Monica McConkey, Author at Equipping Catholic Families

Feast Day Fun St Padre Pio

September 22, 2014 by Monica McConkey Leave a Comment

Feast Day Crafts and Activities

Excerpts from A Treasure Chest of Traditions for Catholic Families , various posts at Equipping Catholic Families and our Saint Scripts Craft Kits (Series ONE and TWO).

St Padre Pio is an amazing saint, with his stigmata, dedication to hearing confessions, ecstasy and conversations with Jesus and Mary. His biggest influence on us has been his relationship with his Guardian Angel, a friend he conversed with throughout his entire life…and his confidence in all of our Guardian Angels, to pass along messages and nudge us to do what’s right.

Filed Under: Feast Day Fun, Reviews

Rome Day One: On our Way!

September 22, 2014 by Monica McConkey 6 Comments

I’m off to ROME today! I’ve been a little busy going through Customs, traversing through airports and trying to meet up with the rest of my Pilgrimage group, but this is how I

Prep for a Pilgrimage

Filed Under: Rome

7QT: A Playlist for a Pilgrimage

September 19, 2014 by Monica McConkey 1 Comment

Only a couple more days before I jump on a plane to Rome! I know! I can’t believe it!

As hard as it is to believe I’m going to be walking around Rome NEXT WEEK…I’m also coming to grips with being away from my whole family for 12 days! I’ll be traveling with an extended-family-sized group of pilgrims, but I’m pretty sure that no one will be asking me to take them to the bathroom or cut their dinner into bite-sized pieces.

Filed Under: 7 Quick Takes, Rome

DIY Baby Jar Votive Candles

September 15, 2014 by Monica McConkey 2 Comments

Do you remember our Saint Scripts Craft Kits, Series One and Two?

For a limited time…you can still get the set of TWO Saint Scripts Craft Kits for $25 (or regular $15 each)!

Well…we’ve discovered ANOTHER easy Catholic craft to make, using these craft kits that you may already have!

Filed Under: Catholic Crafts, DIY Crafts, Saints

Feast Day Fun: The Triumph of the Cross

September 13, 2014 by Monica McConkey Leave a Comment

When Jesus’ Body was removed, the Cross was hidden so that followers would not find it. About 300 years later the True Cross was found! Constantine the Great had a vision of the Cross which led him to victory. In response, Constantine had the image of the Cross placed on the shields of his soldiers. Although stolen in 614 by the King of Persia, the Cross was restored in its proper place in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in 629.

Filed Under: Catholic Crafts, Feast Day Fun

7QT Back to School and Pre-Rome

September 11, 2014 by Monica McConkey 1 Comment

Do I admit that I was thinking about altering my post about Packing for Rome…just to fit the 7 Quick Takes, so that I wouldn’t have to squeeze in a post before I go to bed? Well, I decided that there has been enough going on warranting a brand new 7 Quick Takes…but I’m hoping that I can write this pretty fast and catch some zzzzz’s. Here goes:

Filed Under: 7 Quick Takes, Catholic Crafts, Rome

Packing for ROME!

September 10, 2014 by Monica McConkey Leave a Comment

If you’ve visited Equipping Catholic Families before or read some of my Prep for Rome posts, you’ll know that I’m leaving for Rome in just 12 days!

I’m working on some pretty cool posts to be published while I’m away and hoping that I can squeeze in some live updates throughout our adventure!

Filed Under: Rome

Feast Day Fun: Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary

September 7, 2014 by Monica McConkey Leave a Comment

Feast Day Crafts and Activities

Excerpts from A Treasure Chest of Traditions for Catholic Families , various posts at Equipping Catholic Families and our Saint Scripts Craft Kits (Series ONE and TWO).

Happy Birthday Mother Mary!

Filed Under: Catholic Crafts, Feast Day Fun, Rosary

Back to School 2014

September 5, 2014 by Monica McConkey Leave a Comment

It has been a crazy week…moving Emily off to University 5 hours away and sending Adam off to his first day of Kindergarten this morning…and 3 kids in between!

…because you need a close-up of this guy…

Filed Under: family traditions

Feast Day Fun Blessed Teresa

September 4, 2014 by Monica McConkey 1 Comment

Feast Day Crafts and Activities

Excerpts from A Treasure Chest of Traditions for Catholic Families , various posts at Equipping Catholic Families and our Saint Scripts Craft Kits (Series ONE and TWO). Blessed Mother Teresa is known for her virtue of compassion and for being the “icon of the Good Samaritan”, caring for the sick and the poor in India. She models for us the Scriptural Works of Mercy…meeting both the Corporal and Spiritual needs of each person she encountered. I received a copy of You Did It to Me: A Practical Guide to Mercy in Action from Fr Michael Gaitley and it seems to offer a practical guide for all of us to tackle the Five Scriptural Works of Mercy with the same fervor as Blessed Mother Teresa. He refers to Matthew 25:31-46 and recalls the practical insights of St Pope John Paul II, St Faustina and Pope Francis and offers Blessed Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity as a key example of living a life of mercy (p20-21). Speaking of BOOKS, Thirsting for God is a book of 365 Daily Meditations, short stories and prayers, straight from Mother Teresa’s heart. They are short and sweet and inspire us to