The Spirituality of Summer = How to Intentionally Insert the “Son of God” into Your Summer

The Easter Season is behind us.  The special liturgical celebrations post Easter such as the the Solemnities of the Most Holy Trinity and the The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ have occurred.  Temperatures and humidity are rising.  Farmer’s markets are firmly in place in neighborhoods each week.  The academic year is complete and school is dismissed.  Although we are in the final few weeks of spring it sure seems as though summer is upon us.  Summer has its own special flavors and smells as we navigate its many opportunities and challenges; especially for expressing our faith.  What ways can you and I be more intentional about including the Son of God into our summer season?

The first challenge to overcome is to recognize that schedules are radically different than the rest of the calendar year.  We travel more whether into different neighborhoods or towns around where we live as well as throughout the state, country and perhaps the world.  We spend more time outdoors and weekends bringing the possibilities of many new adventures.  Summer time is also particularly suited to reconnect families, friends, classmates and former co-workers when the normal routine doesn’t allow the time to do so.  The goal for you and I this summer is to savor God’s presence in the many unique situations you find yourself.  Father James Martin, S.J. provides great insight when he writes, “If you always imagine God in the same ways, you will not be ready for the new ways He has in store for you.”  Below are just a few possibilities:

1 – Walk for God’s Glory – Make an intention that the next walk you take outside in nature will be dedicated to the praise of God. Walk slowly, keeping your senses attuned to the wonders that surround you. In appreciation, pray this mantra: “Glory be to God.“  An alternative can be to pray a Rosary, especially the Luminous Mysteries.  Continue to stay focused on the wonders and those whom you encounter.

2 – Waste some time – Not on mindless surfing the web, video games or binge TV watching but on just relaxing and being, “It does no good to think moralistically about how much time we waste. Wasted time is usually good soul time,” Saint Thomas Moore has observed. Summer is just the right season for idleness and just messing around with things. Quit doing and revel in just being.

3 – Read the Bible Outdoors – Think of how many times Jesus taught while outdoors or how often the Psalmists use images of the natural world. Read some of your favorite scripture passages while you are out in nature, and see how the setting enriches the experience. Variation – Bibles & Bikes or Connecting with Scripture and Canoeing.

4 – Savor Summer Sounds – Summer has sounds of its own, whether the laughter of kids playing at the pool or the serenade of crickets at night. Lie on the ground for 15 minutes without saying anything. Pay attention to what your mind is doing. Then notice what you hear around you. This exercise helps you get better at two spiritual practices — silence and listening.

St. Ignatius of Loyola teaches us that every moment of our lives is an invitation to experience God.  Let’s take up this spiritual challenge and be attentive of God’s presence in our lives this summer.

Summer Spirituality reflection by John Gaffney, Diocesan Director of Evangelization & Catechesis.

 

Family Quiz Bowl – A Great Intergenerational Formation Event

Needing an event to bring families together, how about the Family Quiz Bowl? Christ the King Church in Des Moines recently created this game and it went over very well.  The youth were given a copy of the student question sheet (attached below) a month before the event.  Their homework was to look in their catechism, find all the answers, and memorize as many of the answers as possible.

The questions were broken up into sets of 20 questions.  There were 6 stations so that the formational event didn’t take all night. Each participant had to turn in their answer sheets before lining up to be questioned at each station.

The evening began with dinner for the families.  Each station provided 3 tickets to every student.  The tickets allowed them to ask their parents for the answer.  Any unused tickets could be turned in for prizes at the end.

The leader board was easy to set-up: a big TV hooked to a laptop with a spreadsheet of the names and scores from each station.  After finishing each station, the participants were given a scorecard.  They brought it the card to the scoring station to update the leader board.  This way the participants could see where they were in comparison to the other youth.  Everyone did very well with the highest score being 102.

Through donations (about $500) there were some great prizes for the top 5 winners.  1st place was an 8 GB MP3 player and a $20.00 Amazon Gift Card.  Every participant won a prize for the evening.  The dinner began with a family dinner.

Family Bowl Questions and Answers

Family Bowl Student Sheet (without answers)

 

Feast of St. Joseph Activities and Recipe for St. Joseph Bread

Relatively little is known about the life of St. Joseph except for what is written in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The genealogy of both Gospels place him in the line of David. Though St. Joseph was descended from royalty, it was not a title to rank or riches. Everything known about Joseph suggests he was poor, for example, the offering of only two turtle doves at the Temple. Joseph’s family belonged to Bethlehem of Judea, but he had moved to Nazareth in Galilee to take up the occupation of a builder. There is no reason to suggest he was older than a normal age of 20-24 when he wed Mary, who would have been 15-20. Matthew mentions the annunciation to Joseph of Mary’s conception, the visit of the Magi, the flight to Egypt and the return to Nazareth. Luke fills in the details of the birth of Christ, the Presentation and the temporary loss of Jesus in Jerusalem at the age of twelve. After that, Joseph disappears from the pages of the Gospel. Since he is not mentioned during the ministry of Jesus or at the Passion, it is assumed that he had already died by that point.

Other stories surround the life of Joseph, but most are believed to have been invented to satisfy popular curiosity. Some of these stories include a first marriage where Joseph was widowed, his great age (111 years) and his protracted death where he receives comfort from Mary and Jesus. The Gospels are really the only reliable source of information on Joseph’s life and though they are brief, they give a good outline of his character. St. Joseph was a faithful, patient man, obedient to the demands of God and willingly accepting of hardships. Matthew calls him “a just man”, illustrated by his loyalty in protecting and providing for his family. In 1870, Pope Pius IX proclaimed Joseph as the Patron of the universal Church, honoring his role of support, protection and guidance and named March 19 as “the [heavenly] birthday of St Joseph”. Pius XII added a second feast of Joseph the Worker, which is celebrated May 1st, the traditional Labor Day.

Prayers to St Joseph

St Joseph Bread Recipe

St Joseph Paper Doll

 

Dignity of the Human Person Lenten Activities – Vietnam

 

To help resource Lent this year, we will use the Catholic Relief Services outreach to six countries to highlight a different key principle of Catholic Social Teaching.  Today we will focus on the Catholic Social Teaching Principle: Dignity of the Human Person.  Today’s post will provide you with a CRS slideshow about their work in Vietnam, two spotlights on how Operation Rice Bowl has helped people, a native recipe from Vietnam you can try with your family, and a lesson plan.

In a world warped by materialism and declining respect for human life, the Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. Our belief in the sanctity of human life from womb to tomb and the inherent dignity of the human person is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching. Catholic Relief Services’ education programs in Vietnam and around the world support and promote quality education for all people. The Inclusion of Vietnamese with Disabilities (IVWD) program helps people with physical disabilities achieve higher education and find good jobs. IVWD helps each person realize his or her potential. This program reflects the Catholic social teaching principle Dignity of the Human Person.

Vietnam Slideshow on CRS’ Education Programs

Meet Quyt and Thuan from Vietnam

My name is Quyt and I live in central Vietnam. My daughter Thuan is 10 years old. She has cerebral palsy and can’t walk or move easily. When she was young, I was frustrated and often cried. I wanted my daughter to learn, but she wasn’t strong enough to go to school. Then Catholic Relief Services invited me to a meeting for parents who have children with disabilities. I learned how to exercise Thuan’s muscles and teach her to eat on her own. I wrote the alphabet on the wall near Thuan’s bed so she could learn it.

CRS sent a tutor to our house to help with Thuan’s education. In the beginning, Thuan could not even hold a pen. Now, she writes math problems, poems, and much more. Thuan’s tutor is amazed at how well she is doing. Still, we face challenges each day, so CRS helped us organize a local parents’ association. We share advice on caring for our children, celebrate accomplishments, and comfort each other through difficulties. Without CRS, Thuan might not be able to read or write. I am so proud of my daughter—she is very smart.

Meet Giap from Vietnam

My name is Giap and I live in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. When I was 17 I became sick with a fever. My muscles got weak, and soon I couldn’t walk anymore. I am now in a wheelchair.

When I finished high school, I didn’t know what my future would hold. Then I heard about a school that CRS supports for people with disabilities, and I decided to enroll. My brother stayed for a month on campus with me to help me get settled. My fellow students all have disabilities—some of us are in wheelchairs, some use crutches, and some are blind. The school has special facilities to help each person succeed. We are all learning computer skills and how to work in an office setting. It’s encouraging for all of us to see other students graduating and getting jobs. I started a group that designs websites. I’m proud to have overcome my difficulties and look forward to supporting myself with my new skills.

Lenten Recipe of the Week Vietnam

USCCB Life & Dignity of the Human Person Lesson Plan – Junior High and High School

 

 

Care for God’s Creation Lenten Activities – Madagascar

To help resource Lent this year, we will use the Catholic Relief Services outreach to six countries to highlight a different key principle of Catholic Social Teaching.  Today we will focus on the Catholic Social Teaching Principle: Care of God’s Creation.  Today’s post will provide you with a CRS video about their work in Madagascar, two spotlights on how Operation Rice Bowl has helped people, a native recipe from Madagascar you can try with your family, and a lesson plan.

Catholic tradition insists that we show our respect for God by our stewardship of creation. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation. This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions which cannot be ignored.  CRS’ agriculture programs in Madagascar and around the world help farmers in the poorest communities improve their harvests using environmentally sensitive techniques that help preserve the land for future generations.

Meet Mr. Robin from Madagascar

My name is Mr. Robin and I’m a farmer in Madagascar. I live in a very dry region where we often have droughts. But thanks to CRS, the farms in our community are thriving. Before CRS came to our village, farmers spent many hours carrying water buckets to the crops. We were only able to grow a few types of lettuce. We had to walk three hours to the market to buy any other vegetables we needed. Most farmers had to work several extra jobs to make ends meet.

CRS gave the famers in our village a treadle pump, and now we can water three times as much land in half the time it took with a bucket. We also received drought resistant seeds and training on new planting techniques. Now I grow corn, lettuce, sorghum, cucumbers, pumpkins, and orange trees on my farm. CRS also taught us new ways to keep the soil fertile, like placing squash plants in between rows of corn. My farm is so successful that I had to hire two people to work for me. I sell my vegetables right here in the village for half the price that is charged at the market. I’m also the president of our local farmers’ association, and I let other farmers use part of my land to test new crops and growing methods. With the help of CRS, we have really improved the quality of life in our village.

Meet Suzy from Madagascar

My name is Suzy Razafindrafara and I am a farmer in Madagascar. A few years ago, CRS and its partner Caritas Antsirabe came to our village and told us about a new way to plant rice called the System for Rice Intensification. When I heard it, the idea sounded a little crazy. How could using less water and fewer seeds bring a larger harvest? My neighbors laughed at me for trying it. But when my fields yielded one and a half times more rice than theirs, no one laughed anymore. Instead, people in the village asked me to teach them the new method too.

This new way of planting requires more work. We used to flood our fields to get rid of the weeds, but we learned that this damages the roots of the rice plants. Now we weed by hand, a task that takes four people two whole days to complete. The extra work is worth it. Before CRS came to our village, my family was only able to grow enough rice to feed ourselves for about ten months. Now our rice crop lasts the whole year. We often have extra rice to sell, which helps us pay for our children’s school fees. Sometimes we even have enough money to buy little luxuries, like a battery powered television set. Now every farmer in my village is using this new planting method, and we are all enjoying better harvests.

Lenten Family Recipe of the Week from Madagascar

The Catholic Toolbox Lesson Plan on Creation

 

Lenten Activities for Children, Youth and Adults

Ash Wednesday begins today and as in the past, I have delayed actually being intentional about my goals for Lent 2012.  Lent always brings surprises, but what am I willing to bring to this holy season?  Today’s post includes a variety of items for all ages including:

• Pope Benedict XVI giving a brief meditation on the significance of Ash Wednesday and Lent,
• Joe Paprocki, from Loyola Press, providing 40 daily activities for Lent 2012 that are primarily at-home activities but that could be a component in the formation sessions too,
• Center for Ministry Development lesson plan for Middle School youth regarding temptation and how we respond to temptation,
• Mark Hart explains why Catholics put ashes on their heads on Ash Wednesday
• Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur provides a Station of the Cross for women

40 Lenten Ideas for 40 Days, by Joe Paprocki

Lead Us Not into Temptation Lesson Plan by Susan Searle (Center for Ministry Development)

Mark Hart (the Bible Geek) explains why Catholics put ashes on their heads today

Stations of the Cross for Women

 

Take the Food Stamp Challenge this Lent – Family Faith Formation Opportunity

Could you live on food stamps for just one week?

Did you know that each month 373,856 Iowans utilize food stamps as their main source of food?  That is equivalent to the populations of Des Moines, Urbandale, Clive, Ankeny and West Des Moines combined!

Thankfully, most of us reading this have no idea what it is like to use food stamps. We have been blessed with enough resources that enable us and our families to go to the grocery store and purchase what we need. And even stuff we don’t need.

But if we don’t really know what it is like to have to rely on a stipend or an allotment for our food, how can we effectively advocate for our brothers and sisters, neighbors and co-workers and friends and family who are in need of essential assistance?

2012 Food Stamp Challenge Flyer

Please join Catholic Charities for one week (or even just a few days) this Lenten season in taking part in the Food Stamp Challenge.  The Challenge is something the entire family can take part in.  Taking this challenge will help those who participate understand that those on food stamps are not living the life of luxury that stereotypes might suggest and that our friends and neighbors are seeking assistance for a reason.

Here is how it works:

1. Each person receiving food stamps has a monthly allotment of $133.79. That translates to $4.50 per day or $1.50 per meal. This is your food budget for all the food your eat during the week. (can’t do a week– shoot for just a couple of days!)
2. All food purchased and eaten during the Challenge week, including fast food and dining out must be included in the total spending.
3. During the Challenge, eat only food that you purchase for the project. Do not eat food that you already own.
4. Share your experience of how it is going at your faith formation session, school class room, youth ministry evening, parents group meeting, Bible study meeting and with Catholic Charities by joining the on-line conversation at facebook.com/CatholicCharitiesDM.

At the end of the week:

• You will gain empathy for those not as fortunate as you,
• You will use prayer to get you through the week,
• You will better understand basic food needs,
• You will probably be hungry.

You and your group are also invited to donate the money you save on food to St. Mary Family Center, Catholic Charities food pantry and free clothing closet. St. Mary’s is one of a many pantry sites that helps supplement food needs when food stamps are just not enough.  For those participating in other areas of the diocese, please consider finding a local food pantry and outreach center to support.

Donations can be sent to:
Catholic Charities – Lenten Food Stamp Challenge
601 Grand Ave. Des Moines, IA 50309

For more information or ideas on how to get your group or program to participate, contact Ken Bresnan at 515-237-5089 or by e-mail at kbresnan@dmdiocese.org.

The Food Stamp Challenge is being held as part of Catholic Charities Special Collection in parishes during Lent. Please consider participating in this important collection that funds services offered through Catholic Charities.

 

A Take Home Activity for Families – St. Stephen’s Scrambled Egg Recipe & Prayer Service

Saint Stephen is the first martyr of the Church.  He is the patron for deacons, stonemasons, bricklayers, headaches, and horses.  We read about his story in the Acts of the Apostles.  In his book Love Does Such Things by Rev. M. Raymond, O.C.S.O. he writes about martyrdom as witness, “If you know what witness means, you understand why God brings St. Stephen, St. John, and the Holy Innocents to the crib in the cave as soon as Christ is born liturgically.  To be a witness is to be a martyr.  Holy Mother Church wishes us to realize that we were born in baptism to become Christ–He who was the world’s outstanding martyr.”

St. Stephen - First Martyr

The recipe below comes to us from France.  I’m not quite sure the origin of this recipe.  Perhaps it is a joke or commentary on St. Stephen’s condition after being stoned to death.  Whatever the origin, this recipe is delicious and good for either brunch or supper.  It comes to us from Brother Victor-Antoine d’Avila-Latourrette and his book From a Monastery Kitchen: The Classic Natural Foods Cookbook, Gramercy Books, 1997.

This is a wonderful way to help families put a little formation into their everyday lives.  They can make this delicious meal, read the narrative and then pray the prayer.

St Stephen Prayer & Recipe