Helping Students Grow in Their Vocation

Theresa Johnson from Catholic Heritage Curricula wrote some great points about the impact of parents regarding the spiritual lives of their children and how they can help their children grow in their awareness and understanding of their vocation.  Here thoughts are below:

• We introduce our children to their Heavenly Father from their earliest years.
• We train our children to whisper into the very Heart of Jesus, and then to listen for His voice.
• We surround our children with roadmaps of the Way.  In our Catholic homes, we teach them to take the Blessed Virgin’s hand so that she might lead them to her Son.   As a family, we participate in the life of Christ in His Body, the Church.   The very materials that we use to homeschool are selected because we yearn to have our children immersed and formed in Christ.
• We desire nothing more than that our children learn to incline their ears to God’s voice, and be obedient to His perfect will.  This is the secret to their eternal happiness!
• In the depths of our hearts, we pray that our children will respond generously to everything that God asks of them, knowing that He created them for a specific purpose, and that their lives will never be fulfilled unless they respond unreservedly.
• As parents, we also without reservation give our children back to God, for they will only reach the joy of their fulfillment in His glorious and perfect will.

Childhood is certainly the time to begin forming little souls for eternity.  That formation sets the stage for decisions that our children will make as they reach adulthood.  Is God calling them to the vocation of marriage?  To the single life?  To religious life?

A solid, Catholic education certainly plays a part in shaping hearts and minds so that they might be prepared intellectually and spiritually to discern their vocations.  [Remember that ‘discernment of vocation’ isn’t limited to religious life alone, but any vocation to which God calls.]

When making any choice, it is of course necessary to have a choice!  That is, we have to know the options to weigh the options.  Because we as parents have answered the call to the vocation of married life, that is usually the vocation and choice that we, and our children, are most familiar with.  To examine the alternate call to religious life, we must reach outside our families to expose our children to this vocation, this choice.

An excellent website that features solid, orthodox communities along with a wealth of information on discerning God’s call is:

http://www.religiouslife.com/

http://www.religiouslife.com/a_learn_discern.html

 

First Communion

Our parish has 200 children receiving their First Communion in the next two weeks.  We will have three Masses for the First Communicants.  Here are a few ways that catechists and parents can help their child prepare for one of the most special days of their life!  

1) Take the opportunity to live in the moment

Yes, there is lots to prepare for…dress clothes, gifts, invites to the party, groceries, a clean house, etc, etc…  But don’t forget that is all secondary to helping your child be prepared and excited about receiving Jesus Christ body, blood, soul and divinity!  As you share how wonderful Jesus is to receive and to always be close to Him the child in turn will be excited and seek to focus on being close to Jesus.  Take many moments during the final days and share with excitement your love for Jesus and how Jesus helps you be holy, to be loving, to be patient.  As they see how important Jesus is to you they will continue to grow as they receive Jesus every Sunday. 

2. Make a Novena or pray a Rosary everyday for the one preparing for First Communion.        

Prayer is powerful and full of God’s abundance.  Take the time to pray and seek the floodgates of God’s life to be poured out to the child(ren) receiving First Communion.  

3) Continue a life of Grace

It’s not about one special day in the 2nd or 3rd Grade.  It’s the beginning of a marvelous friendship and abundant graces in ones life.  It’s sad that so many who receive Jesus in 2nd or 3rd grade don’t go to Mass very often after their First Communion – if they only knew the treasure of graces.  God knows how much we need Him and He wants to give Himself to us.  He wants to form a constant foundation and give us a wellspring of grace and strength to draw from in our daily life.  We need Jesus in the Eucharist so much – it’s our lifeline!  

4. Go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation – i.e., Confession

Go to the font of mercy and have children receive the sacrament.  Go to Confession so they can be cleansed of sins, even if it is just venial sin so they can be open to all the graces Jesus Christ has for them at their First Communion.  Going to the Sacrament of Reconciliation opens one up to a more profound reception of Jesus in the Eucharist.

 

5 Ways for Families to Grow this Lent

 Here are some ways I suggested tofamilies in our parish to grow in their faith this Lenten Season. 

Get your Lent off to a great start by making plans for the upcoming 40 days.  These 40 days can be a great way to grow as a family and slow down a little bit in order to take more time to grow in your love for God and neighbor.  The three primary areas of focus during Lent are prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  Lent is often seen only from the fasting lens where adults and kids “give up” something.  This may be the best thing for your child to do but if they do not grow closer to Jesus as a result then it might not be the best idea.  I would like to share with you 5 ways to make this Lent a great opportunity to grow in holiness. 

5 ideas

1.         Family Focus Discuss as a family what you will do this Lent. 

        Take the time to talk about what you will do to grow closer to Christ this Lent.  This year try doing something as a family as well as something that each person in the family does individually. 

2.         Consider doing something different each week. 

        No, it might not be as challenging, but it might help keep the focus on making many  sacrifices in order to grow closer to Jesus constantly during Lent.  Keeping it fresh can be a way to keep your child and family    engaged during the weeks of Lent.

3.         Make Sunday Special

        This Lent go to Mass 15 minutes early so you can really prepare for the Holy Mass.  You might want to stay after Mass and have a time of thanksgiving for receiving Jesus in the Eucharist and for this time of prayer and worship with your family.  Also, consider doing a special devotional (Rosary, Bible reading, Stations of the Cross) at home. 

4.         Attend A Parish Event 

        This Lent Ascension will have many opportunities to grow in your faith.  Consider coming to Stations of the Cross at 7pm (Fish Fry at 5pm) on Fridays or an adult faith enrichment event. Also, the parish has a theme this year called “Lent and beyond”. See the bulletin each week for more details.

5.         Pray, Fast, Give

        Take the opportunity to be prayerful this Lent.  Fast from extras to help remind you of the Sacrifice Christ made for you and me.    Finally, seek to give through the operation rice bowl (given in SOR class), possibly performing some service outreach with your family.  Support a need  in our community (Catholic Charities, homeless shelter, kid organizations). And don’t forget to give your love and help to your family members.

God bless your Lent!!!

 

 

Involving Parents in First Communion Preparations

Parishes throughout the country are preparing children to receive their First Communion in the next few months. Here are some suggestions on how parents can help connect and prepare their child who will be receiving the greatest of gifts.

1. Go to Mass as a family. Make the next few months special by helping your child see how important Sunday Mass is to your family. Spend time on Sundays talking about the Scripture readings.

2. Have parents go over the lessons they are covering related to the Sacrament of the Eucharist (and the Mass). At my parish parents receive a book (this year we are using Loyola Press’ First Euchairst Book) which consists of 7 chapters and a handout with each chapter. Parents are instructed to sit down with their child and cover the chapters and complete the worksheet. We encourage them to make it a special time for their child and to show enthusiasm as they cover the material.

3. Make visits to the Blessed Sacrament. It is very important to foster your love for the Eucharist by taking the time to visit Jesus who is really present in the tabernacle. If your parish has Eucharistic Adoration, be sure to take your child their for some time of prayer and help him/her come to know Jesus and love being in His presence.

4 . Parents – share how God is working in your life. Show your child that you have a personal relationship/friendship with Jesus that affects your whole life.

5. Pray. Gather as a family to pray the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary. Pray with your child for a open heart as they prepare for their First Communion. Show your child that your prayer life is an important part of following Jesus.