Go Cooking, Moms - Saturday Tip!

When hosting a holiday get-together or party, it's not necessary to have more than 4 appetizers. Serving two hot and two cold ones should be plenty to satisfy everyone.

Family Bible Study - Sunday, November 8th, 2009 - 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel Passage
Mark 12:38 As he taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk
around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39
and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets!
40 They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long
prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” 41 He sat down
opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the
treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 A poor widow came and
put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. 43 Then he called
his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in
more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. 44 For all of them
have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put
in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Questions for Discussion:
1. Who gives more: the person who has only one penny and gives it away to
help someone else? – or a person who has a million dollars and gives one
hundred dollars to the poor? Jesus says the person who gave away ALL of his
money to the poor and has none left.

2. How much money — of your allowance, or gifts, or piggy bank money —
do you think you could give as a young person to build up God’s church?
What do you think would be a generous amount to give away and why?

used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Sunday Gospel Message - Sunday, November 8th, 2009 - Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
When we give and share as the Lord requests of us, the Lord takes care of us. The widow in Zarephath used up all her food to feed Elijah. Her jar of flour and her jug of oil did not run out. Her trust in God was rewarded. The poor widow in the Gospel was rewarded by Jesus for giving of her poverty. Trusting in God and trusting God is rewarded by God.
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

The Catholic Homeschool Society's November Newsletter is ready!

The Catholic Homeschool Society's Newsletter for November is ready and can be viewed by clicking here.

Go Cooking Moms - Saturday Tip!

Go Cooking Moms!
Saturday Tip - To prevent a quiche or pumpkin pie crust from becoming soggy, partially bake the crust in a 425 degree oven for about 15 minutes, then brush with beaten egg and bake for 2 more minutes. Then remove from oven, pour the filling into the shell and proceed with directions as usual.

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Nationwide Bulletin Insert

30-October-2009 -- Catholic News Agency

U.S. Bishops Launch Grassroots Effort to Fight for Catholic Concerns on Health Care
Washington D.C., Oct 30, 2009 (CNA).- After attempting to persuade lawmakers to listen to Catholic concerns about health care reform, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has initiated a grassroots campaign to mobilize the faithful across the country. The effort includes bulletin inserts, sample pulpit announcements and web-based ads.

Cardinal Francis George and the chairmen of the three major bishops' committees engaged in health care reform wrote all of the U.S. bishops and asked that the USCCB Nationwide Bulletin Insert on health care reform be printed or hand-stuffed in bulletins in every parish nationwide and/or distributed in pews or church entrances. They requested that these actions be taken as soon as possible.

The official memo sent out by the bishops included a bulletin insert, a flier, a prayer petition, and suggested pulpit announcements.

Catholic bishops have been calling for health care reform for years. Saying that “Catholic moral tradition teaches that health care is a basic human right, essential to protecting human life and dignity,” the bishops cite the numerous Catholic emergency rooms, shelters, clinics, and charities that “pick up the pieces of a failing health care system.”

Though health care reform is desperately needed, the U.S. bishops’ conference has concluded that all committee approved bills are seriously deficient on the issues of abortion and conscience, and do not provide adequate access to health care for immigrants and the poor.

If these issues go unaddressed, the bishops have pledged to vigorously oppose the current reforms.

Despite presidential and congressional assurances that abortions will not be funded by taxpayer money in the proposed health care reform bills, none of the proposed bills have such restrictions. The Capps amendment is worded in such a way that money to fund abortions is shuffled around so that it merely appears not to do so. Currently, no bill offers conscience protection clauses or ensures that legal immigrants are afforded access to health care.

The USCCB bulletin insert asks that Catholics contact the Senate and request that they listen to Catholics' concerns. “During floor debate on the health care reform bill, please support an amendment to incorporate longstanding policies against abortion funding and in favor of conscience rights. If these serious concerns are not addressed, the final bill should be opposed,” the insert says.

A similarly worded message to the House of Representatives suggests that each representative be encouraged to “support the Stupak Amendment that addresses essential pro-life concerns on abortion funding and conscience rights in the health care reform bill. Help ensure that the Rule for the bill allows a vote on this amendment.”

The Stupak amendment attempts to apply the wording of the Hyde Amendment, which has kept federal funding from going to abortions, as well as provided conscience protections to health care professionals.

The USCCB has also released a banner ad which can be posted to individual websites to encourage visitors to take action and support health care reform that respects life.

Read this article at EWTN here

More can be found at the USCCB page here

Click here to read the Nationwide Bulletin Insert

Family Bible Study - Sunday, November 1st, 2009 - Feast of All Saints

Gospel Passage
Matt. 5:1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat
down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Questions for Discussion:
1. Do you know why God made you and put you on earth? It is so that you
can become a saint? What is a saint?

2. How do these Beatitudes (special teachings of Jesus about what will make us
“blessed” or truly happy) which we read in the Gospel story help us to
become holy?

3. Many people in the world say that you have to be rich, powerful,
or beautiful to be happy. Jesus says those things don’t matter to God
and we shouldn’t care about them either. Jesus says, instead, to be poor in spirit, meek and merciful, and pure of heart. What do you think is right and why?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry