Throughout the year, we present an article in the bulletin each week on a variety of topics, written by a member of our Parish staff on a rotating basis.
From The Coordinator Of Religious Education
by Gwen (Cataldo) Heithaus
Building bridges. Fostering community. Growing in faith. These phrases help encompass some of my goals for our SMOS community this year. Our new Families in Faith Program is meant to help us come together in a meaningful way.
Taking on two forms, parents and parishioners will have the chance to take part in the program in two ways. First, ideas will be sent out to help families find ways to center themselves in Christ every month. These ideas will be published in the bulletin and the school and parish newsletters. More on that below.
The second way to be involved in our Families in Faith Program is to gather together with other SMOS families for fellowship. These one hour-long social events will include a short talk followed by discussion opportunities, practical tips and activities to take home, and a lot of socializing. Childcare will be provided. Here are the Families in Faith Fellowship Sessions that are coming up and the topics that will be addressed:
- October 19: Taking Children to Mass
- January 18: Answering the Tough Questions
- March 14: Walking Through the Bible
- May 16: Praying with Children
All fellowship sessions are held from 7:00-8:00pm in the school cafeteria. Sign up via the QR Code or by going to bit.ly/smosfamiliesinfaith23-24. Now, here are some ideas for the month of October!
- October is Respect Life Month, and as always our Respect Life Ministry will be sponsoring the coin drive for Our Lady’s Inn. Work with your family members to see who can collect the most loose change in the house to add to your baby bottle. Before bringing your bottle back to church, sit down as a family and say a prayer for the women and children this money will benefit. It can be as short as a Hail Mary or as extensive as a Rosary.
- Speaking of the Rosary, October 7 is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. We celebrate Mary’s gift of the Rosary that she offered to us through St. Dominic. Praying an entire Rosary as a family is intimidating, especially with young children. Start by praying just one decade a day, a week, or a month. G.K. Chesterton said, “If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly.” Praying any part of the Rosary is a step in the right direction!
- If someone were to walk into your home today, what are the signs they would see that faith is important to your family? Consider placing a crucifix or religious image on one of the walls in your house. Having visual reminders is helpful for us as adults, but is very beneficial for kids. Start a tradition in your family of praying out loud when you see the crucifix/image. It can be something as simple as saying “Hi Jesus!”
My prayer for the SMOS community this year is that our families will feel spiritually nourished. When we center what we do and how we live around Christ, we will not fail!