While the catechesis offered within the family is ordinarily informal, unstructured, and spontaneous, it is no less crucial for the development of the child's faith.  "In a certain sense nothing replaces family catechesis, especially for its positive and receptive environment, for the example of adults, and for its first explicit experience and practice of the faith."

- National Directory for Catechesis, 48.E.1

One of the best ways for families to form faith is to simply talk about the Sunday readings together.  Check here each week for discussion prompts. 

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time – 17 January 2021  
1 Samuel 3:3b-10, 19.  Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10.  1 Corinthians 6:13c-15a, 17-20.  John 1:35-42. 

Listening, Discerning and Watching, Coming, Seeing, Finding.  These words ending in -ing (technically “gerunds”) in the first and gospel readings indicate some continuing action.  They point out good Christian behaviors as we start this winter time between the seasons of Christmas and Lent.  Like Samuel, we want to be always listening for God’s voice, even while needing the help of another for discerning it.  Like the Baptist, we want to be watching for Jesus moving among us, looking for his activity in surprising ways in our midst and, perhaps, the surprising people around us.  

• How am I coming closer to Jesus day by day, week by week? 
• How am I seeing Jesus active in our world? 
• How am I finding myself following Jesus without question? 

These questions are copyrighted and provided by license from The Pastoral Center.  Parishes and other organizations need to purchase their own license before distributing this material with their parishioners.  As such, the material may not be reposted to a parish website or social media page without the parish obtaining an individual site license.  To purchase a parish license, please visit  Questions of the Week.

Questions of the Week:

Adults:

• What qualities do you have that would cause others to recognize you as a disciple of Jesus?

• What does it take to be a follower of Jesus?

• Worship  @ Home (To Purchase License)
  • Introductory Video

• Listen for My Call from Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers
• Catholic Kids Homilies
• Sunday's Gospel from Pflaum
• Reflection Questions from TeamRCIA
• God Calls Samuel: A Bible Story for Kids from Jared Dees
• Children's Liturgy of the Word 
• Coloring Page from Holy Heroes
• Mass Quiz from Holy Heroes
• The Sunday Mass Video from Holy Heroes
• Second Sunday of Ordinary Time (2018) from Catholic Theological Union
• Sunday Connection from Loyola Press
• Praying Toward Sunday from The Center for Liturgy at St. Louis University
• Spiritual Reflections from The Center for Liturgy at St. Louis University
• Looking More Closely at the Word from The Center for Liturgy at St. Louis University
• Gospel Reflection (2021) from John Michael Talbot
• Gospel Reflection (2018) from John Michael Talbot
• Second Sunday in Ordinary Time from the Maryknoll Office of Global Concerns
• What are You Looking For? from Liturgy.Life Blog
• Sunday Gospel Worksheet from CatholicMom.com
• Sunday Gospel Word Search from CatholicMom.com
• Sunday Gospel Crossword from CatholicMom.com
• Sunday Gospel Coloring Page from CatholicMom.com
• 52 Sundays from the Archdiocese of Detroit
• Beyond Sundays:  Spiritual Practices for Everyday Living from The Five Loaves
• The Sunday Homily from Paulist Evangelization Ministries
• Order of Mass and Spiritual Communion from RCL Benziger
• Order of Mass and Spiritual Communion (Child/Youth Version) from RCL Benziger
• Praying at Home on Sundays

• Habla, Señor; tu siervo te eschuca desde Maryknoll Padres y Hermanos
• Niños Católicos
• Evangelio Dominical desde Pflaum
• Reflexíones en español desde The Center for Liturgy at St. Louis University
• El Ordinario de la Misa desde RCL Benziger
• El Ordinario de la Misa (Jovenes) desde RCL Benziger
• Oración Dominical en Casa

• Praying at Home on Sundays

Check out our the new section of our website on "Faith Themes."  While it remains a "Work in Progress," this is the place to visit for curated resources on a variety of Faith Themes.  

• Catholic Social Teaching
  • Life and Dignity of the Human Person
• Coronavirus (Covid-19)
• Racial Justice
• Saints
• The Liturgical Year
  • Advent
  • Christmas
  • Easter
  • Lent
  • Ordinary Time
• The Rosary

While there are some activities and materials written on a child/teen level, much of the material is on the adult level.  Parents are encouraged to preview resources and share as appropriate.  Families will benefit from talking about the topics with one another.

Vibrant Faith @ Home is an ecumenical resource from Vibrant Faith that offers family resources that can be used either in the home or in gathered faith formation sessions.  


 

Catholic Family Faith is curated by Faith Formation leaders from across the country to help catechists and ministry leaders accompany parents and families in faith.








vCat (Video Catechism) is a ministry and resource of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston and Outside da Box.  It offers videos and discussion guides for the Four Pillars of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  While designed specifically for teens, this resource can be used by entire families.

Liturgy Training Publications has a wide variety of resources that can be used for growing family faith.  Resources include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Belonging to God's Family:  Nurturing Your Child's Faith Life (en Español)
• Celebrating Sunday for Catholic Families 2020-2021 (en Español)
• Children's Daily Prayer 2020-2021
• Praying with Your Children:  A Guide for Families
• Praying Together:  Ideas for Developing Family Prayer in Your Home

The Leadership Institute of the Diocese of Bridgeport offers several resources for families:  

• Family Bible Challenge
• Catequizem
• Family Movie Night
• Lifelong Lessons

Discover Your Neighbor, an interactive education program sponsored by the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, offers lesson plans reminding us of our call to be Missionary Disciples and learn from our neighbors.






Loyola Press shares a wealth of resources and ideas on its Family, Fun and Faith page.  They also have articles about various aspects of our faith on their Our Catholic Faith page.



Catholic Family Crate offers a monthly subscription service for families, providing a box of resources each month to enable growth of the domestic church.

• Faithfully Navigating Coronavirus with your Kids
• Navegando con fe el coronavirus con sus hijos
• Worship @ Home:  Dynamic Family Liturgy of the Word Services