THE FAMILY ZONE

A former Bishop of Rochester is about to be beatified, bringing an exciting moment to our diocese! Archbishop Fulton Sheen was the sixth bishop of our diocese in the late 1960s. He was known for his great work in evangelization and pioneered the use of television to spread our Catholic faith. He won an Emmy for that show and impacted many lives. He was a prolific author, and through TV and books, he helped thousands find a path to living their faith in a secular world. Here are some of his more memorable quotes:

"Unless there is a Good Friday in your life, there can be no Easter Sunday."

"We become like that which we love. If we love what is base, we become base; but if we love what is noble, we become noble."

"Moral principles do not depend on a majority vote. Wrong is wrong, even if everybody is wrong. Right is right, even if nobody is right."

"You are infinitely precious because you are loved by God."

"The greatest love story of all time is contained in a tiny white Host."

All are invited to join Bishop John Bonnici at Sacred Heart Cathedral on September 29 at 7:00 PM where we will receive a first-class relic of Bishop Sheen. Then, that relic will tour our diocese! See the flyer below for opportunities to celebrate and see the relic in your area!

1. Share children's Bible stories, but spend time reading from the regular Bible as well. You may want to choose a story from the Children's Bible, but begin your time together by sharing the Scripture passage, and then break it open for better understanding with the children's story.

2. Choose a short 1 to 2 lines of Scripture and reflect on it together. Ask questions like: "What do you think this passage wants us to know about Jesus?" or "How does this make you feel?"

3. Begin your Bible journey by committing to read together one day a week, and keep it short, but make it a special time for family togetherness!

4. Ask your kids to draw what they heard.

5. Bring the scripture to life by having toys that help your children visualize the action of the Bible story.

The other day at Mass, the priest made a simple statement about love. It does not require grand gestures. Of course, we hope to teach our children to work toward the common good and care about others, but we also need to teach them that love, in many simple ways, is just a small choice in the moment...

Will we fight or show patience?

Will we be kind or selfish?

Will we smile or scowl?

Will we be a glutton or share what we have?

Little ways and small decisions; those are some of the ways God calls us to love each day, and easy ways we can teach our children to follow Christ.

Where do you keep the Bible in your home? Many people enthrone their Bibles as a visual reminder that God is at the center of their lives. Pick a spot in your home where the Bible will be safe and hold a place of honor. If you want, you can find a special Bible stand for it, or just keep it open to invite family members to view it as they are going about their day. Teach your family members to reverence the Bible by bowing, kissing, or lighting a candle. You may want to vary the Scripture that is highlighted from day to day or week to week and take a few moments to reflect on its message together. You may also choose to make this a gathering spot for morning or evening prayer. Guiding family members to this special space in your home to talk and offer prayers together in the low and high moments of family life will help your kids to understand that you prioritize your family's relationship with Jesus. Below is a prayer experience you can use to enthrone your family Bible and introduce your new prayer space to your children.

Bishop John S. Bonnici is asking every person in the Diocese of Rochester to pray one Hail Mary a day for vocations, and to add Bishop Sheen's prayer: "LORD, INFUSE YOUNG HEARTS WITH VOCATIONS."

We invite you to pray this with your family at dinner, at bedtime, in the car to activities, whenever it works best for you!

Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee,

Blessed art thou among women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

Pray for us, sinners,

Now, and at the hour of our death,

Amen.

Lord, infuse young hearts with vocations.

There are so many things to do nearby in the fall! Make the most of these beautiful days by visiting an apple orchard, exploring a farmer's market, hosting a backyard football game or just taking a walk in nature as it changes before our eyes. Use the scavenger hunt below to help your kids investigate and witness God's amazing creation; there is so much to see! Remind them that caring for God's creation means leaving the beauty they see where it is, treating all living things with care, and picking up and disposing of harmful trash you might see along the way!

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!