Religious Education: News
Theology & Faith Formation
- Director of Religious Education & Family Ministries
The liturgy can help us to better understand the Scriptures by guiding our response to the Word of God. In Sacred Scripture, God speaks to man in a human way (CCC 109). The liturgy whether in the Mass or in the liturgy of the hours, allows us to converse with God both individually and communally. We listen and speak to God in ways that, according to Dr. Scott Hann, “allow God to teach and shareHis Fatherly plan and illuminate our lives fulfilling the covenant he made all throughout the Old and New Testament” (F.U.S., THEO 519,Week 6, Lecture 1).
Christ said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him” (John 14:6-7). We can come to know God through Christ in the Mass. We can better understand His Word incarnate by studying, listening, and responding to His word inspired with the Traditions handed down from the apostles. It is in this union just like the body and soul unite, we find the Church animated, living. “Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture, then are bound closely together and communicate with one another. For both flowing from the same divine well-spring, come together in some fashion to form one thing and move towards the same goal. Each of them makes present and fruitful in the Church the mystery of Christ...” (CCC, 80).
In this Sunday’s Gospel Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Taking the example of Christ as our own we reach out to our own flock to care and comfort their needs. However, we must look not only to our neighbor but to the brothers and sisters in our community and beyond, to show love and mercy. This is our tradition as People of God to extend ourselves for the sake and goodness of our neighbor. We continue in this fourth Sunday of Easter to celebrate the sacrifice made and the rewards that come from Christ’s Resurrection. We set our focus on Jesus, the Good Shepherd and place our complete trust in Him.
Please Read
Partnering with Parents to Nurture Family Faith
-by John Roberto (USCCB;
Article published for Catechetical Sunday 2020
KEEPING HOLY THE LORD’S DAY
When it is not possible for us to attend Mass, here are some ways we can keep holy the Lord’s Day.
Set up a Home Altar
Create a sacred space with a crucifix, Bible, rosary.
Watch Sunday Mass via Livestream
Mass will be celebrated without the congregation and live-streamed from the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Honolulu each Sunday at 9:00 a.m. and can be accessed at:
https://www.facebook.com/HonoluluCathedralBasilica or www.hictv.com. In addition, other parishes may livestream the private Mass of the priest, so check your parish’s web-site to see if this service is offered. Mass is also live-streamed on www.ewtn.com
Make an Act of Spiritual Communion
For various reasons we may be prevented from receiving the Eucharist at Mass. We may have broken the one hour fast, be in a state of mortal sin, or we could even be homebound, unable to leave our home to attend Mass.
In these cases the Church encourages us to make an act of “spiritual communion,” where we unite ourselves to God through prayer. It is a beautiful way to express to God our desire to be united with him when we are unable to complete that union in the reception of Holy Communion:
Spiritual Act of Communion
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.
Reflect upon the Sunday Readings as a Family
Word on Fire:
www.wordonfire.org
Fifty-two Sundays:
www.52sundays.com
Loyola Press Sunday Connection:
https://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/
About the Stations of the Cross
The Stations of theCross are a 14-step Catholic devotion that commemorates Jesus Christ’s last day on earth as a man. The 14 devotions, or stations, focus on specific events of His last day, beginning with His condemnation. The stations are commonly used as a mini pilgrimage as the individual moves from station to station. At each station, the individual recalls and meditates on a specific event from christs last day.
Specific prayers are recited, then the individual moves to the next station until all 14 are complete.
The Stations of the Cross are commonly found in churches as a series of 14 small icons or images. They can also appear in church yards arranged along paths. The stations are most commonly prayed during Lient on Wednesdays and Fridays, and especially on Good Friday, the day of the year upon which the events actually occurred.
The object of the Stations is to help the faithful to make in spirit, as it were, a pilgrimage to the chief scenes of Christ's suffering and death, and this has become on of the most popular of Catholic devotions.