Family Discipleship Monthly News

Volume 21, Issue 4 Phone: 480-967-8791 ext. 226 or pam@olmctempe.com January 2014

8 Simple Ways to Celebrate Sacred Time as a Family Even with hectic schedules, it's easy for families to grow in faith together by celebrating the sacred in eight simple and routine activities. 1. Teach your children to start each day with prayers. A good prayer to teach them is a morning offering...

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day, for all the intentions of the Sacred Heart, in union with the holy Catholic Church throughout the world and the communion of saints. Amen.

2. Put a saint-of-the-day calendar on your breakfast table. For more in-depth information, pick up a copy of Voices of the Saints for your family. Reading the passage of the day gives you the chance to teach your chil-dren important lessons about holy people whose example we can emulate, and it also conveys a sense that our days have meaning and worth. 3. Celebrate ethnic holidays and feasts—even if it’s not your ethnic group. My German mother-in-law always made shamrock pancakes for her children on St. Patrick’s Day. The growing number of Hispanics in the U.S. is enriching our culture with traditional feasts for Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Charity, and Los Posadas. There are countless ways to spice up the calendar year with special celebrations. They convey without words that all the days are special. The whole year is bathed in holiness. 4. Make birthdays special. Celebrating a person’s birth is a central way to convey a sense of time’s sacredness. The point of celebrating is to convey how much you cherish this child, and straightforward and simple are usually better than elaborate, as expressed through “things.” Find a time ay to sit together with your child and share a special message just from you. It might be about the day he or she was born, about how much you were looking forward to having this child. Or mention traits of this child that bring you joy. If you do that early in the day, I’ll bet the rest of the day goes well, no matter how many kids show up for the party. 5. Make more of your time in the car together. Do yourself and your children a favor and abstain from asking questions in the car. Instead, sit and listen. Your children may not talk to you—especially if they’re with their friends. But pretend you’re the disinterested chauffeur, and you’ll hear an earful. If you’re alone with your children, let them take the initiative. You can ask something leading: “Have you got any questions about life that are on your mind?” Then sit back and listen. Your listening attitude can draw your children out. The more listening you do, the more you’ll find out, and the closer you’ll become. 6. Create a quiet area or room in your house. Find space where there is no TV noise or other distraction. This area can be a place the kids do their homework, a spot where you can have a quiet and serious conversation or just daydream. With all the noise of modern life, times of relative quiet can indeed be sacred.

Absences: Please contact the

office at 480-967-8791 ext. 226,

or pam@olmctempe.com if your

child will be absent. If your child

has three (3) unexcused absences

in a row he or she may be dropped

from his or her session time. Un-

excused absence means we have

not heard from you to report

your child’s absence.

Usually circumstances need to be

discussed with the coordinator,

Pam Myskowski.

Mass Attendance

Family Discipleship sessions

do not replace or count towards Mass atten-

dance each week. Children in grades 1st grade

and up are to be attending Mass weekly on a

regular basis.

Safety Parents need to sign

in their child(ren) in

and out of his or her’s

session every week.

The sign in and out

books are posted by

each classroom door.

Session Times…

A reminder, please have your child(ren) on

time for his or her Faith Formation weekly session.

Thank You!

Donations Needed to help

feed his Sheep…

Thank You!

January Needs:

Water Color Paints

Graham Crackers Goldfish Crackers

Vanilla Wafers Saltine Crackers

Pretzels Fruit Snacks

Children Stewardship Project

Advent 2013-Easter 2014

Children Sponsoring Children in Need

The past two years the children of OLMC Parish have been helping children in need.

This year is no different, through Relieving children from Poverty “Compassion” in Jesus Name

Project (www.compassion.com), this year’s Children’s Stewardship Project will be to sponsor

2 children from 2 counties to provide basic needs of food, clothing, health care, and schooling.

Money jars for the monthly donations are by the sign in & out books during each session time

Prayers, writing letters, cards, and drawings for the children being sponsored is also encour-

aged. We received our first letters from Samika and Adolfo the first week of January.

December we raised $182.00.

Below are the pictures and a little bio on the 2 children the classes voted to sponsor.

Thank You for your support!

Name: Samika

Birthday: 9/2/2006

Age: 7

County: India

Center: Caruna Child Development Center

Name: Adolfo

Birthday: 9/25/2003

Age: 10

Region: Middle America

Country: Mexico

Program: House of Bread (Casa de Pan) Student Center

We have a Date… Confirmation and First Communion Mass

(children baptized and in the 3rd grade)

Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 10:00 a.m.

Ongoing Children’s Stewardship Activities

Children’s Ministry:

Monthly Children’s Mass: The First Sunday of each month at the 9:00 a.m. Mass

Needed: Greeters/Ushers, and Gift Bearers

Children ages 1st - 6th grade are invited take part in this ministry.

To be a Lector, Greeter/Usher, or Gift Bearer contact Pam at pam@olmctempe.com.

Next Children’s Mass is February 2, 2014

Children’s weekly Tithing envelope: even if no money is place inside. All children have the gifts of

time, talent and prayer they can share each week. The children’s envelopes are found by the entrance

of the back doors of the church, behind the last pews in the church, and in the Atrium.

Aids to Women Center:

Sipping Cups, diapers, baby bottles, infant toys, bibs, etc.

Donations Basket is by the Atrium Door. Thank You!

(Continued from page 1)

8 Simple Ways to Celebrate Sacred Time as a Family 7. Celebrate the night before the first day of school. Set aside the night before school begins as story night. Each person has to tell at least one story from the previous year about him- or herself or about the family. Here is a chance to solidify connections and gather strength before beginning the adventure of a new school year. It gives everyone the chance to calm down and switch gears from summertime ways of living. 8. Make Saturday night special. As the week segues from business-as-usual to the restful experience prom-ised by observance of the Sabbath, mark this special time with your children by helping them switch gears. You can prepare your family to get more out of church by shaping what goes on in your home during the hours be-forehand. There’s no one set formula. Find a routine that works for you; then be faithful to it. Excerpted in part from Raising Faith-Filled Kids by Tom McGrath. Download the full article and other family resources in the Year of the Family section. If you’re alone with your children, let them take the initiative. You can ask something leading: “Have you got any questions about life that are on your mind?” Then sit back and listen. Your listening attitude can draw your chil-dren out. The more listening you do, the more you’ll find out, and the closer you’ll become.

Mary’s Club Mary’s Club Meets usually the third

Thursday of each month

September - April

Open to All

Girls Kindergarten - 6th Grade.

Next meeting is January 23, 2014

Time: 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

Where: Atrium located in the preschool

building. Each month’s activities will

include a teaching on a virtue, Saint, craft,

and service project.

Your Help is Needed to make this successful … Food for Thought.

No extra Cost ! An Easy and Profitable Fundraiser

Don’t forget! When you are purchasing your Food for Thought Cards after the Weekend

Masses...tell them you are an RE family so they will credit our account.

Fry’s Community Rewards Program (our new FREE fundraiser)

To create a NEW account:

1) Go to frysfood.com and click on Create an Account

2) Type in Sign-in information, email address & password & confirm password

a) Enter your zip code to locate your store location

b) Select Your Store

3) Add your V.I.P. Card or Alt ID Number (telephone number) & your last name

4)Enter OLMC’s account number 80045 in the Community Rewards box

5) Click SAVE

Already have a Fry’s account?:

1) Go to frysfood.com and enter your email address & password

2) Verify that your phone # is in the system correctly, verify your V.I.P. card # is correct.

3) Enter OLMC’s account number 80045 in the Community Rewards box.

4) Click SAVE

Fry’s tech support phone # 1-866-221-4141

This is a great year round fundraiser for our program with proceeds going directly to benefit the Family Discipleship

Ministry, so please be as supportive as you can. Thank You!

No Sessions

Monday, January 20th

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!

Prayer for Christlikeness

John Henry Cardinal Newman

Dear Jesus, help me to spread your fragrance every-

where I go;

Flood my soul with your spirit and life;

Penetrate and possess my whole being so completely

That all my life may be only a radiance of yours;

Shine through me and be so in me

That everyone with whom I come into contact

May feel your presence within me.

Let them look up and see no longer me—but only Jesus.

Amen.

No Cost Fundraiser for the Family Discipleship Ministry

Below is a copy of the cards that can be purchase after the Masses on the weekend or pre-

ordered online :http://www.olmctempe.info/. Each card purchase the Family Discipleship earns a

percentage back. When purchasing the Food for Thought Cards tell them you are a RE

Family.

Have you registered your Fry’s V.I.P. Card? Instructions see page 5.

Thank You for your Support!!!

January is Pro-life Month

“Creating A Pro-life Culture In The Family”

On Jan. 22, 1973, the Us Supreme Court levied a decision, know as Roe. V. Wade, that since has had political and moral reverbera-

tions throughout the United States. In the decision, the court affirmed the legality of a women the right to have an abortion under the

14th Amendment of the Constitution. By granting women the right kill their unborn children, the Supreme Court changed the fabric

of our society and, along with it, the concept and structure of the family. In response to this tragedy, the pro-life movement arose and

has become a vital force in working to restore the moral conscience of our nation. In many ways, that’s a difficult , uphill climb—

one that we can greatly impact in our own homes, among our own families, by creating a pro-life culture within our home environ-

ments.

Acknowledge Life

The process literally begins in the womb. The way we value our own children gives witness to the value of all human life. When a

mother is pregnant, it’s important that she talk openly—and joyfully—with her other children about the miraculous blessing of the

life growing within her. “Acknowledging the presence of life is very important,” said Eva Fortini, a Midwestern mother of two small

children. “I take my other children with me to prenatal checkups. I love it when we hear the baby’s heartbeat, and I can explain that

to my little one.” Answering their questions age appropriately and involving them in preparations for the new baby helps, too . Once

the baby is born, mothers should allow them to assist in caring for him or her, as long as they show interest and willingness. Moms

also shouldn’t be afraid to modestly nurse their newborn with their other children present. All of these things demonstrate to children

that babies are to be welcomed as a blessed addition to family life, and not a disruption to it.

Keep a Positive Outlook

It’s not only our own babies that must be valued; we must also value the babies of others. Our children see how we respond to news

of an unexpected pregnancy or view large families. They can sense our skepticism or disapproval before we’re even aware of it our-

selves. Once we’ve shown our reactions, there’s no way to take it back. “Being really positive of newborn life and being congratula-

tory about it is very important,” Fortini said. Often we hear —or even make ourselves —comments that seen harmless but actually

negate the value of children, such as “two kids are enough” or “not another one!” This sends a message that babies are an inconven-

ience rather than a gift. We also can do har by responding negatively or threatening to teen pregnancies. Comments such as, “If my

daughter ever gets pregnant before marriage, I’ll …” give the impression that babies are mistakes to be dreaded, embarrassed about,

or “taken care of” by abortion. Kids are spongent, “Vicki Thorn, internationally know speaker, author and founder of Project Rachel,

a post-abortion healing ministry, told Our Sunday Visitor. “They absorb everything.” Guiding our children to be pro-life starts from

the beginning and is best done through tangible means. “They need to come from an experiential perspective.” Thorn said. “We have

to show them that baby is a gift, not a mistake . Let them experience the joy of babies and the beauty of nursing moms. That will

have far more influence on them than words.”

Be A Witness

What our kids see us doing is as important as what they hear us say. “Being pro-life means being kind to women with babies and

toddlers, “said Kristen McGuire, mother of eight from Great Falls, Mont. “And sensitive to the reality of families being themselves

in public. Sometimes, we might see a family, struggling with a toddler or preschooler at Mass or at the grocery, I never allow my

children to criticize, nor do they hear criticism from me. “With special needs children of her own, McGuire knows how hard it can

be to face scrutiny of others. “I tell parents they are doing a good job when I can, and when I am speechless, I try a genuine smile.”

Actions can speak louder than words, and so there are things that we can do to create a pro-life culture at home. One way is to ac-

tively support pregnant mothers—wed or unwed—by lending a hand when we can. Joining a meal train for new moms, volunteering

for a pregnancy help center, praying before abortion clinics and participating in pro-life fundraisers are all ways to value of life.

What we don’t do is important as well. Elizabeth Contreras, San Antonio mother of three young children, teaching them to make pro

-life statement their political votes and dollars spent. “I talk to my kids about people, organizations and companies who do not sup-

port mommies and babies,” she said, “I am teaching them to stay from anything and anyone who does not support mommies and

babies when they have a choice. They are too young to explain or discuss abortion, but I do talk to them about being for ’life.’ “I talk

about our president and how he does not support mommies and babies, and so we don’t support what he does but we pray for him to

have a change of heart.” she added.

Pray

Prayer is an essential component of a pro-life culture within a family cell. Praying in front of abortion clinics is an effective pro=life

measure, but praying within our families makes it a part of our daily lives. When we pray with our children for pregnant mothers, the

revitalization of the family and end to abortion , we teach them that pro-life cause isn’t something “out there,” it’s something that we

all should be concerned about. We also can show our children good role models, such as Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, St.

Gianna, Beretta Molla and St. Gerard Majella. Contreras read the life of St. Gianna with her daughter and the message hit home. At

Halloween, her daughter wanted to dress as an obstetrician, We found some labor and delivery scrubs at the thrift store, and she car-

ried a baby doll around to make sure everyone knew who she was a “baby doctor.” she explained. Most critical to creating a pro-life

culture at home is your overall attitude. “I think if it’s important, you live it,” McGuire said. “You embody it. Of it gives glory to

Jesus, then he will bless that attitude or conversation. You won’t have to go looking for ways to be more pro-life, because you re-

ceived that gift of being pro-life in whatever way God chose to bless you. Receptivity is prior to creativity.”

Article from Our Sunday Visitor