Young Family
SUMMER PRAYERS
Praying as a family isn't just at meal time. Gather the family, light a candle and pray these prayers together:
A Prayer for the Last Day of School
We give you thanks, loving God,
for another year of learning and growing.
We thank you for the knowledge and understanding
that we have gained
through our learning this year.
We thank you for those
who have helped us to learn and grow--
our teachers,our parents, grandparents, our brothers and sisters, our friends.
May we continue to share the gifts you give us
with one another and with the world around us.
Keep us open to the new possibilities for growth and recreation the summer provides.
May we see in all creation a reminder of your constant love for us. Amen.
Praying as a family isn't just at meal time. Gather the family, light a candle and pray these prayers together:
A Prayer for the Last Day of School
We give you thanks, loving God,
for another year of learning and growing.
We thank you for the knowledge and understanding
that we have gained
through our learning this year.
We thank you for those
who have helped us to learn and grow--
our teachers,our parents, grandparents, our brothers and sisters, our friends.
May we continue to share the gifts you give us
with one another and with the world around us.
Keep us open to the new possibilities for growth and recreation the summer provides.
May we see in all creation a reminder of your constant love for us. Amen.
Table Prayer for Summer
Bless our heart, O Lord
That in the breaking of the bread
We may hear the song of the universe.
Amen.
Bless our heart, O Lord
That in the breaking of the bread
We may hear the song of the universe.
Amen.
A Prayer for the Family Vacation
Loving God,
bless this family as we begin a time
of fun and relaxation together.
Protect us, be our companion and ever-loving presence.
Guide us safely as we travel, help us bring
the best of who we are as a family
to the places and people we will visit.
Lead us on, Lord, to a healthy and holy time together.
Grant that we may return to our home renewed and happy.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
SUMMER SAINTS
Are you looking for a reason to celebrate? Celebrate with these summer saints:
May 25, Bede the Venerable
Venerable? What does that mean? This saint wrote on many subjects and was considered one of the most learned men of his time. Learn more about him here.
May 30, St. Joan of Arc
This saint was once considered a witch because she heard voices. Those voices, of course, were from God. Find out what God said to Joan here.
June 11, St. Barnabas, Apostle
Barnabas was an early apostle and traveled with St. Paul. He was instrumental in spreading the Christian faith beyond the Holy Land.
June 21, St Aloysius
Aloysius was destined to be a soldier, but at an early age became very ill. Confined to bed, he read lots of books, mostly about the saints. Read more...
July 6, St. Maria Goretti
Would you believe the man who murdered Maria came to the ceremony when she was canonized a saint? Learn more about this young saint here.
July 14, St. Kateri Tekakwitha
Did you know there was an American Indian who is known as the "Lily of the Mohawks"-an Indian maiden who was baptized as a Christian on Easter Sunday and made her first Communion on Christmas Day? Learn how she lived her Christian life here.
August 10, St. Lawrence
When Lawrence was a deacon, he was ordered by the Roman authorities to bring the treasures of the church to Emperor Valerian. To learn which treasures Lawrence brought, read more...
August 27, St. Monica
Here's a saint who had a bad-tempered husband and mother-in-law PLUS a smart, but lazy son. In spite of the aggravations of her family, this saint was patient and sweet to everyone. She became a saint and her son (whose saint day is tomorrow) did too. Find out more about this family...
May 25, Bede the Venerable
Venerable? What does that mean? This saint wrote on many subjects and was considered one of the most learned men of his time. Learn more about him here.
May 30, St. Joan of Arc
This saint was once considered a witch because she heard voices. Those voices, of course, were from God. Find out what God said to Joan here.
June 11, St. Barnabas, Apostle
Barnabas was an early apostle and traveled with St. Paul. He was instrumental in spreading the Christian faith beyond the Holy Land.
June 21, St Aloysius
Aloysius was destined to be a soldier, but at an early age became very ill. Confined to bed, he read lots of books, mostly about the saints. Read more...
July 6, St. Maria Goretti
Would you believe the man who murdered Maria came to the ceremony when she was canonized a saint? Learn more about this young saint here.
July 14, St. Kateri Tekakwitha
Did you know there was an American Indian who is known as the "Lily of the Mohawks"-an Indian maiden who was baptized as a Christian on Easter Sunday and made her first Communion on Christmas Day? Learn how she lived her Christian life here.
August 10, St. Lawrence
When Lawrence was a deacon, he was ordered by the Roman authorities to bring the treasures of the church to Emperor Valerian. To learn which treasures Lawrence brought, read more...
August 27, St. Monica
Here's a saint who had a bad-tempered husband and mother-in-law PLUS a smart, but lazy son. In spite of the aggravations of her family, this saint was patient and sweet to everyone. She became a saint and her son (whose saint day is tomorrow) did too. Find out more about this family...
Summer is traditionally the time for family vacations and family-centered activities like picnics, BBQs, parades, road trips, and numerous other celebrations. Try these activities with your family or friends.
Pack for a Road Trip
Whether it’s a short trip to a near-by park or an extended trip over hundreds of miles of interstates, summer is the time for road trips. To enjoy the experience more, click here for hints on how to pack their car for a road trip.
Looking for ideas for road trips? Try America’s 10 most scenic road trips or try these Easy-One Day Road trips.
Post Affirmations All Over the Place
Invite your family to use your computer printer to print affirmations for other family members on post-it notes and post them all around the house, car or office. This website gives instructions on how to print on post-it notes along with some sample quotes you may want to use. While any day is a good day to tell family what they mean to you, families may want to learn more about “Say Something Nice Day” and celebrate it with these post-it notes.
Bake a Batch of Peanut Butter Cookies
Homemade peanut butter cookies are one of the favorite cookies of all time, so much so that they even have their own holiday! Do a little baking together using your favorite peanut butter cookie recipe. If you don’t have one, or would like to try a new one, here’s some recipes. National Peanut Butter Cookie Day (June 12th).
Make an Emergency Picnic Kit
With the philosophy that any time is a good time for a picnic, check out this site to assemble an emergency picnic kit to keep in your car (and perhaps make some for friends and neighbors). The website include instructions, suggestions for what to put in the kit, and even a free printable template for a tag to put on the bag that holds the kit. Instructions can be found here. International Picnic Day (June 18, 2016)
Explore the Non-Verbal Signals of a Handshake
Teach your children the correct etiquette for shaking hands. For an interesting video on the non-verbal signals sent by a simple handshake watch this. World Handshake Day (June 21st).
Camp Out in Your Own Backyard
Camping is a favorite activity for many families during the summer, however not everyone has the equipment or can go away to camp. Try a night of camping out in your own backyard. Take sleeping bags or blankets and spend a night under the stars, or you can “go the whole nine-yards” and pitch a tent, make a campfire and cook out. Click here for some games for yard camping. Campout in the Backyard Day (June 23rd).
