Reclaim Your Sundays

February
No/Low-Tech Sundays & Prayer

“Sometimes we prove hard of heart and mind; we are forgetful, distracted and carried away by the limitless possibilities for consumption and distraction offered by contemporary society.”
- Evangelli Gaudium 196

The endless distraction of smart phones is well known. A device marketed to unite and connect has in many instances had an alternative impact. Create space in the interior of your heart to receive the blessing of God by turning off the distractions.

ENTER INTO THE LORD’S DAY
(POSSIBLE ACTIVITIES FOR FEBRUARY):

Pray with Hallow the Discernment Novena

• Set your Sunday Sabbath boundary each week. Maybe it’s Saturday evening to Sunday evening or following your celebration of Sunday Mass until your prayer time before bed.

• Turn off phones during your Sunday family meal. And if you are really motivated, try turning your phone off ALL day!

• Create a box or find a spot hidden away to stow devices. If you have good reason to need to check your phone, elderly grandparents or a sick loved one, commit to not responding to emails, or engage in social media-free Sundays.

• If you choose to lessen media, try replacing that time with quality family time, good leisure not necessarily entertainment, reading a book out loud with your family or housemates, a walk or bike ride outside when it warms up! Check out these 100 Really Fun No-Screen Activity Ideas from Ordinary and Happy.

• Be ready! Ash Wednesday is February 18. Create a family plan to include the traditional methods of entering into the season: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving! Incorporate some kind of technology fast! Adults — lead by example! Check out these suggestions for a media fast from Aleteia.

• Liturgical Living:

  • Attend Stations of the Cross on Fridays at 6 pm and Soup Supper starting Friday, March 20th

  • Check out Formed.org for many adult and family options for learning about and praying the Stations of the Cross.

  • Pray a family-friendly version at home. Start with 14 lit candles and extinguish one after each station.

    • Family Stations of the Cross is from Cathedral of St. Patrick’s in Charlotte, NC.

    • Stations of the Cross for the Whole Family is from The Pelican Project
      
      

Adapted from the document RECLAIMING SUNDAYS from the ARCHDIOCESE OF SAINT PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS

Homily Series: The Parish as a School of Prayer

Fr. Nick Vance offers a homily series on Prayer. Pope St. John Paull II called the parish the school of prayer. Listen to the series for hear wisdom and practical ways we can deepen our relationship with God through prayer.