Advent group material

Parish of the Blessed Sacrament, Virginia
and

Star of the Sea, Umhlanga

Marriage & Family Life

Family & Small Group Material
for Advent 2018

Introduction:

Over the past few years there have been two Synods (major consultations) held in
Rome focussing on Marriage and Family Life . This program is intended to bring
some of the issues raised there into your homes. Advent is a wonderful
opportunity to do this as we prepare for the joyful celebration of the birth of
Christ. Open your hearts and minds to the influence of the Holy Spirit and enjoy
this time together.

The program is designed to be used in the home - as couples; as families; or in
small groups. The material is intended to facilitate one hour sessions. However, if
your group wants to make the evening longer, it is suggested that you set a
cut-off time before you begin the evening.

In order to make the content more interesting, you will need to access YouTube.
This can be via smart TV, PC, laptops or even cellphone. As long as you can
Google, you have access to it. When you get to the guide, simply type in the link
and it will take you to the video.

Some of the material is provocative or challenging, some is light-hearted, some
more serious but most importantly, it is relevant to everyday life.

Alternative opening prayers are offered for smaller children if needed. Parents
may need to adapt the content to suit the family.

Enjoy it, pray with it—and let Christ be a reality in your family this Advent.

All bible texts are from the Revised Standard Version.

If you have any comments or queries, feel free to send them to me at
[email protected] or phone me at the parish office. Also, if you
would like more material, please send me the topic and I will see what I can do.

God bless.

Dc Mike O‘Neill
Parish of the Blessed Sacrament & Star of the Sea, Virginia.
November 2018

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How to use this material:
 There are 5 sessions available: 1. Preparing for Christmas

2. Praying as a Family
3. Marriage—Did you get the manual?
4. The Domestic Church
5. Give yourself a spiritual tune-up
It is desirable that you do all 5 sessions but you may feel that one or two are not
applicable to you. So do the ones that you feel drawn to.
 Each group needs a convenor or facilitator. He/she should guide the group on time
management as well as ensuring that different members are involved in reading parts of
the material.
 There is flexibility in the program. Some groups may not be able to meet regularly so
members could do the balance of the material as families or couples.
 In some sessions you are offered optional Additional Material. It is suggested that the
leader watches this material in advance in order to be able to make any recommenda-
tions to the group.
 The material headed “Setting the Scene” is intended to break the ice for the evening.
The message is sometimes more subtle than serious.

Advent

noun

1. the arrival of a notable person or thing.

2. the first season of the Church year, leading up to
Christmas and including the four preceding Sundays.

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Session One

PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS

1 Opening Prayer:

“Lord, as we gather today we ask that you will be in our midst. Help us to
be aware of your presence so that our discussions may be sincere and
focussed on your will for us at this time.

God let this meeting be an opportunity for us to experience your love and
care for us in a new and exciting way so that we may grow as true disciples
in our families and the greater community. During this time may we learn
more about you and ourselves and so share joyfully with Jesus in calling
you, “Abba, Father”. Amen”

For Children:
Dear Lord, as we gather now, we ask your
blessing and love on our family. Help us to
share what you need us to share and so
become more like you. Amen

2. Input:

Setting the scene: Watch: The Skit Guys The Skinny on Christmas (4 mins.)

(Enter this exactly as given. Do not open YouTube first)

Briefly reflect on how realistic these characters are in today’s society.

Bible Text: The Gospel of Luke, Chapter 2, verses 1-7

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be
enrolled. This was the first enrolment, when Quirin′i-us was governor of Syria. And all
went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from
the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because
he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed,
who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered.
And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and
laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Read the passage again, focussing on one word or phrase that is most meaningful
to you. Share this with the group.

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3. Commentary:

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year”, according to the traditional
Christmas song. It is the time when everyone seems to be driven into a
frenzy of shopping, partying and eating delicious food. The problem is
that commercial interests have more influence on society than the
REAL message of Christmas. Even the inclusion of the name of Christ
has become “offensive” in greeting one another!! So we get ‘Seasons
Greetings’, ‘Happy Holidays’, and others. Strange, since the birth of
Christ is the reason for the celebration in the first place. Suggestions to
remove Christmas from the calendar at one time were vigorously opposed by the
commercial sector. No wonder!

The modern experience of Christmas is strongly contrasted by the simple and humble
narrative as given by St Luke. Mary, a mere teenage girl, cared for lovingly by Joseph, an
obedient servant of God, giving birth to the saviour of the world and lying him in a
manger in the middle of winter. The story is so well-known that it is worth stopping and
considering for a moment the simple reality of this very real human experience. Artworks
may romanticise the moment so here are a couple of realities—the shepherds would only
have arrived sometime later; it would have been smelly and dusty; and the magi did not
arrive until a few years later, and not at the stable. Mary and Joseph
(together with the hosts of angels) would have been alone.

Focussing on the simplicity of Christmas gives us an opportunity to
develop a deeper and more sincere attitude towards preparing for
the celebration. Jesus, Mary and Joseph were a simple human family.
What they became is amazing!

Advent is a time to reflect on our attitude towards Christ, his church and our faith in
general. It is a time of preparation for the commemoration of the birth of our Saviour. We
should reflect on what emphasis we will put into showing this in our lives and our homes.
Do you have an Advent wreath? Do you have a nativity scene? How will you include Jesus
in the Santa version of Christmas this year? Maybe this year is the time to make a change.
If so, do it! And if you are already doing it, share it with others.

Discuss: How important is family at Christmas time?
What can you do to make Christmas more meaningful this year?

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4. Conclusion:
Challenge for the week:
Make a commitment to putting Christ back into Christmas. Share your ideas every day
with your family on how to do this. Pray about it.
Start making an Advent wreath.

Close in prayer:
End with the Advent Prayer found on Page 20.

Additional Material:

Watch: YouTube: Fr Mike Advent More than a Chocolate Calendar
(6.26mins.)

Discuss: “If Jesus showed up in your life today, would there be any
room for him?”
Share your own experiences with the group.

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Session Two

PRAYING AS A FAMILY

1 Opening Prayer:

“Lord, as we gather today we ask that you will be in our midst. Help us to
be aware of your presence so that our discussions may be sincere and
focussed on your will for us at this time.

God let this meeting be an opportunity for us to experience your love and
care for us in a new and exciting way so that we may grow as true disciples
in our families and the greater community. During this time may we learn
more about you and ourselves and so share joyfully with Jesus in calling
you, “Abba, Father”. Amen”

For Children:
Dear Jesus, we thank you for giving us the
gift of a family. Please be with us during
this time so that we may learn more about
you and what you want us to do. Amen.

2 Input:

Setting the scene: YouTube: Fr Mike Schmitz Tips for Praying (8:12mins.)

The Four Questions: When?

Where?

What?

Why?

Briefly discuss which of these stood out most for you?

Bible Text: The Letter of James, Chapter 5, verses 13 –18.

Is any one among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise.
Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray
over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will
save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will
be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another,
that you may be healed.

The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects. Elijah was a man of like
nature with ourselves and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three
years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again and the

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Reflect on the Scripture:

Read the passage again, focussing on one word or phrase that is most meaningful
to you. Share this with the group.

3. Commentary:

Firstly, prayer is a communication with God. What distinguishes it from just thinking
about God is that it is a Spiritual exercise, not just a physical and mental one. So the first
thing is to try to remove any distractions and place ourselves into God’s presence. Always
begin by making the sign of the Cross. This is a sign to God and ourselves that we are
talking to Him – which has a similar effect to dialling a number before making a phone
call.

Couples, and subsequently families, sometimes find it awkward to pray together. They
often say that they don’t know what to say. Jesus was once asked how to pray and he
gave us the Our Father—so that is one option.

Another is to base family prayer around Grace before
meals:

The formula could be:
 The family gathers at the table.
 Make the sign of the Cross. And then link hands.
 An adult (initially) begins by offering thanks for the events of the day and maybe

remembers a concern or family member who needs prayer.
 Other family members may add their prayers.
 Give thanks for the food and ask for God’s blessing.
 Conclude with the sign of the Cross.
Take turns to lead the prayer. Encourage children to follow the example of the parents.
Most often they need little encouragement! (The puppy may even get a prayer!)

Experience has shown that, sometimes, previously unknown issues are
raised during prayers and this can lead to helpful discussion at the
dinner table. This forum is very biblical and was often used by Jesus to
teach his disciples.

Once the family is comfortable praying together, you can introduce
saying a decade of the Rosary, or other seasonal prayers for Lent and
Advent.

Discuss: “The family that prays together, stays together.”
Do you agree/disagree? Why?

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4. Conclusion:

Challenge for the Week:

Pray together as a family at least once a day. Try to deepen your awareness of the
presence of God while you pray. With practice, your prayers should become shorter as
you learn to become one with God in prayer.

Close in prayer:

Use either the Prayer for Families which is printed on the back cover, the Advent Prayer
on Page 20 or use your own spontaneous prayer.

Additional Material:

Watch: YouTube: Bishop Barron on Prayer. (13.01mins.)

Discuss and evaluate the points made by Bishop Barron:

Take the time.
Find your centre.
Be honest with God.
Listen attentively.

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Session Three

MARRIAGE—Did you get the manual?

1 Opening Prayer:

“Lord, as we gather today we ask that you will be in our midst. Help us to
be aware of your presence so that our discussions may be sincere and
focussed on your will for us at this time.

God let this meeting be an opportunity for us to experience your love and
care for us in a new and exciting way so that we may grow as true disci-
ples in our families and the greater community. During this time may we
learn more about you and ourselves and so share joyfully with Jesus in
calling you, “Abba, Father”. Amen”

For Children:
Dear Lord, we thank you for our parents. As
we meet now, help us to learn more about
your plans for us so that, one day, we may
also become loving parents. Amen

2. Input:

Setting the scene: YouTube: Mark Gungor Mens Brains vs

Womens Brains (10:53mins.)

(Mark Gungor is a popular American evangelist who has presented

programs and published books on Marriage for several years. He visited

South Africa recently.)

Briefly discuss whether or not you agree with what Mark Gungor says.
Are these stereotypes accurate?

Bible Text: The Letter of Paul to the Ephesians, Chapter 5, verses 21 -28
Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, be
subject to your husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head
of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself
its Saviour. As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be
subject In everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as
Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might
sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the
word, that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without
spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without
blemish. Even so husbands should love their wives as their own bodies.
He who loves his wife loves himself.
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Reflect on the Scripture:

Read the passage again, focussing on one word or phrase that is most meaningful
to you. Share this with the group.

3. Commentary:

How much time did you spend preparing for your Wedding and how much did you
spend preparing for your Marriage? Often the focus is on the wedding reception, the
photographer and the honeymoon while the marriage ceremony is given less attention.
So the question might be asked, “What is the basis for our marriage?”

Once the joy and the love that is experienced on the day of the wedding and
subsequent weeks/months/years matures, the reality sometimes sinks in: I am married
to this person for the rest of my life! Hopefully this is not the first time that you have
considered this and, even more importantly, it should be a realisation that excites you.
Remind yourself of the words of the marriage ceremony: “Christ abundantly blesses
this love”. It is well to remember that Sacramental Marriage has three partners and
that Christ, as a full partner, must be active in your marriage and family.

Every marriage is different. Spouses bring their own strengths and weaknesses,
personalities and values, genetics and experiences. The way in which these differences
become ONE flesh (Eph.5:31) can be a wonderful journey but it can also be a challenge.
It may well be a time when the couple could ask, “Did you get the manual?” Have the
expectations become the realities or were the expectations, in fact, realistic?

Some considerations:
 It is really important for spouses to practice genuine communication. That doesn't

mean just discussing each other’s diaries or responsibilities. It also means spending
quality time enjoying each other’s company and keeping the balance in life.

 Learn to say “No”. We all know that work and other commitments can eat into our
time but there has to be a cut-off when we say, “NO” to society’s demands on our
time. The fact that the divorce rate world-wide is increasing suggests that marriages
are not getting the nurturing that they need.

 Some couples observe that their marriage has become boring! So surprise each
other. Make an effort to do something special for your spouse—
especially when they don’t expect it! It doesn’t have to be big and it
should not be measured by how much it costs.

 Laugh together! This is not only therapeutic in easing stress; it also
helps couples and families to develop interests and grow together.

 Go to church as a family, even if you are not both Catholic. Religion forms the basis

of your family values. 11

4. Conclusion:

Challenge/s for the Week:

 Surprise your spouse or family members with something special.
 Say “No” at least once when something threatens your family time.
 Make Christ a tangible reality in your family life.
 Reflect on the Holy Family and include them in your prayer time.

Close in prayer:

Use either ‘A Prayer for Couples’ below, the Prayer for Families which is printed on the
back cover or use your own spontaneous prayer.

Additional Material:

Watch: YouTube: The Skit Guys: That’s so mature. (5.02mins.)

(The Skit Guys are a Christian group who have produced a series of

these entertaining skits on a variety of relevant topics)

Discuss: Have you experienced some of the points in your family which were
raised in the commentary and video clip?
Were they productive or destructive?
How can you (or did you) build on these experiences?
Was it easy to keep Christ in the relationship?

A Prayer for Couples

Father, help us to sharpen our
communication skills.

Teach us to communicate with our eyes
-to convey our delight in the other's presence,

to say, "I love you,"
to let our loved one know,
even in a crowded room,

"You're special to me."
Remind us to give each other the gift of

our full attention when we talk.
Amen.

(From “A Prayer for Marriage”, Kay Arthur, Christianity.com)

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Session Four

THE DOMESTIC CHURCH (The Family)

1 Opening Prayer:

“Lord, as we gather today we ask that you will be in our midst. Help us to
be aware of your presence so that our discussions may be sincere and
focussed on your will for us at this time.

God let this meeting be an opportunity for us to experience your love and
care for us in a new and exciting way so that we may grow as true disciples
in our families and the greater community. During this time may we learn
more about you and ourselves and so share joyfully with Jesus in calling
you, “Abba, Father”. Amen”

For Children:
Dear Lord, thank you for our family.
Please bless us as we meet during this
time that we may become more like
your own family. Amen.

2. Input:

Setting the scene: Watch YouTube: “Inside the Domestic Church”

(Jim Morlino) (3:10mins.)

Briefly discuss: The dangers of not being fully informed about our faith.

Bible Text: Read Ephesians 5:21-28; 6:1-4

Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, be subject
to your husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife
as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Saviour.
As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in every
thing to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the
church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having
cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that he might
present the church to himself in splendour, without spot or wrinkle or
any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. Even so,
husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his
wife loves himself. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is
right. "Honour your father and mother" (this is the first commandment
with a promise), "that it may be well with you and that you may live long
on the earth." Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring
them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

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Reflect on the scripture:

Try to focus on one word or phrase that is most meaningful to you.
You may need to read the passage again. Share this with the group.

3. Commentary:

The title “Domestic Church” is most commonly used by the Catholic church
because it is a critical element of the structure of the church as a whole.
The positions of the father, mother and children form the model of the
greater church. Parishes are formed when families, or members of families,
come together to worship. So what does this mean?

Defining a “Normal” family these days could easily open up a
can of worms. It could be argued that broken families are
more normal than traditional families because there are
so many of them. So, for the purposes of clarity, in this
reflection the term ‘Normal Family’ will be used in
reference to one which has a husband, wife and their
children—without excluding or diminishing the value of
single parent families.

At the outset, it must be realised that families are not democracies! The
reading from St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians makes two things clear:
1) Families are built on love and respect for each other, and
2) The roles of family members are critical to a successful and happy family.

Roles within the Family:

 Father. This is the parent that did not give birth to the babies! This is an
important observation since, during this time, he HAS to be the pro-
vider. Apart form this, the traditional function of the father is to be the
authority, particularly when there are children in the picture. Modern
pressures on family structures have lead to both parents taking on this
role which should work well provided that there is consensus in decision
making.

Fathers must always appreciate that it is a joint parental role to raise
the children and that, contrary to some opinion, his responsibility does
not stop at conception! Confident children need dependable fathers and
role models. Faithful children need faith -filled fathers.

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 Mother: The emotional and physical link between a mother and baby
begins even before the birth of the baby. It is not surprising, therefore,
that mothers are the traditional nurturers. This is a function that
fathers have to grow into—and they must be allowed to! It has been
observed that mothers tend to be more emotional than fathers. This
may be true due to the natural bond that is established through child-
birth. Children need this bond and it should not be neglected.

 Children: The 15th Century Proverb, “Children should be seen and not
heard” is seldom applied in today’s society. However, it is the parents’
responsibility to raise their children to be responsible and considerate
members of the family and society as a whole so total freedom is not
the way to go either!

As the future generation, and with so many technological influences in
their lives, children NEED the stabilising influence of parents with solid
and loving guidance. Remember, too, that there is a significant
distinction between punishment and discipline. Children who are not
disciplined are not being prepared for responsible adult life. And, in
passing, some parents want to be their child’s friend—but the child
doesn’t need any more friends—what they need is parents.

 Parents: This role is distinct from that of each spouse because it is in
specific relationship to the children, not just to each other. As parents,
you need to work together for the benefit of your children. Common
religious belief and practice create an automatic moral code but, if this
is not your case, ensure that you support each other in the way that
you raise your family. Above all, remember that children are great
imitators so set a good example– ALWAYS!

Discuss: At Baptism, parents are told, “You will be the first teachers of
your children in the ways of the faith. May you also be the best of
teachers.”
How have you responded to this challenge?

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4. Conclusion:
Challenge for the Week:
Observe and evaluate the values that you are teaching your children
and those around you by your example and witnessing to Christ as his
disciples. Make changes if you need to!
Close in Prayer:
Use either the Prayer for Families which is printed on the back cover, the Advent
Prayer on Page 20 or use your own spontaneous prayer.

Additional Material:
Watch: YouTube: Bishop Barron on Biblical Family Values.

(8:43mins.)
Discuss and evaluate the points from by Bishop Barron’s video:

My children are mine, not God’s!
Do you see your family as part of God’s plan?
The role of the parent is to find the child’s purpose for God.

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Session 5

GIVE YOURSELF A SPIRITUAL TUNE-UP

1 Opening Prayer:

“Lord, as we gather today we ask that you will be in our midst. Help us to
be aware of your presence so that our discussions may be sincere and
focussed on your will for us at this time.

God let this meeting be an opportunity for us to experience your love and
care for us in a new and exciting way so that we may grow as true disciples
in our families and the greater community. During this time may we learn
more about you and ourselves and so share joyfully with Jesus in calling
you, “Abba, Father”. Amen”

For Children:
Dear Lord, as we gather now, we ask your
blessing and love on our family. Help us to
share what you need us to share and so
become more like you. Amen

2. Input:

Setting the scene: YouTube: Fr Mike Finding Balance in Christian Life (5:57mins.)

Points raised: Balance is active, not static

Balance is disproportionate

Balance requires priorities

Briefly discuss your personal experience of the above.

Bible Text: The letter of Paul to the Romans, Chapter 8, verses 5-8

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh,
but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the
Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life
and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit
to God’s law, indeed it cannot; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Reflect on the scripture:

Try to focus on one word or phrase that is most meaningful to you.
You may need to read the passage again. Share this with the group.

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3. Commentary:

When we think about our spirituality, we are essentially talking about our concern for the
Salvation of our Souls. After all, we all want to get to heaven. So what can we do to give
ourselves the best chance? First of all, let’s get rid of a popular myth: Sacraments are not
qualifications— just because we “believe” in God does not mean that we will gain
salvation. Even the devil believes in God! We must be active in our faith as well.

God also wants us to be with him. That is why he sent his Son to teach us and show us the
way. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by
me.” (Jn.14:6) This is why it is really important that we know what Jesus teaches and that
we don’t simply make up our own rules and expect God to accept them!

In order to grow our spirituality, we must develop an intense and honest longing to be
with God; to surrender completely to him as the loving master of our lives; and to be
willing to recognise our weaknesses and failings and be repentant for them. Now that
seems like a really BIG ask, especially if we have allowed ourselves to drift. But God has
given us the Sacraments to help us in this task.

It is through the sacraments that we encounter God. So we don’t
just go to Mass or attend Mass. This would limit the sacrament to a
mechanical observance with little or no spiritual encounter with
Jesus Christ. It has been said that the Eucharist is where heaven and
earth meet! It is where Christ is fully present to mortal human
beings, meeting them in all their imperfection with his total and
intimate love. How we respond to that gift from Christ is where we
use that spiritual nourishment to energise us as true disciples.

The way in which we prepare ourselves physically and mentally for Mass is important.
If we really believe that we are encountering Jesus Christ through his Word, Body and
Blood, it becomes incumbent on us to get to Mass early, to participate fully in the liturgy,
and show sincere respect for our Saviour throughout the celebration. The more that we
embrace the rich elements of the Mass, the closer we will grow to the spiritual reality of it
also.

Some other ways in which we can grow spiritually are:

 Rejoice in the sacrament of Reconciliation.
 Learn from Mary; love her as Christ does.
 Grow your prayer life; spend more time in quality prayer.
 Read the Bible more often. Don’t be intimidated by it!

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The spiritual growth of children needs special attention. Baptism, the Sacrament of
Initiation through which we begin our spiritual journey, is not just a ceremony. Through
this sacrament, our spirit is ignited and, like our physical being, it needs to be fed in order
to grow. Children need to be prepared by the parents for attendance at Mass so that the
can benefit from the experience at their own spiritual level. The popular trend of
distracting children using toys and food (gasp!) does little to give the young ones any
sense of the presence of God at Mass.

Further to this, when they reach the age of catechism, they should be taught the
importance of regular attendance for their spiritual growth. Distractions like sports and
other activities must not be allowed to take precedence over education in their faith.
This is a promise made by parents at Baptism.

4. Conclusion:

Challenge for the week:
Evaluate what Christ has given you personally in your life.
Consider what God is asking you to do at this time of Advent for him. And then do it!

Close in Prayer:
Use either the Prayer for Families which is printed on the back cover or use your
own spontaneous prayer.

Additional Material:

Watch: YouTube: Bishop Barron on Spiritual Food (10:41mins.)

Points made: Prayer

Spiritual Reading

Corporal & Spiritual works of Mercy

The Eucharist

Discuss: Do we really give back to God the time that we should?

Is religion an aspect of our lives that often comes second to everything else?

Do you fear allowing God to become too significant in your life?

Hail Mary, full of grace
The Lord is with thee
Blessed art thou among women
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners now
And at the hour of our death.

Amen.

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Advent Prayer

By Fr Henri J.M. Nouwen

Lord Jesus,
Master of both the light and the darkness,
send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations

for Christmas.
We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces

to hear your voice each day.
We who are anxious over many things look

forward to your coming among us.
We who are blessed in so many ways long for

the complete joy of your kingdom.
We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of

your presence.
We are your people, walking in darkness,

yet seeking the light.
To you we say, “Come, Lord Jesus!”

Amen.

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Prayer for our Families

God of tender love and mercy,
thank you for the gift and blessing
of Christian family life and all families.
We trust our families to your constant

care and protection.
Grant us wisdom to see how
we can change our home life,
to become more like that of the

Holy Family of Nazareth.

Teach us to listen to each other
more attentively and to be sensitive

to each other’s needs.
Show us how to care for each other

and to share our time
and all we have, generously.
Give us a spirit of patience and understanding.
Draw us together in deep bonds of
friendship, love and care for one another.

Comfort and strengthen us when we
are wearied by trials and sorrows.
May the inspiration of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

be in our homes bringing light,
warmth, unity, forgiveness and peace.
May we radiate the joy of Christian family life

to all who come into our homes.

Bless our hearts and our homes
now and always,

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

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