Archive for March 2013
Participating in the Year of Faith
Want to do something for the Year of Faith but don’t have time to sit down and study the Catechism? Check out some of CathFamily’s suggestions that are simple and can be easily slotted into busy family life. Things to Read Level 1: The Catechism of the Catholic Church Wait… Didn’t you say this would…
Read MoreLiving the Faith
The world today repeatedly writes off the Catholic Church as being irrelevant, so the fascination and buzz that has been generated by Pope Benedict retiring has been the source of substantial bemusement here at CathFamily! None-the-less, big things are afoot in the Church and in the world. In all the hype and hysteria, we present…
Read MoreGuadalupe Colour-in
We’ve put together a simple colour-in page to engage kids of all ages (and adults too!) in the story and symbolism in the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Check out these posts for the story of the image and the intricate symbolism. Download Here This activity featured in the December 2012 edition of…
Read MoreTwelve Ways to Say ‘I Love You’
In the spirit of the Christmastide, here are twelve ways to communicate your devotion to your honey. Use a dry erase marker to leave a message on your bathroom mirror. Write a love note, roll it up and insert it into a balloon. Decorate the balloon with markers. Using a deck of cards (in order),…
Read MoreMake an Oil Lamp
Oil Lanterns were the main source of light at night or in the home in Jesus time. Make your own oil lamp and use it at family prayer times to have a sense of Jesus’ presence. Materials: Materials Quick Dry Clay Oil Candle wick Bobby pin Matches Instructions: Make a pinch pot by rolling a…
Read MoreTwelve Days of Christmas
Christmas is a season not a day. Here are some ideas to make the Christmas spirit last… Beginning on Christmas day and ending on the Feast of the Epiphany (6th January) Christmastide is an ancient tradition, marking celebrations for twelve days. In the Middle Ages, it was a time of continuous feasting and revelry. It…
Read MoreGuadalupe Novena
 A Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe by Blessed Pope John Paul the Great A novena is a prayer repeated every day for nine days. It is a powerful prayer of praise and petition which makes it a perfect prayer for Advent. This prayer by Bl. Pope John Paul the Great was written for his…
Read MoreLovers of Life
Deep within the essence of the marital relationship is a parental capacity; the potential for husband and wife to gift each other with the new identity of ‘mother’ or ‘father’. This potential rests in a profound human desire to give life; to expend and extend our own existence beyond ourselves to the next generation. This…
Read MoreMother of Life
When an insignificant, barren hill in Mexico becomes the destination for 13 million pilgrims a year, something’s going on… December 12 is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This is one of the most significant Marian apparitions in the Church’s history and some 13 million people make a pilgrimage to the Basilica in Mexico…
Read MoreGingerbread Jesse Tree Cookies
Make your family Jesse Tree even more appetising by creating edible ornaments! This is great fun for kids and is also perfect for morning teas after Mass on Sundays during Advent or as a special Christmas gift. Materials: A favourite gingerbread recipe, or try this one we found from taste.com Royal Icing. If you have never made this before, check out…
Read MoreJesse ‘Tea’ Party
Why not host a tea party with an Advent flavour? Serve Gingerbread cookies with Jesse Tree symbols, or draw inspiration from the following ideas: Adam’s Apple– cut apples into thin ‘chips’ Noah’s Ark– remove the flesh of 1/2 a watermelon, fill it with watermelon balls Abraham’s Star– use star fruit Isaac’s Bundle of Sticks– use…
Read MoreFamily History
“When my baby sister was born with a life-threatening condition, my family became completely absorbed in supporting her for several months. As a four year old, the experience left me with a deep insecurity – I’ve discovered that my adult drive and competitiveness, which is often destructive, has its roots in this experience.“ We all…
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