ordinary time Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Equipping Catholic Families

what do YOU ask of your Guardian Angel?

October 2, 2012 by Monica McConkey 2 Comments

Send Me Your Guardian Angel is an awesome book that will change your impression of your Guardian Angel….and perhaps escalate your demands and expectations for your angelic friend.

Consider…

Padre Pio’s Guardian Angel was a companion to him from the time he was a small boy.
Padre Pio’s Guardian Angel was a friend; one who teased and was teased by Padre Pio but also provided counsel when needed.
Padre Pio’s Guardian Angel was a consoler, sometimes travelling great distances to help troubled souls at their request or Padre Pio’s.
Padre Pio’s Guardian Angel was a messenger, delivering messages to his “spiritual children” who received guidance and direction from Padre Pio.
Padre Pio’s Guardian Angel was a translator of letters and confessions (and absolution), when language would otherwise be a barrier.
Padre Pio’s Guardian Angel was a reliable alarm clock, awakening Padre Pio’s helper from deep sleep when Padre Pio was in need of assistance.

Filed Under: Liturgical Calendar Crafts, ordinary time, Reviews

St Therese’s Good Deed Beads

October 1, 2012 by Monica McConkey 2 Comments

Happy St Thérèse Feast Day!

St Thérèse is such a beloved saint for her child-like Faith and for doing small things with great love. She was known to carry a string of beads to keep track of her continuous prayers, sacrifices and good deeds. We have been making these little Good Deed Beads for years through Arma Dei: Equipping Catholic Families. We currently have them available by special order only* Sometimes we need a little extra time to fill orders…we’ve even been known to enlist some of our kids to help us compile the kits! *email for special order The neat thing about these strings of beads is that the beads slide and stay in place. You will find an excellent tutorial at Little Ways to make the Good Deed Beads or Sacrifice Beads.

Our original kits offered the supplies to create one string of Good Deed Beads on a keychain, and eventually we found little plastic crosses to make additional colorful sets.

Filed Under: ordinary time, Saints, wooden painted saints

a Treasure Chest in a Book: a Family Tradition

January 25, 2012 by Monica McConkey 1 Comment

Build your own Family Culture and Traditions…and start during Ordinary Time!

Collect family artifacts and treasures: keep a collection of family documents, classic photos, newspaper articles, certificates, letters from the toothfairy or letters to Santa, programs from funeral Masses, graduations, wedding invitations, birthday invitations, letters of acceptance, report cards…even if they are photocopies of the real thing! This is what we created our Family Treasure Chest for! These and other family-centric activities, crafts and traditions can be found in A Treasure Chest of Traditions for Catholic Families. Altered Collage Books: a Treasure Chest in a Book! Years ago, I was fascinated by the books Griffin and Sabine: An Extraordinary Correspondence. “Thus begins the strange and intriguing correspondence of Griffin and Sabine. It is a story that is partly a romance, partly a mystery, and completely a work of art. Each page contains a new card or letter…the complete correspondence tells an extraordinary story in an extraordinary way.” The whole book is packed with stamped letters and postcards, with striking images and artwork. =&3=& Intrigued by the Griffin and Sabine books, I began my own altered collage books: one for each child, in a story book that reminded me of them! Click this link at www.littlebit.com for some resources to make your own altered collage books !

I decided to use “Enchantment in the Garden”, adding pictures from “The Fairy Tale Catalogue”.

I was enthused by the illustrations in the books. In this one, I cut a window in one page, to show the illustration in the next. I glued the pages together and added gesso to make it a little dream-like.

Filed Under: family traditions, ordinary time

Family Culture in Ordinary Time

January 11, 2012 by Monica McConkey Leave a Comment

Build your own Family Culture and Traditions…and start during Ordinary Time!

Collect family artifacts and treasures: keep a collection of family documents, classic photos, newspaper articles, certificates, letters from the toothfairy or letters to Santa, programs from funeral Masses, graduations, wedding invitations, birthday invitations, letters of acceptance, report cards…even if they are photocopies of the real thing! This is what we created our Family Treasure Chest for!These and other family-centric activities, crafts and traditions can be found in A Treasure Chest of Traditions for Catholic Families. Altered Collage Books Years ago, I was fascinated by the books Griffin and Sabine: An Extraordinary Correspondence. “Thus begins the strange and intriguing correspondence of Griffin and Sabine. It is a story that is partly a romance, partly a mystery, and completely a work of art. Each page contains a new card or letter…the complete correspondence tells an extraordinary story in an extraordinary way.” The whole book is packed with stamped letters and postcards, with striking images and artwork. As I began collecting special cards and letters for each of my kids, I decided I would also write my own letters to them: my goal is to write one for each child, at least once a year. While I have probably missed a few opportunities…my collections of letters and cards are pretty neat, for each of the children. I was intrigued by the Griffin and Sabine book and began my own altered collage books: one for each child, in a story book that reminded me of them!

These books were filled with fascinating postcards documenting a correspondance in a cool book with postcards and letters in envelopes.
Altered Book Tips

Filed Under: Family crafts, ordinary time

Extraordinary Ideas for Ordinary Time

January 9, 2012 by Monica McConkey 4 Comments

Comprising 33 or 34 weeks of our Catholic Liturgical Calendar, Ordinary Time need not be ORDINARY!

Throughout the year, the Mystery of Christ is revealed. Beginning after the Feast of Our Lord’s Baptism, Ordinary Time focuses on Christ’s Baptism and then delves into His Preaching Ministry. The Scriptural readings at Mass focus on Jesus’ Teaching through parables and His Miracles.

Filed Under: Catholic Link-Ups, ordinary time