video said, “No,” but went anyway. The How can we show God we games during the week so when Friday second said, “Yes,” but didn’t are sorry? We can go back to comes, he quickly disappears to meet go. Jesus asked which son living as Jesus taught us by his friends online. Last did as the father asked. following the weekend was different, Obviously the first son did. Commandments and the though. He came If we say, “Yes, God, I Beatitudes. upstairs after only a believe in you,” that’s not What can a parent do? few minutes enough. If we presume Use this Gospel to show because his that the Lord will take us children what obedience friends were into heaven just because is all about, both playing a new we say that, we’ll be obedience to God and game that my disappointed. Words are not enough. obedience to parents. We can teach husband and I True obedience is shown through our children that doing what Jesus don’t approve and actions. When we realize we are in a asked us to do is the most important won’t buy. We won’t state of sin, we have two options. We way to live our lives. even let him use his own money to buy it. It’s very violent. It was hard to see him sad but this wasn’t the first time we have forbidden to end the persecution of the Chris- something allowed by other families. In tians in his country. He encouraged this case, my husband and I feel German missionaries, built churches, strongly that violent video games hurt Sept. 12 – Most Holy Name of the and cared for the needy. Political children and we won’t accept them just Blessed Virgin Mary. Pope Innocent conflict led to his assassination by his because other parents say they are okay. XI extended this feast to the entire brother. The “Good King” was Our standards are different. Church after the King of Poland, with immediately recognized as a martyr. Jamal doesn’t like feeling left out. But, Mary’s protection, defeated an advanc- Sept. 28 – St. Lawrence Ruiz as Catholics, we have to do what we ing Muslim army in Vienna in 1683. (1630). Lawrence was born in the think is best even if it isn’t always easy Sept. 16 – St. Cyprian (258). A Philippines to Christian or popular. God is watching. theologian and orator, Cyprian was parents. Accused of bishop of Carthage. He helped defend murder, he fled with four the Church against heretics and set Catholic priests and a guidelines for readmitting lapsed leper to Nagasaki, To help parents raise faithful Catholic children Christians. Cyprian was arrested for Success Publishing & Media, LLC Japan, but came Publishers of Growing in Faith™ and Partners in Faith™ refusing to worship idols, was exiled under violent (540)662-7844 (540)662-7847 fax and martyred. persecution. http://www.growinginfaith.com (Unless noted Bible quotes and references are from Sept. 28 – Saint Wenceslaus (929). They were the Revised Standard Version and the New American Bible.) King of Bohemia, Wenceslaus worked martyred on Okinawa. © Copyright 2011 Success Publishing & Media, LLC