The First Leaders of the Church

Well Tallulah we have another important feast day today (June 29th). Today we remember St. Peter and St. Paul! What can you tell us about these two great saints? 

(Click here to download this picture to colour.)

 

Well I know that Peter was a fisherman and that Jesus asked him to be one of his apostles. I also know that Peter was the first pope.

 

Very good Tallulah. So maybe today would be a good day to go on a virtual tour of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome! Let's get on our virtual plane.

 

 

 

Click here to start your trip.

 

 

So what do you know about Paul?

 

I don't think he was one of the apostles. Isn't he the guy who did not like the Christians. And something about him falling off his horse?!

 

You have part of the story Tallulah. Watch this video to see the whole story. (Here is the link if you are having trouble viewing this video: http://youtu.be/whp6-pqDgfs)

 

 

Hey Cloë I found another video to help explain our story. This short little video covers all the Acts of the Apostles. We get to see Peter and Paul in action.

 



Here is the link if you cannot see the video: http://youtu.be/MJIHgMR7LP0

Another important event that happens today in Rome is the presentation of the Pallium to all the new archbishops of the World by Pope Francis. The Pallium is sort of like a scarf that is a sign that the archbishop is the leader of a particular territory. Archbishops and bishops trace their office all the way back to St. Peter and St. Paul!

So that must be why they get the pallium on this day, right Cloë?! Oh I remember now, our master was in Rome last year to see Archbishop Paul-André receive his pallium. We stayed with our granny. And Great Uncle Billy and Great Auntie Judy walked us every morning - I miss them.

Well I guess that is it for today, see ya next time - Woof!

Cloë and Tallulah

Parents if you would like to know more about these two saints or are looking for activities to do with your children to mark this feast click on this link.

Fun! Fun! But too many hot dogs!

Hi Everybody! Yesterday we got to go and meet some of our young fans at the Nussbaumers. We got to run around and eat lots of hot dogs and cookies.

I loved all those hot dogs Cloë. It was too bad our master cut us off but I guess it did not help that I threw up all the hot dogs I ate.

Eww Tallulah, that's just gross. But I guess that is why gluttony is one of the 7 deadly sins as outlined by St. Thomas Aquinas.  He said that gluttony was when we overindulge in food. Here is a little visual of the 7 Deadly Sins using some of the Disney baddies.

We had a great time! Here is a photo of all of us! (It looks like Kim is strangling us!)

 

Woof Nussbaumers!

Cloë and Tallulah

Parents if you want to know more about the 7 deadly sins click here. Of if you are a Willy Wonka fan try this explanation.

St. John the Baptist: Jesus' Cousin

Bonjour les amis! The reason for the French is that today is the Feast of St. John the Baptist and the people of Québec celebrate this holiday in a big way, right Cloë!

 

Yes they sure do. We saw that yesterday Tallulah because we were at our granny's cottage, which is in Québec. So instead of the regular Sunday Mass they had the Mass in honour of St. Jean Baptiste.

 

John's mother was Elizabeth who was Mary's cousin, so that made him Jesus' cousin too.

 

Here is a picture of Mary visiting Elizabeth. Mary was pregnant with Jesus and Elizabeth was pregnant with St. John the Baptist. (Click here to download this picture.)

 

John is one of the prophets who talked about Jesus being the Messiah.

 

Woah Cloë! Those are some big words that I don't understand. What is a prophet and what is the Messiah?

 

Well Tallulah, a prophet is someone that God spoke to and who then told the Jewish people about the person who would come to save them from the people who kept throwing them off their land.

 

The person the prophets were talking about was called the Messiah. Messiah is a Hebrew word that means the leader who will save the people.

 

St. John the Baptist was the last of the prophets to tell the people about the Messiah, because of course Jesus had been born and was now ready for the people to know that He was the Messiah.

Here is a picture to colour that shows John telling the people about Jesus the Messiah. (Click here to download the picture.)

 

Cloë I always like videos because they help me better understand these stories. I found both a short one and a longer one.

 

 

Here is the link if you can't see this video: http://youtu.be/DoMBvmHS88g

 

 

Here is the link if you can't see the video: http://youtu.be/99tA_uTPOww

 

Well that is it for today - Bonne St-Jean-Baptiste! Woof!

 

Cloë and Tallulah

 

 

We will be swimming and chilling this summer!

 

 

Cloë and Tallulah - Woof!

The Ultimate Prayer!

Today we come to you as two beautiful clean, fresh smelling dogs! Yesterday we spent the day having a bath and having our fur cleaned up and getting our new bandanas. It's not our favourite thing but our master seems happy to have nice clean dogs.

So Tallulah, since our ears were also cleaned out yesterday we were really able to hear today's Gospel.
 
You got that right Cloë! I do believe Jesus was teaching his apostles how to pray.
 
Exactly Tallulah. And of course the prayer he taught was the Our Father.
 
That is amazing to think that every time we say the Our Father we are saying actual words that Jesus taught! Watch the video of Jesus teaching the Our Father.
 

Tallulah, did you know that you can also sing the Our Father? The humans don't sing it too often but once in awhile. Here is a little girl named Jackie Evancho singing her version.

Wow Cloë! that voice is definitely a gift from God! I can't believe somebody so young sings so amazingly well.

And finally, here is the full prayer!

 

Well that's it for today. A very clean couple of dogs signing off - Woof!

Cloë and Tallulah

Parents here is an activity you can do with your children to help them get a real sense of what the Our Father is all about.
 
Activity Objective:

To discuss the meaning of the words to the Lord's Prayer

Lesson Outcome:

The children will understand what the various phrases of the Lord's Prayer mean.

Click here for the full activity and explanations.

JClub Catholics

So today is kind of random day for us! We found this neat online club that you might like to check out. It's called the JClub: A Catholic Place for Kids.

 

There are prayers, Saint of the Day, Joke of the Day, stories about Jesus, games, pictures to print and lots more.

 

 

 

 

So be sure to visit the JClub today to download this puzzle and monthly calendar!

 

Here is a picture of us after we got home from Mass on Sunday - as you can see the walk home was pretty wet!

 

 

 

Actually Cloë I look pretty good! You can't even tell I'm wet. But you look a bit like a drowned rat.

 

Ok Tallulah that is enough with the insults - you just have more water resistant fur than me, which is kinda funny since I'm a water dog and you are a sheep herding dog!

 

See ya - Woof!

 

Cloë and Tallulah

 

God is All Loving and All Forgiving

In this Sunday's Gospel we learn that nothing we do is so awful that God will not forgive us if we ask for His forgiveness and are truly sorry.

Click here for directions for making a mini book of today's Gospel.

Although we can always tell God how sorry we are, the best way to receive this special gift from God is to go to confession.

Cloë I don't really like the idea of going to tell someone else about the bad things I did.

Well Tallulah, first of all confession is for the humans, not for us. Second of all, it is not any old person that the humans go to, they go to see the priest. Even though the human might be talking to the priest, it is really like they are talking to Jesus (through the priest). Jesus has given priests permission to forgive sins.

Well that is pretty neat, though it still sounds a little bit scary.

It should not be scary because God loves you and wants to foregive you and be with you.

Here is a cute little video that helps explain what happens at confession.

If you want to see even more about confession and God's foregiveness then watch this video.

Also here is a short little prayer that you can say.

Dear God, I am sorry I did _____________. Will You please forgive me? Amen.

  Finally, to all the Dads out there - Happy Father's Day!

See ya! Woof.

Cloë and Tallulah

St. Anthony: the Patron of Lost Items!

Today, June 13th, is the feast day of our master's favourite saint: Saint Anthony of Padua. Actually many people love this saint.

Saint Anthony loved to teach the people about God and he spoke about Him in simple language so that people could understand. Unfortunately lots of people did not want to hear what he had to say. So one day in frustration he decided to talk to the fish instead!

(To see more Saint Fun Facts click here!)
People often ask St. Anthony for help when they have lost something.

I think Cloë that this is the reason why our master really likes this saint, because she seems to always be losing something.

I think you might be right Tallulah.

Lacy over at Catholic Icing has some great ideas for celebrating this feast day, and you will be happy to hear Tallulah that some of it incluedes food! Click here.

Something else you might want to do today is visit the National Shrine of St. Anthony and Friary in Cincinnati.

Isn't Cincinnati kind of far away Cloë?!

It is Tallulah but they have a neat website that makes you feel like you are really there. Click here.

And finally here is a picture of us from our recent road trip! We are in front of a statute of St. Anthony and St. Anthony's Parish in Apple Hill.

Hey Cloë maybe people could drive out there to see the statute it is certainly closer than Cincinnati! and there was a neat playground not far from the church.

Good idea Tallulah!

Well that's it for today - Woof!

Cloë and Tallulah

An Amazing Miracle

It was such a beautiful day out yesterday that we did not find time to write our blog for Sunday, but here it is now.

Do you remember Tallulah what yesterday's Gospel talked about?

Let me think Cloë, I was listening. Oh yeah now I remember it was Jesus raising that mother's son from the dead. That is pretty amazing.

Can you imagine Tallulah being that mother. Your only child has died and you have no one to look after you. But then all of a sudden Jesus comes by and all he does is touch the stretcher that the dead man is on and he tells him to get up. And the son does!

Here is a video that might help you imagine all the details. http://youtu.be/bTpeOcQtXtc

This story teaches us that we must always trust in God. It does not mean that we will always get what we want or that it will be a big miracle like this woman got, but know that God will always look after you.

Cloë did you see the email from the Nussbaumers about The Donut Man, this sounds like a guy I want to be friends with - did I tell you how much I love donuts?!

Tallulah he does not make donuts he sings to kids about how wonderful Jesus is.

Oh. He still sounds like a pretty cool guy.

Check out this video Tallulah, the words and actions are right up your alley: Jumping Up and Down! http://youtu.be/rem79QoAwtY

Well that's it for today - Woof!

Cloë and Tallulah

Sacred Heart of Jesus

Today (June 7) is the feast day of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This is the typical picture that represents the Sacred Heart. I am sure many of you recognize it.

The Sacred Heart of Jesus represents not only his real heart but it represents the huge love he has for all the people of the world. 

Here is a very simple prayer that you can say regularly.

“O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in You!"

Hey Cloë, I was listening quite carefully to all the readings today and I noticed that there was a lot of talk about shepherds?!

Well Tallulah, as we have talked about a few times, the image of Jesus as a shepherd is very common. A shepherd's job is to look after his sheep and to keep them safe and those are the things that Jesus does.
 
Here are just some of the beautiful images from today's readings. Notice how they show how much God loves us.

For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. ...I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the crippled, and I will strengthen the weak,... (Ezekiel 34: 11-16)
 
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want; he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  (Psalm 23)

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it?  And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  (Luke 15: 3-7)

To learn more about the Sacred Heart of Jesus along with the 12 promises of the Sacred Heart and to download this picture to colour click here.

This is my favourite way to remember an important feast day: dessert!! This time it is Sacred Heart Cookies.

For the recipie and how to - click here.

Well that's it for today - Woof!

Cloë and Tallulah, oh Cloë these cookies are so yummy!!

The Martyrs of the Church

Today Tallulah we are going to talk about martyrs.

Gee Cloë, I'm not sure I really know what that means.

Well the word "martyr" means someone who has died for their faith. Unfortunately there are many men and women who have died because they believed in God and other people did not like that. Some were jealous and some were worried that they would lose their power.

This week the Church has four feast days to remember different martyrs.

June 1st was the feast day of Saint Justin.
Justin lived less than 100 years after Jesus died. He was a Samaritan who became a Christian. He and his friends were killed by the Romans because they refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods.

 

June 2nd was the feast day of Saint Marcellinus and Saint Peter.

These two men lived during the late 200s. While they were in jail (for being Christians) they told their jailer all about God and he and his family became Christians.

 

June 3rd was the feast day of Saint Charles Lwanga and his Companions.
Charles and his friends were from Uganda, which is in Africa. They lived in the 1800s, so not that long ago. They became Christians after learning about God from the White Fathers, who were and still are missionaries in Africa. The King did not like that they were telling him that he was being cruel and not living a good life. So he had them all killed.

June 5th is the feast day of Saint Boniface.
Boniface lived in the late 600s and was from England. He was raised as a Catholic. He became a missionary in the Netherlands as well as Germany. Like other martyrs there were people who did not like him talking about God and the Good News so they killed Boniface along with 30 of his friends.

Boniface was famous for destroying the great Oak of Thor. Those who did not believe in God thought this giant Oak was a god. So they were amazed when Bonfice cut it down and was not harmed by the "gods".

Another interesting thing Tallulah is that Bishop Marcel came to us from the city of Saint Boniface in Manitoba!

Wow Cloë that sure is a lot of information!

 

It is Tallulah. The martyrs are a great inspiration to us, because they loved God so much that they put Him above everything else. It is also important to know that there are still martyrs today. We are lucky that here in Canada we can go to church and nobody bothers us, but there are many countries in the world where people do not like Christians and they have to be very careful about what they say and do.

 

We should pray for those people.

 

Here is a prayer we can say.

 

God of perfect peace,
violence and cruelty can have no part with you.
May those who are at peace with one another
hold fast to the good will that unites them;
may those who are enemies forget their hatred and be healed.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
for ever and ever.

Well that's lots for today! Woof!

Cloë and Tallulah

Two Fish and Five Loaves

Was that not an amazing Gospel Cloë!? I can't believe what Jesus was able to do with so little.

It certainly is incredible Tallulah.

In case you missed today's Gospel ,here are two great recaps. The first is a video that tells of this miracle and as an added bonus you get to learn a song that will help you remember the story.

Now if you want to read a longer version of this story just click here!

Paul Dallgas-Frey writes these neat stories and draws these fun pictures. He has got Bible Stories, Pslams and Prayers, all for kids.

Today is also the Feast of Corpus Christi, right Cloë?

Well technically it was on Thursday Tallulah, but here in Canada it gets moved to Sunday since so many people are at work on Thursday.

What does Corpus Christi mean, that does not sound like English to me.

Good ears Talllulah!

Well they are pretty big.

It is Latin for "Body of Christ". This feast is to remember when Jesus left us with his holy body in the form of the bread that people get every time they go to communion.

So I guess these two stories really go together don't they - Jesus turning 5 loaves into enough for 5000 and Jesus turning his own self into bread so that He is always with us.

The last thing we want to share is a picture of Annamaria who made the monstrance craft we told you about a few weeks ago. If you have not made it, this Sunday is the perfect day!

That's it for now - Woof!

Cloë and Tallulah