Hello Faith Formation Families!
Last week, we began learning about the Corporal Work of Mercy "Feed the Hungry." We learned about some creative ways to feed the hungry, a bit about a "feed the hungry" miracle through St. Benedict, and a lot about a "feed the hungry" miracle when Jesus fed 5000 people with a boy's lunch of bread and dried fish.
This week, we're going to dig a little deeper into this Corporal Work of Mercy with a service project and a saint with a name that makes her perfect for "Feed the Hungry!"
Have you done your interview of a living saint yet? I would love to hear about it if you have! Right after Mr. Cathcart and I were married, I interviewed his grandma. Instead of taking regular vacations, Mr. Cathcart's grandparents used to do service work in interesting places. Once, they were working in the country of Ethiopia, in Africa. At the same time, Mother Teresa was visiting the Little Sisters of the Poor in Ethiopia, and Grandma and Grandpa got to meet her and work beside her in an Ethiopian orphanage! I hope you'll have a chance to learn something awesome about someone you love, too! Here's the link to that All Saints lesson with information on how to start that interview:
Don't forget to sign up to make your Advent wreath at our Second Annual Advent Wreath Making Event! We'll be here at church from 8:30 to 3:00, but you'll need to sign your family up for a half hour slot so we can be sure we're staying safe within our Covid limits. Sign up here!
"Feed the Hungry"
Family Lesson #8
Let's begin our lesson as we begin all things, with the Sign of the Cross.
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen."
Then pray the "Hail Mary" together.
(prayer cards included in your delivery)
Activities: Saint and Service
In today's activities, we'll learn some more about Saint Elizabeth of Hungary and bake bread to share!
SAINT
In your packet of materials for this month, you should have received a coloring page of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. Take some time to color her now. Remember the story of the bread that became roses? If you wish, you could cut out some flower shapes and add them to her basket of bread.
St. Elizabeth said:
Jesus asks us to use our gifts and talents to serve others. St. Elizabeth used her wealth and her important position to serve the poor, even giving away much of the royal treasury! She remembered how much Jesus gave up for us, and gave all she could to serve others the way he taught. Take a minute now to think about this quotation from St. Elizabeth, and think about how you use your gifts and talents to serve others.
SERVICE
St. Elizabeth is known for serving the poor in many ways. She built hospitals, gave away clothing, and cared for the sick. There is even a story of a man with a terrible disease called leprosy whom she took care of in her own bed! When her husband found out what she was doing, he pulled back the sheets... and instead of the man with leprosy, he saw Jesus himself!
The most famous story of St. Elizabeth, though, is the story about the bread she was bringing to the poor being turned into roses. Many of the paintings of St. Elizabeth of Hungary show her with either a basket of bread, an armful of roses, or both!
Your service project for this month is to follow St. Elizabeth's example: bake and deliver some homemade bread to someone in need. Bake any kind of bread you want... crescent rolls, zucchini bread, biscuits, or whatever you like! Use your family's favorite recipe, or try this one for bread rolls similar to the ones in this painting of St. Elizabeth...
Or... Here's the recipe for my famous banana bread! Mmmm, I can almost smell it baking now! I like to add blueberries or chocolate chips to the banana bread to make it extra special!
Add a nice note to your bread, and deliver it to someone in need... to Open Door for the residents there to share, or to an elderly neighbor who would enjoy seeing your smiling face... or at least the top half of your smiling face!
Special Bible Verse
As a family, read this Bible verse a few times slowly. Take a quiet moment to think about what Jesus is telling us. (The word "sustenance" is just a fancy word for "food.")
"The kindly man will be blessed, for he gives of his sustenance to the poor."
If you wish, you could also write out this Bible verse in fancy letters, or even try to memorize all or part of it!
God Sightings
It seems like most of my God Sightings lately have been of the beautiful fall season we're having in Michigan this year! When the trees on my street all lose their yellow leaves at once, it always looks like our street is "paved with gold," like the streets of heaven!
Remember to share your own God Sightings in the "Share your faith work" section below!
Share Your "Faith Work"
Thanks for joining me this week to learn about St. Elizabeth of Hungary! Have a fantastic week!
Yours in Christ,
Corinne
Faith Formation and Parish News
Outreach Christmas Wreaths
Pickup for Outreach Christmas wreaths will be the weekend of November 21&22 or the evening of November 23. Contact Justin Rose for more information. justinr@blessed-midland.org
Family Advent Wreath Event
While you're here picking up your wreath on November 22, reserve a slot to make your Advent wreath for this year! Click here to register on the parish website, or download the Advent wreath event flyer! I'm looking forward to seeing you there!
Plans for the New Year
As virus cases continue to rise in Michigan and across the country, Father Rob and our Faith Formation team have decided to continue virtual programming into January and through the rest of the school year. One of the many ways we can show how "Love Works" is by keeping one another safe! And as always, our love is at work for you!
