THE FAMILY ZONE

Stay tuned as we help your family get to know him over the next few weeks!

1. His favorite baseball team is the NY Yankees.

2. He likes to work out and be active.

3. He likes to read historical fiction.

4. He enjoys the theater.

5. He has a science background.

We wish you many prayers as we enter this sacred week ahead. Today, you will hear two Gospels. One will be proclaimed at the procession of the palms, in the beginning of Mass, and the other will be in its usual placement during the Liturgy of the Word. The first Gospel reading will focus on the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem. He was welcomed like a king, but He chose to enter like a peasant on a donkey. The crowd laid palms on the ground before Him and shouted Hosanna in the highest! We hear that same phrase every week during the Eucharistic prayer. Hosanna is used to express praise and adoration. As you enter into Holy Week, let your thoughts lead you to HOSANNA. In what ways has God blessed you? For what are you grateful? Let that gratitude and praise for God guide you through your family's week.

Lady Jacoba was a wealthy Roman laywoman who became a dear friend to St. Francis. After becoming a young widow, Lady Jacoba sought the counsel of St. Francis who urged her to serve God with her wealth. She is known to have been present with St. Francis at the time of his death, bringing the almond cookies he was fond of. The story gives us insight into another side of St. Francis, who in all his holy and sacrificial ways, could still enjoy a treat baked by a dear friend! A recipe similar to Lady Jacoba's is shared below!

Lady Jacoba’s Almond Cookies

Ingredients:
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar (or less)
• 2 eggs, divided
• 1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 cups white or whole wheat flour
• 1 cup almond flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon water
• 1 cup ground almonds (add finely chopped pieces to the batter and coarser, bigger pieces on top)

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Beat butter and sugar until creamy.

Separate one egg. Save the egg white in a small bowl to use for dipping the balls of dough to get almonds to stick on top before baking. Add the yolk and the other egg to the creamy butter mix along with all the other wet ingredients. Beat until well mixed.

Stir flour, salt, and baking soda together in a separate bowl. Then incrementally add to the wet mix. Work the dough until it holds together and can be formed into balls. If the dough is too thin, add more wheat flour.

Roll the dough into 1-inch balls. Dip the top half in egg white and roll in almonds. Place on a lightly greased cooking tray and gently flatten with a spoon or your hand.

Bake 14–16 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned.

Cool one minute on cookie sheet before removing from tray. Cool completely and store in an airtight container. The cookies should be consumed within a week or frozen for later use.

Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

On Holy Thursday, at the Mass of the Lord's Supper, we are reminded once again that Jesus calls us to follow his model of servant leadership. A servant leader is one who is humble and sacrificial in his or her ways, and serves others out of love and duty rather than in hopes of receiving praise. In so many ways, Moms and Dads are servant leaders in their families. As parents we live the corporal and spiritual works of mercy within our homes, daily, as we care for one another. Today, let yourself be reminded of the holy ways in which you follow Christ as a mother or father, in your own domestic church of the home and the great privilege you experience of becoming the face of Jesus to your children.

During the Triduum, you may see something you are not used to seeing normally at Sunday Mass.

A thurible is a metal censer that is suspended from chains and used to burn incense.

During Masses with incense, it is typical for the thurible to be carried in the procession and then used to incense the cross and altar. Other times, it is used for incensing the Book of the Gospels before the Gospel is proclaimed. Lastly, it is used when incensing the gifts for the Eucharist, the cross, the altar, the presider, and the congregation before the Eucharistic prayer. It can also be used at the elevation of the host and chalice after the consecration.

You will see the thurible at the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday and at the Easter Vigil.

Do you have questions about Holy Week? Take the time to Watch this explanatory video.

Lord, let everything I do in the coming Holy Week be inspired by You.

Help me to remember that nothing is important in my life unless it glorifies You in some way. It’s so easy to get caught up in the day to day of my life.

Help me to enter fully into your Passion through my Lenten promises and always be reminded that You went to the desert, the garden and the cross for me.

Amen

Taken from DSHA Prayer Book, Vol. II

Catholic stories to share faith with your kids!

Mealtime is a great time to share faith. Beyond saying grace, it is a wonderful time for conversation and even connection through particular foods. Catholic Cuisine provides an overview of some foods you may want to have at the table during Holy Week to assist with your child's religious imagination and we have a plan for a "Jerusalem Dinner" from Ashcroft Family Table as well.. We have also provided some reflection cards that will assist with your conversation!

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!