Mass Reflections and Discussion Starters for Families
As Catholics we believe that the Mass is the "source and summit" of our Catholic Faith. It is a powerful experience for those who seek a personal, face to face, encounter with Jesus. The Mass can also be a great tool for parents to grow in their own faith, but even more so, a way to pass on your Catholic faith to your children. The Mass can also be an avenue for families to connect the Gospel reading to their everyday life.
Below are documents to help families use the Mass as a way to grow in their faith together. For each weekend Mass, you will find two documents below. "Gospel Reflections" are a one page document that gives a brief overview of the Gospel reading, and includes discussion starters you can visit with your children about, and specific ways you can live out the Gospel message that week in your everyday life. "Parent background" is designed to give parents and catechists background information on the Mass readings for the weekend. You are encouraged to go through the readings and this reflection prior to going to Mass with your family. The hope is that these documents will help you better understand the readings, how they are connected, and thus be more comfortable talking with your children or others about them after Mass.
All of these resources come from the following website from RCL Benzinger: http://rclblectionary.com/
If you want to look ahead at the rest of Year C (now-November 2019)
The Parent Background Readings are under the tab "Classroom Sessions", and Year C, Catechist Background.
The Gospel Reflections are under the tab "Gospel Reflection", Year C
This is also the resource for the below "Mass Question for the Week".
Below are documents to help families use the Mass as a way to grow in their faith together. For each weekend Mass, you will find two documents below. "Gospel Reflections" are a one page document that gives a brief overview of the Gospel reading, and includes discussion starters you can visit with your children about, and specific ways you can live out the Gospel message that week in your everyday life. "Parent background" is designed to give parents and catechists background information on the Mass readings for the weekend. You are encouraged to go through the readings and this reflection prior to going to Mass with your family. The hope is that these documents will help you better understand the readings, how they are connected, and thus be more comfortable talking with your children or others about them after Mass.
All of these resources come from the following website from RCL Benzinger: http://rclblectionary.com/
If you want to look ahead at the rest of Year C (now-November 2019)
The Parent Background Readings are under the tab "Classroom Sessions", and Year C, Catechist Background.
The Gospel Reflections are under the tab "Gospel Reflection", Year C
This is also the resource for the below "Mass Question for the Week".
January and February Family Reflections
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Mass Question for the Week: Something to talk about after Mass
January 2019 Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
(January 13, 2019)
Adults: Do you think that God was “well pleased” by your actions in recent weeks? Why?
Children: What good thing could you do this week that would be pleasing to God?
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
(January 20, 2019)
Adults: When have you stepped in, as Mary did at Cana, to try and make a difficult situation easier for someone?
Children: What can you do this week to help make someone’s job a little easier?
3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
(January 27, 2019)
Adults: What do you believe that the anointing you received at Baptism requires you to do?
Children: What could you do this week for someone who has less than you?
February 2019
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time
(February 3, 2019)
Adults: What do you do when a message you are trying to deliver “falls on deaf ears”?
Children: Are there times when you have not listened as well as you could to what someone was telling you? Why didn’t you?
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
(February 10, 2019)
Adults: When have you felt inadequate to a task or role you were given? How did you respond?
Children: When have you been asked to do something you felt might be too hard for you? What did you do?
6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
(February 17, 2019)
Adults: In what way are you serving the poor, as Jesus did?
Children: When have you helped bring God’s love to someone who was sad, or hungry, or whom others made fun of?
7th Sunday in Ordinary Time
(February 24, 2019)
Adults: What has allowed you to overcome obstacles and forgive someone who has hurt you?
Children: When has it been hard to forgive someone who has hurt you? What did you do?
(January 13, 2019)
Adults: Do you think that God was “well pleased” by your actions in recent weeks? Why?
Children: What good thing could you do this week that would be pleasing to God?
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
(January 20, 2019)
Adults: When have you stepped in, as Mary did at Cana, to try and make a difficult situation easier for someone?
Children: What can you do this week to help make someone’s job a little easier?
3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
(January 27, 2019)
Adults: What do you believe that the anointing you received at Baptism requires you to do?
Children: What could you do this week for someone who has less than you?
February 2019
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time
(February 3, 2019)
Adults: What do you do when a message you are trying to deliver “falls on deaf ears”?
Children: Are there times when you have not listened as well as you could to what someone was telling you? Why didn’t you?
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
(February 10, 2019)
Adults: When have you felt inadequate to a task or role you were given? How did you respond?
Children: When have you been asked to do something you felt might be too hard for you? What did you do?
6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
(February 17, 2019)
Adults: In what way are you serving the poor, as Jesus did?
Children: When have you helped bring God’s love to someone who was sad, or hungry, or whom others made fun of?
7th Sunday in Ordinary Time
(February 24, 2019)
Adults: What has allowed you to overcome obstacles and forgive someone who has hurt you?
Children: When has it been hard to forgive someone who has hurt you? What did you do?
