Fortnight for Freedom

Check this out as we continue to pray for our religious freedom.
Liberty to Captives: Proclaiming a “Fortnight” Acceptable to the Lord - Busted Halo

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Reading 1 Wisdom 1:13-15, 2:23-24; Reading 2 2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15; Gospel Mark 5:21-24, 35-4
“Do not be afraid. Just have faith.” 

Can you recall a time when your faith was able to calm your fears?

What does it really mean to just have faith? Is that an excuse not to do anything but believe? What is your role in having faith? How do you act, besides being unafraid, when you just have faith?

How do you recognize the presence of faith when someone is not afraid?

(from cl Weekly)

The Nativity of St. John the Baptist, Year B (Elizabeth Gave Birth)

First Reading: Isaiah 49: 1-6 (The Lord Called Me); Second Reading: Acts 13: 22-26 (John Preached); Gospel: Luke 1: 57-66, 80 (John Is His Name)
Adults: In what area of my life do I most need to continue to grow into my identity as a faithful follower of Christ?
Children: What can I say and do to show others that I am a child of God at home, at school, and in my neighborhood?

Prayer for the Protection of Religious Liberty

     O God our Creator, through the power and working of your Holy Spirit, you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world, bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel to every corner of society.
     We ask you to bless us in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty.  Give us the strength of mind and heart to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened; give us courage in making our voices heard on behalf of the rights of your Church and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith.
     Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father, a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters gathered in your Church in this decisive hour in the history of our nation, so that, with every trial withstood and every danger overcome—for the sake of our children, our grandchildren, and all who come after us—this great land will always be "one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
     We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/fortnight-for-freedom/ 

Fortnight for Freedom

The fourteen days from June 21—the vigil of the Feasts of St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More—to July 4, Independence Day, are dedicated to this “fortnight for freedom”—a great hymn of prayer for our country. Our liturgical calendar celebrates a series of great martyrs who remained faithful in the face of persecution by political power—St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More, St. John the Baptist, SS. Peter and Paul, and the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome. Culminating on Independence Day, this special period of prayer, study, catechesis, and public action will emphasize both our Christian and American heritage of liberty. Dioceses and parishes around the country have scheduled special events that support a great national campaign of teaching and witness for religious liberty.
http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/fortnight-for-freedom/ 

The following link will take you to reflections for each day of the Fortnight for Freedom. http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/fortnight-for-freedom/upload/Fortnight-Reflections-pref-statement.pdf 

And this link will take you to the activities happening in the Diocese of La Crosse: http://www.dioceseoflacrosse.com/ministry_resources/ministries/NEW_Site/Social%20Concerns/Pro-Life/Fortnight_for_Freedom_Schedule_of_Events.pdf

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B (The Sower)

First Reading: Ezekiel 17: 22–24 (I will Raise the Trees); Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5: 6–10 (We Trust); Gospel: Mark 4: 26–34 (The Seed Germinates)
Adults: Do I allow God to be in my life or do I try to control my spiritual development without him?
Children: What problems do I need to put into God’s hands?

http://www.faithfirst.com/question_week.html

Key Passage Yet when [the mustard seed] is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade. (Mark 4:32)

Adult: What is the “good soil” that has allowed your faith to grow like the mustard seed and provide shelter for others?

Child: How do you help your faith grow like the mustard seed?

http://pastoralplanning.com/QuestionoftheWeek.html

“With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it.”

How many Scriptural parables can you recall?  What about stories with a lesson that either of your parents told you or that you have told others?  What makes these stories/parables easy to understand?  What truths have been conveyed to you by parable?  Does a parable make it easier to accept the truth and therefore make it easier to understand?

(from cl Weekly)



Busted Halo Summer School Calendar

Last week I let you know about the Summer School Calendar from busted Halo.  The Tuesday question was, "Do Catholics believe in evolution or are they fundamentalists?"; on Saturday the question posed was, "What are the Catholic Sacraments of Initiation?"; and today's question is, "How do Catholics Elect the Pope?"  To discover the answers to these question and to find out what the upcoming questions will be (or what other questions from last weekare) go to http://bustedhalo.com/features/summer-school. 

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ - Year B, (This Is My Body)

First Reading: Exodus 24: 3–8 (Covenant of Blood); Second Reading: Hebrews 9: 11–15 (Christ’s Blood); Gospel: Mark 14:12–16, 22–26 (This is my Blood)
Adults: Do I see the Eucharist simply as an obligation or as a means of life? 
Children: Do I remember that Jesus comes to me every time at Mass and that I can ask him for anything I need?

(http://www.faithfirst.com/question_week.html) 

Busted Halo Summer School - Busted Halo

As we enter into the "slower" days of the summer you may want to check out the Busted Halo Summer School (calendar) link that is below this entry (just run your cursor over it and click on it).  Today's video clip asks the question, "Do Muslims believe in the Virgin birth?"  Then at the bottom of the page there is a reflection question for you to ponder over.  The calendar won't let me jump ahead to let you know what other offerings are coming up so I will try to remember to give updates occasionally on what they are offering for short faith enriching ideas. 

Busted Halo Summer School - Busted Halo