St. Mary Catholic Church

Adult Scripture Study

An intense scripture study with Larry Coe offered on Thursday evenings.  See bulletin for schedule or call Christian formation Office, 694-6018, ext.134.
 

Christian Formation Library

Library books and videos available for checkout through the Christian Formation office. 


On-Line Resources:   www.SusanVogt.net

 

Marriage Moments and Parenting Pointers


These tidbits of wisdom  by Susan Vogt, family life author, speaker and coach can be used as prayer prompts to remind those of you who are married of the sacredness of your marriage vows and for those who are parents of the joys and realities of having children. The commitment to love a spouse forever, and the generous gift of life parents offer a child are indeed spiritual under-takings and cannot be done alone. We hope these will be helpful reflections in your daily joys and challenges as couples and parents.

MARRIAGE MOMENTS
319. July 6: "[Love] is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury." (1 Corinthians 13:5) Sure, you might be right. Yes, you might be justified in feeling offended. Nursing that grudge, however, will not heal your relationship. Get some distance then let go of negative feelings.

320. July 13: What's the most important factor in choosing a spouse? Not even Solomon should attempt to answer this, but consider the following three ingredients: physical attraction + shared values + full commitment = a good chance to make marriage work.

321. July 20: Marriage is like owning a car. Preventive maintenance (enrichment, paying attention to the little grumblings, counseling before it's broken) can save a big repair bill later. Besides it's more fun to drive and stays stronger with regular tune ups.

322. July 27: As much as married couples need to devote themselves wholeheartedly to their marriage, "Nothing - not even divorce or death - can place limits upon God's gracious love." (Follow the Way of Love). Strive to love your spouse as God does. 

323. Aug. 3: "Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect hospitality." (Hebrews 13:1) The love you share is a gift that will grow bigger and deeper if you share it with others. Don't hoard your love. Think of ways you can open your home to those in need of a bed, some food, or a listening ear.

324. Aug. 10: Dates don't always have to be in the evening. Consider a lunch date. It's cheaper than dinner and if your kids are in school you don't have to get a babysitter.

325. Aug. 17: Don't be too proud. The wise couple seeks help as soon as you notice that something is amiss. Whether it's counseling, a special program, or seeking the support of friends or a faith community, it's a sign of wisdom to realize that you can't do this thing called marriage alone.

326. Aug. 24: Is your marriage going well? Great! Maybe it's time to give back. Consider passing on your hard earned wisdom as a mentor to engaged couples or taking leadership in a marriage enrichment program. If you are blessed you have responsibilities.

327. Aug. 31: "Never go to bed angry" is a maxim of many successfully married couples. But what if an argument drags on and you're only getting less agreeable with each other. It's OK to call a time out, set a time to reconnect the next day when you're fresher and have had time to cool off.

PARENTING POINTERS
318. July 3: Not every family outing will be a highlight like fireworks, so savor the subtle meaningful moments with your child - a sleeping baby, a toddler following an ant, catching lightning bugs together, a passing hug from a teen, an e-mail signed, "Love" from an adult child.

319. July 10: Do summer days with kids wear you out? Even if your children are past the napping stage, consider an "after lunch quiet hour." Kids don't have to sleep, just spend some quiet time reading, drawing, or daydreaming. Having moments of quiet during the day give God space to enter our lives.

320. July 17: Ever hear of the Pareto Principle? It's the business principle that 80% of results come from 20% of one's time. Sure there are many caretaking hours you spend with your child, but try to have at least one meaningful moment daily, OK, maybe weekly. Tell a story from your childhood, ponder the sky together, ask about his/her favorite teacher or least favorite music.

321. July 24: Technology makes our lives easier - most of the time. If your teen is on a social network like Facebook, require that you be a friend. You don't have to ever post anything (in fact it's often better if you don't). It's just another way to keep abreast of what teens and their peers are thinking.

322. July 31: Maybe you're on vacation, but even if you're not, it's often interesting and even inspiring to go to a church, synagogue, temple, or mosque different from your regular one. A new experience can refresh the soul.
 

323. Aug. 7: "A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more." (Matthew 2:18) For most parents having a child is a joy. Yes, it's mixed with frustration and a lot of hard work but too often we take the "normal" times of parenting for granted. Pray for parents who have lost a child to an untimely death, abortion, drugs...Perhaps you are praying for yourself.

324. Aug. 14: Babysitters can be sanity savers for parents. Even if you're blessed with a nearby grandparent, periodically getting a babysitter is not a luxury. Finding reliable sitters, however, is not the final step - you still have to train them. Make a form with important information like your cell phone #, a neighbor's phone, your street address, 911 instructions, medications, family rules, etc.

325. Aug. 21: Memory making sometimes means sharing one of your own childhood memories with your son or daughter. Think of a funny, sad, or meaningful experience (or even a mistake from your childhood) and entrust it to your child. It doesn't cost anything but it can bring you closer together.

326. Aug. 28: Does your child have any peace and quiet. This is especially important for teens who often fill spare moments with things next to their ear - i-Pods, cell phones, video games, even nagging parents. If noise is always in their ears, it doesn't leave much room for pensive thinking. You can't make your child think, but you can make space for it by having common sense rules about overuse of media. 

For more articles and features by Susan Vogt, see her website at www.SusanVogt.net. 

 

MOMS Prayer Faith Sharing Group

Small faith-sharing groups make up of moms and other interested adults.  They meet on Thursday mornings.  Childcare is offered for the morning sessions.  If there are any questions, please call Jane Delfield at 262-694-6018, ext. 136 or e-mail her at delfield@stmarycatholic.org.
 

MEN'S Group

The Men’s Group meets every Wednesday morning for conversation, prayer and study.  The group has been in existence for about 3 years and has anywhere from 12 – 15 men attending the Wednesday morning meeting.  Each meeting starts off with coffee and conversation.  The group comes together in brief prayer prior to discussing the day’s topic.  The discussion topic varies.  At times the discussion can involve men’s spirituality.  At other times the sacraments, the Bible or current issues within the church.  The discussions often are based upon a book or an article being read by the group.  The members of the group vary in age, profession and education.