Helping our children grow in their Catholic faith.
December 2023 St. Francis Xavier and St. Wendel Religious Education Program
Add peace to Advent this year
There is no denying that it may be what really matters. more challenging to find peace and joy Select shepherds. Although the during Advent this year, given all people watching the sheep in the St. Edmund Campion that’s happening fields that night weren’t the around the world. most successful nor the St. Edmund Campion had a Still, we know most popular in town, coveted position as that the world God chose them to lecturer at Oxford, isn’t where we greet His newborn and the admiration find our joy. Son. Children of his peers and Instead, try benefit from Queen Elizabeth I. modeling healthy, loving He renounced your family company. Accept everything to celebration and extend only become a Jesuit after the first those holiday missionary. He Christmas to invitations that traveled England secretly to find more peace will provide administer the Sacraments to and joy this year. precious, loving time persecuted Catholics. He was Sweep the inn. together. betrayed by an informer Jesus chose lowly Ponder in your heart. When pretending to be Catholic, and was circumstances for His birth to her remarkable Son was born, taken to the Tower of London. He encourage detachment from worldly “Mary kept all these things, pondering was martyred for refusing to deny goods. Together, choose clothing, gifts, them in her heart” (Luke 2:19) so she his faith. and toys in good condition that you could savor the joy of each moment. Our Lady of Guadalupe don’t truly need and donate them to Don’t forget to savor time with your At a time of great upheaval in people who do. Then limit the number own remarkable family so that you Mexico (1531), Jesus’ Mother and value of gifts you give. This will can ponder every wonderful appeared to St. Juan Diego with free up attention and affection for moment in your own heart. messages of hope, and conversions began occurring at an astounding rate. By 1539, almost nine million had converted. Mary is Jesus’ first and best disciple to Why do Catholics call bring the message of hope and Jesus “Emmanuel”? salvation. “’... And his name shall be Jesus is invisibly but powerfully "Let light shine out of called Emman‘u-el’ (which present with us now in the darkness," who has means, God with us)” Church, the Scriptures, the shone in our hearts to (Matthew 1:23). Jesus is souls of the faithful, the give the light of the God and He came, not just priest celebrating the knowledge of the glory to save us, but also to be Sacraments, prayer, and, of God in the face of with us. In fact, He most especially, in the Christ” promised, “I am with you Eucharist. (2 Corinthians 4:6). always” (Matthew 28:20). God is truly with us.
Christmas ends for some people when the stores are empty Host an Epiphany party. The Feast of Epiphany celebrates and the presents are unwrapped. For Catholics, the Christmas the visit of the Magi and their gifts to the Christ Child. Host Season starts Christmas Day and ends January 8, The a party featuring candlelight, wonderful food, Christmas Baptism of the Lord. Let your Christmas joy last through carols and hymns, and people who are a blessing to your the entire Season. family. Stay decorated. Rejoice in the great mystery of the Make a visit. On that first Christmas, Jesus came to Incarnation. Displaying your manger scene until us and remains in the Eucharist. If you have days the end of the Season reminds your family of off from work and school, consider attending the deeper meaning of Christmas. Keep your daily Mass or Adoration. Keeping Christmas lights up as a reminder that Jesus company with the Christ Child is the gift brought light to the darkness. that He desires from us.
Luke 2:22-40, God
fulfills His promises Mary and Joseph were faithful Jews Simeon was not alone in who did what their faith required to recognizing the Lord’s presence in I lost my job during the pandemic celebrate and thank God for the the temple. Anna was also filled and fortunately got another one, but birth of their son. They with the Holy Spirit and gave at a much lower pay rate. I am couldn’t afford the customary thanks to God. Her faith in grateful that my offering of a lamb, instead God’s promises gave her new job allows us presenting two doves or hope. The hope God to pay the pigeons. To the places in our hearts gives important bills uninformed observer, us a desire for the and even save Jesus’ birth was kingdom of heaven. some, but it unremarkable and His What can a parent do? doesn’t family quite ordinary. Teach children to look for allow for Yet, Simeon immediately Jesus in the world and to extras. As recognized Jesus as the Messiah. pray to Him often. Tell them Christmas Inspired by the Holy Spirit, he the Holy Spirit will reveal the approached last year, we explained to prophesied that Jesus would be “a light presence of the Lord to those who the children that there were going to for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for want to know Him, receive Him, and be fewer gifts under the tree and why, your people Israel” (Luke 2:32). to be with Him forever. and asked them to pare down their Christmas lists. The girls spent a lot of time going December 17 - St. Olympias over their requests, but they didn’t (408). Born to a wealthy family in seem to be upset. One night at dinner, Constantinople, this holy widow they handed their lists to me and each devoted her large fortune to caring for one had just three gift requests. Chris December 3 - First Sunday in the poor and supporting her friend, explained that if three gifts were good Advent. We anticipate Christ’s birth and St. John Chrysostom, in his work. enough for Jesus, three gifts were good His second coming on the last day. December 31 – The Holy Family enough for us. What they really Catholics everywhere light candles in an (1st century). We celebrate the wanted was family time. We agreed. Advent wreath to signal the coming of family life of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph And Christmas turned out to be a the light of Christ. – three people who lived joyful, blessed celebration of Love. December 9 – St. Juan Diego (1548). for God. By their love St. Juan Diego was visited by Our Lady and support of one at Tepeyac Hill, Mexico. She requested a another the Holy chapel be built and sent him with roses Family is a To help parents raise faithful Catholic children Success Publishing & Media, LLC to the bishop as a sign. When St. Juan model Publishers of Growing in Faith™ and Partners in Faith™ emptied the roses before the bishop, his for all (540)662-7844 (540)662-7847 fax cloak (tilma) retained the miraculous Christian http://www.partnersinfaith.com (Unless noted Bible quotes and references are from image of the Blessed Mother. families. the Revised Standard Version and the New American Bible.)