Sometimes the home is referred to as the first place of discernment (a mini-seminary). How can the family live up to this ever-so-important role?Christmas points us to Jesus, but Jesus in His youth points us to the importance of Mary and Joseph in raising Him to be the man of our redemption. How is God calling you to participate in His work of redemption?How can a God-centered family be the most important aspect of one’s life? How can we help those who have not grown up with this privilege of virtue and love
Judy K: I had the joy of being one of the lectors at the Christmas Eve Mass at 8:30. Christmas was alone at home since I was not up to a gathering of over 30 people at my cousin’s.
Dec 27 2015, 7:14 PM
Judy K: Hi Lisa!
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Lisa C: I actually felt like I was home at 8 am on Christmas
Dec 27 2015, 7:17 PM
Judy K: I learned yesterday that a friend on the RCIA team of which I was a part for 6 years has been accepted into the formation program for the Permanent Diaconate in the Archdiocese of NY. When I met him at the first RCIA meeting I attended there, I looked at him and said to myself “There’s a future deacon.” I was right. I am so elated.
Dec 27 2015, 7:17 PM
VisitationSiste: You have the Holy Spirit in a powerful way
Dec 27 2015, 7:17 PM
VisitationSiste: Maybe you are Lisa!!
5, 7:20 PM
Lisa C: I like how the Christmas sermon was about resetting the world and changing time. I now think Pope Francis might be doing that too
Dec 27 2015, 7:21 PM
VisitationSiste: I thought the “re booting” idea was wonderful for a young congreggatio
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VisitationSiste: So today is the Feast of the Holy Family
Dec 27 2015, 7:22 PM
Lisa C: Even for an old congregation that works with computers. I was just saying that our pens do not run out of ink anymore. We do everything on computers.
Dec 27 2015, 7:22 PM
Judy K: The homily here revolved around a story of a woman who was puzzling over why God would bother to become a man to save us. She found her answer when a bunch of lost geese landed on her lawn in quite a tizzy because they were separated from the rest of the southward travelers.
15, 7:26 PM
Michelle P Olivier: H5, 7:27 PM
VisitationSiste: How do you feel about the first question on the home and discernment? I think personally I was more free to discern when I left home- why I am not sure
Dec 27 2015, 7:27 PM
Carol Ann: Hi Everyone! Just catching up on the chat log. We too have had strange weather. Tornados on the ground in central California. Here we had a terrible windstorm that came up Christmas night and actually started a wildfire when it blew power lines together. very dangerous.
Dec 27 2015, 7:28 PM
Michelle P Olivier: Our family life is so busy, I agree that sometimes it is much easier to discern when we are away from the distractions of the day.
Dec 27 2015, 7:29 PM
Carol Ann: I think most do not consider the family a seminary, or the foundational place where virtues are learned
9 PM
Judy K: He will surely need to be part of a discerning family. How’s that for a segue! And I think that a discerning begins with a couple who understands what discernment is and begins to practice it even before they begin a family. They need to be people of prayer as part of the discernment process beginning with the wedding plans and on into the choice of home. PM
Lisa C: Mother, I do not know exactly. When I was little it was not a matter of discernment. It was more how it was. We learned about God in school and at home we talked about what we learned and went to church on Sunday. It was kind of like no discernment just acceptance. When I was out of school it was sort of weird. Like the whole fact of faith was not there, i.e. not everyone thought what we took for granted. , 7:31 PM
Judy K: Openmindedness is needed and the children will need to know that the parents want to hear what they have to say, what their dreams and desires are. :32 PM
Lisa C: When Margaret, my daughter, was growing up I talked to her all the time about God. When she was in school her friends were more non-Catholic than Catholic so I think she had the opposite
Dec 27 2015, 7:32 PM
Judy K: Family discussions will help with parents helping to determine the pros and cons of any issue and how the decision will affect the individual, the family and other relationshipsl
Dec 27 2015, 7:32 PM
VisitationSiste: I think partially if a child is called to religious life, for ex, and the parents obviously have had a different call, to marriage, they might not understand completely what the child is experiencing
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Carol Ann: Most important is that children know in their hearts that they are loved
Dec 27 2015, 7:33 PM
Michelle P Olivier: My mother was good in teaching me my prayers and I was fortunate to go to a school where the Sisters help foster my relationship with God. I found myself frequently in Church (back then the Church was open most of the day)
Dec 27 2015, 7:33 PM
Michelle P Olivier: But at home with 5 siblings – it was difficult
Dec 27 2015, 7:34 PM
Lisa C: Oh, maybe I misunderstood the question. You mean do we begin to discern about religious life at home?
, 7:34 PM
Judy K: Discernment can involve any issue that needs to be decided. PM
Judy K: Parents need to let children know that they will take the time with them necessary to help them.
Dec 27 2015, 7:36 PM
Michelle P Olivier: Not in ours either
Dec 27 2015, 7:36 PM
Carol Ann: It’s probably not in most family’s vocabulary!
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Judy K: Most people probably think of it as decision-making–to do this, or to do that.
Dec 27 2015, 7:37 PM
VisitationSiste: I think lots depends on the level of faith of the family or the parents
Dec 27 2015, 7:39 PM
Carol Ann: I think Judy is right, though I wish we could hear more teaching throughout the year on how important the family is and how to have a Godly family
:39 PM
Judy K: Ans isn’t that what discernment is–coming to a gradual decision as to what course of action to take in any given situation. 0 PM
VisitationSiste: After Vatican 11 priests were encouraged to talk on the Gospel and readings in homilies yet I think rtthere is a plce for other discussions or topics sometimes. Today would have been a good day to address what you just stated Carol
Dec 27 2015, 7:40 PM
Judy K: Perhaps we all need to go back and read Pope Francis’ talks from the conference on the family in Philadelphis.
Dec 27 2015, 7:40 PM
VisitationSiste: The how to is often what people don’t have
Dec 27 2015, 7:41 PM
VisitationSiste: Yes that’s a good point Judy
Dec 27 2015, 7:41 PM
VisitationSiste: In my case it’s our school families that concern me- how to reach them- move them beyond the materialistic
7:41 PM
Lisa C: My Grandfather was in a Seminary in Spain during High School. They started that early then. Then his parents died and he was called back to the US by his Aunt.
Dec 27 2015, 7:42 PM
Lisa C: I do not know what would have happened if he stayed in Spain.
:43 PM
Judy K: We might even encourage our priests to return to those teachings during this time of year when the Holy Family is so much on our minds. Perhaps they need to be reminded of the importance of the family in forming real Catholic people.
Dec 27 2015, 7:43 PM
VisitationSiste: The only diocesan high school seminary in the USA is in Elmhurst NYC I understand
5, 7:43 PM
Lisa C: Mother, when I was in VA the Nuns made the parents promise to take the kids to Mass every week or they could not be accepted into the school.
Dec 27 2015, 7:43 PM
VisitationSiste: Really!
Dec 27 2015, 7:43 PM
VisitationSiste: That is something we don’t do now
5, 7:44 PM
Carol Ann: Yes, the Catholic schools in the LA Diocese do that too
Dec 27 2015, 7:44 PM
VisitationSiste: Do the families respond?
7:44 PM
Carol Ann: Yes the families attend
Dec 27 2015, 7:44 PM
Judy K: When I was in school, we had to report every Monday whether we had attended Mass and whether or not we had received Holy Communion.
Dec 27 2015, 7:44 PM
Lisa C: I think you could do it for new admissions. The people who are in the school who do not go now might be harder
44 PM
Judy K: When I was in school, we had to report every Monday whether we had attended Mass and whether or not we had received Holy Communion.
Dec 27 2015, 7:44 PM
Lisa C: I think you could do it for new admissions. The people who are in the school who do not go now might be harder
Dec 27 2015, 7:46 PM
Judy K: If the families do not attend, are they asked to leave the school?
Dec 27 2015, 7:46 PM
VisitationSiste: That would need to be a directive to the principal. What about non Catholics
Dec 27 2015, 7:46 PM
Lisa C: We had only one
Dec 27 2015, 7:46 PM
Lisa C: She became Catholic
Dec 27 2015, 7:47 PM
Lisa C: The non Catholic had to go to religion
Dec 27 2015, 7:47 PM
Lisa C: she did everything in chapel too
Dec 27 2015, 7:49 PM
Michelle P Olivier: A friend of mine daughter is in Catholic School and she participates in everything except the sacraments
Dec 27 2015, 7:49 PM
VisitationSiste: I think as we are very dedicated and some of us come into contact with families there could be a way of opening conversations to see how the family feels about faith a
Dec 27 2015, 7:50 PM
Lisa C: Mother they must care if they sent their kid to school there
Dec 27 2015, 7:50 PM
Lisa C: Maybe they just do not know a lot
Dec 27 2015, 7:50 PM
VisitationSiste: Meet people where they are but gently encourage them to keep growing. Don Bosco would also take aa approach klike this I think
Dec 27 2015, 7:50 PM
Lisa C: Maybe you could have parent retreats
Dec 27 2015, 7:50 PM
Lisa C: Or even parent catechism
Dec 27 2015, 7:50 PM
VisitationSiste: We are going to have one Jan 7- children and parents with Fr Jeff Kirby
Dec 27 2015, 7:51 PM
VisitationSiste: http://frkirby.com/
7:50 PM
VisitationSiste: We are going to have one Jan 7- children and parents with Fr Jeff Kirby
Dec 27 2015, 7:51 PM
VisitationSiste: http://frkirby.com/
Dec 27 2015, 7:52 PM
Judy K: Yes, I think that parent catechism sessions would be helpful. Many parents do not know the basics of the faith. If they do not know them, how can they be the primary educators of their children.
Dec 27 2015, 7:53 PM
VisitationSiste: This looks good https://www.mercystudy.com/index.php/video-resources
Dec 27 2015, 7:53 PM
VisitationSiste: Doors of mercy it is called
Dec 27 2015, 7:53 PM
Carol Ann: Good point, Judy. Education should not stop at Confirmation
53 PM
Judy K: While family education is good, parents need a setting in which they can ask questions that they would not ask in the presence of children4 PM
VisitationSiste: So as Lisa said a parent retreat
Dec 27 2015, 7:55 PM
Lisa C: http://www.ncregister.com/images/documents/Advent-Mass.pdf
Dec 27 2015, 7:55 PM
Judy K: And, maybe parent education should be inclusive of all adults in the parish. They probably have the same questins.
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Judy K: And, maybe parent education should be inclusive of all adults in the parish. They probably have the same questins.
Dec 27 2015, 7:56 PM
Michelle P Olivier: Several Parishes here (PA) offer Faith Series
Dec 27 2015, 7:56 PM
Judy K: A parent retreat is a great opportunity to help parents to have an experience of Jesus on a personal level. What Pope
Dec 27 2015, 7:56 PM
VisitationSiste: Lisa thanks for link
Dec 27 2015, 7:56 PM
Lisa C: I would have Communion Breakfasts too
Dec 27 2015, 7:57 PM
Lisa C: Father Daughter and Mother Daughter
Dec 27 2015, 7:57 PM
VisitationSiste: We do still have Communion breakfasts as you delineate
Dec 27 2015, 7:57 PM
Lisa C: Also send letters home with readings from St FdS and St Jane and other Saints
Dec 27 2015, 7:58 PM
VisitationSiste: but no longer are they in the school Mass is but not the breakfast
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Carol Ann: All these are good ways to have the family experience Christ together
Dec 27 2015, 7:58 PM
Lisa C: Could have talks at the breakfasts…we had the girls in the lunchroom and the parents in the alumni room
Lisa C: Could have talks at the breakfasts…we had the girls in the lunchroom and the parents in the alumni room
Dec 27 2015, 7:58 PM
Judy K: Francis has been calling an encounter with the Lord. Many may know about Him but not know Him. A retreat setting with Eucharistic Adoration would provide such an encounter. Just look at the results of such experiences with teenagers.
7:58 PM
Judy K: Francis has been calling an encounter with the Lord. Many may know about Him but not know Him. A retreat setting with Eucharistic Adoration would provide such an encounter. Just look at the results of such experiences with teenagers.
Dec 27 2015, 7:59 PM
Lisa C: Morning Rosary before school?
Dec 27 2015, 7:59 PM
Lisa C: Drop off kid and stay for it
Dec 27 2015, 7:59 PM
VisitationSiste: Yes our Sr Synthia Helena has been trying to get that going-
Dec 27 2015, 7:59 PM
VisitationSiste: Adoration- we did have a candlenight rosary in Oct but just once so far
Dec 27 2015, 7:59 PM
VisitationSiste: Adoration- we did have a candlenight rosary in Oct but just once so far
Dec 27 2015, 8:00 PM
Michelle P Olivier: How was the participation
Dec 27 2015, 8:00 PM
Carol Ann: If all these activities are presented as a normal part of everyday life, and not a “chore” or “something we must do or we won’t…”
Dec 27 2015, 8:00 PM
VisitationSiste: Are the parished you all are in successful to any extent with getting non church goers to church
Dec 27 2015, 8:01 PM
VisitationSiste: Participation the Communion breakfasts is good- the Rosary less so
Dec 27 2015, 8:01 PM
Michelle P Olivier: Unfortunately – no.
Dec 27 2015, 8:01 PM
Judy K: But getting back to the family as a formative experience, how about the Family Rosary, or other family devotions such as Scripture reading and sharing, or study. These would lay a basis for serious discernment.
:02 PM
Judy K: And it goes back to beginning with engaged couples.
Dec 27 2015, 8:02 PM
Lisa C: Mother, you have an advantage. You are working with parents who think it is important to pay a lot of money to have their daughters in a Catholic school. If it is presented as a part of bringing up a Catholic daughter in the right way maybe they would go to Mass
Dec 27 2015, 8:02 PM
VisitationSiste: When I was in 5th grade we had a huge Rosary in school that lit up in the dark and we each took it home for a day or 2 to pray it. That was the only time in my life I ever prayed with my family
Dec 27 2015, 8:02 PM
Michelle P Olivier: I think it all ties in together. If they attend the retreat – they can go home and share their experience
8:03 PM
Michelle P Olivier: Yes, even though my mother taught me my prayers – we did not pray togetherM
Carol Ann: It can be very hard to reach people from a non religious background, those raised with more of the idea of moral relativism because they cannot always see the difference between the relativism and the teachings of the Chursh
Dec 27 2015, 8:04 PM
Lisa C: The advantage of a grammar school is that you have 8 years to get through to the parents
8:05 PM
VisitationSiste: I think also the principal has to have the same outlook as a layperson
Dec 27 2015, 8:05 PM
Lisa C: ?
Dec 27 2015, 8:06 PM
Lisa C: I was looking at the high school choices and so many were not Catholic. Why?
Dec 27 2015, 8:06 PM
Judy K: And so I repeat, it begins with engaged couples. We need to start them on the road to a true Catholic family life where prayer is a normal part of daily life. Let couples know that it takes three to make a marriage-a man, a woman, and God.
Dec 27 2015, 8:06 PM
VisitationSiste: I think nuns are more oriented to the faith as the main reason for the school while others may see it more as as a private academic institution
:08 PM
Lisa C: Yes, but toughness too
Dec 27 2015, 8:09 PM
Judy K: Then perhaps the nuns (or Sisters) need to spend time with parents orienting them to the faith. What the religious teach in the classroom is virtually wasted unless it is being reinforced in the home.
Dec 27 2015, 8:10 PM
Carol Ann: Yes, we need to pray for younger people to hear their call, and to find ways to include those who heard their calls later in life
PM
VisitationSiste: I think also the principal has to have the same outlook as a layperson
Lisa C: I was looking at the high school choices and so many were not Catholic. Why?
Dec 27 2015, 8:06 PM
Judy K: And so I repeat, it begins with engaged couples. We need to start them on the road to a true Catholic family life where prayer is a normal part of daily life. Let couples know that it takes three to make a marriage-a man, a woman, and God.
Dec 27 2015, 8:06 PM
VisitationSiste: I think some are more oriented to the faith as the main reason for the school while others may see it more as as a private academic institution
Dec 27 2015, 8:07 PM
Lisa C: It is not a private academic institution, grrrr
Dec 27 2015, 8:07 PM
Lisa C: It is a place to make girls holy
Dec 27 2015, 8:07 PM
Michelle P Olivier: I think that is what people are looking for
Dec 27 2015, 8:08 PM
VisitationSiste: We need vocations!!
Dec 27 2015, 8:08 PM
Lisa C: Yes, but toughness too
Dec 27 2015, 8:09 PM
Judy K: Then perhaps the nuns (or Sisters) need to spend time with parents orienting them to the faith. What the religious teach in the classroom is virtually wasted unless it is being reinforced in the home.
Dec 27 2015, 8:10 PM
Carol Ann: Yes, we need to pray for younger people to hear their call, and to find ways to include those who heard their calls later in li
PM
Judy K: But in addition to priestly and religious vocations, we need dedicated lay people who are committed to sharing the faith with other as CCD catechists or RCIA catechists.
Dec 27 2015, 8:11 PM
VisitationSiste: We have 2 younger Sisters from Vietnam living with us. One of them has 3 other siblings in her congregation. Like it used to be here
Dec 27 2015, 8:11 PM
VisitationSiste: I agree Judy-
Dec 27 2015, 8:12 PM
Lisa C: Mother, you had sisters who were sisters?
Dec 27 2015, 8:12 PM
Carol Ann: God is raising up His army agai
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VisitationSiste: Not me- the Vietmanese Srs
Dec 27 2015, 8:12 PM
Lisa C: I mean at Visitation
Dec 27 2015, 8:13 PM
Judy K: But Mother, I don’t think that we are likely to see so many members of one family here in the States becoming members of the same religious family.
Dec 27 2015, 8:13 PM
VisitationSiste: No, maybe in the early days and es in Tyringham currently- twins
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VisitationSiste: The media has a huge influence on families Maybe more Catholic programms or movies are needed
Dec 27 2015, 8:15 PM
Lisa C: summer reading…….story of a soul and other books
Dec 27 2015, 8:15 PM
Lisa C: required
Dec 27 2015, 8:16 PM
Lisa C: Maybe a parent saint book club
Dec 27 2015, 8:16 PM
Judy K: That point that I brought up about the need for dedicated lay people is part of the answer to question 2. All of us are called to share the faith with others beginning in our families. And others are called to have more formal training in the faith so they can be teachers of solid doctrine. This is participating the the work of recemption.
Dec 27 2015, 8:16 PM
Carol Ann: There are more and more Catholic/Protestants sources for books (the Catholic Writers Guild has a good list) and movies. The movies are getting better all the time and the bigger distributers are showing interest
7 PM
Judy K: I remember when we had a book fair in school every year in which good Catholic books were made available to all of the parish. It might be good to bring this back too.
Dec 27 2015, 8:17 PM
VisitationSiste: Hi Sister Mary Roberta!
Dec 27 2015, 8:17 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Hello! We got so busy discussing the kind, Christmas generosity of our benefactors that time flew!
Dec 27 2015, 8:17 PM
Judy K: Hi Sister!
8 PM
Carol Ann: That’s a thought I might take to the Guild, Judy
Dec 27 2015, 8:18 PM
Michelle P Olivier: Hi Sister
Dec 27 2015, 8:18 PM
Lisa C: Sister how is Martha
Dec 27 2015, 8:18 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: So, you’ve been talking about your own perfect families on this Feast of the Holy Family?
Dec 27 2015, 8:18 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: You mean Sr. Mary Martha, Lisa?
Dec 27 2015, 8:19 PM
Lisa C: I meant your sister I thought her name was Martha
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Mary Roberta Viano: Oh, her name is Marta or Marty. Thanks for asking! I called her today and she seems sustained and uplifted by her own children’s love and help, so I think she’s going to be OK.
Dec 27 2015, 8:20 PM
Lisa C: Oh thank God
Dec 27 2015, 8:21 PM
Judy K: You’re kidding, of course, Sister Mary Roberta. I don’t think that most of came from perfect families although we must have come from good families or we would not be on a chat like this.
Dec 27 2015, 8:21 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: She’s talking about living with and relating to some of her 6 grandchildren by being with them long-term. Thanks so much for your prayers for her!
:22 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Yes, that was a provocative question, for sure. Luckily, the Lord can work around/thru family dysfunction (cf. His own family tree)! :23 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Have most of you been in the midst of your families during this Christmas time?
Dec 27 2015, 8:23 PM
Carol Ann: Yes, all kinds of dysfunction in His tree as well–which gives us hope. Proves He accepts us even in our hurts
Dec 27 2015, 8:24 PM
Lisa C: Yes, I was in NY
Dec 27 2015, 8:24 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: My best memories of my childhood Christmases are family gatherings and the joy that reigned in them
8:26 PM
Carol Ann: I spoke to mine by phone as well
Dec 27 2015, 8:26 PM
Judy K: Ii have been pretty much by myself during these days. Since I have no parents, brothers or sisters, nieces or nephews, my only family is some cousins. Since I am not all the way back up from the bronchitis, I am staying pretty much to myself. Something I do not mind. While I enjoyed my childhood Christmases, I also really enjoy being by myself sometimes.
Dec 27 2015, 8:26 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: I’m watching the film with Loretta Young, “Come to the Stable,” about the founding of the Benedictine community in CT – and the sisters’ interactions with the families in that area as they tried to build a hospital.
zing
Dec 27 2015, 8:27 PM
Carol Ann: I have not heard of that movie.
PM
Mary Roberta Viano: and the land was partly donated by an old friend of our Mother Berchmans
Dec 27 2015, 8:27 PM
Lisa C: I love when the Bishop says that an irresistible force has invaded Connecticut
Dec 27 2015, 8:28 PM
Judy K: Last week, I watched a film about the writing of Handel’s Messiah, Quite interesting! I had no idea that Handel had such an experience, a mystical experience, writing what I consider to be the most magnificent piece of music ever written.
5, 8:29 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Yes, the two founding sisters from France won’t take NO for an answer, when it comes to the good of the sick children they want to serve.
Dec 27 2015, 8:29 PM
Carol Ann: I did not know that either, Judy, but I am not surprised to learn it
Dec 27 2015, 8:29 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Agreed, Judy!
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Judy K: The name of the film was “Mr. Handel” and it was shown on EWTN last Saturday night. I would like to see it again.
Dec 27 2015, 8:30 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: We played it continually in our refectory during our 3-day, pre-Christmas retreat.
Dec 27 2015, 8:31 PM
Judy K: I listened to it all the way through over three days during the days before Christmas.
Dec 27 2015, 8:31 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: God be praised that we can sing and play to His glory! We had a brass quartet, violin, and organ in the parish down the street, where I sing in the choi
lin, and organ in the parish down the street, where I sing in the choir.
Dec 27 2015, 8:33 PM
Judy K: Indeed let us praise and thank Him for the religious freedom we have now and beg Him to permit us to continue to have it for all of our lives.
Dec 27 2015, 8:33 PM
Carol Ann: Amen!
Dec 27 2015, 8:33 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Well, time to get ready for the Feast of the Holy Innocents tomorrow – thinking of all the innocent children who are immigrants and refugees in our world.
Dec 27 2015, 8:33 PM
Judy K: And all of the innocents who have been murdered in their mothers’ wombs.
Dec 27 2015, 8:33 PM
Carol Ann: Yes, they are in such dire need