May each and every child of God have a successful, healthy and grace-filled year!

Friday, September 1 was the World Day of Prayer for Creation, an annual day established by Pope Francis in 2015, on which we prayer for our Common Home. It begins the Season of Creation, which we observe now until the Feast of St. Francis on October 4. This issue of The Family Zone talks about ways your family can be good stewards of the Earth!

There are 4 PARTS to the Catholic Mass:

• The Introductory Rites: Begin with the Entrance Hymn through the Opening Prayer
• The Liturgy of the Word: The Readings, Homily and Prayers of the Faithful
• The Liturgy of the Eucharist: The Eucharistic through the Prayer after Communion
• The Concluding Rites: Final Blessing and Dismissal

Photo by Mateus Campos Felipe on Unsplash

The NYS Congress is just 6 weeks away! Have you registered?

One of the confirmed speakers is Katie Prejean McGrady whose topic will be "Fostering Eucharistic Love Within the Family." She will speak Saturday in the early evening! The Eucharistic Congress is free, family-friendly, and just down the NYS Thruway!

SUNDAY READINGS:

Click on the link below for the readings that you will hear at the Sunday Mass for the coming two weeks. This will give you a chance to prepare your heart and mind for full and active participation in Mass this weekend!

Sunday Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091023.cfm

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091723.cfm

Dinner Table Chat:

Did you know that Commandments 4-10 focus on love of neighbor? In the Second Reading on September 10, you will hear these words from Romans:

"Brothers and sisters: Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another;

for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery; you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not covet, "
and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this saying, namely,
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no evil to the neighbor;
hence, love is the fulfillment of the law."

It is a good reminder of what God calls us to be for one another. Chat at the dinner table about the challenges and joys of loving your neighbor! How can you more closely follow God's commandment to love? How can "loving the earth" show love for your neighbor? What kind of impact does caring for the earth make on others?

Watch the video below with your family. What can you do to make our oceans cleaner?

Try these unique family prayer ideas from CAFOD

Pick up sticks that have fallen in your yard or an area park and create this fun mobile!

"In the beginning God entrusted the earth and its resources to the common stewardship of mankind to take care of them, master them by labor, and enjoy their fruits. The goods of creation are destined for the whole human race."

Paragraph #2402 Catechism of the Catholic Church

The way in which we care or do not care for the earth, demonstrates our level of respect for God the Creator. We also called to use the resources of the Earth prudently and share them generously with our fellow human beings.

How does this teaching of our church impact your family's daily life?
What action can you take in the future to more closely follow the teachings of our faith about Stewardship of the Earth?

Spend some time with wonder questions about caring for the Earth.

Our Catholic Faith calls us to care for the Earth. "We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan, it is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation. This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored." (USCCB)

With your family, ponder these questions:

1. What do we love most about God's creation?

2. How sad would it make us to see that beauty destroyed?
3. Can we do anything to take better care of the Earth? What does God want each of us to do? If we were to ask God, what would God say?

4. How can we make small changes? Are we throwing away too much? Wasting our food, water, and other necessities?

Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester

Debtor in Possession

Email: oec@dor.org
Website: oec.dor.org
Location: Diocese of Rochester, Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY, USA
Phone: 585-328-3210

See them all here!