Welcome to the summer editions of The Family Zone...a bit of faith, a bit of fun, a whole lot of FAMILY!!

June 19th is the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, a feast day on which we pay special attention to the Eucharist. This June 19th will also be the commencement of the National Eucharistic Revival, a three-year movement of Catholics across the United States, healed, converted, formed, and unified by an encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist—and sent out in mission “for the life of the world.” As we begin this Eucharistic Revival as a diocese, you will find resources for prayer and devotion, and materials that can help you better understand the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. It's a great time to recommit your family to weekly Mass and to learn more about what happens during the Mass! Check our our website at eucharisticrevival.dor.org.

This summer we'll explore great ways your family can be the Hands and Feet of Jesus out in the World!

Complete the service bingo board (below) this month!

SUNDAY READINGS:

Click on the link below for the readings that you will hear at the Sunday's 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! For a Mass schedule in our diocese click on the grey button below.

• https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061922.cfm
• https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062622.cfm

Family Stories: This edition's stories focus on the Eucharist!

• Dare to be More: The Witness of Blessed Carlo Acutis by Colleen and Matt Swaim (teens)
• Holy Mysteries: 12 Investigations into Extraordinary Cases by Sophie de Mullenheim (upper elementary)
• The Mysterious Goblet by Sophie de Mullenheim (upper elementary)
• Jesus, I Adore You by Sabine du Mesnil (children)

This summer we are exploring SACRED ART

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pierre_Mignard_-_The_Virgin_of_the_Grapes_-_WGA15663.jpg

This was painted in 1640 and is part of the collection of the Louvre in Paris. Who do you see in the painting? What do the grapes represent? What do you think of the way the mother and son are portrayed? What does the painting make you feel or think about? Talk about it as a family and share your ideas!

We wish all dads a Happy Father's Day in anticipation of next weekend's holiday! Here are some great Catholic saints who were also inspiring fathers! All these dads raised kids who became SAINTS!

• St. Louis Martin was the father of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. All 5 of his daughters entered religious life!
• St. Basil the Elder raised 5 Saints: St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory of Nyssa, St. Peter of Sebaste, St. Naucratius, and Saint Macrina the Younger.
• St. Ignatius Kim Che-jun was the father of St. Andrew Kim Tae-gon (the first Korean priest)
• St. Dominic Phạm Trọng Khảm was the father to St. Dominic Phạm Trọng Khảm, both were judges who worked to serve the poor.

St. Clare, was a Saint from the 13th century, who started an order of women that lived in poverty, wore no shoes and ate no meat as a sign of their devotion to Jesus. In 1224, she is reported to have warded off an attack on her convent by carrying a monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament out to the soldiers at the gate. She fell on her knees and prayed and the soldiers left! Can you imagine what that looked like?

To the right is a picture of a monstrance. Draw a picture of St. Clare stopping the attack simply by praying in front of the soldiers with the monstrance! Send us your pic and we will post it in our summer gallery! Send the picture to oec@dor.org!

Make these fun mason jar salads that you can take to the park or playground! Substitute with your child's favorite veggies and protein!

Next weekend, we also observe Juneteenth; a day on which we celebrate the freedom of all who were enslaved in America at the end of the Civil War. Join in prayer with your family on this special day.

On This Day of Freedom

God of all peoples, of all nations,
On this day of freedom, we celebrate triumphantly with all people of goodwill that we might walk arm in arm towards justice for all.

Breathe into us your eternal breath, that we may never tire of ensuring a flourishing life for all people, but most especially, those brothers and sisters whose growth has been stifled by the trauma of being enslaved.

O God, we know and have seen your goodness, and because of it, we cling to the hope that unity and liberation for all are within our grasp. Continue to show us your goodness, that we may have the strength to advance your kingdom with humility and grace.

- Catholic Health Association

Enjoy fun, family time together!

Try GLOW IN THE DARK bowling for your next summer night under the stars!

Lazy summer day? Build a blanket fort! What a great place to designate as a "screen-free" space for reading, praying, game playing, crafting or chatting!

Sitting under the stars, is a great place for your family to be witness to God's creation in all its glory! Spend some quiet family time in the peace of the stars! Click on the link below to find some hints about making the most of your family star-gazing time! Be sure to incorporate a little time for prayer and silence!

This summer we are wondering about God's CREATION!!

As you look up at those summer stars....

• How many stars are there? Does God create new stars all the time? What are stars made of?
• Why do stars twinkle?
• Do I see the same stars my grandparents saw when they were kids?
• Why does the sky have different colors?
• How big is God's universe???

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!