Making Your Own Jesse Tree

Beginning a new Advent Tradition in your family could not be simpler. A Jesse Tree is a simple ritual that comes with a prayer (see this article) that takes a few minutes. Prepare your family for the joy of Christmas whilst introducing them to the many extraordinary men and women of the Hebrew Scriptures. For…

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Saintly Trifecta

At the end of October begins three days of saintly celebrations. Here are some tips to make the most of them. Oct 31: Halloween – Night of Light Halloween has become increasingly popular outside its traditional American home, including here in Australia. Unfortunately, it’s largely a movement of the consumer markets to sell grotesque costumes,…

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Christ the King Crown & Robe

Christ the King Crown Create a crown using gold cardboard and decorate with sequins, rhinestones and fake fur (or cotton wool) around the bottom rim. Use this in your prayer space for the Majesty Liturgy. Download the Template Here. Royal Robe 3m of soft purple or gold fabric (velvet works well, check the remnants bin…

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Rosary Fruit Skewers Recipe

Give traditional fruit skewers a ‘holy’ twist! Praying is not compulsory whilst eating but certainly recommended! Ingredients for 10: Half a Watermelon 2 Bananas 30 Seedless grapes 10 Large Strawberries 10 Bamboo skewers Method: Cut a 2 cm (3/4”) slab of watermelon. Remove the skin and cut into 5cmx5cm squares. Trim small squares from the…

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The Rosary With Children

Get your kids involved in the Rosary with this simple craft activity. There is no better time than now to start something beautiful in your family’s prayer life. Why pray the Rosary? At heart, the Rosary is a Christ-centered prayer, in which we sit with Mary and contemplate Jesus. Through the rhythmic meditation of the…

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Mini Footy and Hole-in-one Savoury Bites

In this recipe, the humble sausage roll has been transformed into themed food to give Dad a tasty treat! Featured in the September 2011 edition of CathFamily E-Magazine. Ingredients: 500g thin sausages 1 egg 2-3 ready-made puff pastry sheet. Tooth picks or small skewers Sticky labels Method: Preheat oven to 180 Celsius/375 Fahrenheit. Lie a…

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Father of the Year

This Father’s Day, give your Dad something extra special. Featured in the September 2011 edition of the CathFamily E-Magazine Business Card Mini Photo Album Materials: Three business cards (they could be your Dad’s, or get a card that is blank on the reverse side.) A4 heavy weight paper (eg 120gsm) Scissors Pens, markers, photos Glue…

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St Mary’s Sweet Treats

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop  is known for her habit of carrying sweets in her pocket to reward good effort in her students. Try this recipe for some traditional style sweets typical of those eaten in Mary’s time. Toffee Ingredients: 1 cup (220g) caster sugar 2 tbsp boiling water 2 tbsp vinegar sprinkes to…

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A Mackillop Feast!

Australians are always looking for an excuse to roll out the festive foods that our Northern hemisphere brethren enjoy in their Winter season. Instead of ‘Christmas in July’, how about celebrating a MacKillop Thanksgiving? The Solemnity of St Mary of the Cross is the perfect opportunity to gather family and friends to give thanks for…

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St Mary Mack Chatter Box

Use these inspiring quotes from St Mary of the Cross MacKillop to make a chatter-box to use with your family and friends!A chatterbox is an origami paper craft that is fun to fold and even more fun to use. Perched on top of two thumbs and two fingers. It requires only a single sheet of…

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Sacred Heart Puzzle

Engage your kids in the beautiful devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This activity is a modern twist on the traditional nine First Friday Masses. Materials: Template Hard cardboard, glue Scissors Download Here Method: Place template on front and back of hard cardboard, make sure both pieces align, glue down and wait till dry.…

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Sacred Heart Muffins Recipe

 Try this simple muffin recipe to celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart with taste. Ingredients: 2 1/2 cups self-raising flour 1/2 cup caster sugar 1 1/4 cups milk 1 egg, lightly beaten 90g butter, melted 1 tablespoon instant espresso coffee powder Punnet of Strawberries Method: Preheat oven to 180°C. Lightly grease a 6-hole, 3/4-cup…

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