Sunday, September 8 is the celebration of Grandparent's Day. If you live in the same area, attend Mass with the grandparents and treat them to dessert or a meal afterward. If your kids are older, invite them to ask their grandparents questions about growing up Catholic, raising you or your spouse in the Catholic Church or their other experiences of God! There is so much wisdom to be shared by those who have passed down the faith to us!
September 17 is the feast day of St. Hildegard of Bingen
St. Hildegard was a brilliant philosopher, pharmacist, playwright, musician, botanist and Doctor of the Church who lived in Germany in the twelfth century! In her book, Physica, a text on the natural sciences, she described the animals, plants, stones and minerals and their healing properties. Hildegard, a Benedictine nun is considered the founder of scientific natural history in Germany and taught that God is revealed through God's creation in the natural world. Her writings focused on health and healing, balance and moderation. She was a scientist ahead of her time and was definitely a believer in both faith and science!
Wolfgang Sauber, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
St. Hildegard, Pray for Us!
This quote, from St. Hildegard, can certainly be used as a beautiful prayer to connect us to the Holy Spirit.
Feed the Hungry
Many people around the world live with food insecurity. One of the ways in which we can teach our children the important work of feeding the hungry is to think about our own use of resources. If you find you are throwing away a lot of wasted food, consider reducing your weekly grocery intake and teach kids not to take more than they are going to eat or drink. You might find that you have a little extra money or unopened groceries that can be shared with neighbors in need through a community food pantry or soup kitchen! And don't forget, if your gardens are still bursting with produce with and you are running out of ways to process it, share it with a neighborhood food cupboard; they will be happy for the fresh fruits and vegetables!
Homemade Veggie Chips
Here is a tasty way to use September's bounty!
1 large beet
1 large zucchini
1 large carrot
1 large sweet potato
1 rutabaga or turnip
salt and pepper
spray oil
Preheat the oven to 400 degree. Wash and thinly slice all vegetables. Place them in a bowl and spray with oil, and sprinkle salt and pepper to taste. Stir with hands until evenly coated. Spread the slices on a baking pan lined with parchment. Do not let them touch! Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and flip the slices, then bake for another 8-10 minutes until crispy. Cool the chips to help them firm up. Store them in an air tight container.
Grandparent traditions
Are you a grandparent? Here are some great traditions to build with your grandkids:
1. Write stories together and create your own library they will enjoy for years to come.
2. Build a back-to-school tradition by shopping together, sharing a special meal the night before, welcoming them home from the first day with milk and cookies or enjoying a zoom call to share the excitement of the first day!
3. Write them a letter on the first day of the school year, and on the last day. Talk to them about your hopes and dreams for them, and all the special ways they have grown during the year.
4. Share a blessing with them over their backpack or on their forehead. Tell them you will light a candle for their first day!
5. Keep a scrapbook of them, with notes and pictures. Share it with them when they are older.
Office of Evangelization and Catechesis
Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester
Editor: Leslie Barkin leslie.barkin@dor.org
Debtor in PossessionEmail: oec@dor.org
Website: oec.dor.org
Location: Diocese of Rochester, Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY, USA
Phone: 585-328-3210