Dear EGDE Parents and Families,
We hope you all are taking in this day and finding peace in Christ! Just to give an update on the last few days, here's what we've been up to at EDGE:
Saturday Service Morning (3/18)
Last Saturday, we had a group of 8 youth come to the Lake House Youth Center for a service morning! The group learned about Christian service (why do Christians give?), touched on local poverty, then packed 60 breakfasts for Commonwealth Catholic Charities' Inclement Weather Shelter. After this, the youth reflected on the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), and we closed together in prayer. Thank you sincerely to all who came or made it possible for someone else to come!
Main Ideas:
- Since our worth comes from God, it's a fact about who we are; we can't earn it, but we are called to live from it by walking in God's commands, which are for our good!
- Our situation in life doesn't change our God-given worth.
- We, like Christ, are constantly being called to receive from God in the places where we are in need and to give to others (our equals who share this same inviolable human dignity!) who are in more vulnerable positions spiritually, emotionally, and/or materially.
Black Widow: What Do I Do When it is Hard to Do the Right Thing? (3/20)
This Monday at EDGE, middle schoolers who attended learned about the virtue of fortitude and were encouraged to foster courage in pursuit of the good in their own lives. To introduce the EDGE Night, we began with a couple spy games based on the history of the character, Black Widow, who had been our superhero example for fortitude. After games, we broke open how fortitude helps us to be courageous and constant in our conviction through a talk, using Black Widow as an example and Jesus' Passion as the source and end of this virtue in fullness. The youth then spent some time in small group to process how fortitude is necessary to live out all the other virtues and choose some practical ways to grow in the virtues. They were also encouraged to write a prayer asking God for the grace to be rooted enough in Him to persevere in their chosen task! We closed the EDGE Night reflecting on and praying the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, calling on Christ for the grace to live a life and a death like His within us. Your child’s weekly challenge is to use their handout from the small group activity to choose one thing to do to grow in each of the virtues this week and have the courage to actually do it.
Main Ideas
- The virtue of fortitude helps us persevere when things are difficult and choose what is good even when it is hard.
- Black Widow exemplifies fortitude in that she persevered through a rough early life, had a conversion of heart and joined the Avengers, and ultimately sacrificed herself for the greater good of humanity.
- With God’s help, we can live courageously as Jesus did, sacrificing for the most important things in life, and choosing what God wants for us even when it is hard or no one else is doing it.
Catechism Reference
“Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good.” (CCC 1808)
Scripture Reference
“I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Family Reflection Questions
- What are some ways we can support one another through life’s difficulties?
- Is there space in our family for us to share our fears so we can help one another journey through them? If not, how can we create that space?
- What is one thing we can commit to as a family to help us all grow in the virtue of fortitude?
Thank you as always for loving God and your families!
Keeping you in prayer,
Mike & Evelyn