Young Catholics
Youth Ministry, Vacation Bible School (VBS), and Family Resources
In this video, Fr Mike Schmitz talks about how to prepare for Lent. The point of Lent is get rid of something which is keeping us from Jesus and to take steps which will bring us closer to Jesus.
The pillars of Lent are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Pick one thing from each area to focus on during Lent. But choose things which will bring you closer to the Lord. Fr. Mike gives some creative ideas for these.
In this video, Fr. James Martin gives some insights for LGBT Catholics who are struggling with their Catholic faith. Keep these basic facts in mind:
In this video from Life Teen, Joel Stepanek helps us understand the readings for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time for Year A. There is a lot of love in this week’s readings.
The first reading helps us understand what love is. This reading is reflected back in the gospel reading. Jesus is talking about “going the extra mile”. He is teaching that we should go above an beyond.
God always does more. We should do more also. God extends mercy to us. We should be merciful also.
This video from Holy Heroes tells us that Jesus instructs us to love others even when it isn’t easy, which is the gospel for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time for Year A. A coloring sheet and Mass quiz are also available for each week. Use these to prepare for Sunday Mass at home or for Children’s Liturgy of the Word.
For more information, see Holy Heroes.
Jesus said to his disciples:
"You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand over your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.
"You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."
Matthew 5:38-48
In this video from Life Teen, Joel Stepanek helps us understand the readings for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time for Year A. We make choices about whether to obey Gods law or not.
Jesus makes it clear that he doesn’t want to get rid of the law. He wants us to go above and beyond what is required by the law. We should do more than just obey the letter of the law. We can obey the law and still not do the right thing.
Avoid sin, but also actively participate in loving others.
This video from Holy Heroes tells us that Jesus instructs us to keep our promises and do what is right, which is the gospel for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time for Year A. A coloring sheet and Mass quiz are also available for each week. Use these to prepare for Sunday Mass at home or for Children’s Liturgy of the Word.
For more information, see Holy Heroes.
Jesus said to his disciples:
[“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ]
I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; [ and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny. ]
“You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
[ If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.
“It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce. But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife - unless the marriage is unlawful - causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. ]
“Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow. But I say to you, do not swear at all; [ not by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. ]
Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,' and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one.”
Matthew 5:17-37 or Matthew 5:20-22a, 27-28, 33-34a, 37
