Services
(La versión en español sigue al inglés)
Dear Families,
In this week’s Gospel, Jesus’ disciple John said to Jesus. “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus teaches the disciples that they should not be reluctant to share Jesus’ healing powers with others. No one who performs good deeds in his name is against him. God’s love is for everyone. Jesus teaches his disciples that goodness and godliness are qualities to be nurtured in ourselves and in others. No matter our race, age, or social status, Jesus wants us to welcome and accept others as he does.
Jesus also says some things that sounds crazy. Why would he say cut off your hand and foot, pluck your eye out if this causes you to sin? He is saying these things not for us to do it. But so that we can realize that our hand, foot and eye are parts of our bodies that can lead us away from God when they are not used for His glory. Pay special attention to the reflection part of this week’s video. It will explain how this teaching applies to our world today.
As a family watch video in its entirety, it’s important to watch video to ask each other this question.
Am I using my hand, foot, or eye to block my relationship with Jesus?
Family Prayer: Lord, help us to strengthen our weaknesses, and walk in your path.
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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)
Dear Parents,
In this week’s Gospel, Jesus meets a man who is sick with leprosy and people stay far, far away from him. When the man pleads with Jesus to heal him so he can be with other people. Jesus sees and hears the man and feels compassion for him. He heals the man. In this Gospel story, we learn that God loves every one of us, even outsiders, even those no one else seems to like. When people found out Jesus could heal, they constantly asked him to do so. He tried to find rest and quiet in the desert, but people followed him there too. Still, he helped many people who needed healing.
As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions. How do you reach out to people in your area that need help? How can you find the strength to help them?
Family Prayer: Jesus, teach us to see when people are in need, and give us the strength to reach out to them. Amen
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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)
Dear Parents,
In this Sunday’s Gospel Jesus tells us He is the vine and we are the branches. He explains that we can only grow in faith and do the right things if we stay close to Him. Jesus will correct and guide us, just as a gardener prunes and tends a garden so it will grow strong.
Jesus calls us to grow good fruit with our lives. We grow fruits of love, kindness, patience, and goodness when we stay connected to Jesus. We do this by listening to Jesus’ teachings, following his example, and praying.
As a family, watch video in its entirety and ask each other this question:
How can you stay connected to Jesus, like branches are connected to a vine?
Family Prayer: Jesus, help us to find ways to stay close to you so we can grow in faith and love. Amen
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Read more: Fifth Sunday of Easter Cycle B / Quinto Domingo de Pascua Ciclo B (Faith Formation)
(La versión en español sigue al inglés)
Dear Families,
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus uses two parables to tell us about the Kingdom of God. In the first parable, the seeds planted grew into a healthy crop of grain, but it took many days and nights. In the second parable, the mustard seed which is the size of a teeny dot on a sheet of paper grows into a tree. Both these parables focus on seeds. Seeds sown take time to grow. When things take a long time to happen, we have to be patient and have faith. When we learn about our faith and practice it well, it will grow so that everyone will see its effect in our lives. We must sow seeds by spreading his words.
God wants us to know that if we live as Jesus tells us, we can look forward to happiness with God in the Kingdom of Heaven.
As a family watch video in its entirety and ask each other this question:
What actions start small but can grow into larger things?
(Good: kindness, love, forgiveness)
(Bad: anger, not forgiving, judgment)
Family Prayer: Jesus help us to grow in faith, love, positive attitude, and kindness. Amen
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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)
Dear Families,
Over the past weeks, we have heard Jesus teach that he is the Bread of Life, and those who believe in him will have eternal life.
In this week’s Gospel Jesus wanted to share the gift of himself with others, but it seemed scary to many people. Many people stopped following Jesus because they couldn’t understand what He was teaching. Jesus asked the 12 are you also going to leave? Simon Peter said that they knew that He had the words of eternal life, and that they were convinced that Jesus is the Holy One of God. The Apostles chose to stay with Jesus.
As we grow in our faith, we need to be like the Apostles and choose to follow Jesus even when it is hard, especially when other people don’t follow Him. We can’t do this without God’s help and the help of the community of faith, our Church.
On Sunday watch as people approach the altar to receive Holy Communion. They are walking towards the Eucharist. The “Real Presence” of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. The Bread of Life. In Him they will have eternal life.
As a family watch video in its entirety and ask each other this question.
Do you have a hard time understanding what Jesus teaches us?
Family Prayer: Jesus, help us to believe in you even when it is difficult to understand what you have taught us. Amen
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