There's No Place Like ...

... my office!  Yes, really.  I loved being there this morning, touching paper and paging through books:  a welcome reprieve from using technology and being online. 

I am excited to share the fruits of my morning.  I created two "At-Home Packets" for you to pick up when you are next at church for Adoration (Sundays 10-1) or Confessions (Saturdays 3 to 3:45 or Sundays 11-12).  Visit the church website for schedules. 

One packet includes ideas for honoring Mary and celebrating liturgies in May 2020.  I have noticed that having a more open schedule has made me look more to the liturgical calendar.  What stories are coming up?  What does God want to reveal to me each day?  In this May 2020 packet you will find activities for the upcoming Gospels about the Road to Emmaus and Good Shepherd Sunday (two of my favorites!) 

The other packet is a printed copy of the family retreat from the Archdiocese.  I emailed families a zip file; but, I thought you might appreciate being able to go screen free for the retreat.  Please share your feedback if you try activities in these packets. 

I came home from the office to a hungry family.  By the grace of God, I had the basic ingredients to whip up lunch in my cast-iron skillet.  A quarter cup of butter, a jar of red sauce, cooked ground beef, cooked rice.  After heating, I topped it with shredded cheese and broiled a few minutes.  Hit the spot!  Thank you God for feeding my family - mind, body, and spirit. 

What's your favorite Gospel story or go-to meal?  Share in the comments :)

We are Blessed Sacrament family!

"Lunch and Lectio"

Keep the faith!  Pray with friends and with the daily scripture.  Join us on a Zoom call for "Lunch and Lectio" at 12:30 pm every Monday - Friday.  No preparation is required.  Just bring your Bible. See login links below. If you're wondering what lectio divina is all about, watch a short video on our Blessed Sacrament Faith Formation YouTube channel.  Come Holy Spirit!

All are invited to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Lunch and Lectio
Day: Monday - Friday
Time: 12:30 to 1:00 PM Central Time

CLICK HERE to Join Zoom meeting

Meeting ID: 956 172 7453
Password: Thomas

"Lunch and Lectio"

Looking for lunchtime prayer and fellowship?  Participate in online Mass with Father Benny at noon on weekdays, streamed live through Facebook

NEW!  Join us on a Zoom call after mass for "Lunch and Lectio" at 12:30 pm on weekdays through at least May 1. See login links below. If you're wondering what lectio divina is all about, watch a short video on our Blessed Sacrament Faith Formation YouTube channel.  You will also see a video showing new content on FORMED, especially for kids preparing for First Holy Communion. 

How about a little humor?  I recommend this ten-minute video called Laughing with the Saints

Visit the church website for parish-wide updates and online masses. 

Roll Eastertide! 

Connie Hill is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Lunch and Lectio

Time: Apr 20, 2020 12:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/9561727453?pwd=aEdHOEVzdEVlRTM3eDJta3dwNlRhUT09

Meeting ID: 956 172 7453

Password: Thomas

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Happy Easter! ... a feast so fabulous that we celebrate for eight days!  To paraphrase Bishop Barron, the resurrection is real, our sins are forgiven, Jesus is King, and we have our mission! The Easter season itself is 50 days (longer than Lent :) Hopefully by Pentecost, we have resumed public liturgies.  Regardless, every Sunday is a mini-Easter.  Alleluia! We are resurrection people!

For the upcoming week, I share with you a beautiful and easy-to-follow resource from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.  Lectio Divina for the Octave of Easter.  This week each day's Gospel brings us another point of view of the resurrection.  From yesterday and today I love hearing that Jesus' closest followers ran to share the good news (to beat all good news!).  Alleluia!  We are running people!

Continue to login every Wednesday night:  at 6:30 for preK-grade 3, at 7:15 for grades 4-8, at 8:00 for high school. Use the same login link (below) kids/families are joining multiple times. 

I share with you a online curriculum that you may use at home.    Loyola Press online curriculum for families - by grade  I will include some elements in our Wednesday evening online classes

I invite all families to watch this video Eucharist - Source and Summit  Relax with the music, soak up a teaching, and finish with questions to ponder.

E-mail me questions, comments, and Easter family photos!
God bless you all.


Connie Hill is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: e-Faith Formation - 2020-4-15
Time: Apr 15, 2020

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/9561727453?pwd=aEdHOEVzdEVlRTM3eDJta3dwNlRhUT09

Meeting ID: 956 172 7453
Password: Thomas

Good Friday

I share thoughts from the Facebook page of St. Michael's, my home parish in Stillwater.

The tradition of the Veneration of the Cross dates back to the fourth century. On Good Friday, the Christians in Jerusalem would gather before a relic of the true cross to kneel, bow, and kiss the cross in
remembrance of the Passion of Christ. Today, most churches venerate the cross during their Good Friday services. This moving practice inspires great prayer and meditation.

This year, due to the Coronavirus, many of the Easter Triduum Masses and services are online and the veneration of the cross on Good Friday is canceled.

So what do we do instead?

Here's your 3 step guide to venerating the cross at home:
You can place it on your mantle, a bookshelf, or a table. Put some lit candles nearby and prepare a place to kneel in front of it.

1) Put your most beautiful crucifix in a place of honor.

2) Kneel before the crucifix and spend some time in prayer.

Thank Jesus for the gift of our salvation, make an act of contrition, and say the Prayer Before the Crucifix:

Behold, O kind and most sweet Jesus, I cast myself upon my knees in Thy sight, and with the most fervent desire of my soul, I pray and beseech Thee that Thou wouldst impress upon my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope, and charity, with true contrition for my sins and a firm purpose of amendment; while with deep affection and grief of soul, I ponder within myself and mentally contemplate Thy five wounds, having before my eyes the words which David, Thy prophet put on Thy lips concerning Thee: 'They have pierced My hands and My feet, they have numbered all My bones' (Psalm 21: 17,18).

Say an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.

3) Kiss the crucifix.

Spend as much time as you'd like to in prayer before the crucifix meditating on the Passion. Whenever you'd like to, kiss Jesus' feet on your crucifix and remember how truly loved we all are.

ALSO

Divine Mercy Novena starts today on Good Friday.

Here is the link for the prayers every day.

https://www.thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/novena

Holy Thursday

Last night, each of our online classes had a beautiful discussion of Holy Thursday. We read from Exodus 12, learned about the Seder Supper, contemplated Jesus' washing of his disciples' feet, and the institution of both the Eucharist and the priesthood.  God was (and always is) powerfully present through the internet!

Today is a beautiful opportunity to thank Father Benny with a photo. He continually speaks of his prayers for his people. Tell him your offering of prayers and sacrifices for him.  Thank him for saying "yes" to his vocation.  Kids, get out the sidewalk chalk and art supplies. Your creativity is welcome!  Email the picture to me with text that says you give permission for Blessed Sacrament to use the picture on our website and Facebook page.  Help us shower him with many flowers in this spiritual bouquet.

If technology cooperates, Father Benny will have the Mass of the Lord's Supper available on the Blessed Sacrament YouTube channel this evening.  The church website also has a new page of archived masses. 

Looking ahead, we also would love any photos of families dressed in their Easter best and celebrating the Resurrection at home. 

Today, how do we respond to Jesus' invitation: "Can you not watch and pray one hour with me?" 

Spy Wednesday

Gospel passages.  Matthew 26:14-16 (and Luke 22:3-6)

Today we remember Judas betraying Jesus.  Because of Judas sneakiness, it is traditionally called Spy Wednesday.

Read the above Gospel passages and try a family activity.  The parent(s) hides 30 silver coins (nickel, dime, quarter) in a room at home.  Kids search for them all.  Note the interactions.  Are kids sharing and collaborating; or, are they pushing each other out of the way? Why is it most often the latter?

Share your comments!  Adapt as needed. We will discuss tonight in our online class.    

The collected coins become a donation.

Source:  The Catholic All Year Compendium: Liturgical Living for Real Life by Kendra Tierney

To Do or Not To Do

With so many resources at our fingertips, I want to use them all so that our kids are exposed to the beauty of our faith.  Prayers, family activities, liturgies, devotions, talks, and retreats name a few.  As Lent comes to a close, I tell myself that I can finish strong. The caution, however, is to not block the work of the Holy Spirit.

A spiritual highlight in my home today was reading a short piece of scripture and sharing how God spoke to each of us personally in that passage.  A modified Lectio Divina.  Our gathering lasted about ten minutes before everyone scattered.  But, I had a chance to hear God's voice speaking to my kids as well as their responses.  Ahh.

How are we getting ready for Holy Week and Easter? St. Benedict gives us good advice: pray and work (ore et labora) Shopping lists include vinegar, flour, yeast, Seder supper foods, stamps, eggs, dye.  In today's Gospel, just days before Passover, Martha served Jesus dinner, Lazarus reclined with Him, and Mary anointed His feet with oil.  Those siblings knew just what to do and not do, too :)

I share with you this beautiful Holy Week Guide from the Archdiocese, reflecting on the family as the Domestic Church. 

How are you celebrating Holy Week at home?

Palm Sunday ... Plan Sunday

God bless you, guide you, and protect you this most Holy Week.

Families are enjoying mass online from our own church!  Thank you, Father Benny!  Links to archived masses are on our website.  Click to watch  Mass with Father Benny on Palm Sunday

What are your plans for Holy Week?  Confessions are available through Wednesday.  Judas is a prominent figure in the readings this week.  Sure he sinned and we do, too.  However, his fatal flaw was not trusting in the love and mercy of Jesus.  May we always know our Vine.  

If you picked up palms and would like an easy-to-follow video to fold your palm into a cross click here. My kids have used this same video for years.  In these last few days of Lent, try "praying with pretzels" using these ideas and recipe from Catholic Icing website.  Also, my family used this recipe (without the cheese) and it worked very well!  Easy No-Yeast Pretzel Recipe

Since we began sheltering in home, my teenage sons have appreciated Daily Mass with Bishop Barron.  Tomorrow, we plan to watch Stations of the Cross with Bishop Barron.  Spanish subtitles are available.  One idea is to break down this hour-long video into shorter segments and watch it with your older kids throughout the days of Holy Week.

For easy access to the daily readings during Holy Week click here.  Readings are available in Spanish and have video reflections, too.  I also like how the calendar shows the liturgical color for the day to aid understanding for all of us.

Looking for a retreat?  The Archdiocese answers beautifully with a Virtual Holy Week Retreat.  Watch live each morning and evening; or, like me, when you can get a good internet connection. To start, Archbishop Hebda uses art and insight to explore Holy Week liturgies.  Love it!  May our children's eyes observe the symbolism with great faith.  Most importantly, he starts and ends his talk in Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.  Ah, rest in the Lord!

Post your comments!  What are you doing at home that has helped you live your faith?  What are your Holy Week traditions?  

Holy Week 1-2-3

Families, Look for a new post each day to help guide you through Holy Week 2020. 

First - Blessed palms will be available at church on Saturday April 4 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm and Sunday April 5 from 10:00 am to Noon.  Weather permitting, tables will be outside.  Please respect social distancing guidelines. 

Second - Our YouTube channel has a new video that hopefully speaks to both your heart and your sense of humor.  May your church support you during this most unique Holy Week.  Be sure to subscribe to both our YouTube channel and this blog to stay current and optimize security. 
Blessed Sacrament Faith Formation YouTube Channel

Third - Be intentional about Holy Week with your family.  Ideas include: 

* Online Mass  Online Mass with Father Benny
* Reconciliation   Confessions at Blessed Sacrament
* A plan of family activities for Spy Wednesday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter.  Each blog post in the coming days will have new ideas, some from Kendra Tierney's website - Catholic All Year   Be sure to write comments and share your own ideas from home. 

A final thought.  Now is a great time to write a note of thanks to Father Benny for the gift of his priesthood.  Mail it so that he receives it by Holy Thursday.  Thank you, Father, for saying "yes" to your vocation!

Between Wednesdays

Thank you families and catechists for participating in our very first e-Faith Formation classes.
O Holy Night!

A brief recap of last night: 
PreK - Grade 3 discussed the life of Jesus during that very first Holy Week.  Children were left pondering where we see dying as giving birth to new life. Let the outdoors also be a place to wonder.

Grades 4 - 8 discussed God's covenant with His people as told through the prophets (like Samuel), through the Messiah king, and at Mass.  Why might we say that Jesus taught about an upside-down kingdom?

High-schoolers discussed and reflected on suffering and sacrifice. New terms were reparation and expiation. They were challenged to makes acts of faith, hope, and love through prayer during the new trials facing all of us.

Until our next class, can you make time for Stations of the Cross as a family? Friday? 

Here is the two-page Stations of the Cross booklet for kids (as mentioned at 4/1/2020 class)
Stations of the Cross - color a mini booklet

Or, here is an online, multi-media Stations of the Cross.
Stations of the Cross - with music and images

A suggestion is to recite the following after announcing each station:
Leader:  We adore you O Christ and we praise you. 
All:  Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world. 


Join us for Online Hospitality on Sunday April 5, 11:00 to 11:30 am using Zoom

Grab your coffee and donut and login to Zoom.  Use the same Meeting ID: 956 172 7453

Did you know we have content on YouTube?  

NEW! Mass with Father Benny on our church YouTube channel. Faith Formation content on our YouTube channel, for example second graders can access three short videos of the "church search."  Be sure to subscribe for security and privacy.

Church of Blessed Sacrament YouTube Channel - BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE

Blessed Sacrament Faith Formation YouTube Channel - BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE

And finally ... 

Watch for new postings and emails on Monday to get ready for e-Faith Formation on April 8th.
See you then!