This Week's Current Mass Warm-Up
To the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit!Our Mass Warm-Up for this week is previewed below. Sometimes there is more than one if there is a feast day celebration during the current week. You can click on the preview to get to the entire lesson, including downloads, activities, and further reading and resources for you and your loved ones. Also, on this page you will find general resources as a tip of the iceberg for the thousands of opportunities for learning about the wonderful Gift of the Catholic Faith that Jesus gave to us.
Thank you for being here!
Good News for All People
Jesus comes with His message for ALL people, even those whom we think don’t deserve it, or are different from us.
In reality, we are all the same, human beings, sinners, who need a Savior.
Read on to learn how we can support, live and share in the mission of Christ, spreading the Good News to all people.
Focus on Jesus
Focus is difficult in our over-stimulating society. Focus on Jesus can be even more difficult. In order to focus on Jesus, we have to either be very disciplined to ignore the distractions, or remove the distractions. This week’s readings give us insight into the amazing ways Jesus will work in our lives if we focus on Him.
Transfiguration of Christ
The Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ our Lord is an annual feast in its own right.
We also hear this Gospel account on the Second Sunday of every Lent.
So twice a year we are given an opportunity to reflect on Jesus’ Divine nature that He invites us to share in.
How can we respond to this invitation?
What does that mean to us?
Holy Owned and Operated has several reflections to help answer these questions and more!
Understanding
King Solomon asked the Lord for an understanding heart, that he might govern his people wisely.
When we pray, are we asking the Lord for understanding?
Most of us want to understand the Lord, we certainly ask for Him to tell us what we want to know…but do we seek to UNDERSTAND?
Can we answer as the Apostles do to Christ’s question, “Do you understand all these things?”
Kind Justice
Kind Justice can be summed up pretty easily in the Golden Rule.
How well do we practice it?
What can we do better?
How is Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross connected to the Golden Rule?
When God forgives us out of love, He shows the ultimate kind justice.
Can we do similarly?
Good Soil
Jesus loves to teach in parables.
When we hear this week’s parable, we also get to hear Jesus explain it to the Apostles.
Let’s all learn how to become the good soil that allows the Word of God to grow and produce fruit!
More Resources:
Advent Resources
Visit our page of resources for Advent.
Links to other helpful pages, downloadable material, and more!
Lent Resources
Visit our page of resources for Lent.
Links to other helpful pages, downloadable material, and more!
Easter Resources
Visit our Easter Resources page.
Links to other helpful pages, downloadable material, and more!
Elementary Faith Formation Resources
Elementary Faith Formation resources are for children from Pre-K to 6th Grade and their parents and guardians, as well as the catechists who lead them in this stage of their journey of faith.
Click on the section below that best fits your needs
Young/School Age Children
Catholic Icing – Crafts for liturgical year and saints and more!
Look to Him and Be Radiant – Lessons, crafts, coloring pages, book recommendations, and more from a Catholic school religion teacher/Director of Religious Education
Teaching Catholic Kids – parent newsletter published by Our Sunday Visitor, Sunday Gospel reflections, crafts, liturgical season information and saint stories.
Parent-catechists and Parish catechists
Franciscan at Home – For a small subscription you can get in-depth training and mentoring from some of the world’s most respected and renowned Catechetical leaders. (And Beth happens to be one of those Mentors, and Kristofer will be soon!)
Catechist’s Journey – A Loyola Press sister site for Catechists to learn from and share with one another. Joe Paprocki is the website creator and lead catechist.
The Religion Teacher – Jared Dees’ site with weekly lesson plans, activities, and other useful information and resources for teaching your students.
If you or your parish use a curriculum
Most commonly used in parish catechesis, if your parish uses curriculum from one of these sources, ask your parish catechetical leader or pastor for access codes:
Sophia Press Curriculum Site – Parents or catechists can use the free downloads for Sunday Gospel lessons, current event lessons (for High School), and using Sacred Art for teaching the faith. (Scroll to the bottom of the page for these resources and to sign up to have them delivered to your inbox.)
RCIA Adapted for Children Resources
The Rite of Christian Initiation Adapted for Children is a many-faceted process for children who have not received the Sacraments of Initiation during the normally prescribed times, for whatever reason. These resources are particularly for them, their parents or guardians, and sponsors, as well as the catechists and parishes who help form them and journey with them as they enter the Church.
Click here to find tons of free resources as well as Holy Owned and Operated’s members-only material.
Mary Resources
Visit our constantly expanding page of resources about our Blessed Mother.
Videos, prayers, games…everything you can think of to get to know her better as she points you to her son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession)
The Sacrament known as Reconciliation, Confession, or Penance is one of the Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church. The penitent (person seeking forgiveness) is given absolution of their sins and restores him or her to a state of grace. The Church instructs the faithful to confess our sins at least once a year:
“The second precept (“You shall confess your sins at least once a year.”) ensures preparation for the Eucharist by the reception of the sacrament of reconciliation, which continues Baptism’s work of conversion and forgiveness. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2042
Examinations of Conscience and "How To Guide"
Examination of Conscience:
- For Children
- For Teens
- For Single Persons
- For Married Persons
- For Young Adults (18-24ish) – From UMD Catholic Student Center (Fr. Mike Schmitz’ full-time job)
- A more detailed examination from the Fathers of Mercy
Christian Living Resources
Learning about the Church and her teachings is one thing. Living the way of Jesus as entrusted to the Church is another.
Here are several resources to help you along your journey to holiness. This is the primary shared vocation of all Christians. How we become holy is unique to each individual, but there are some common practices that help all of us.
Prayer Resources
Knowing how to talk with God and how to listen to Him is pretty difficult sometimes. He is the creator of the…well, everything, so that can get a little intimidating, frustrating, or embarrassing.
No worries! We’ve got the solutions right here with Prayer Basics and some free downloadables of how to pray and some old reliable Catholic practices and devotions.