by SrDeniseSickinger | Jan 14, 2022 | Catechesis, Children, Devotion to Mary, Parenting, Pope Francis, St. Joseph, The Holy Family
At the weekly General Audience, Pope Francis reflects on the fatherhood of St. Joseph, and prays that all children might enjoy the bond of paternal love, even if through the praiseworthy practice of adoption. By Devin Watkins Pope Francis continued his catechesis series on St. Joseph at the Wednesday General Audience, focusing his remarks on his role as the father of Jesus. The Pope noted that the Gospels of Luke and Matthew present Joseph as the “foster-father of Jesus” and not as his biological one. The evangelist Matthew avoids the term “father of” in his genealogy, while Luke said he was the father of Jesus, “as was supposed”. Venerable practice of adoption Pope Francis recalled that the practice of adoption was much more common in ancient times in the East than it is in our own societies. He gave the example of the requirement in ancient Israel for a man to marry the widowed wife of his deceased brother, if he died without a male heir (Dt 25:5-6). In this case, the legal father of the firstborn son from such a union would be the deceased man, ensuring both an heir for the deceased and the preservation of his estate....
by SrDeniseSickinger | Dec 2, 2021 | a current event, Ad maiorem Dei gloriam and the salvation of souls!, Children, Parenting, Sacredness of All Life
LET US PRAY!!! AND JOIN THE CAUSE!!! BREAKING: Is This the End of Roe v. Wade?In just a couple hours, the Supreme Court will begin hearing oral arguments on a major pro-life case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The case, born out of Mississippi’s pro-life law banning late-term abortions after 15 weeks, represents a direct challenge to the deadliest Court decision in recent memory, Roe v. Wade. Many experts believe that the Court may overturn Roe, at least in part, returning the issue of abortion back to the states.Feel the weight of the moment. The Justices in Roe had no way of knowing that the cost would be 62 million lives and counting. They had no concept of the ultrasound technology we have today. And they had no foresight into the unstoppable pro-life movement born out of the ashes of Roe.But now they do.And we stand on the brink of having more power to make our states pro-life in a way we’ve never had since 1973.As we prepare to enter this new era, whether with the Dobbs case or an upcoming future one, we have to prepare for a world—for life—after Roe. That’s why TODAY, Family Policy Alliance is launching an unprecedented national campaign: #AfterRoeAre you ready for an America after Roe?Even before Roe ends, the work of After Roe has already...
by SrDeniseSickinger | Oct 15, 2021 | a current event, Accompaniment, Ad maiorem Dei gloriam and the salvation of souls!, Children, Family MInistry, FREE Catholic resources, Online Course, Parenting, Teens and Young Adults, Youth Ministry
NEW SERIES FOR OCTOBER 2021: FREE BUT YOU MUST REGISTER! We’re committed to advancing the field of pastoral ministry to young people by supporting and strengthening those who accompany young people as they encounter and follow Jesus Christ. Partnering with Parents: Learn about our new series Tune into our new free webinar series for all leaders interested in partnering with parents in bringing home the faith View Details OCT19 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EDT Partnering with Parents Series: Conducting a Family Faith Inventory OCT26 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EDT Partnering with Parents Series: Bridging the Generational Divide NOV3 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EDT Partnering with Parents Series: Creating Family Mission Statements Partnering with Parents Series: Conducting a Family Faith Inventory October 19 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EDT Free and open to all who wish to accompany parents in order to bring home the faith. Date: Oct 19 at 2 pm ET Registration Link: https://nfcym-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_t7BsZI6TRl-eXDhijP2fjw In this session of the Partnering with Parents Webinar Series, Mark Mann (Diocese of Grand Rapids) and Diane Kledzik (Diocese of St. Petersburg) share how a family can assess its “living faith” so they can partner with the parish in choosing how they wish to grow as a domestic church. This...
by SrDeniseSickinger | Jun 1, 2021 | Accompaniment, Ad maiorem Dei gloriam and the salvation of souls!, Children, Family MInistry, Parenting, Teens and Young Adults
01 June 2021 (ANS – New Rochelle) – Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, joins humanitarian organizations and the international community in celebrating Global Day of Parents, which was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012. The day, celebrated each year on June 1, honours parents throughout the world and provides an opportunity to appreciate all parents for their commitment to children. This year the U.N. is focused on the role that parents have played during the pandemic. The U.N noted, “As the anchors of the family and the foundation of our communities and societies, parents have the responsibility of sheltering their families from harm, caring for out-of-school children and, at the same time, continuing their work responsibilities. Without support from parents, children’s health, education and emotional well-being is at risk. By introducing family-friendly workplace policies and practices, companies and organizations will be in a better position to promote children’s safety and well-being and provide systematic support to employees.” In their work in more than 130 countries around the globe, Salesian missionaries provide support to the parents of the children in their programs. Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, said, “Supporting...
by SrDeniseSickinger | May 11, 2021 | Ad maiorem Dei gloriam and the salvation of souls!, books, Children, Evangelization, Family MInistry, On Sale, Parenting, Saints, Salvation, Spiritual Life, Teens and Young Adults
$27.95 Author: Patrick O’Hearn Description Additional Information As parents, helping our children get to Heaven is of the utmost importance. The only other alternative is Hell, and both destinations are for eternity. As we look back through history and study the lives of the Saints, it is oftentimes easy to forget the role that the parents of these holy men and women played in their formation and ultimate salvation. In this book, discover the hidden heroes behind Sts. Faustina, Giana Molla, Josemaría Escrivá, Pope John Paul II, Maximilian Kolbe, Padre Pio, Thérèse, and countless others. Learn how over 100 parents formed their children into great Saints by way of their virtuous lives. There are seven hallmarks we can associate with the success of these saintly parents: Sacramental Life Surrender Sacrificial love Suffering Simplicity Solitude Sacredness of Life Each chapter of this book examines a particular hallmark in depth. If we want our children to get to Heaven, there are few examples we should pay more attention to than the ones put forth here. The time is now to fulfil our vocations as parents and lead our children down the straight and narrow path to...
by SrDeniseSickinger | Mar 24, 2021 | Ad maiorem Dei gloriam and the salvation of souls!, Chastity, Children, Family MInistry, Parenting, St. Joseph, The Holy Family, The Ten Commandments
MARCH 24, 2021 St. Joseph’s Lessons on Abstinence & NFP in Marriage MICHELE CHRONISTER Natural Family Planning (or NFP, as it is more commonly called) is a natural, scientifically based method of child-spacing that is effective, morally acceptable, and… hard. Any couple who practices NFP can tell you both stories of how NFP has blessed their marriage as well as stories of how NFP has been a cross at times. Promoting regular communication between spouses and focused on supporting the health of a woman, its benefits are numerous. The harder side of NFP, though, is not unique to couples who practice Natural Family Planning—periods of abstinence. In any marriage (even in marriages not using NFP), periodic abstinence may be required. Abstinence is necessary in the weeks after childbirth, for example. It may also be required when a spouse is ill, or one of them needs to travel for work or the military. Abstinence might be necessary before or after surgery, and it may also need to be practiced during all or part of a woman’s menstruation. The great lie of contraception is that it can prevent times of abstinence. That is not possible. Abstinence is part of every marriage. What makes...