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 of Easter (or of Divine Mercy) – 11 April 2021
Acts 4:32-35.  Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24.  1 John 5:1-6.  John 20:19-31. 

So Many Catch Phrases Today.  “The doors were locked.”  “Peace be with you.”  “There was no needy person among them.”  “His mercy endures for ever.”  “His commandments are not burdensome.”  Locked doors cannot keep Jesus away.  He speaks peace to us, even in these Covid-19 days.  Because he is peace among us – no one has need.  Because he is full and overflowing with mercy – nothing is a burden. 

• How will I manifest peace, be peace this Easter week?
• How will I show mercy, be mercy this week?  
• Whose burden will I ease?

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 could you do this week to inspire your family to resemble the early Christians more closely?

• What could you and your family do to help others who are in need?

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

• His Mercy Endures Forever from Sunday Dive with Katie Patrizio
• Second Sunday of Easter (2021) from Catholic Theological Union
• Second Sunday of Easter (2018) from Catholic Theological Union
• Reflection Questions from TeamRCIA
• Sunday's Gospel from Pflaum
• Sunday Connection from Loyola Press
• Sunday Readings and Background from Our Sunday Visitor
• Questions of the Week from Our Sunday Visitor
• Activity of the Week from Our Sunday Visitor
• Gospel Reflection from RCL Benziger
• 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 from John Michael Talbot
• Divine Mercy Sunday from the Maryknoll Office of Global Concerns
• Resurrection Does not Erase Sufferingfrom Liturgy.Life Blog
• Build.Plant.Grow the Word this Week from the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University
• Hear the Word! from Renew International
• The Sunday Homily from Paulist Evangelization Ministries
• 52 Sundays from the Archdiocese of Detroit
• Order of Mass and Spiritual Communion from RCL Benziger
• Praying at Home on Sundays

• Catholic Kids Homilies
• Children's Liturgy of the Word
• Coloring Page from Holy Heroes
• Mass Quiz from Holy Heroes
• The Sunday Mass Video from Holy Heroes
• 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
• Order of Mass and Spiritual Communion (Child/Youth Version) from RCL Benziger

• Niños Católicos
• Evangelio Dominical desde Pflaum
• Lecturas Domincales y información adicional acerca de las lecturas desde Our Sunday Visitor
• Preguntas de la Semana desde Our Sunday Visitor
• Actividad de la Semana desde Our Sunday Visitor
• Reflexíones en español desde The Center for Liturgy at St. Louis University
• Construye.Planta.Crece desde The Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara 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 the 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
• Sacraments
  • Baptism
  • Confirmation
  • Eucharist
• Saints
  • St. Joseph
• The Liturgical Year
  • Advent
  • Christmas
  • Easter
  • Lent
  • Ordinary Time
  • Triduum
• The Paschal Mystery
• 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