April Family Faith Formation @ Home Plan

April 2025 @ Home Resources

Theme: Holy Week & Easter

Bible Verse for Memorization: 

Practice daily the Bible verse as a family --perhaps read it before dinner with your dinner prayer. Slowly try to memorize it and make it a fun game:0)

Jesus loved His own in the world and He loved them to the end.  John 13: 1

Incorporating Jesus into Daily Family Life Suggestions

Incorporate a time to pray together as a family each night:
1) Start with the sign of the cross
2) Read the Bible verse for memorization a few times with hand motions for memorizing
3) Each Sunday, read either the upcoming Gospel or the Gospel of the day as a family and practice Lectio Divina style reading.  This is a practice of using your imagination to enter into the story and let the Holy Spirit bring it to life for you so you can encounter God in His word.  Encourage your children (and yourselves...this is how we teach adults as well) to imagine the scene.... What do they see, smell, taste, feel, where is this taking place (by the sea, in a house, on a mountain, etc.)? Then we ask, "Holy Spirit, what do you want me to see in this passage? How do you want me to apply it to my life?"

You can check out an article about Lectio Divina with kids here.
4) Watch one of the videos for kids below together and discuss it answer questions or play a fun trivia game based on what you watched 

Make sure you Sign Up for your FREE Formed.org -- Subscription (you will need to set it up and be signed in before being able to click and easily access many of the resources below

1) Go to www.formed.org.        
2) Click "Formed For Parishes" on the front middle of the homepage.      
3) Click "Find your Parish Subscription".    
4) Enter zip code 92103 and click St. Vincent when it pops up.          
5) Enter your name and email and then respond to the email they send you.      
6) You should be all set after this (your computer will remember you).  Should you get kicked out in the future you just click "sign in" and put your email in again and you're good to go!

In the search bar search for kids and find a plethora of great Catholic kids shows for all ages.  Search for ydisciple or teens for other programs for teens.  For adult faith formation content, just search the subject like "Eucharist" "prayer" etc. that you are interested in.

For Parents for April

The Resurrection of Jesus Fact or Fiction? by Steven Smith
Come to grips with what really happened to Jesus as Dr. Steven Smith explores Resurrection narratives from the vantage point of each of the four Gospels as well as many of the vital medical details of Roman crucifixion. Dr. Steven Smith is a professor of Sacred Scripture at Mount Saint Mary's Seminary, in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Dr. Smith earned his Ph.D from Loyola University in Chicago, where he specialized in the study of the Gospels and their relationship to the Old Testament.
The two very short (3-5 min) videos below are more beautiful, pull at the heart-strings reflections for Holy Week and Easter.  Older kids might enjoy them as well.  
PLUS! There's also a ton of parenting for the faith resources and just general adult faith formation, youth formation videos and resources on the General Resource Page -- click the button below to see! 

For Preschoolers and Toddlers During April

First Communion Prep for April

All First Communion Homework was handed out in your child's folder this month.  If you have any questions or cannot find the forms, please feel free to email peggy@vincentcatholic.org

*Please also be sure that you are going to Mass every Sunday or Saturday vigil and have your child write down one thing that sticks out to them in their journal -- this will be the confirmation that they are regularly attending Mass each weekend to fulfill the requirement next year (even during the summer when we do not meet for Family Faith Formation, please have your child keep their Mass journal--just one word or phrase that stuck out to them and the date of the Mass).

If you haven't yet filled out the medical release waiver & Turned in, please bring the below form in January or scan and attach to peggy@vincentcatholic.org

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