THE FAMILY ZONE

This episode, which starts at 4:42 and ends at 12:37, takes a deeper look at the Procession and the First part of the Liturgy of the Word.

Now that school is in full swing, it is a great time to reminder your child of Christlike behavior to their peers. As Christians, we follow a certain code of behavior not just because it is part of our family values but because we know that God expects us to behave to our neighbor in a certain way. Making the connection between your expectations of your child and God's expectations of your child is a good way to help them build a relationship with a loving God who expects them to love others as well!

Fr. Lemaître was a priest, mathematician and theoretical physicist in the country of Belgium. He is the father of the Big Bang Theory. He first discussed his Big Bang Theory in a paper he wrote in the 1930s, which stated that "the Earth began with the explosion of a single particle at a definite point in time." Father called this particle the "primeval atom." You can learn more about him and his theory in this brief and interesting video! Fr. Lemaître was nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize.

These are brief, one sentence prayers that can give you a phrase to say when you need it most but can't devote a longer pause to prayer time. Here are some examples:

"Holy Spirit, send me courage!"

"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner"

"Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I trust in you!"

"All you holy men and women, pray for us!"

"To you, O God, I lift my soul!"

What phrase would help you to refocus your thoughts on God in the midst of a busy day or a chaotic moment?

How can you get your family involved in being a beacon of hope to those who do not have permanent shelter? There are many organizations that serve the homeless in urban areas but there are also a great deal of organizations who help provide permanent housing to refugees, temporary housing to those displaced by disasters, renovations to those who are unable to afford critical repairs, a comfortable home for the dying, or a new home to the working poor who need assistance getting out of the cycle they have found themselves in. Investigate opportunities to shelter the homeless in your area by volunteering your time, donating household items, providing meals to those in temporary housing, or cleaning up/gardening at a hospice home.

1 package brown or white rice, cooked according to pack directions.

2 chicken breasts or 4 thighs, diced

1 tsp of chopped garlic

2 T. Hoisin or barbeque sauce

Heat about 1 T. of oil in a frying pan. Add the garlic and cook for about 1 minute (don't allow it to burn). Add the diced chicken to the pan and stir fry until cooked through. Stir in your chosen sauce and cook another 1-2 minutes.

Remove the chicken from the heat. Add rice to individual bowls and top with chicken.

Set out bowls of avocado, cheese, tomatoes, edamame, corn, beans, peas, peppers, or whatever toppings your family might enjoy and allow each family member to make their bowl "to order."

It is coming upon the time where your at-home gardens might be nearing their end. If you find yourself with a lot of produce, make processing your food a family affair. Spend a day with everyone in the kitchen, taking a role in the canning, freezing and cooking process! Consider how you might make some gifts to share with others at Christmas or even share some of your bounty with neighbors or strangers at an area food cupboard. Call it a St. Isidore celebration; he is the patron saint of farmers! No garden? You can still create a St. Isidore celebration with bounty from the farmer's market!

Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester

Editor: Leslie Barkin leslie.barkin@dor.org

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

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