Posts by CathFamily
Parents: ‘first heralds’ of the faith
When it comes to passing on the faith to our children, parents are the first educators and heralds. When we think of education, we usually associate it with paid educators teaching from textbooks. Religious education, too, takes place at school or in catechism sessions at our local parish. In other words, we believe education is…
Read MoreA Modern Miracle
Kathleen Evan’s miraculous cure from cancer was declared to be the second miracle required for the canonisation to the status of a saint in 2010. Here she tells here story: My name is Kathleen Evans. I’m married to Barry. I’m a mother of five and a grandmother of 20 including two great grandchildren. I come…
Read MoreMeeting needs today
Probably the most well-known saying of St Mary MacKillop is, “Never see a need without doing something about it”. – MM. (1871). The ongoing legacy of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart still focusses primarily on education, even though a variety of ministries throughout Australia and beyond occupy the Sisters and their…
Read MoreA life of Service: St Mary Mack for kids
When Alexander and Flora MacKillop welcomed their first baby, Mary Helen, into the world in the bedroom of their little house in Melbourne they must have thought she was very special.They could not have guessed in a million years how many people would agree – all over the country and around the whole world! We…
Read MoreHealing our Children’s Nature Deficit
The shift in our relationship to the natural world is startling, even in settings that one would assume are devoted to nature. Not that long ago, summer camp was a place where you camped, hiked in the woods, learned about plants and animals, or told firelight stories about ghosts or mountain lions. As likely as…
Read MoreOn the Care of Our Common Home
Like a sister or mother – our earth “LAUDATO SI’, mi’ Signore” – “Praise be to you, my Lord”. In the words of this beautiful canticle, Saint Francis of Assisi reminds us that our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to…
Read MoreA surprise Christmas Gift
St Thérèse of Lisieux in her autobiography, The Story of a Soul, describes herself as being unable to do a favour for her sister Celine without wanting lots of praise for it. This bothered her because she wanted to be more giving, without expectation of getting anything in return. She also wanted to be less…
Read MoreRaising Money-Smart Kids
Children can be taught to love things and use people or to love people and use things. Money is a most powerful created thing which can be used for good or ill. Parents are the number one influence on their children’s financial behaviours. It’s up to us to raise a generation of mindful consumers, investors,…
Read MoreJoy-Raising Lemonade Cupcake Stall
Last year one of our daughters and her friend, nine and 10 years old at the time, ran a stall to raise money that they later divided up into church giving, saving, and spending. Try our idea for a cupcake stall the kids can set up themselves to practice raising funds while spreading some joy…
Read MoreMoney and True Financial Freedom
Is there a Catholic approach to money? The short answer is yes, it’s a God-given tool for us to use at the service of true human freedom and friendship. Fr Tony Percy and Cathy Harris, take us through it from their different perspectives. Fr Tony is a priest of the Canberra-Goulburn archdiocese and author of…
Read MoreInfertility Facts
Here are some quick facts on a huge topic! To delve a bit further you’re welcome to use our links to some resources below. Subfertility or Infertility? Subfertility refers to any kind of reduced fertility where for a long time a couple are trying to conceive but cannot due to hormone inbalances, problems with the…
Read MoreCatholic Couple’s Struggle with Infertility
Many Catholic married couples struggle with infertility, whether or not they follow the Church’s teachings on married love and the raising of families. In the 2015 issue of Frankly magazine Sally Jones (a pseudonym) explained the sadness she felt as a regular Massgoer: “Infertility is difficult all the time but sometimes the sadness feels much…
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