THE FAMILY ZONE

The Responsorial Psalm for Pentecost Sunday is “Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth. (Psalm 104) How often do you look to the Holy Spirit in your prayers? This Psalm reminds us that God’s Spirit is the breath or "Ruah" as it is called in the Old Testament, that gives and sustains human life. And so, when we pray to the Spirit, we are acknowledging our dependence on God, the Spirit. When we pray to the Spirit, we can pray that the Spirit renew our hearts, bring new life into a desert time, or transform chaos into peace. How might you invite the Spirit into your prayer this weekend with your family?

Below is a storybook to help your child understand the Holy Spirit!

St. Francis believed that it is the Holy Spirit that gives us the ability to know, believe and truly see God at work in our lives. He talked about having "spiritual eyes" that help us to see God's presence and also the dignity of each human person. As we celebrate Pentecost, let's pray that the Spirit open our eyes to the peace and promise offered by God, and like the psalm says, allow that Spirit to renew the face of the earth!

This weekend, we have the perfect opportunity to teach our children about honoring fallen soldiers and those who fight for our country each day. Don't let Memorial Day pass by without participating in your local tribute to fallen soldiers, or visiting the graves of fallen soldiers in your town's cemetery. Say a prayer or even help with cemetery upkeep by pulling weeds. It's an opportunity to teach your child about respect, sacrifice, and the loving spiritual work of mercy our faith has of praying for the living and the dead. In our diocese, two sites you can visit include a national cemetery in Bath, or Greater Rochester Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Rochester's Highland Park.

When you go to Mass this week, see if you can locate the AMBRY. The Ambry is a cabinet where the Holy Oils are kept. Inside the Ambry, you find three distinct oils: the Oil of Chrism, the Oil of Catechumens, and the Oil of the Sick. Holy oils begin as olive oil and they are blessed at the annual Chrism Mass during Holy Week. The Holy Chrism must be blessed by a bishop, who breathes over it as a symbol of the Holy Spirit to consecrate the Chrism. The Holy Oils are used for several sacraments including Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders. They are also used to anoint the altars and walls of newly built churches. The Ambry can be found by the Sanctuary or Altar area. Can you find it? What does your Ambry look like?

Next weekend (May 31), we celebrate another special solemnity: The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. So, if you weren't able to wear red and eat special Pentecost foods with your family today, here are some future opportunities to Live Catholic with your kids!

1. Plant some flowers together with three petals to represent the Trinity. Some varieties you may find with three petals include pansies, iris, lillies, or violets.

2. Take a woodland walk at a nearby park to spot Trillium flowers or clover.

3. Pray the Glory Be together. https://mycatholicprayers.com/prayers/glory-be/

4. Make some cloverleaf rolls for dinner. https://www.31daily.com/quick-cloverleaf-dinner-rolls/

5. Play cooperative games or puzzles that mirror the unity of the Holy Trinity where everyone works together in harmony.

As you engage in these activities be sure to talk about the mystery of our faith...God in three persons, blessed trinity! 🎵

The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit are Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, Courage (Fortitude), Right Judgment (Counsel), Reverence (Piety), and Wonder and Awe (Fear of the Lord). On Pentecost, we might take the time to reflect on these gifts and how they are coming to fruition in ourselves and those we love! Make a seven layer dip, salad or bars, using the recipes below, and as you enjoy them, chat about the gifts you see in one another. For an outline of the gifts and what they mean, click on the easy guide you will find below the recipes!

Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester

Editor: Leslie Barkin leslie.barkin@dor.org

Email: oec@dor.org
Website: oec.dor.org
Location: Diocese of Rochester, Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY, USA
Phone: 585-328-3210

See them all here!