The Family Life Office helps parishes recognize, honor, integrate, serve, and build up the Domestic Church by providing consultation, education, and other resources.
Contact US
Brendan Murphy
Director of Family Life, Marriage Preparation & Adult Faith Formation
(570) 207-2213, Ext. 1133
Familia Fidelis Newsletters 2012
Familia Fidelis Newsletters 2011
Links for Each Member of the Family
For Your Marriage
An initiative by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops that seeks to provide assistance to couples who are engaged and/or married. There are many wonderful resources to be found at this site to educate and encourage.
Faith and Family Live!
The online presence of the marvelous Faith and Family magazine. There is new content on a daily basis—much of which encourages the online community to offer feedback. This site is the home of a very vibrant and positive online community.
Fathers for Good
An online initiative of the Knights of Columbus, this site strives to give men the resources and encouragement they need to be godly husbands and fathers. The site offers a lot of practical advice on common difficulties fathers face and provides a forum to connect with other dads who have the same values.
Catholic Mom
An award winning online community for Catholic moms that is blessed with tremendous contributors and provides resources on everything dealing with faith, family, and fun.
Dr. Ray Guarendi
Dr. Ray is a Catholic clinical psychologist who gives practical parenting advice with a heavy dose of humor. This site contains links to some of his parenting articles, as well as archived episodes of his radio program which you can listen to on EWTN radio or our local (Scranton area) Catholic station WJMJ 750AM.
For Teens
Are You Catholic?
AreYouCatholic.com – An easy way for Catholics to publicly and anonymously share what it means to be Catholic. An active Catholic Church offers its parishioners the ability to share with the public the random acts of charity they perform in the community. All acts are traced back to the church and offer excellent and positive visibility to the Catholic Church and also helps spread the message of Catholicism.
Life Teen
A website designed specifically for Catholic teens. This site has many appealing features such as answers to teens’ faith questions, media reviews, video games, and an online faith community.
Phat Mass
A site that is similar to Life Teen in that it has a very active online community of Catholic teens and young adults, but this site has a more comprehensive faith resources page to answer any possible question someone may have about the faith. It is also the official website of a Catholic hip hop music label (yes, there is such a thing) and provides trendy Catholic music and clothing.
Pure Love Club
This site tries to dispel the myths about what is and is not considered chaste living by presenting the Church’s dignity affirming teachings on love and human sexuality. The Q&A section gives faithful answers to some of the most difficult relationship issues facing teens today. This site is also a good resource for parents who want to know how to talk to their children about these issues.
For Children
YFaith
A site designed for Catholic 10-13 year olds (“tweens”) in England and Wales, but just as great in America. The site has a monthly Bible detective quiz, tips on how they can understand the upcoming Mass readings, an online prayer community, and many other great features worth exploring.
EWTN Kids!
A very cool site, especially for elementary age children. The site features an interactive map of a town that children can click on to uncover various opportunities for learning about their faith in entertaining ways.
Gospel Activities for Kids
This site has helpful activities mom and dad can print out to prepare children for the Sunday readings each week.
Family Support and Enrichment
Family Prayer and Spirituality
Develop family rituals such as bedtime prayer, seasonal activities and rites of passage.
Celebrate the seasons, and more, with
family prayer.
Connect everyday life with the Sunday Scriptures.
Connect your children with rich Catholic traditions and enjoy activities with younger and older children during every feast.
Do you recognize God at home? Make room for Jesus in your household.
Family Planning
Have you talked with God about family planning? Unless you know how natural family planning can help you achieve pregnancy and space babies, you may not have enough information to make a wise decision.
Parenting
Quality parenting is closely connected with the quality of marriage. Your children deserve parents who enjoy an intimate marriage. Strengthen your own marriage through Marriage Encounter workshops, which can also improve parent-child communication.
Family Prayers
Lord, help me to remember that I am not alone -
That You are always with me; You make my heart your throne.
My days can get so hectic, my thoughts become so frayed
And, like some yarn, unravel, get worried and dismayed.
But you have promised peacefulness, the kind the world can’t give;
So call me back to You, Lord, and teach me how to live.
Mary Bednarek
Prayers for the Seasons of the Year
SUMMER
Dear Lord, you give us this season to live together, have fun, to play and picnic. This time of sunny days can test our endurance and our patience. Let us remember to love and appreciate each other, to truly rest, relax, and re-create our lives. As we travel, help us to be kind, cooperative, and helpful. As parents, remind us that our children are blessings from you, Lord, and that they can teach us to play and have fun and realize how much we need each other. Amen.
FALL
Dear God, the falling leaves and cooler days are energizing and invigorating. Work and school return, and once again we’re led by the clock to daily routines, schedules, and a more structured way of life. Lord, in the midst of it all, remind us to be thankful for all the good things in our life, and to remember that all good things come from you. Amen.
WINTER
Dear God, why must it be so cold and dreary? Do you have a message for us in this too?
Perhaps you want us to learn that our inner life does not depend on outer circumstances; There’s no need to be sad and blue.
Even though it may be cold outside and snow and ice are on the sill,
With you, our hearts are warmed; your love keeps out the chill. Amen.
SPRING
Jesus Lord, your Death and Resurrection bring hope and meaning to our lives. With springtime we experience new life and growth in your Spirit. Let us sing Alleluia to you and give thanks for your saving grace. Amen.
For Months of the Year
January
Father of all things new:
This New Year belongs to you, but so does all of time.
You are the Alpha and Omega.
Please show us how to use our time wisely,
knowing that, even though we are usually aware of only yesterday, today, and tomorrow,
Eternity truly begins here on earth, and all time and eternity are in your hands. Amen.
February
This is the month of hearts, the month of love.
Whose heart can better show us the Way of true Love than yours, dear Lord?
With the unconditional love that radiates from your Sacred Heart,
Help us to love those you have placed in our lives,
Especially those who seem too difficult for us to love.
For what we think impossible can be done
With the help of your constant, faithful Love. Amen.
March
When March winds are blowing and chill is in the air
Be with us Lord, and let us know you care.
Send us your Holy Spirit as those chilly breezes blow,
And may its fruits and blessings upon our spirits flow.
Just as the lamb and lion come in and leave this month,
May we be guided surely down the path of peace and truth. Amen.
April
Just as April showers upon us fall,
We ask for showers of justice and peace
For us and for our world.
Even though your ways are not ours, Lord,
Still, grant us the grace to live in your love and to seek for your face. Amen.
May
The flowers of May seem more lovely each year
And seeing their appearance can banish our fear
For our world and for all we hold dear.
Yes, the delicate beauty of God’s creation
Is like the renewal of a promise, as nature complies with God’s plan
And tells us it’s better to honor the fragility of a flower than to honor the ‘wisdom’ of man. Amen.
June
Nothing moves us ahead as much as June, dear Lord.
Graduations, weddings, and celebrations for fathers, new and old.
Your Spirit of energy and creation keeps propelling us through life,
Caring not if we’re timid or bold.
And if, by chance we falter, grow weak or are oppressed, We can always turn to you Lord, our ever welcome Guest.
Thanks be to God!
July – The Fourth of July!
Let freedom ring forever, Lord, for with it you abide.
And we are always happy when you are at our side.
The fireworks and fireflies bring summer nights alive With joy and excitement in various colors, shapes, and size
Giving us faithful a glimpse of the wonders You’ve prepared in heaven
For when life on earth’s gone by. Thank you Lord!
August
The ‘dog days of summer’!
They test our patience and our will
To stand in peace regardless of how uncomfortable we feel.
Who can complain to you, Lord, knowing you suffered to the end?
It was your Father’s will, and for our good, and you still call us “friend”.
Lord, the wonder of your love!
September
The more we learn, the less we know,
But back to school the children go.
Continuing on the path of light, so they can see what’s wrong and right.
Being educated as people should, that all may serve the greater good.
Thank you Lord for mind and brain and for teachers who know how to teach and train. Amen.
October
Autumn leaves are falling and chill is in the air
And a host of Jack o lanterns are lined up on the stair
Costumes and masks are all for fun and won’t go ‘way til Halloween is done.
Truth has something to say about choosing what to do
To trick or treat, remember to God and self be true. Amen.
November: – Thanksgiving
All thanks to you, Lord. You call us to authentic holiness
The Saints help show the way
To follow in your footsteps and to continually pray.
Grant us the time we need dear Lord,
To know you and to serve you and grow closer every day. Amen.
December – Advent and Christmas
All is preparation and fulfillment, Jesus, when the season of your birth comes to town.
For 2000 plus years, that special day has been celebrated, when heaven came to earth, when heaven and nature sang.
We must continue to celebrate, for if we don’t, even the stones will cry out: “Peace on earth, Good will to all!” Happy Birthday, Jesus! Amen.
