Hello Families,
For the next few months, the Faith Formation students will be learning about Catholic Devotions and how they help strengthen our relationship with God. We will be starting with Divine Mercy and then the Holy Rosary.
Meet Our Extended Family – St. Agape, St. Chionia, and St. Irene were three virgin sisters from Thessalonica, Macedonia. According to Christian tradition, Agape and her sisters were martyred for the faith in the year 304. They were convicted of possessing sacred scriptural texts despite a decree issued in 303 by the emperor Diocletian naming such possessions a crime punishable by death. During their trial, the sisters refused to make a sacrifice to the pagan gods and were martyred. Even though it would have been seemingly easy for Agape to momentarily push her faith aside to keep her life, she said, “I believe in the living God and will not by an evil action lose all the merits of my past life.” She was wise enough to know that one small evil action can have enormous consequences.
Take Time to Chat – What does it mean to “believe in the Gospel”? Why do you think Jesus commands us to repent? Simon, Andrew, James and John all left behind their old life in order to follow Jesus. In what way are we called to leave behind our old habits and follow Jesus today? Today is Word of God Sunday (see Fun Fact). In what way did St. Agape honor the Word of God? In what way can we honor the Word of God in our family?
Family Fun – No matter the age of your children, playing preschool games as a family can be a ton of fun! Younger kids love seeing their parents playing their games and older kids find creative and new ways to make these games new! Take some time today to play Follow the Leader, Simon Says, Red Light-Green Light, Hot Potato, Musical Chairs, or Duck, Duck, Goose.
Liturgy Link – Before the Gospel is proclaimed, we make the sign of the cross on our forehead, our lips, and over our heart. What words do we say when doing this?
Family Challenge – Ask God to show you something for which you need to repent. Pray about this and ask God for forgiveness. Receive absolution for this sin through the sacrament of Reconciliation when you are able.
Fun Facts – In 2019, Pope Francis declared the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time as Sunday of the Word of God to remind the faithful to read the Bible regularly and to put God’s Word at the center of our lives.
https://staging.52sundays.com/sundays/sunday-january-21-2024
Partners in Faith,
Phyllis Chudzinski
Wed. 1/24/24 – Faith Formation Class
Wed. 1/31/24 – Faith Formation Class