“The Christian home is the place where children receive the first proclamation of faith. For this reason the family home is rightly called “the domestic church”, a community of grace and prayer, a school of human virtues and of Christian charity.” (CCC 1666) Families are important centers of living faith and the Christian family is the “church at home.” St. Anthony Parish nurtures faith formation in the home by offering a variety of resources.

Pope John Paul II spoke of the family as a “church in miniature”.  He wanted families to embrace the idea that their life, no matter how ordinary it may seem – is genuine church life!!!!! 

KID’S AND GOD:  STARTING FROM SCRATCH - SOME TIPS TO FOLLOW

Go to Mass each Sunday:  As Woody Allen said, “Ninety percent of life is just showing up.”  Get yourself to Mass and see what god has to say to you.  Just show up!
Pray with your kids before dinner and bed:  Whether you pray in your own words or use traditional prayers (Bless us, O Lord; Hail Mary; Our Father), your children will begin to understand that prayer is important enough that we do it twice a day.
Hang up a cross:  If your house has plenty of artwork and kids’ photos on the walls but is lacking a cross, that sends a message to kids about the family’s priorities.  Get a cross or crucifix.  There are thousands of styles.
Get your kids to religious education:  If your kids are in a Catholic school, they’re getting several hours of faith formation each week.  If not, enroll in the parish religious education program and commit to it.
-At Home With Our Faith, September 2011

“A Spiritual Bouquet for Valentine’s Day”

When I was a kid, Spiritual Bouquets were all the rage as a gift for family members, teachers, senior neighbors, etc.  The formal definition of a spiritual bouquet is:  “a card indicating that the sender will undertake certain devotional acts on behalf of another person, as in honor of a special occasion or in memoriam.”  We used to make elaborate cards for Valentine’s Day, birthdays, for someone who was ill, and write in the card how many rosaries, Masses, etc. we would pray for the recipient of the card.  I have to admit, we got a little carried away sometimes and the competition was great to see who would have the “largest” bouquet for Sr. Lawrence Joseph!

This is a great tradition to start at home, with a few modern tweaks.  Have family members draw a daisy with several petals on a piece of construction paper.  Put one prayer intention on each petal.  Cut out the flower and glue on a plastic straw “stem.”    Place the flower or flowers in a vase and give it to someone special.  (Make sure that you have written down a copy of all the prayer intentions so you can follow through.)   Or, make a card with the prayer intentions on it to give to the recipient and keep the vase of “flowers” on the table and take a petal off every night and pray for the intention at the dinner table.