What would you like Church to be like? A young adult in the parish submitted this music video as the vision of Church he hopes for. Maybe you too? If you feel alone, know that you are not. However, an experience that may help you is to attend World Youth Day.
Our US Bishops have recognized it’s time to Listen, Teach & Send. Have you checked out the part of the Evangelization & Catechesis website that is just for you? What are you waiting for? Read the latest newsletter just for you: “Growing in Faith Together (GIFT). A new, free integral ecology curriculum for young adults is now available, Wholemakers. It was created by young adults and weaves together the latest in climate science with insights from Catholic tradition to equip participants to be the faithful protagonists of transformation the world so urgently needs, as Pope Francis described it.
Like podcasts? Try this one from Ave Maria Press, The 10 Thousand Places. You will be joining a theologian, a philosopher, and a campus minister as they explore how to find Christ wherever he may be found, how faith engages culture, and what it means to be Catholic today. 30+ year olds: This website is for you. For help with parenting, Families of Character has weekly podcasts.
Are you single? In a committed relationship? Married without children? Married with children? No matter! You are an important member of the family of God. But life gets tricky. How do you know the right way to turn? Pray, Decide and Don’t Worry is new from Ascension Press. An Amazon reviewer wrote: “I absolutely love this book, and Fr. Mike. And Jackie and Bobby. It has such good content and has really helped me. I was struggling, and stumbled upon this book and as I was reading the pages I felt God talking to me; saying you need this right now. And I sure did, thank you!”
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) has this to say about parenting: “The fecundity of conjugal love cannot be reduced solely to the procreation of children, but must extend to their moral education and their spiritual formation. ‘The role of parents in education is of such importance that it is almost impossible to provide an adequate substitute.’ The right and the duty of parents to educate their children are primordial and inalienable.” When parenting gets chaotic, give this a listen.
Whether in the parish, or in your home, the “domestic church,” is where we learn of love, kindness, gratitude, rules, forgiveness and mercy. That is why community is so important! All of us are called to live holy, virtuous lives. We need each other, trusted friends and the community to pray for us, invite us to come to Mass and practice the faith. Godparents*, sponsors, the extended family, your parish family and the staff of OLOL are available to assist. Call upon any of us. Serving each other, and others, is the mission given to all by Christ.
*This link gives a free training to prospective godparents. Click on the Sacraments icon. Then, scroll down and select “The Role of the Godparent.” Clicking on it adds it to your cart. Go to the Cart. Click on “Check out.” At this point you must create a login. (Do save your user name and password.) A “review cart” screen populates. Click checkout again. There is no cost, but it will fill the form with your pertinent info. Click “Place Order.” You will be emailed an order confirmation. At the bottom of that page is a link for Dash Board. Click on that to get the video. You will see it in the “My Courses” (right hand side of the page). If you want to know what a Godparent is in a shorter video format, view this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDQdsFzRGXE.
Ways to form your faith:
- Register for Family Faith Formation*! It’s a family formation because parents learn along with their child(ren). Each lesson gives parents the tools they need to break open the faith. Forms are available on our website, by email request or by stopping by the parish center. *Participation in Faith Formation is a lifelong process, but especially important for children preparing for Sacraments. A full year in the year prior and in the current year of preparation for Sacraments is required. Separate registration forms and preparation for Sacraments is also required.
- Let your children “catch” you practicing your road to holiness through private prayer, Bible reading and your practice of the Corporal & Spiritual Works of Mercy.
- Participate in the life of the church (any or all of the activities sponsored by OLOL, but especially by coming to Mass weekly and receiving the Sacrament of Penance & Reconciliation every 6-8 weeks).
- For “Young Adults” (aged 18-39) the Diocese publishes “Growing in Faith Together,” a weekly newsletter offering of fun, faith forming activities and meet ups. Click on the link, or view it on our Facebook page.
- Pray individually and with others. Consider making a prayer corner with a Bible, candle and other items (statuary, palms, prayer cards) that brings you to a holy moment.
- Read books or magazines that share a Christian message. Talk about how they open your mind and heart. (Good Reads has many titles, genres and authors, as well as Bibles & Catechisms.)
- Sing/listen to songs and hymns (Use this link to learn more.) Here are some radio stations that are enriching:
- Family Life Network or KLove or The Station of the Cross
For those with children, check out some great websites like, The Religion Teacher or Catholic Icing. See more websites below.
- Let your kids prepare for Mass by viewing other kids doing the same.
- Find a Mass that speaks to them. Search on the Internet for Sunday Masses for Children. The most recently uploaded one to YouTube from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Singapore is excellent!
- Searching for Catholic magazines and websites for children will yield huge results.
- Check out the resources the Diocese makes available on their website. Another website that is helpful is Families of Character.
- Plan a family service project. Talk about how it glorifies God.
- Tune into EWTN TV.
Here are some ideas of how to continue your child’s learning:
https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/teaching-tools/articles/resources/scholastic-learn-at-home–free-resources-for-school-closures.html#
https://www.loyolapress.com/faith-formation/child-safety-and-catholic-family-living/growing-with-god/program-overview/coronavirus-response-lesson?utm_source=cj&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=covid-resources
http://holyheroes.net/
Camps (Ability to do this will of course depend on whether the spread of the Coronavirus has been contained. Check with each camp to learn more.)