It is just about that time again. Soon it will be Lent, and it will be time for prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. I do not know about anyone else, but when I reflect on my attempts to grow spiritually during Lent, I probably have had more misses than hits.

As a child, I would always try to convince my parents that I would fast by giving up watermelon. Unfortunately, my parents were quite aware that watermelon was not readily available in Wisconsin during the late winter and early spring months. They also knew that I did not like watermelon.

One year I decided to give up money! That lasted until my grandfather gave me a shiny silver dollar. When my mother asked what happened to my promise to give up money, I informed her that my fast did not include “big money.”

As an adult, I dutifully abstained from eating meat on Friday. I would give up beef, pork and poultry for seafood and, of course, the Milwaukee fish fry! I was very excited when I finally reached the age where I was no longer obligated to fast. After all, it was such a sacrifice!

My attempts at improving my prayer life have been a series of “ups and downs.” Praying at bedtime resulted in my tired mind wandering. Morning prayer: who has the time? Rote prayer: boring! However, the prayer style that I was most faithful to started with asking God to help me give me what I wanted, or forgive me. I knew that prayer was meant to be a conversation, but much of my prayer was very one-sided – my side!

Almsgiving has always been easier for me. As children, we learned to save our treasures in “mite boxes.” I can still remember how excited I was to bring my little box forward during the presentation of gifts on Easter Sunday. I was confident that my contribution would save all the poor people in the world. I still get excited being able to share my wealth with others.

Don’t get me wrong; almsgiving is not always easy. When a food drive comes up, I can easily use it as an opportunity to rid the pantry of food that is far from our favorite. When I hear the collection bells at Christmas or see veterans selling poppies, I have found it easy to avoid eye contact and just keep walking. Moreover, of course, I know the church understands when I do not put anything in the collection basket because all I have is “big money.”

This year I have decided to take a different approach to my Lenten practices. This year I intend to focus on:

L – listening
Some people tell me that I am a good listener. However, I am not sure that my family or God would necessarily agree. This Lent, I intend to begin my prayer by being silent and listening for God’s voice. I also intend to truly listen to my family, instead of trying to multitask when they are speaking. (Did you know the brain is not wired to multitask?) Is there any one to whom you need to really listen?

E – engagement
I am usually generous with my treasure but am much more reluctant to give of my time and my talent. This Lent, I intend to engage in one project for the betterment of others. As of yet, I do not know what that project will be, but I am sure that God will lead me where He wants me to go. Is there somewhere or somehow that you are being called to more fully engage?

N – nurturing
There are two people that I intend to nurture more fully this Lent. One is our toddler granddaughter Olivia. I want to be more present to her during this important developmental time of her life. I am the other person whom I need to nurture. With multiple serious health issues, I need to provide myself with the self-nurturing that is needed. Who needs your nurturing?

T – trusting
Finally, I intend to trust more fully. This is not easy for me. So, I will focus on deepening my trust in God. By listening and engaging in His plan for me, I hope that I will grow in trust of Him, others and myself. Whom do you need to trust?

Hopefully, my words will give you something to reflect upon as you enter this holy, challenging season of Lent. Maybe we can share our Lenten success stories sometime!

Lenten blessings,

Dr. Kathleen Beuscher, Ed.D.

Dr. Beuscher received her Doctor of Education degree from Cardinal Stritch University. Her dissertation was on the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Kathleen was involved in parish catechesis for over 30 years within the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Kathleen currently serves as a Consultant for RCL Benziger, along with her husband, Jim.

Nos acercamos de nuevo a ese momento. Pronto llegará la Cuaresma y será tiempo para rezar, ayunar y dar limosna. No sé cómo se sentirán los demás, pero cuando reflexiono sobre mis intentos de crecer espiritualmente durante la Cuaresma, probablemente encuentro más errores que aciertos.

Cuando era niña, siempre trataba de convencer a mis padres de que ayunaba absteniéndome de comer sandía. Lamentablemente, mis padres sabían bien que las sandías no abundan en Wisconsin durante los meses del final del invierno y del principio de la primavera. También sabían que no me gustaba la sandía.

¡Un año decidí renunciar al dinero! Duró hasta que mi abuelo me dio un dólar plateado brillante. Cuando mi madre me preguntó qué sucedió con mi promesa de renunciar al dinero, le informé que mi ayuno no incluía “mucho dinero”.

Ya adulta, obedientemente me abstenía de comer carne los viernes. Renunciaba a comer carne de vaca, de cerdo y de ave para comer mariscos y por supuesto, ¡el pescado frito de Milwaukee! Estaba muy emocionada por llegar finalmente a la edad donde ya no tenía la obligación de ayunar. ¡Después de todo, era un gran sacrificio!

Mis intentos de mejorar mi vida de oración han consistido en una serie de altibajos. No conseguía rezar a la hora de ir a dormir porque en general mi mente cansada vagaba. Oración de la mañana: ¿quién tiene tiempo? Oración repetitiva: ¡aburrida! Sin embargo, el estilo de oración al que era más fiel solía comenzar con pedir a Dios que me ayudara, que me diera lo que quería o que me perdonara. Sabía que la oración tenía que ser una conversación, pero gran parte de mi oración estaba muy inclinada hacia un lado. ¡Mi lado!

Dar limosna siempre ha sido mucho más fácil para mí. Cuando éramos niños, aprendimos a guardar nuestros tesoros en “alcancías para caridad”. Aún puedo recordar lo emocionada que estaba al llevar mi pequeña alcancía durante la presentación de dones el Domingo de Pascua. Estaba segura de que mi contribución salvaría a todos los pobres del mundo. Aún me emociona poder compartir mis riquezas con los demás.

No me entiendan mal, dar limosna no es siempre fácil. Cuando llega una campaña para colectar alimentos, fácilmente la puedo usar como oportunidad para deshacerme de los alimentos que no son nuestros preferidos. Cuando escucho el repique de las campanas en Navidad o veo veteranos que venden amapolas, me resulta fácil evitar el contacto visual y seguir caminando. Y por supuesto, sé que la Iglesia entiende cuando no pongo nada en la canasta de la colecta porque todo lo que tengo es “dinero grande”.

Este año decidí tomar un enfoque diferente de mis prácticas de Cuaresma. Este año me enfoco en:

CU idar
Hay dos personas a las que quiero cuidar más plenamente en esta Cuaresma. Una es nuestra pequeña nieta Olivia. Quiero estar más presente para ella durante este tiempo importante de desarrollo en su vida. Yo soy la otra persona que necesito cuidar. Con múltiples problemas de salud graves, necesito proporcionarme el cuidado que necesito. ¿Quién necesita tu cuidado?

AR riesgar
Por lo general soy generosa con lo que tengo pero soy mucho más reacia a dar de mi tiempo y de mi talento. En esta Cuaresma, me arriesgaré a participar en un proyecto que mejore a otros. Hasta ahora, no sé cuál será el proyecto, pero estoy segura de que Dios me guiará a donde Él quiera que yo vaya. ¿Hay algún lugar o alguna manera en la que te están llamando a participar más plenamente?

ES cuchar
Algunas personas me dicen que sé escuchar. Sin embargo, no estoy segura de que mi familia o Dios necesariamente piensen lo mismo. En esta Cuaresma, tengo la intención de comenzar mi oración haciendo silencio y escuchando la voz de Dios. También tengo la intención de escuchar verdaderamente a mi familia, en lugar de tratar de hacer muchas tareas cuando están hablando. (¿Sabías que el cerebro no está conectado para hacer varias tareas a la vez?) ¿Hay alguien a quién necesitas escuchar realmente? compromiso

MA-ntener la confianza
Finalmente, mi intención es confiar más plenamente. No me resulta fácil. Tendré que esforzarme en mantener mi confianza en Dios. Al escuchar y arriesgarme a salir de mi zona de confort para cumplir Su plan para mí, espero que crezca mi confianza en Él, en los demás y en mí. ¿En quién necesitas confiar?

Ojalá, mis palabras te den algo para reflexionar al entrar en este tiempo santo y exigente de Cuaresma. ¡Tal vez podamos compartir nuestras historias exitosas de Cuaresma alguna vez!

Bendiciones de Cuaresma,

Dr. Kathleen Beuscher, Ed. D.

La Dra. Beuscher recibió su Doctorado en Educación en la Universidad Cardinal Stritch. Su tesis doctoral fue sobre el Sacramento de la Penitencia y Reconciliación. Kathleen participó en catequesis parroquial durante más de 30 años dentro de la Arquidiócesis de Milwaukee. Actualmente se desempeña como consultora para RCL Benziger, junto con su esposo, Jim.

“Almsgiving” is a word that most of us rarely hear in normal, everyday conversation, yet the concept is an ancient one. It is deeply rooted in the Christian, Judaic, and Islamic Faith Traditions, and is most often associated with the concept of justice and charity.

Within the Christian Tradition, almsgiving is viewed as an act of love and justice. A look at the worldwide view of almsgiving shows that Muslims approach almsgiving as a necessary action of Faith; (one of the five pillars of their tradition) and in Judaism it is looked upon as “righteousness” – the recognition that all we have is “gift” and the obligation to reach out to others as a form of justice and accountability.

Fostering a sense of justice and love and gratitude within the people of faith in a Catholic parish setting is more necessary now than ever before. We live in an age when wealth and prosperity are mistakenly linked with a sense of self-redemption. We don’t often think of the play, A Christmas Carol, this time of year, but it illustrates a common attitude about money and wealth. Scrooge’s character announces, “I have wealth and power and success because of my own deeds, my own efforts.” However, Charles Dickens reminds Scrooge not only of the need for gratitude to God for all that he has been given but of his intimate connection to all humanity, especially in the relationship he has between himself and Bob Cratchit, his woefully underpaid and overworked employee.

Christians are taught, by Christ, himself, of the necessity to reach out to others, in charity, not merely from our “excess” but from the deepest part of our soul. Think of Mark 12: 41-44 when he commends the generosity of the “poor widow” who gave from her heart, not just from her excess.

During Lent, Catholic Christians are encouraged to “pray, fast, and to give alms” – but praying, fasting, and giving alms does not need to be limited to only one Liturgical Season. We are told to “pray always” (Luke 18:1); we are taught to expand our understanding of fasting from merely “dieting” to discipline and action (Fast from judging others, Feast on the Christ indwelling them) [William Arthur Ward, 1921-1994] and giving alms equates to a growing awareness that we are part of a Community of Believers who respond from their hearts, out of love and a sense of justice, to the needs of others. (Think stewardship – the gift of time, talent, and treasure).

How do we foster a sense of Almsgiving as a faith response? Within schools and parishes, we can encourage people to respond, year round, to the expressed needs of others:

• In food, clothing, and toy drives
• In prayer requests
• In tithing
• In community “potlucks”
• By donating to Catholic Charities and Catholic Relief Services

Some people become very anxious when it comes to giving alms – they are concerned that there will always be some cause, some need that will be calling upon them to give and give and give. They express a strong concern of the necessity of protecting themselves and their families from the unending call to help those who cannot help themselves. But the truth is that when they reach out to others, with a sense of justice and love, we are protecting ourselves and our families because we are letting the roots of faith grow deeper and stronger. Yes, it is true that (“The poor you will have with you always” – Matt. 26: 11), but it is also true that when we see the Face of Christ within the lives of those who are hungry and needy, we are becoming the Body of Christ on earth right now.

Catholic Social Teaching challenges us to consider an Option for the Poor and Vulnerable and to live in Solidarity as one human family. We are all children of God. When we walk in the footsteps of Jesus, we respond as disciples and give to those who have less. This has been a hallmark of Christian identity from the time of the early church until now. And, Almsgiving is just as important now, as ever. It is good for our hearts, our society, and for our brothers and sisters living in poverty who need our help today.

June Wessa, MAPS – June Wessa is a married mother & grandmother who serves the Church. She has been an elementary classroom teacher, a DRE, and, most recently, a Pastoral Associate. She is a writer, retreat director, and spiritual director.

Los católicos parecen tenerle miedo a la evangelización. Tendemos a no usar la palabra evangelizar en nuestro vocabulario. Esto es desconcertante porque la evangelización por lo general es una parte hermosa de nuestra fe y de nuestra misión como seguidores de Jesús. Sencillamente, la evangelización es compartir la Buena Nueva. Estamos llamados a compartir la Palabra con todos aquello con quienes nos encontremos.

Jesús dijo: “Vayan, pues, y hagan que todos los pueblos sean mis discípulos. Bautícenlos en el Nombre del Padre y del Hijo y del Espíritu Santo, y enséñenles a cumplir todo lo que yo les he encomendado a ustedes” (Mateo 28,19-20). Esta es una declaración muy clara y una gran responsabilidad. Cuando reflexionamos sobre las palabras de Jesús, nos pide que llevemos la Buena Nueva, lo que aprendimos sobre Jesús, y la compartamos con los demás. Podemos invitar a amigos, familiares y vecinos, católicos o no, a que tomen medidas pequeñas y se unan a nosotros en nuestro camino de fe con la esperanza de que fortalecerán o comiencen su propia relación con Jesús.

Tenemos que recordar que solo podemos dar lo que recibimos. Por el sacramento del Bautismo, estamos llamados a ser discípulos de Cristo. Ir a misa devotamente todas las semanas, escuchar la Palabra y recibir la Eucaristía nos preparará para evangelizar. El Papa Francisco dijo: Evangelizamos “no con palabras altisonantes, ni términos complicados, sino los que nazcan de ‘la alegría del Evangelio’, que ‘llena el corazón y la vida entera de los que se encuentran con Jesús’” (Santa Misa por la Evangelización de los Pueblos, 2015).

Escuchar el mensaje del Evangelio con nuestra Iglesia, juntos como comunidad de discípulos, nos renueva en nuestra fe y nos permite compartir el mensaje de Jesús. Las siguientes son algunas ideas para tener en cuenta con el fin de acoger a otros en la Iglesia. Después de intentar algunas invitaciones te este tipo por ti mismo, habla con tus estudiantes acerca de tu vivencia. Los niños pueden aprender de maneras profundas y significativas con tu ejemplo. Esto los puede ayudar a ver cómo pueden ser discípulos y también evangelizar.

<strong>Catequistas:</strong>

Anima a los amigos y familiares que se alejaron de la Iglesia a ir contigo a misa un día festivo, o a una misa que tenga un significado especial para ti.

Invita a vecinos y compañeros de trabajo a que participen contigo en un proyecto de servicio, asistan a un concierto de música sacra, o escuchen a un orador en tu iglesia.

Encuentra una manera todas las semanas de contarle a alguien algo que haces por ser católico, y cómo tu fe le da forma a tu vida de una manera positiva.

Piensa en cómo vives realmente la Palabra de Dios cada semana. Piensa en tener un diario de la misa en el cual reflexionas sobre el Evangelio del domingo, y escribe algunas oraciones sobre tu respuesta genuina a las Sagradas Escrituras. Usando esta reflexión, encuentra maneras de mostrar la Palabra de Dios a otras personas durante la semana por medio de tus acciones.

<strong>Estudiantes:</strong>

Cada semana da tiempo a tus estudiantes para reflexionar y hablar sobre el Evangelio dominical. Esto los ayudará a llegar a conocer y entender mejor el significado de la Buena Nueva, para que puedan compartir el mensaje con los demás.

Anima a tus estudiantes a invitar a amigos a misa.

Los estudiantes más grandes podrían considerar invitar a amigos a reuniones de grupos juveniles.

Los niños de todas las edades pueden invitar a los amigos a participar en proyectos de servicio que se realizan en la iglesia.

Pide a tus estudiantes sus ideas sobre cómo pueden ser buenos discípulos e invitar a amigos y vecinos a seguir a Jesús. Los niños tienen corazones puros, y sus respuestas auténticas por lo general ofrecen inspiración a otros niños y adultos por igual.

Recuerda que cuando nuestra fe está viva en nosotros, podemos estar abiertos al Espíritu Santo que obra por medio de nosotros. El mensaje del Evangelio, cuando se comparte, fluye de nuestro corazón y es de esperarse que los demás sientan nuestra sinceridad cuando oigan nuestro mensaje: el mensaje de Jesús, la Buena Nueva.

Aileen Scommegna se graduó en la Universidad DePaul como Licenciada en educación primaria. Ha trabajado como maestra y directora de educación religiosa de la Arquidiócesis de Chicago durante toda su vida profesional. Ha escrito diversos libros sobre la fe y la catequesis litúrgica para catequistas, niños y padres.

Al celebrar la Fiesta de la Sagrada Familia, reflexionamos sobre la importancia de la familia en nuestra vida y en la vida de la Iglesia. El Papa Francisco lo resalta en su exhortación papal La alegría del amor (Amoris laetitia).

El Papa escribe que las familias son esenciales para la vida y misión de la Iglesia Católica y observa que “la Iglesia es un bien para la familia, la familia es un bien para la Iglesia” (87). Indica que la familia es la “iglesia doméstica”, una frase que proviene del documento Lumen Gentium (11) del Concilio Vaticano II. Francisco nos dice que la Iglesia es, de hecho, “una familia de familias, donde se armonizan los aportes de las pequeñas comunidades, movimientos y asociaciones eclesiales”.

A lo largo de su exhortación, el Santo Padre reflexiona sobre qué hace que la familia sea la iglesia doméstica. Primero, “la familia es el lugar donde los padres se convierten en los primeros maestros de la fe para sus hijos” (16), donde los hijos escuchan por primera vez el relato del maravilloso amor de Dios. Ya que los padres son quienes comparten los misterios de la fe, los hijos naturalmente los incorporan. El Papa observa que en la familia es donde “se aprende la paciencia y el gozo del trabajo, el amor fraterno, el perdón generoso, incluso reiterado, y sobre todo el culto divino por medio de la oración” (86).

En la familia, nos iniciamos en la vida de la comunidad cristiana y aprendemos a proclamar y dar testimonio del Evangelio, a cuidar de los pobres, a proteger la Creación, a estar abiertos a otras ideas y reflexiones y a tener “solidaridad moral y material hacia las otras familias, sobre todo hacia las más necesitadas” (290), a trabajar por el bien común y por la justicia “practicando las obras de misericordia corporal y espiritual” (290). El Santo Padre escribe que “Cuando la familia acoge y sale hacia los demás, especialmente hacia los pobres y abandonados, es “símbolo, testimonio y participación de la maternidad de la Iglesia” (324).

El Papa nos aconseja que reflexionemos sobre la interacción entre la familia y la Iglesia. El Dr. David Thomas, perito en el campo de la vida familiar católica y editor general de la serie Family Life de RCL Benziger, ha dedicado su vida a reflexionar sobre la interacción entre la familia y la Iglesia. Luego de la publicación de Amoris laetitia, el Dr. Thomas ha identificado diez cosas sencillas que las familias hacen para proclamar al mundo que son iglesias domésticas:

1. Hablan entre ellos regularmente y con respeto.

2. Comen juntos siempre que pueden.

3. Se interesan de manera consciente en lo que cada miembro hace y disfruta, así se demuestran cariño.

4. Cultivan los contactos con sus familias extendidas: padres, hermanos, abuelos, tíos y tías, así aprenden acerca de los relatos y tradiciones familiares.

5. Respetan y apoyan a todos los miembros de la familia a lo largo de sus vidas.

6. Se ayudan entre sí cuando es necesario pero permiten que los miembros obren de manera independiente cuando la ayuda no sea necesaria.

7. Celebran las fiestas y se reúnen para los acontecimientos familiares más importantes (nacimientos y muertes, cumpleaños y aniversarios).

8. Se unen en los momentos difíciles para ofrecerse apoyo y guía.

9. Respetan y valoran (no simplemente toleran) los dones de cada miembro sin importar lo diferentes que sean.

10. Atesoran el tiempo juntos, riéndose y llorando juntos según sea apropiado.

Al celebrar una vez más este tiempo navideño con nuestras familias, reflexionemos sobre las maneras en que ya somos una iglesia doméstica y sobre las bendiciones que Dios nos ofrece mediante nuestras familias.

Dan Mulhall ha formado parte de la familia RCL Benziger por casi 20 años.

Each year, in January, we celebrate Catholic Schools for the gifts they bring to our parish communities, and to the lives of children and families throughout our nation.

Catholic schools provide a safe and secure learning environment within a community of faith. Growing up in a Catholic community provides children with a lived experience of Christian discipleship. Children learn what it means to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, they practice living the values of the Catholic religion, and share the journey of faith. The faculty, pastoral staff, parents, and parishioners all become models of what it means to live as Catholic Christians in today’s world.

When we consider what it means to live in a community of faith, we discover what is at the heart of our belief. First, we develop a personal relationship with Jesus. Preparing for and sharing the sacraments provide touchpoints for meeting the living God in everyday life. The Eucharist provides food for the journey. Together, we are the “Body of Christ.”

Second, we are in a relationship with each other. As Christian disciples, we are called to live in a right-relationship with each other. Sometimes we fail, and then the sacrament of Reconciliation reminds us to forgive others as Jesus forgives us. When we live in a reconciling community, we acknowledge our mistakes and seek to restore relationships after conflict. Jesus reminds us to see each other with the eyes of love. A healthy faith community models forgiveness and reconciliation in all interactions; from classroom management to sporting events, from parish council meetings and social gatherings, it is important for Christian charity to prevail.

And third, we remember that service is also at the heart of our faith. A basic tenant of Catholic Social Teaching is that each human being, and all of creation, has dignity and worth, and is precious in the eyes of God. We are called to become bearers of light, to show compassion for those who have less, to share the gifts God gives to us, to stand up for good, and to make certain that resources are shared in just and equitable ways. We are called to make it easier to live a Christian life. This means reaching out beyond our own needs and wants, and becoming responsible for bringing love and justice into our little corner of the world.

Catholic schools have a unique opportunity to provide a living example of what a Christian community looks like. Part of the responsibility of a Catholic school is to make sure each child has the knowledge necessary to become a contributing member of society. Academics are key to helping children grow to become productive members of the parish, the local community, and the world.

Stepping into a Catholic school, we experience the beauty of providing a learning environment that celebrates faith as we help children grow in knowledge, and then practice serving others with the gifts that God has given to them.

At RCL Benziger we are proud to walk with you along the formative journey. Our basal religion textbook series provides doctrinally sound materials to support your efforts. Our sacramental programs walk with the children, their parents, and the parish as they grow in faith and enter into the life of the church more fully. Our resources are tailored to help each Catholic school, each parish, to share faith with the next generation.

In January, and throughout the year, we pray for the principals, teachers, parents, and children who learn and grow in Catholic schools. We celebrate you and your commitment to Catholic education!

Mary A. DuQuaine started working in professional church ministry in 1993, she worked in the Archdioceses of Milwaukee and Chicago. She earned a Master of Theology Degree from Catholic Theological Union as a Bernardin Scholar where she specialized in Spirituality and Ethics. She is the author of several books on liturgical catechesis and spirituality.

As Catholics, we seem to shy away from evangelizing. We tend not to use the word evangelize in our vocabulary. This is bewildering because evangelization is actually a beautiful part of our faith and our mission as followers of Jesus. Simply put, evangelization is sharing the Good News. We are called to share the Word with everyone we meet.

Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). This is a very clear statement and a considerable responsibility. When we reflect on the words of Jesus, he is asking us to bring the Good News—what we have learned about Jesus—and share it with others. We can invite friends, family, and neighbors—those who are Catholic and those who are not—to take small steps and join us on our faith journey in the hope that they will strengthen or begin their own relationships with Jesus.

We need to remember that we can only give what we receive. Through the sacrament of Baptism, we are called to Christian discipleship. Prayerfully attending Mass each week, listening to the Word, and receiving the Eucharist will prepare us to evangelize. Pope Francis said, “We evangelize not with grand words, or complicated concepts, but with the ‘Joy of the Gospel’ which fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus” (Holy Mass for the Evangelization of Peoples, 2015).

Hearing the Gospel message with our Church, together as a community of disciples, renews us in our faith and enables us to share the message of Jesus. The following are some ideas to consider for welcoming others to the Church. After trying some of these invitations yourself, talk with your students about your experience. Children can learn in profound and meaningful ways by your example. This may help them see how they can be disciples and evangelize, too.

Catechists:

• Encourage friends and family who have fallen away from the church to join you at Mass on a Holy Day, or for a Mass that has a special meaning for you.
• Invite neighbors and coworkers to join you for a service project, attend a sacred music concert, or listen to a speaker at your church.
• Find a way each week to tell one person something you are doing because you are Catholic, and how your faith shapes your life in a positive way.
• Think about how you actually live the Word of God each week. Consider keeping a Mass journal in which you reflect on Sunday’s Gospel, and write a few sentences about your genuine response to the Scripture. Using this reflection, find ways to show God’s Word to others during the week through your actions.

Students:

• Provide time for reflection and discussion on the Sunday Gospel for your students each week. This will help them come to know and better understand the meaning of the Good News, so they can share the message with others.
• Encourage your students to invite friends to Mass.
• Children of all ages can invite friends to participate in service projects held at the church.
• Ask your students for ideas about how they can be good disciples and invite friends and neighbors to follow Jesus. Children have pure hearts, and their authentic responses often offer inspiration to other children and adults alike.

Remember that when our faith is alive within us we can be open to the Holy Spirit working through us. The Gospel message—when shared—flows from our hearts and will hopefully be heart-felt by those who hear our message: the message of Jesus, the Good News.

Aileen Scommegna holds a degree in Elementary Education from DePaul University. She has served as a teacher and DRE for the Archdiocese of Chicago for her entire career. She has written serval books on liturgical catechesis and faith for catechists, children, and parents.

The children were gathered in the narthex of the local church. The air was filled with excitement. Something very special was about to occur. Was it Christmas? No. Was it First Communion time? No. It was Epiphany! Epiphany, which comes from the Greek word epiphainen, means “to shine upon; to manifest; and to make known or reveal.” What the children and the entire congregation were about to do would help bring all these definitions to life.

Each child had been given a simple gold or silver star. The children proudly carried the stars high above their heads as they joined in the procession at the beginning of Mass. The smiles, excitement, and stars helped the congregation to recall the star which shone so brightly above a simple manger in Bethlehem. The Epiphany activity could have ended there, but it did not.

At homily time, Father talked about the star. He reminded the congregation that the star played an important role in leading the magi to Jesus. He challenged the people to “be” that star for others. Then he asked the children to look around the assembly and to find people with whom to share their stars. He encouraged each child to reach out to someone that he or she did not know.

Slowly the children moved through the assembly, looking for just the right people on whom to bestow their stars. As the children reached out with their stars, they were rewarded with bright smiles, big hugs, and even a few tears. The Epiphany activity could have ended there, but it did not.

After Communion and before the dismissal, the priest challenged those who had received the stars. Just as he encouraged the children to share the light of the stars with others, he encouraged the recipients to do the same. They were asked to take their stars out into the world and to share the light with others. The Epiphany activity could have ended there. We hoped it did not.

Perhaps you are not able to extend participation in the activity to the entire parish; that is okay. This activity could easily be scaled back to turn it into a classroom activity. The children could take the stars home to pass them on. Or perhaps your class could deliver the stars to children in another class, who are then encouraged to pass the stars on to others.

Epiphany, which is celebrated on January 6, also marks the end of the twelve days of Christmas and the arrival of the magi. We can replicate this journey in our homes or classrooms with the use of a simple Nativity set. Instead of placing the magi within the manger scene, place them farther away. Each day, move them a little closer. On January 6, add them to the Nativity set. Celebrate their arrival.

One way to celebrate is with a “king’s cake.” The “king’s cake” received its name because of the plastic baby Jesus that is carefully hidden in the cake after it is baked and before it is decorated. When the cake is served, whoever receives the piece with the baby Jesus is crowned the king or queen and presides over the celebration.

However you decide to acknowledge the Feast of the Epiphany, make sure that you do something creative and fun. This is your opportunity to “shine upon; to manifest; and to make known or reveal.” A blessed Epiphany to all.

Dr. Beuscher received her Doctor of Education degree from Cardinal Stritch University. Her dissertation was on the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Kathleen was involved in parish catechesis for over 30 years within the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Kathleen currently serves as a consultant for RCL Benziger, along with her husband, Jim.

As we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, we reflect on the importance of family in our own lives and in the life the Church. Pope Francis does just this in his papal exhortation The Joy of Love (Amoris Laetitia).

The pope writes that families are essential to the life and mission of the Catholic Church, noting that “the Church is good for the family, and the family is good for the Church (87).” He states that the family is the “domestic church,” a phrase first offered in the Second Vatican Council document Lumen Gentium #11. Francis tells us that the Church is, in fact, “a family of families, constantly enriched by the lives of all those domestic churches.”

Throughout The Joy of Love, the Holy Father offers insights into what makes the family the domestic church. First, it is the place “where children are brought up in the faith (16),” where children first hear from their parents the story of God’s wondrous love. Because it is the parents who share the mysteries of the faith, children naturally believe them. It is in the family, the pope notes, where children learn “the joy of work, fraternal love, generous–even repeated–forgiveness, and above all divine worship in prayer (86).”

In the family, we are initiated into the life of the Christian community as we learn to proclaim and give witness to the Gospel, to care for the poor, to protect all creation, to be open to other ideas and insights, to have “moral and material solidarity with other families, including those most in need (290),” to work for the good of all, and to work for justice through the practice of the “corporal and spiritual works of mercy (289).” “When a family is welcoming and reaches out to others, especially the poor and the neglected,” the Holy Father writes, “it is a symbol, witness and participant in the Church’s motherhood (325).”

The pope advises us to reflect on the interplay between the family and the Church. Dr. David Thomas, an expert in the field of Catholic family life and the general editor of the RCL Benziger Family Life series, has spent his life doing just that: reflecting on the interplay between the family and the Church. Following the publication of The Joy of Love, Dr. Thomas has identified ten simple things that families do that proclaim to the world that they are indeed domestic churches:

1. Speak with each other regularly and with respect.
2. Eat together whenever possible.
3. Take a conscious interest in what each person does and likes to do—we show that we care about each other.
4. Stay closely connected with our extended families—parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles—so that we learn our family stories and lore.
5. Respect and support all family members throughout their lives.
6. Help each other whenever help is needed, but allow people to do things on their own when help isn’t needed.
7. Celebrate holidays and major family events (births and deaths, birthdays and anniversaries) throughout our lives.
8. Come together in times of need to offer support and guidance for each other.
9. Respect and value (not just tolerate) the gifts of each family member no matter how different they might be.
10. Treasure the time spent together as family, laughing and crying together as appropriate.

As we celebrate with our families again this Christmas season, let us consider both the many ways in which we are already domestic churches and the blessings that God offers to us through our families.

Dan Mulhall has been a member of the RCL Benziger family for nearly 20 years.

Some years ago as I was wandering through our local outdoor nursery, I came upon a lawn fountain filled with lovely koi swimming serenely. As I leaned over to take a closer look, I became aware of my reflection in the water and remembered a Proverb: “As water reflects a face back to a face, so one’s heart is reflected back by another” (27:19).

I recalled the myth of Narcissus, a young man who had gone to the stream to drink, only to fall in love with his own reflection in the water. Every time he tried to drink, the image would be broken, as would be his heart at having lost the focus of his love. So Narcissus would not drink. Eventually he died of thirst and self-love.

As I drove home, I considered the contrast between the Proverb and the story of Narcissus and realized that our faith, our Catholic spirituality, never loses sight of the “other.” Unlike the young man who died of self-love, we are called to be in authentic relationships with others and with God. These relationships allow one heart to be reflected in the heart of the other “as water reflects a face back to a face.”

When I shared my story with a good friend, she said to me, “I look at a pond of koi and I see fish. You look and you see God.”

This is spiritual literacy – our ability to see, as Gerard Manley Hopkins exclaimed, that “the world is charged with the grandeur of God.” It is an ability we all have, but one that unfolds as we immerse ourselves in prayer as a loving relationship with God, in silence, in reading and study, and in nature. It is the work of the Holy Spirit, who, Hopkins writes, “over the bent world broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.”

The depth and breadth of our spiritual literacy are reflected in our realization that we share in the grandeur of God – and that realization brings with it a great responsibility to develop our interior lives as we bring Christ into the world. This requires that we turn to Scripture, to the saints, to the great literature of the Church, and to our Catholic tradition for illumination, for direction and knowledge.

Just as the tech-savvy person is known as computer literate because he or she is fluent in that field, we grow in our spiritual literacy when we commit ourselves to becoming fluent in the field of our faith, realizing that knowledge alone is insufficient for true spiritual growth.

Knowledge is only the beginning of our quest to be informed, formed, and transformed to the heart of Christ. Along the way we meet other pilgrims searching for God, and our spiritual literacy grows with respect and appreciation of other faith traditions. With a Christian tradition that spans some 2000 years and has its roots in the 4000-year-old Jewish faith, where’s a person to start on a spiritual literacy journey?

The parish is a great place to begin – first with Mass and the Sacraments, then Bible study, faith sharing groups, community service groups, Rosary societies, adult faith formation opportunities, even the parish choir. Don’t overcommit, though. You need time to investigate other experiences, such as retreats and days of prayer, which allow you to get out of your head and into your heart.

Balance these experiences with a bit of reading. Have you ever investigated your diocesan Web site? Do you know the diocesan history or the stories of your bishops? What about their coats of arms? Do you know the meanings of the symbols they have chosen? You might be amazed at what you learn. Getting to know your wider faith family at home is a wonderful jumping-off point for further discovery.

Additional reading can include chapters of the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults. This is one of my favorite books, perfect for learning the knowledge of our faith but rich in opportunity for formation as well. It reads more like a story than a catechism, yet it is based completely on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Consider reading one of the many beautiful encyclicals of our popes. Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’, on care for the environment, speaks to the heart and the mind about our responsibility to God’s creation.

Perhaps the best resource for greater spiritual literacy is other seekers. They know what has worked for them and are most always happy to share the wealth!

And, of course, RCL Benziger has some easily accessible resources as well:

Love Is Our Mission Article Series

Saints Resource

Lectionary Resources

Laudato Si’ On Care for Our Common Home

Mary Regina Morrell, director of Wellspring Communications, is a syndicated Catholic columnist, editor, and author who has served the Church for more than 25 years. She is a former associate director of religious education for the Diocese of Metuchen, NJ, and managing editor of The Monitor, Diocese of Trenton. Find her at mary.wellspring@yahoo.com, Twitter @mreginam6, and through her blogs, God Talk and Tea and My Mother’s Bread.