In February, the Church will have Jubilee celebrations around the Armed Forces and Security Personnel such as police (Feb. 8-9) Artists and the World of Culture (Feb. 16-18) and Deacons (Feb. 21-23). February is a great month to focus on all three as the weekends come around or to take a broader look at the theme of the Jubilee: Pilgrims of Hope! If you would like to celebrate all three Jubilees in small ways with your participants, consider teaching them the prayer of St. Michael during the first Jubilee celebration and invite them to ask St. Michael, the Archangel, to defend security personnel of all types against evil. Talk about the many ways we count on those who are willing to enter fields that protect communities and society. For the Jubilee of Artists, RCL Benziger is providing some opportunities for participants to engage with some artwork of Jesus (see the Expressions of Hope pdf link below) or you could invite each participant to create an artwork depicting hope! Finally, if your parish has a deacon(s) invite them to your session for a special blessing and celebration of their ministry and ask them to speak about their vocation! Finally, click on the resources from Sadlier below to find some prayers, sessions, and booklets that can help your families to learn more about this special Jubilee year!

February 8, the Feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, is the day our Church prays for an end to human trafficking in our world; a problem that is just as large today as it was in her time. Josephine was kidnapped and sold into slavery as a young child. If you work with teens or families, you may want to raise awareness to this ongoing justice issue with older teens and adults. There are some resources to click on below, including a service project that you can complete as a group. Please use the prayer to St. Josephine in February with your students and reinforce our Catholic Social Teaching to respect the human dignity of all.

Feb. 2 is the feast of Candlemas more widely known as the Presentation of the Lord. It is the observance that remembers the moment that Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the temple for Mary's purification and the dedication of Jesus. Simeon, an old man at the temple, prophesized that Jesus would be "a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory for your people Israel." (Luke 2:32). So, on this day, we enjoy candlelight and make light-based crafts to remind us of Simeon's Prophecy of Jesus as light to the world! Encourage families to enjoy dinner by candlelight, light a special candle for prayer time, or make these easy salt dough votives together for kids to take home and light each year on Candlemas!

Whether you're working with children, teens, or adults, this session will provide valuable insights and practical tools to help you bring the Word of God to life in ways that resonate with every age group. Join us as we explore creative methods for engaging learners, fostering deeper understanding, and creating meaningful connections with the Bible. This workshop is a wonderful opportunity to grow in your faith and enhance your ability to share God's message with others. We look forward to spending time learning together and sharing ideas!

Below is a helpful video about creating a prayer space where you gather. To find more helpful videos, check out Jonathan Sullivan's YouTube Channel. Jonathan is a national catechetical expert seen in many webinars, conference workshops and catechetical publications. He has a great variety of videos you can turn to for your own personal development as a catechist! http://www.youtube.com/@sullijo

Here is a Lent 2025 Calendar from the Missionary Childhood Association in Canada. You could use it as is, or adapt to make it more relative to your community. Lent begins on March 5. It is an ideal season to connect children to the needs of others around the world!

It's time to plan for Lent!

Debtor in Possession

Email: leslie.barkin@dor.org
Website: oec.dor.org
Phone: (585)328-3210