Equipping Catholic Families

8 things / 10 months / Pilgrimage to ROME!

November 27, 2013 by Monica McConkey Leave a Comment

These are my 8 things to do

….10 months away from my Pilgrimage to ROME:

Sept 22-Oct 3, 2014!

1. Find a great Catholic Tour company…like St Gemma’s Catholic Pilgrimages It’s Catholic!…and Mike and Sue are awesome hosts!

2. Consider and invite WHO you would like to travel with. I have recommended an awesome chaplain…and this week it was confirmed that Fr Scott McCaig will be the chaplain for our pilgrimage Sept 22, 2013- Oct 3, 2013! Fr Scott McCaig is the General Superior of the Companions of the Cross…and he’s a close family friend whose vocation we confirmed through his stay with us a week after our first baby was born.

Filed Under: Rome

a VOTE for Praying Out Loud

November 27, 2013 by Monica McConkey Leave a Comment

How about a vote for Praying Out Loud?

I’d appreciate YOUR VOTE over at the Catholic Spirituality Blogs Network.

Thanks!

Filed Under: link-up, Catholic Bloggers Network

Cross Catholic Outreach Art Show!

November 26, 2013 by Monica McConkey 1 Comment

This Christmas season, Catholic Inspired, Cross Catholic Outreach and other Catholic Bloggers including Equipping Catholic Families are teaming up to empower kids to help the poor while using their artistic talent. Kids of all ages will be able to participate in an online art show from now until December 31st, 2013. Parents, family members and friends will make donations on behalf of their artwork to Cross Catholic Outreach. All proceeds will feed impoverished children and families in El Progreso, Honduras at the Prince of Peace Nutrition Center.

Filed Under: Advent and Christmas, link-up, Catholic Bloggers Network

The Family Handprint Jesse Tree

November 24, 2013 by Monica McConkey 5 Comments

I will admit it. We have been raising Catholic kids for 17 years and up until this year, I have never really had a Jesse Tree.

In fact, as I prepared my review and giveaway of these awesome Jesse Tree Treasures, I had a number of “what are those?” questions. The kids have made their share of single ornaments at school over the years, but we have never jumped in on this tradition at home.

Filed Under: Advent and Christmas, DIY Crafts

Keep Christ in Christmas blog link-up!

November 22, 2013 by Monica McConkey 2 Comments

Want to launch your Advent, focused on JESUS?

Want to share your ideas for keeping CHRIST in CHRISTMAS?

A couple of bloggers from the Catholic Bloggers Network are hosting

the 2nd Annual Keep Christ in Christmas Blog Link-Up!

Filed Under: link-up, Catholic Bloggers Network Tagged With: link-up

7 Quick Takes 3.0

November 21, 2013 by Monica McConkey 1 Comment

— 1 —

After 17 years of raising Catholic kids, I finally made our first Jesse Tree!

After receiving this beautiful set of Jesse Tree ornaments from Jesse Tree Treasures, I needed a worthy, hand-crafted tree to launch our new (to us) Advent tradition.

Filed Under: 7 Quick Takes Tagged With: 7 Quick Takes

2013 Frankie Award: I’ve been nominated!

November 21, 2013 by Monica McConkey Leave a Comment

I’ve been nominated for a 2013 Frankie Award for a post on my other blog:

Check out For Praying Out Loud and then ~~vote for me~~ read all the entries over at Catholic Spirituality Blogs!

…and if you’d like you could vote for ME! Thanks!

Filed Under: link-up, Catholic Bloggers Network Tagged With: spirituality

What No Mom Wants To Hear

November 20, 2013 by Monica McConkey 6 Comments

I remember the first couple weeks with my first baby. We lived in a one bedroom apartment and when our baby girl was one week old, one of our favorite priests Fr Scott McCaig came to stay with us for the weekend. All of us were a little naive about what those first nights would be like with our one week old baby. Challenged by breast feeding, just a little sleep-deprived and a wee bit hormonal, the words from our newbie-priest-of-one-year guest have stayed with me for sixteen years: “staying with you has really confirmed my vocation to the priesthood”

Filed Under: link-up, Catholic Bloggers Network Tagged With: family

Saints Scripts Rolodex

November 18, 2013 by Monica McConkey 3 Comments

I thought I’d go a little retro with my use of the NEW Saint Scripts Cathletics Craft Kits. You see, the 21 postcards in each of the TWO kits available can be a pretty helpful reference tool with the name, a brief biography, an awesome full color Kelly Comics illustration and all the basic Saint Stats including years of life, Feast Day, vocation and patronage.

Filed Under: link-up, Catholic Bloggers Network Tagged With: Catholic Printables, Saints

7 Quick Takes at Equipping Catholic Families Nov15/13

November 15, 2013 by Monica McConkey Leave a Comment

— 1 —

Surprised my friend Kerry for her 40th, got some spiritual direction and took my daughter for a tour of the University of Ottawa …then drove the 4.5 hours home before a threatening migraine could give me its’ worst… last weekend.

Filed Under: 7 Quick Takes Tagged With: 7 Quick Takes