
Mass Family Resources

Here are some online family resources for Sunday October 4th Mass readings:
October 4th Readings - Click Here
Catholic Kids Media on YouTube has videos on the upcoming Mass readings and other Catholic videos:
October Craft Ideas from Catholic Icing.com - https://www.catholicicing.com/october/
Here are some online family resources for Sunday October 11th Mass readings:
October 11th Readings - Click Here
Catholic Kids Media on YouTube has videos on the upcoming Mass readings and other Catholic videos:
October Craft Ideas from Catholic Icing.com - https://www.catholicicing.com/october/
Here are some online family resources for Sunday October 18th Mass readings:
October 18th Readings - Click Here
Catholic Kids Media on YouTube has videos on the upcoming Mass readings and other Catholic videos:
October Craft Ideas from Catholic Icing.com - https://www.catholicicing.com/october/
Here are some online family resources for Sunday October 25th Mass readings:
October 25th Readings - Click Here
Catholic Kids Media on YouTube has videos on the upcoming Mass readings and other Catholic videos:
October Craft Ideas from Catholic Icing.com - https://www.catholicicing.com/october/
Family Connection Ideas
Christian Songs
What a Friend by Matt Maher
Speak Life by Tobymac
Fear Is a Liar by Zach Williams
Do Something by Matthew West
Catholic Learning Resources
Podcasts
More 2 Life is a radio program that brings the Theology of the Body teachings of John Paul II into the practical, everyday experience of life. Dr. Greg and Lisa will help you solve your problems with relevant, relatable and achievable tools and solutions straight from the genius of the Theology of the Body.
More 2 Life Podcast
- More2Life - 2/03/23 - The Green-Eyed Monsters February 3, 2023Struggling with envy? Getting caught-up in the comparison game? Feeling like God is blessing everyone else? Let us help you celebrate the plan God has for your life! Dr. Greg and Lisa will help you solve your problems with relevant, relatable and achievable tools and solutions straight from the genius of the Theology of the […]Greg & Lisa Popcak - Hosts
- More2Life - 2/02/23 - How Can I Help? February 2, 2023We’ll help you make sure the help you give others is actually… helpful! Dr. Greg and Lisa will help you solve your problems with relevant, relatable and achievable tools and solutions straight from the genius of the Theology of the Body. It is the life you were meant to live! To make a telecounseling appoint […]Greg & Lisa Popcak - Hosts
- More2Life - 2/01/23 - Ground Control February 1, 2023Are challenges in your life and relationships knocking you out of orbit? If stress and anxiety about your personal life or relationship are causing you to spin out, we’ll help you get back on course. Dr. Greg and Lisa will help you solve your problems with relevant, relatable and achievable tools and solutions straight from […]Greg & Lisa Popcak - Hosts
- More2Life - 01/31/23 - Things Are Looking Up January 31, 2023Difficulties in your life or relationships getting you down? We’ll help you cultivate the hope and confidence you need and find the answers you’re looking for. Dr. Greg and Lisa will help you solve your problems with relevant, relatable and achievable tools and solutions straight from the genius of the Theology of the Body. It […]Greg & Lisa Popcak - Hosts
Parenting is not a clean-cut, simple process for those who like to follow the rules. Family life is messy and unpredictable, but it is the greatest adventure you will ever have. We are Mike and Alicia Hernon, parents of 10 children ranging from 6 to 23 and we would like to invite you into some of the conversations we have had with each other about marriage, parenting, and Catholic family life.
Messy Family Podcast
- How To Build Strong Relationships in a Big Family January 19, 2023So often, we hear from couples who are considering adding to their families. In fact, “How did you do it?” is one of the questions we frequently hear from our listeners. To which we usually reply: “You fake it ‘til you make it!” in jest. In all seriousness though, one of the biggest challenges we […]
- Encouraging Curiosity in Children December 21, 2022Curiosity is something our children are born with. They have a (sometimes uncontrollable) urge to explore the world around them. Think: toddlers in the flour jar! It’s how they learn, adapt and manipulate the world we live in. So when we talk about how to encourage curiosity in our children, it might seem a little […]
- How to Have a Conversation About Finances Without Arguing December 14, 2022In our work with couples, we’ve found that one of the top things that couples fight about (next to sex and parenting) is finances. Finances have been proven to cause stress and strain on marriages and are a strong contributor to the divorce rates in our country. So how do we have a conversation about […]
- How to Have Successful School Mornings September 21, 2022If you’re anything like us, your home runs on routines. Bedtimes, meal times and summertime are all on some kind of routine that helps everyone to know what’s happening and when. The same goes for the school year! And nothing seems to matter more than successful school mornings! We’ve had children in school for a […]
The Catholic Sprouts Podcast is a daily podcast for Catholic kids. The short episodes are designed to plant one seed of faith each day. Topics covered include Catholic Feast Days, Morality, Catholic Theology, the saints and the sacraments.
Catholic Sprouts Podcast
- CS 1171: Saturdays with Sir Roland February 4, 2023Training Guild link: https://www.extraordinarymission.com/dragonslayers contact email: john@extraordinarymission.comNancy Bandzuch
- CS 1170: Saints We are Celebrating this Week: Friday February 3, 2023As we transition from January to February, let's talk about a few incredible saints that we are celebrating this week, including St. John Bosco, St. Bridget of Ireland and St. Blaise. Also, don't miss this opportunity to join the BE A SAINT KIDS CLUB! Find out more and enroll here: https://catholicsprouts.com/be-a-saint-kids-club/ Thanks for listening […]Nancy Bandzuch
- CS 1169: Saints We are Celebrating this Week: Thursday February 2, 2023As we transition from January to February, let's talk about a few incredible saints that we are celebrating this week, including St. John Bosco, St. Bridget of Ireland and St. Blaise. Also, don't miss this opportunity to join the BE A SAINT KIDS CLUB! Find out more and enroll here: https://catholicsprouts.com/be-a-saint-kids-club/ Thanks for listening […]Nancy Bandzuch
- CS 1168: Saints We are Celebrating this Week: Wednesday February 1, 2023As we transition from January to February, let's talk about a few incredible saints that we are celebrating this week, including St. John Bosco, St. Bridget of Ireland and St. Blaise. Also, don't miss this opportunity to join the BE A SAINT KIDS CLUB! Find out more and enroll here: https://catholicsprouts.com/be-a-saint-kids-club/ Thanks for listening […]Nancy Bandzuch
- 1167: Saints We are Celebrating this Week: Tuesday January 31, 2023As we transition from January to February, let's talk about a few incredible saints that we are celebrating this week, including St. John Bosco, St. Bridget of Ireland and St. Blaise. Also, don't miss this opportunity to join the BE A SAINT KIDS CLUB! Find out more and enroll here: https://catholicsprouts.com/be-a-saint-kids-club/ Thanks for listening […]Nancy Bandzuch
Faith, pop culture, and headline reflections from Fr. Mike Schmitz.
CLICK HERE to view the Fr. Mike Schmitz podcast episodes on the Ascension Presents website.
Ask Fr. Josh is the podcast where I hear you out and do my best to help you navigate the tricky times in life when our Catholic Faith doesn’t give you an easy “fill-in-the blank” answer. On this show, we’ll listen to one another, problem solve together, and ultimately entrust everything to our Lord.
CLICK HERE to view the Ask Fr. Josh podcast episodes on the Ascension Presents website.
Catholic Answers Life podcast is a radio show where people call in with questions about Catholicism and morality. The radio show hosts answer those questions.
Catholic Answers Live
- #11010 Weird Questions - Jimmy Akin February 4, 2023Questions Covered: 00:58 – Does Time Travel exist? 04:39 – Granting that I time travel back to the past to Jesus’ crucifixion, I take videos of Jesus to prove he exists, and I join Mary and John in approaching him. Is there a possibility that I will be recorded in the Bible? And will the […]Catholic Answers
- #11009 Weird Questions - Jimmy Akin February 3, 2023Questions Covered: 02:30 – In Genesis, the Lord told the serpent he would have to crawl on his belly and eat dirt. Did the serpent die, or is it still around? Did its descendants have to eat dust too? Are they still around? 06:48 – How would a Catholic time lord know when to go […]Catholic Answers
- #11008 Did My Baby See a Ghost? - Jimmy Akin February 3, 2023Open Forum – Questions Covered: 03:44 – What was in the holy of holies during the time of Jesus? 12:20 – Has the Church taught exactly what we can know about God based on human reason? 17:00 – Does God break his promises? 23:03 – What’s the best way to interact socially with clergy? 28:46 […]Catholic Answers
- #11007 Does John 3:16 Prove Sola Fide? - Tom Nash February 2, 2023Open Forum – Questions Covered: 04:43 – Where did the tradition of taking a papal name come from? 07:17 – RCIA. My protestant friends are rejecting me and are refusing to talk to me. What can I do? 13:50 – 1 Cor. 3:14-15 makes it sound like it’s talking about purgatory. Is this true? 17:53 […]Catholic Answers
- #11006 Ask a Priest - Fr. Samuel Keyes February 2, 2023Questions Covered: 02:10 – Did God create the earth with oil as a necessity for it to function and rotate the way it does or did he only make oil to be a resource to man? 05:53 – I have my moms ashes and she wasn’t Catholic. Would I be able to get them blessed […]Catholic Answers
Join Bishop Robert Barron for a podcast on faith and culture.
Find more podcast episodes at https://www.wordonfireshow.com/
Word on Fire Podcast with Bishop Barron
- WOF 371: The Rise of Euthanasia January 30, 2023Friends, do we have a right to choose how and when we die? Should we be worried about the rapid rise of euthanasia, including in the United States? Euthanasia has been in the news lately thanks to reports out of Canada, where last year, over 10,000 Canadians ended their lives via euthanasia. Those numbers are […]Bishop Robert Barron
- WOF 370: Source and Summit of Evangelization w/ Abbot Jeremy Driscoll January 23, 2023Friends, the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life. In the Mass, God is glorified and humans are sanctified. In his keynote address at the recent Good News Conference, Abbot Jeremy Driscoll walks us through the beauty and richness of the Mass, in which we worship the Lord and then are sent […]Bishop Robert Barron
- WOF 369: Was Vatican II a Failure? January 16, 2023Friends, we just marked the 60th anniversary of the opening of Vatican II, the Second Vatican Council. Six decades later, can we say the Council was a success? A failure? Something in between? On today’s episode of “The Word on Fire Show,” Brandon Vogt discuss a provocative pair of op-eds published in the New York Times by […]Bishop Robert Barron
- WOF 368: Educating the Whole Person w/ Sr. Josephine Garrett January 9, 2023Friends, how do we educate the whole person? Religious sister and mental health counselor Sr. Josephine Garrett talks about this question in her keynote speech at the recent Good News Conference. In her talk, Sr. Josephine shares how in order for the whole person to be educated, the object of the education must be properly […]Bishop Robert Barron
- WOF 367: The Case for Kids January 2, 2023Friends, did you know that the birth rate in America is the lowest it’s ever been? Why have families stopped having so many kids, and what can we do about it? On today’s episode of “The Word on Fire Show,” Brandon Vogt and I discuss a recent First Things article by Kevin DeYoung titled “The Case for Kids”. […]Bishop Robert Barron
Books & Articles
Talking to Kids about Death
Gina’s father just passed away having lost his long battle with cancer. She is devastated but even harder is trying to decide what to do about her children, ages 8, 5 and 2. Some of her friends are telling her to keep the children away from the funeral while others are insisting that it is important to include them in some way. Gina, reeling from her loss, doesn’t know what to do and doesn’t have a great deal of energy to figure it out. She feels confused and overwhelmed by everything that’s happening around her.
No one wants to talk about issues related to death and dying. We especially don’t want to have to talk about it with our children. As Christians, however, the month of November, with the Feasts of All Saint’s and All Soul’s Days, gives us a wonderful opportunity to take charge of our fears and teach our children some important lessons about life, loss, and God’s abundant love.
What is Death?
We were not created to die. The Catechism states that it was not God’s intention that we would experience bodily death.
“Even though man’s nature is mortal, God had destined him not to die. Death was therefore contrary to the plans of God the Creator and entered the world as a consequence of sin. ‘Bodily death, from which man would have been immune had he not sinned’ is thus ‘the last enemy’ of man left to be conquered” (CCC#1008).
As human beings, we are said to be “ensouled.” That is, the body and soul were meant to be integral and complimentary to each other. It isn’t entirely correct to say that we “have” a soul. The soul and the body are one and weren’t designed to be separated.
Metaphorically speaking, what parts of ice cream are ice? What parts are cream? The ‘ice’ and the ‘cream’ are integral and complimentary to one another. Together, they make ice cream what it is. Of course, a soul is much more to a body than this, but my point is that it should seem even more absurd to think of them as separate things. St. Thomas Aquinas taught that death represented the unnatural separation of the body and soul. They were never meant to be apart from one another. Both, together, make us what we are.
That’s why Christians are sad when someone dies. Even though it is a wonderful thing to be able to hope that the person who has passed has, through God’s love, gone to Heaven, we recognize that we were never meant to be separated from our bodies even for a second, and we ache for the resurrection of the body which will occur when Christ comes again.
Parents should not be afraid to talk to children about death. Although we must approach the topic sensitively, the Christian understanding of death is characterized by a profound sense of hope and a deep connection with God’s love. As the Catechism puts it…
“the obedience of Jesus has transformed the curse of death into a blessing. Because of Christ, Christian death has a positive meaning… In death, God calls man to himself” (CCC #1008-1011).
Here are some things to keep in mind when sharing these deep truths with your children.
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Be Sensitive
Whether your child’s first experience of death is a pet or a loved one or even just a topic of discussion that arises because of All Saints or All Souls, avoid any tendency to launch into lectures or even well-intentioned attempts to take away your child’s feelings. As parents, seeing our children hurt is unbearable, but children don’t want moms and dads to deny their pain. They want them to understand it and love them through it.
Ask your children how they feel about their loss. Let them lead the discussion as much as possible. If they share something, ask where they learned to think what they do and how those thoughts make them feel. Be sure to understand as much of the child’s experience before you offer your own thoughts, and begin by answering questions or filling in any gaps.
If your child doesn’t know what to think, you can share how losing someone you love makes you feel. Explain that people sometimes feel lots of other things too. Some people feel sad, and others feel angry, and others feel scared and others feel something else- even nothing. Let your child know that whatever he or she feels is OK. Hold your child in your arms. When your child has shared whatever he or she can, tell your child you understand how he or she is feeling and that you are proud of your child for telling you.
Without trying to talk your children out of what they are feeling, remind your children that even though death is a sad thing, God loves us so much that he promises us that anyone who loves him will get to live with him forever in Heaven and that he loves us so much that one day, he will fix things so that we can even be reunited with our bodies. In fact, he’ll make our bodies even better than before.
You may wish to read John 20:15, John 21:4, and/or Luke 24:13-35.
In each of these passages, the disciples did not recognize the resurrected Jesus at first because he was in his glorified body. Someday, we too will receive our glorified body. Even though we will be perfect in our appearance, everyone who loved us and knew us on earth will be able to recognize us, just like those who knew and loved Jesus recognized him.
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Should Children Attend the Funeral?
There is not one, good answer to this question, as it depends a great deal upon your child’s temperament.
In general, however, I recommend allowing children to participate, as much as you reasonably think they can handle, in the funeral rituals that attend the loss of a loved one.
Children need transitions to feel secure. Having someone simply disappear from their lives-especially someone they saw often- can be deeply upsetting. Letting even your smallest children participate in at least a limited way in the viewing, and/or the funeral liturgy and/or the wake can allow them to understand, on an experiential level, what is going on. Don’t force them to do more than they want to, but, in general, don’t exclude them entirely.
If you feel your child cannot handle some or all aspects of the funeral, consider giving your child some way to say “goodbye” to the person who has passed. Perhaps your child can draw a picture, make a card, or write a letter to the deceased. For younger children, simply hanging the picture in the refrigerator may be a sufficient memorial. Let your child know that his or her loved one is with God now and can see everything your child does and, as such, is right here with your child.
For older children, you may wish to take the letter (or other project) to the cemetery, or burn it and let the smoke rise to Heaven, or tie it to a helium balloon. Work with your child to create a ceremony that will be meaningful for him or her. Be sure to include at least a brief prayer reminding them that God is with their loved one and that he loves all of you very much and is taking care of you through this time and always.
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Grieving Means Connecting.
One thing people often get wrong about grieving is that they believe it means letting go of the person that passed on. In reality, the real challenge of healthy grieving is finding a way to stay connected tothe person even though he or she has passed on. Talk with your child about how he or she can stay connected to the person who has passed away.
Some people like to have material reminders of the person who has passed. Did your loved one give your child a particular toy? Is there some knicknack that belonged to your loved one that may have special meaning to your child?
Physical reminders of our loved ones can be very important. That’s why Catholics value relics so much. They are physical reminders of the saints, our brothers and sisters in the Lord who have gone on before us.
Of course, you can remind your children that they can talk to their deceased loved one any time. Let your child know that your loved one is with God and can hear anything your child would like to tell him or her. And, since your loved one is with God, they can pray for your child in an even more special way he or she did when he or she was alive.
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Does Your Child Need Special Attention?
Children rarely sit parents down and say, “Mom? Dad? I’m having a tough time with this.” Instead, their behavior changes. Remember, as a rule, children behave well when they feel well.
If your child isn’t behaving well, is more intense, disobedient, harder to get under control, or just extra rambunctious, don’t see that as a discipline problem as much as a cry for your loving attention.
Certainly, offer whatever gentle corrections you must, but make sure to provide extra affection and time together with you. Encourage the unusually overactive child to engage in quieter pursuits with you. Do a craft project together. Read a book together. Pray together. Just cuddle. Anchor the child in the safety and security of your arms.
When they encounter death, some children worry about your possible passing. The best way to reassure a child that they are safe and that you are not going away too is to simply be as physically present as you can.
If your child’s behavior doesn’t improve or worsens, seek professional assistance. Likewise, if, after a couple of weeks, you’re seeing something about your child’s behavior that makes you wonder if you should talk to a professional, that’s probably a good sign that you should at least seek an evaluation.
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What About Pets?
The loss of a pet is often the first experience a child has with death. Following all the recommendations I’ve made so far will help your child in dealing with this loss as well. Young children, especially, tend to think of their pets very much the same as human beings and will mourn the pet’s loss in a similar way. Having some kind of funeral to say goodbye, discussing ways to remember the pet, and providing ample comfort and presence will be important here too.
One question children often ask is whether their pet has gone to Heaven.
Although, as Christians, we believe that human beings are the only creatures God willed for himself, the truth is, we don’t know with absolute certainty what Heaven will be like. I recommend simply saying to your child that God loves us so much that he will make sure that whatever we need to be happy with him in Heaven will be there with us.
Be Not Afraid!
Although talking about death with our children is never something parents look forward to, we don’t have to be afraid. God is with us. The more sensitive, understanding, gentle, and forthright we can be, the more our children will come to see us as a reliable and credible source for all the questions they have about living life to the full.
About The Author
Dr. Greg Popcak is a therapist, radio host, and author of many books. The director of the Pastoral Solutions Institute, he and his staff provide Catholic counseling by telephone to clients around the world. He is devoted husband to Lisa and father of three.
CatholicCounselors.com , Faith on the Couch
By Dr Gregory Popcak|January 8th, 2018
Feeding Your Teenager’s Faith
OCTOBER 14, 2019 BY RACHAEL POPCAK AND DR. GREGORY POPCAK – From Faith on the couch by Dr. Gregory Popcak online
Faith evolves in stages. Knowing how to foster your teenager’s faith begins with understanding the unique spiritual food that nourishes an adolescent’s faith-development.
Teens occupy what’s called the “Synthetic-Conventional” stage of faith, but we like to call it the “Relationship & Mission Stage”
Teens are focused on figuring out their place in the world. So, they tend to believe something is “true” if it facilitates their relationships and helps them feel like they can make a difference. In the same way, they believe something’s “false” if it complicates their relationships or seems to be a source of conflict and division in their lives.
When parents focus too much on what our faith doesn’t allow us to do, or who our faith doesn’t allow us to hang out with, teens get the message that faith is an obstacle to either having relationships or discovering their purpose. The stronger they feel that way, the more likely it is that they’ll fight against the faith–or reject it altogether.
Instead of becoming too focused on the “Thou Shalt Not’s,” concentrate on giving your teens experiences that prove their faith can help them have fulfilling relationships AND make a positive difference in some way.
The most important way to do that is to make sure your teens see how your Catholic faith is having a positive impact in your home and family life. They need to see that your faith is helping you get along better–and care for each other more–than other families that don’t live the faith the way you do. Additionally, it’s important to help teens find faithful peers they can associate with, and causes they can put their faith and energy behind.
The more you can help your teen discover how their faith can enable them to build strong relationships and a healthy sense of mission, the more you’ll be giving your teens the spiritual food they need to grow into a faithful adulthood.
Want more ways to help your kids fall in love with the faith? Check out Discovering God Together: The Catholic Guide to Raising Faithful Kids.
About The Author
Dr. Greg Popcak is a therapist, radio host, and author of many books. The director of the Pastoral Solutions Institute, he and his staff provide Catholic counseling by telephone to clients around the world. He is devoted husband to Lisa and father of three.
CatholicCounselors.com , Faith on the Couch
By Dr Gregory Popcak|January 8th, 2018
Talking to Children About Racism
Dear Parents,
I wanted to share an email from Mrs. Okula, the Principal of St. Jane School:
Dear Parents,
The tragic deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, and subsequent events that have unfolded in recent weeks have deeply affected our nation and no doubt have touched the hearts of our school/parish community. I personally have been at a loss - I am saddened by the disregard for human life, have been confused on how to best engage in conversations about racism, and as I often do, have turned to prayer for guidance.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Okula
I agree completely with the principal.
As a parent of four children, our conversations at home have been both difficult and grace-filled talking about these topics.
Please know that my family is praying for your family, peace from God, and the end to racism of any kind.
Here are some online resources that maybe helpful:
Bishop Alfred Schlert Homily – June 7th:
Bishop Alfred Schlert Homily - ‘There are No Valid Reasons for Racism, which is evil. None.’
Ascension Presents Podcasts:
Healing the Racial Divide – Ask Fr. Josh Johnson Podcast
Reconciling the Body of Christ (with Fr. Josh Johnson) – Fr. Mike Schmitz
Other Podcasts:
Racism, Riots, & a Catholic Response – Counsel of Trent
Talking to your kids about Racism, Riots, and Real Reparation – Messy Family Podcast
PBS:
https://www.pbs.org/parents/talking-about-racism
Healthy Children:
NAECY:
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/may2018/teaching-learning-race-and-racism
God bless,
Kevin Kimmel
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About Us
St. Jane Parish is a family rooted in our faith in Jesus Christ and our devotion to his Church. We strive always to be a welcoming community, with our doors open to all who seek the Lord.
Address: 4049 Hartley Avenue
Easton, PA 18045
Phone: 610-253-3553
Fax: 610-253-5711
Email: info@stjanesofeastonpa.com
Mass Times
Daily:
6:30 a.m., 8:15 a.m. (Mon-Fri)
Saturday:
9:00 a.m.
Sunday Vigil: 5:00 p.m.
Sunday:
8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., Noon
Holy Day: Consult Bulletin
Reconciliation:
Wednesday: 8:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Saturday: 3:45 - 4:45 p.m., or by appointment
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