WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15
DAY 28 - THE EARLY CHURCH
With the birth of the Church at Pentecost, the Apostles and first Catholics begin to bring Jesus' message of salvation to the whole world. In the first book after the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles tells the story of what the Apostles do after Jesus rises and ascends into Heaven. As commanded, they begin preaching in Jerusalem and will eventually bring the Gospel to the entire world. Today, that the work continues and has reached every corner of the world with 1.2 Billion Catholics professing faith in Jesus & his Church.
From Our Spiritual Director ✝
Wednesday Reflection
Readings
Acts 3:1-10Psalm 105:1-2,3-4, 6-7, 8-9Luke 24:13-35"How are you today?" "Good thanks and you?” Often that is the extent of conversation between strangers. It seems we seldom respond with what is really on our mind.
Today, in the Gospel of Luke, we find one of the disciples named Cleopas walking with the other disciples when a stranger approaches and asks, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” Instead of responding “nothing,” Cleopas goes into a verbose explanation of what had happened to Jesus, the one that they had pinned their hopes and dreams on. We see how upset Cleopas and the others are. They tell this “stranger” everything. Finally, the stranger says, “Oh, how foolish you are!”
Jesus is that stranger and while they expressed their faith in him by explaining all that had happened, they were blind to the fact that Christ was right in front of them!
Have we become downcast by what is happening around us? Are we still able to see Christ present in our daily lives? We must remember that Christ does continue to show himself to us, and calls on us through our Baptismal promises to be Christ to those around us.
We must remain a joyous Easter people!
Peace,
Fr. John
Weekly Challenge 🙌
Our new contest this week is "Acting Out!" Just for fun, we're challenging our families to an acting contest. Choose a story from the bible (or elsewhere), create costumes, props, a set, a script, or anything else you like to make your story pop. Then act it out! Record the production and share it with us! Check out Steve's family demonstration.
Use this form to submit videos and/or photos of your production.
Winner will be announced Friday, April 17th.
*A Google account is required to submit. If you have trouble submitting through the form, just send an email to dan@holycrossdewitt.org. Thanks!
Elementary (Grades 1-4)
Pray
Find all the prayers here.Mealtime Prayers & Night Time Prayers
5 mins - Praying for Others
Learn
Watch the video
The Main Points to Teach Your Child:
How the early Church begins to grow
Apostles preach to all the people
The Apostiles travel to different parts of the world
Church continues to be persecuted, mistreated
In spite of this the number of believers continue to grow
What the early Church looked like
Celebrated in homes and underground
Breaking bread celebrating the Mass
Praying together and sharing the teachings of the Apostles
A Note from Julie:
Dear Parents,
While our form of worship here in the U.S. has been restricted for 5 weeks, we are not forced to pray in secret or underground. I am thankful for the ability to pray alone or openly with others, share my faith openly, and worship our God online these days, but God willing our in Church, publicly again one day soon. I do not take this for granted and appreciate that not everyone is able to do so, whether it be health reasons, oppression, or fear of persecution.
May the Lord continue to bless us, our families, our country. May through the intercession of His Mother, our Heavenly Mother, good health be restored to all those affected by illness throughout the world. May those who continue to suffer persecution for the sake of Jesus Christ be rewarded for their faithfulness. And, may we have the strength to boldly proclaim the Good News just as Peter and the Apostles of the early Church.
God bless,
-Julie Sheridan
Additional Resources & Activities to do at Home
Video:
Resources
Middle School (Grades 5-8)
Pray
Find all the prayers here.Basic Prayers
Ten Minutes of Silence
Intercessions
Thanksgiving
Reading the Bible
Learn
Watch the video
The Main Points that need to be learned or taught from this lesson
Recall the story of what happens at Pentecost.
Give a basic description of how the Gospel is brought to the ends of the Earth.
Understand that the Sacraments, especially Baptism and the Eucharist are the center of the Church's life from the beginning.
Adults
Pray
Basic Prayers
- A list of all these prayers are here.
For those new to prayer
First 10 mins - Talk to God
Second 10 mins - Listen to God
Praying with the Bible or the daily mass readings.
For those more experienced in prayer
20 Mins of Silent Meditation – Suggestions:
Lectio Divina/Meditating on the Bible
Petition, Intercession, Thanksgiving, & Praise
Journaling
Reflecting on the Daily Readings
Learn
Watch the video
Learn
Watch the faith formation resource video below to learn more about your faith.
"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth."
- Acts 1:8