Services

4/23/23 - Road to Emmaus - Cycle A

Dear Families,

Happy Easter. In this Sunday’s Gospel of Luke two of Jesus disciples encounter him on the way to Emmaus. They do not recognize him and they explain how sad they are because of what happened to Jesus in Jerusalem. Jesus talks to them about the Scriptures to help them understand God’s plan. It was late and they invited him to eat dinner with them. They finally recognize Jesus when he blesses and breaks bread with them, just like he did at the Last Supper. They are filled with joy and share their experience with others.

Imagine the feelings of the two disciples. They are leaving Jerusalem are sad, and all their hopes are gone. However, they are filled with hope and joy when their eyes are opened and they recognize Jesus in the blessing and breaking of the bread. Each Sunday at Mass in the Eucharist we share the breaking of the bread and discover Jesus in our midst. The Eucharist helps us receive the joy of Jesus presence and fills us with hope. Like the disciples let’s share his presence and give joy and hope to those we know and meet in our journey of faith.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.
When have you recognized that Jesus is with you?

Family Prayer: Jesus, our hearts are full of love for you. Help us to notice your presence with us. Amen.

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

10/16/22 - Jesus Tells Us to Keep Asking - Cycle C

Dear Families,

In this week’s Gospel, Jesus tells a parable (story) to show his disciples that they should never get discouraged about praying. He tells them a story about a widow’s case who was being ignored by a judge. The widow persists in seeking her rights and the judge has little reason to care about her rights. The widow keeps coming back and bothering him so he finally knows she will keep bothering him and grants her request.

Jesus’s parable invites us to recognize that God will be better than the judge about answering our prayers. The Gospel invites us to imitate the widow in asking always and repeatedly for what we need. When we persist in prayer, and ask for what we need or want, God helps us to see which things and people really matter to us and how we can help. Jesus teaches us that we must pray always and never get discouraged.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions?
What do you ask God for when you pray? How do you know that God hears your prayers?

Family Prayer: Lord we will try harder to pray often. Show us how to be patient when we pray. Amen.

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

5/7/23 - Jesus Is Our Way to God - Cycle A

Dear Families,

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples not to let their hearts be troubled. To have faith in him. He declares “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” He is the way to the Father in Heaven. Whoever knows him knows God. They learn that whoever believes in him will be able to do the work that he did and greater ones.

Let us all remember that we are not to be troubled. Jesus loves us. He tells us that when we know him, and believe in him we are on the path to God in heaven. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Through him we find eternal life and when we share these truths, he tells us we are able to do his work and more.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions.
Why does Jesus tell his disciples to have faith in him? What does Jesus ask of his followers? Do you follow Jesus?

Family Prayer: Jesus, you are the way, the truth, and the life. Help our hearts not be troubled and trust you in all things. Amen.

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

3/19/23 - Seeing and Believing - Cycle A

Dear Families,

This fourth Sunday of Lent is Laetare Sunday. “Rejoice”, Easter is drawing near!

In the Gospel of John, Jesus spits on the ground, makes clay with saliva, and smears the clay on a man born blind. Then sends him to wash off the clay in the pool and the man can see. Unfortunately, some people are upset because Jesus broke the Sabbath to heal him. However, the blind man rejoices because he can see. Jesus did not just heal him of his physical blindness where he now sees the glory of creation on earth. Jesus has also revealed to him that he is the Son of God and he believes.

Jesus invites us to use our eyes for both kinds of seeing, the wonders of creation and to see and believe in God’s unconditional love and in his healing actions. Each of us need to explore what Jesus wants us to see and believe who he is.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions.
What do you know about Jesus that you didn’t know before? Where do you see Jesus so that you can believe in him?

Family Prayer: God, open our eyes to see you in all of Creation and believe in you. Amen.

Click Photo

(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

11/6/22 - The Resurrection Is The Heart Of Our Faith - Cycle C

Dear Families,

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, the Sadducees, who did not believe in resurrection from the dead, ask Jesus a ridiculous tricky question. They ask him, what would happen if a widow had different husbands throughout her life and they died. Who would she be married to in Heaven? Jesus is not tricked. He teaches that God is God of the living. Jesus tells them that in Heaven people are like angels because they can’t die anymore, so they will not be married. All are alive in God. Jesus’ teaching on the rising from the dead is the heart of our Catholic faith.

It is not easy to imagine what our life will be like after the resurrection of the dead. It will be different, it will not be the same as this world, we will live in great joy as children of God.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions.
What does the word resurrection mean to you? What is the name of the prayer at mass where we profess the belief of the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come?

Family Prayer: Pray the “The Creed” together. Amen.