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CATHOLIC FAITH AT HOME RESOURCES
For Our Family of Parishes
STELLA MARIS, STAR OF THE SEA
including:
St. Thomas More, St. Bernadette,
St. Mary's, St. Peter's
APRIL 2
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We come now to the final stretch of Lent.
May it be a time of "ceaseless praying"!
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PRAY FOR OUR SEMINARIANS
THIS HOLY WEEK!!
Let this year's poster inspire you
to pray for the seminarians
who continue
establishing daily rhythms of prayer, study and fellowship
that help them now and in their future roles as priests.
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HOLY WEEK
MINI-RETREAT!!
Giving Holy Week
the time and focus it deserves
can be difficult...
...especially after a long Lenten season!
And so ... there is a wealth of beauty in our
Holy Week traditions and liturgies,
that uniquely inspire us,
providing so many chances for
impacting you and your relationship with Christ.
All of Holy Week matters!
Discover how in this powerful mini-retreat.
You'll learn:
- Why Jesus' heritage mattered
- What Jesus did on Monday through Wednesday
- How the liturgies mimic Christ's actions in Jerusalem
-
How Our Lady ministered to the Apostles
after Good Friday
Click below to watch the trailer and sign up for the:
HOLY WEEK MINI-RETREAT
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Holy Week Quiz
How much do you remember about the
people and events of Holy Week?
Test your knowledge...
1. Where did the Agony in the Garden take place?
2. Who betrayed Jesus?
3. Who denied Jesus three times?
4. Who ordered Jesus to be scourged?
5. What criminal was released instead of Jesus?
6. How many Stations of the Cross are there?
7. How many times does Jesus fall on the way to Calvary?
8. Who helped Jesus carry his cross?
9. Who wiped the face of Jesus?
10. What did the sign on the cross say?
11. Who made arrangements for the burial of Jesus?
12. Who was the first to discover that Jesus had risen?
Click the link below to find the answers
and more in the:
HOLY WEEK GUIDE AND ANSWERS TO QUIZ
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The Divine Mercy
Message
and
Devotion
Both PROFOUND and simple.
The message is: God loves us – all of us.
He wants us to recognize that
His mercy is greater than our sins,
so that we will call upon Him with trust,
receive His mercy - to be saved! -
and let it flow through us to others.
This message and the devotion to Jesus
are based on the writings of Saint Faustina Kowalska,
an uneducated Polish nun who, in obedience
to her spiritual director, wrote a diary of about 600 pages,
in which she recorded revelations
she received about God's mercy - deeper than any abyss!.
The Chaplet can be said anytime,
but the Lord also specifically asked that it be recited as a novena.
He promised, "By this Novena (of Chaplets),
I will grant every possible grace to souls."
You can begin it any time, but it especially recommended to (also)
start it on GOOD FRIDAY
so finish it for the Feast of Divine Mercy on April 16.
(More on that Feast Day next week.)
For each of the novena's nine days, Jesus Himself gave Saint Faustina the intention for us to pray for:
1. All mankind, especially sinners;
2. Souls of priests and religious;
3. All devout and faithful souls;
4. Those who do not believe in God and
those who do not yet know Jesus;
5. Souls who have separated themselves from the Church;
6. Meek and humble souls and the souls of little children;
7. Souls who especially venerate and glorify His mercy;
8. Souls detained in purgatory;
9. Souls who have become lukewarm
(the last group's apathy causing Jesus to express greater concern about their soul's willingness to consider repenting)
Click below to see how to pray :
THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET
Click below to see the:
DIVINE MERCY NOVENA PRAYERS
Click below to hear from Fr. Michael Gaitley:
30 MINUTE CRASH COURSE ON DIVINE MERCY
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Immerse Yourself
in
Christ's Passion
The Passion of the Christ
is a 2004 American
epic biblical drama film
Produced, directed and co-written by Mel Gibson
Starring
Jim Caviezel as Jesus of Nazareth,
Maia Morgenstern as Mary, mother of Jesus,
Monica Bellucci as Mary Magdalene.
Depicting the Passion of Jesus primarily according to the 4 gospels,
it also draws on pious accounts, including the Friday of Sorrows,
devotional writings,
and reputable visions attributed to Anne Catherine Emmerich.
Perfect for Lent
The final 12 hours before Jesus' death
are visibly brought to light to help us
see and "feel" what Our Lord experienced during His Passion
Click below to see where it is streamed that you can watch it:
WHERE TO STREAM PASSION OF THE CHRIST
Deepen your journey further
with Fr. John Bartunek, L.C.'s book:
Inside the Passion:
An Insider’s Look at the Passion of the Christ
The most complete and thorough commentary
on this unforgettable film,
it provides biblical, historical, and theological insights
gleaned from hours spent on the set
and interviews with the director, actors, and filmmaking crew.
Click below to read more about this commentary:
INSIDE THE PASSION
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WHAT IS "THE CATHOLIC PERSPECTIVE?"
RCSpirituality provides spiritual nourishment
to those committed to living their Catholic faith in today’s world,
(most of it completely free!).
Faithful to the Magisterium of the Catholic Faith,
“The Catholic Perspective” are their podcasts
that offer relevant thoughts related to our formation
in all four sectors of integral Catholic living:
Prayer,
Knowledge of the faith,
Character development,
Apostolic outreach.
New podcasts are released every Wednesday.
Subscribe to receive each episode by email,
or find it on your favorite podcast platforms.
(Search for RCSpirituality)
Click below to check it out and sign up:
THE CATHOLIC PERSPECTIVE PODCAST
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STATIONS OF THE CROSS
ALL YEAR LONG!!
To help us experience what Christ went through in the Holy Land,
the Stations are always present in our churches,
which means we can be creative with how and when
we spend time with them.
This article at Radiant Magazine shows ways to include
the Stations of the Cross in our discipline
of prayer throughout the year.
Click below to learn these ways:
PRAYING THE STATIONS ALL YEAR
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COMING TO OUR FAMILY OF PARISHES
THIS SUMMER!!!
WHAT IS TOTUS TUUS??
An active and engaging Catholic summer youth program
dedicated to sharing the Gospel and
promoting the Catholic Faith
through catechesis, evangelization, witness and
Eucharistic worship,
from young adults to their near-peers and younger.
Totus Tuus goals
To help young people
grow in the understanding and strengthening
of their faith in Jesus Christ
through prayer, discussion, and encounters
but also lively activities
by youthful, on-fire disciples
specially trained for this ministry
- this is not summer Bible school!
Only by establishing a
real and personal relationship with Him
can we truly know the love of the Father in the Spirit
and so be made sharers in the life of the Holy Trinity.
CHECK OUT THE FLYER BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS!
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REGISTER WITH THE:
TOTUS TUUS REGISTRATION FORM
IN A NUTSHELL
2023 Summer Program: JUNE 11-16
Register by: MAY 10
Location: St. Bernadette for our Family of Parishes
Please REGISTER EARLY!
Earlier registrations enable us to take advantage of more features for the children and teens in the program!
ADULT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
IF INTERESTED, CONTACT MIKE KLESHOCK:
(mobile/text) 513-379-0378 (email) faithformation@stbameliaparish.org
Click below to download:
TOTUS TUUS REGISTRATION FORM
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HOLY WEEK
RESOURCES
ON
FORMED.ORG
Triduum: A Spiritual Pilgrimage
Triduum: A Spiritual Pilgrimage is a beautiful, 30 minute contemplative documentary.
This film cinematically walks through the locations of the Holy Week story,
re-presenting the most important days of human history.
Immersed in the real and sacred places of the Holy Land,
the pilgrim faithful is brought tangibly nearer to the story, the landscape,
and the reality of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Click the link below to watch Triduum: A Spiritual Pilgrimage:
TRIDUUM: A SPIRITUAL PILGRIMAGE
Click below to view all the:
LENT RESOURCES ON FORMED.ORG
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FRIDAY MEATLESS MEAL SUGGESTIONS
The default meatless Lenten dinner,
fish has its limitations:
Maybe the kids (or we) won’t eat it
or it’s frankly too expensive.
Be of stout heart! Here are 65 dinners that are meatless and fishless.
From pastas and casseroles, to stews and salads, to burritos and pot pies,
your Lenten world just got a lot wider.
Click below for:
65 MEATLESS DINNERS
CLICK BELOW FOR ANOTHER LINK WITH MEATLESS DINNER RECIPES:
MORE LENTEN MEATLESS RECIPES
And PART TWO: MORE LENTEN RECIPES!!
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Litany of Prayer
After School Shooting
Our Lady, Help of Christians, we turn to you,
who watched your Son give His life for us,
and stood strong at the foot of His cross,
to ask for your consolation, for your guidance,
for your motherly arms to embrace us.
We stand in silence, praying beside you.
Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin, parents who lost four children, pray for us.
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, missionary to the United States, pray for us.
St. Emilia, mother of saints, who felt despair at losing her son, St. Naucratius, at age 27, pray for us.
St. Rafael Guízar y Valencia, bishop who lived as a refugee in the United States, pray for us.
Servant of God Dorothy Day, defender of all who lack protection,
pray for us.
Sts. Perpetua and Felicity, mothers who left their infants to die for Christ, pray for us.
St. Junipero Serra, lover of peace, pray for us.
St. Rita of Cascia, mother, patron of impossible causes, pray for us.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, who lost two children and is the first saint of the United States, patron of educators, pray for us.
Sts. Jacinta and Francisco, sweet children, pray for us.
Virgin Mother, we know that as a Mother, you never took your eyes off of your children, especially in that moment of dramatic confusion; you accompanied them with your tenderness.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
From: Aletia
Click below to read the:
AVE MARIS STELLA PRAYER
Click below to hear:
AVE MARIS STELLA in GREGORIAN CHANT
Click below to hear:
AVE MARIS STELLA SUNG IN ENGLISH
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NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL
NEW WEEKLY INFO
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OUR BISHOPS SPEAK
Heart of the Revival is pleased to feature Cardinal Blase Cupich’s
five-part series, A Eucharistic Revival that
Renews the Church, over the coming weeks.
In Part II of this series, Cardinal Cupich discusses
the aim of liturgical reforms brought about
by the Second Vatican Council in historical context.
Click the link below to read this document:
EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL THAT RENEWS THE CHURCH
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Are you ready for the Parish Year of Revival?
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be offering a sneak peak
to the Playbook for the Year of Parish Revival,
an essential resource to help you prepare for
living out the Eucharistic Revival during the
Year of Parish Revival which launches on
the Solemnity of Corpus Christi this June, 2023.
This week, Fr. Craig Vasek shares a Gospel perspective
on revival, rooted in the life-giving work of the Holy Spirit.
Click below to watch his message:
FATHER FASIK'S MESSAGE
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TTransformation in Christ:
Life’s Eternal Dignity
In this week’s reflection, Julianne Stanz
shares a personal story of grief and grace
as she reflects on
Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church, no. 39.
Click below to read:
LIFE'S ETERNAL DIGNITY
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NEW!!! EUCHARISTIC PRAYER COMPANION
Click the link below to download the new (pdf)
Eucharistic Prayer Companion
corresponding with the Lenten Sunday Mass readings
and the week’s particular work of mercy.
NEW!! EUCHARISTIC PRAYER COMPANION FOR LENT
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Registration for the Congress
Launches
With all the grace Our Lord wants to pour
over the United States through
the National Eucharistic Revival and 2024 Congress,
the devil is working overtime to
disrupt this endeavor anywhere he can.
Please take a moment to pray for everyone involved
in coordinating and executing this historic occasion of grace.
Below is a list of specific intentions where your prayers are most needed.
Please pray for:
• The technology that will process registrations
• Congress volunteers
• Event organizers and administrative staff
• All those considering attending
• All who God is calling to the Congress, especially sacrifice to be there
• The pilgrims as they prepare for the National Eucharistic Procession
Thank you for your ministry as a Prayer Partner of the Revival.
Your intercession makes a real difference!
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WILL YOU BE THERE, TOO?
You can join us in July, 2024 for the 10th National Eucharistic Congress.
At this historic event, directly experience the fruits
of your intercession and see the impact
your ministry made all over the country.
Click the link below to REGISTER
REGISTRATION FOR 10TH
NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONFERENCE
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QUIZ! FOR THE WEEK
What Is I.N.R.I.
On The Crucifix?
Scroll down to find the answer!
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HUMOR HIGHLIGHT
HEAL HIM!
Our fourth grader celebrated his birthday on crutches,
so he couldn’t carry the cupcakes into school without help.
I asked our sixth-grader, Noah, to help his brother carry them in.
“I could,” he said, “but I’d prefer not to.”
Spotting a teaching moment, my husband asked Noah,
“What would Jesus do?”
Noah answered,
“Jesus would heal him so he could carry his own cupcakes.”
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GOSPEL READING REFLECTION
For APRIL 2, 2023
PALM SUNDAY
Gospel Mt 26:14—27:66
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CHRIST'S PASSION
"As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon,
and they forced him to carry the cross.
They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”).
There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall;
but after tasting it, he refused to drink it.
When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
And sitting down, they kept watch over him there.
Above his head they placed the written charge against him:
this is Jesus, the king of the Jews.
- “The apostolic faith” means what the apostles believed. What the apostles believed is essential because they were the first followers of Christ, chosen specifically by Christ, and entrusted by Christ with teaching the Gospel.
- According to the Catechism, “St. Peter [formulates] the apostolic faith in the divine plan of salvation in this way:”
- “You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers . . . with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was destined before the foundation of the world but was made manifest at the end of the times for your sake.” (CCC 602)
- The Catechism continues:
- “Man’s sins, following on original sin, are punishable by death. By sending his own Son in the form of a slave, in the form of a fallen humanity, on account of sin, God ‘made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.’” (CCC 602)
- Christ went about doing good (Acts 10:38) and continued to be innocent goodness, despite what men did to him.
- Christ took the suffering, which his enemies sinfully inflicted upon him, and made it the means by which they can be forgiven and healed.
- The people rightly acclaimed that Jesus was “the one who brings salvation (Hosanna means ‘Save!’ or ‘Give salvation!’”). He did not bring salvation in the way they expected but in the way the Scriptures had announced.
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ANSWER TO QUIZ
It is an abbreviation
for Jesus Nazarenus,
Rex Judeorum
— Jesus of Nazareth,
King of the Jews.
In Latin the “I” and “J” are usually interchangeable
and ancient Latin did not use the “J.”
That is why it is I.N.R.I. not J.N.R.J.
It was common for the Romans to hang a “titulus”
or sign, above the crucified
identifying the charges against him.
Scripture says that Pilate put the charges in
Latin, Greek and Hebrew
and
placed this title above Jesus
in scorn and mockery, rather than faith.
He also likely knew it would irritate
Jewish leaders, which it did (see Jn 19:21).
Yet even in his ridicule, Pilate, who said to Jesus,
"What is Truth?"
as he walked away from Truth,
spoke truth on this inscription.
How many people echo Pilate's spoken words today?
Jesus is King, not of the Jews only, but of all people and things.
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BOOK
RECOMMENDATION
We need to be armed for battle!
At all times, and especially during these crazy times in this vale of tears,
we need to lay our foundation in Christ Jesus.
Spiritual reading helps us build and strengthen that foundation.
Order though your favorite book dealer.
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This week's recommendation is:
Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul
by St. Maria Faustina Kowalska
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This bestselling book birthed the Divine Mercy movement,
(we believe at Jesus' request).
It is one of the fastest growing movements in the world today.
This amazing narrative stir our hearts and souls
as it chronicles the experience of a simple, Polish nun.
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We pray you will be excited to embark on purposeful
spiritual reading as a way to build a more prayer-filled,
Christ centered life.
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