Two New Saints!

Happy Easter Everybody!

Hey I thought Easter was finished, wasn't it last Sunday Cloë!

You are not wrong Tallulah. But we are in what is called the Easter Octave. This means that Easter Sunday goes on for 8 days - kind of like one big long Mass. Actually, Easter goes on longer than this, but we'll talk about that next week.

Does that mean we get to keep eating Easter eggs?!

Yes you can Tallulah, but what is much more important is that we continue to celebrate the fact that Jesus rose from the dead and came back to life! That is such marvellous news that we have to celebrate for more than just 24 hours.

We have some other exciting news to share as well. On Sunday, the Church will welcome not one but two new saints! Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II will both be canonized this coming Sunday in Rome.

 
Here is a neat craft to commemorate this special occasion. The mitre is the "hat" that the pope wears during very important occasions. Click here to find out how to make the mitre and cross.

Some of you may be old enough to remember John Paul II and certainly your mom and dad will, but only your grandparents may remember John XXIII. He too was a very special pope.

Go to the Vatican's website to get all the latest news about the canonization and to learn more about these two great men. If you are really brave you can watch the canonization live - though most of us will be asleep since Rome is 6 hours ahead of us. You can also watch on Canada's own Salt + Light TV.

Woof!

Cloë and Tallulah

Our First Anniversary!

Today is the first anniversary of our blog! We can't believe it's already been one year. We have written 167 blog entries and have had more than 8,000 hits during our first year.

In honour of our first anniversary why not have a look at our very first blog entry when we introduced ourselves. Click here.

We are having a great time and we hope to continue writing many more entries. We love God and we think it is so important to keep telling people about Him.

Now let's go dig into that cake! Woof!

Cloë and Tallulah
 

HAPPY EASTER!

 

Walk Where Jesus Walked

Today we thought we'd show you photos from Israel so that you can see the places Jesus went during his last days.

 

Of course you will have to use your imagination a little bit since some of the places have changed in the last 2000 years.

 

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsem'ane, and he said to his disciples,

"Sit here, while I go yonder and pray." 

(Matthew 26:36)

 

The Church of All Nations on the Mount of Olives and beside Gethsem'ane.

 

 Garden of Gethsem'ane

 

The rock where Jesus is said to have prayed before his arrest,

today located inside the Church of All Nations.

 

 Adoration at the Church of All Nations,
Hey there is our granny and Timothy, our uncle!
 

 followed by a candle light procession through the Garden of Gethsem'ane.

 

 

Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Ca'iaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. But Peter followed him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. 
(Matthew 26: 57-58)

After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you."  Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know the man." And immediately the cock crowed.
(Matthew 26: 73-74)

 

And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him,

(Matthew 27:28)

And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots;
(Matthew 27:35)

The Church of the Holy Sepluchure that is built over Golgotha (the Hill of Calvary) as well as the tomb where Jesus was buried.

 And Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock; and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed. 
(Matthew 27: 59-60)

This is part of a sculpture of the man that was buried in the famous Shroud of Turin (photo below). More and more the evidence is pointing to that man being Jesus!
Click here to read more.

 

Wow Cloë I'm exhausted after that tour. I don't know about you, but I need a nap.

 

Woof!

 

Cloë and Talllulah

 

Good Friday: Jesus is put to death

We just came back from church where all the kids and their families were praying the Stations of the Cross.

What did you think Tallulah?

I have to say I was a little afraid. They were so mean to Jesus. And then they killed him on the cross. I just can't believe it. So I was also very sad.

But what I don't understand Cloë, is if Jesus is dead, why do we talk about Him like He is alive?

Today is the anniversary of Jesus' death.

He really died about 2000 years ago. Today, Jesus lives in Heaven. That's how we know that things turned out o.k. We'll talk more about that on Easter Sunday.

I'm so glad to hear that.

You can also read the story of Good Friday. Our friend Paul Dallgas-Frey is a wonderful story teller. Be sure to check it out.

We were just visiting Lacy over at Catholic Icing and we discovered some very cool things that she has to help you learn and remember the story of Jesus' Passion.

You could eat this lunch today or even tomorrow, Holy Saturday.

She also has a colouring book that includes all the Stations and that you can download.

If you visit Happy Saints, Vic has a great book about the Stations of the Cross that includes coloured pictures as well as pictures that you can colour. Click here to download it. That's where we got some of the pictures for this blog.

Tomorrow we'll show you some of the pictures from our master's trip to Israel. She was at many of the places that we talk about this week at church so that's pretty cool.

Woof!

Cloë and Tallulah

The 3 Day Mass

Were down to the crunch Tallulah! It's the last few days before Easter.
 
That means the Easter bunny is coming. I can't wait Cloë.
 

Tallulah, the Easter bunny is great, but Easter is about so much more than a rabbit and some candy.
 
Oh! I guess you're right.
 
Tonight we celebrate the Last Supper.
 
Oh no, does that mean we'll never eat again?!
 
No silly, it's the last supper, the Passover meal, that Jesus ate with his apostles.

 
Now I remember. It's when Jesus turns the bread into his body and the wine into his blood. The real First Communion - right Cloë?!
 

Exactly, this is also the night that Jesus established the priesthood. Another important thing that he did was to give the apostles a new commandment. He wanted them and all of us to love one another, as He has loved them and continues to love us. 

What is that funny language that Jesus is speaking?

 

It's called Aramaic. This is the language that they spoke during Jesus' time.

Three more things!

If you would like to learn more about the Passover, the holy day that Jesus and his apostles were celebrating that last night go to JewishKids.org

Here is a great video that explains Holy Week.

 

Don't forget to join us at St. Francis de Sales for the English Stations of the Cross at 11:00 on Good Friday. Or at Nativité if you would like to hear them in French. It is a special Stations of the Cross for you and your family.

Woof!

Cloë and Tallulah

Hosanna in the highest!

Today begins one of the most important weeks of the Church year - Holy Week.

Cloë isn't this the week that we spend a lot of time at church waiting for our master.

You are right Tallulah we do go to church a lot this week, but if you really listen to what is being said and if you participate it is very exciting.

For instance, this Sunday is Palm Sunday. It's when Jesus makes his triumphant entrance into Jerusalem.

(youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O56CiH0dwLw)

What does that mean Cloë?

Well as you know Tallulah, Jesus has been performing all these miracles and talking about God. The people were very interested and excited to meet him.

(Click here to download this picture to colour.)

I am always very excited to here what Jesus has to say.

Unfortunately, things take a turn for the worse for Jesus once he gets to Jerusalem.

Is that when they crucify him?

It is Tallulah. Even though it is one of the two Gospels we read today, we will save that story for Good Friday.

Today, you will get a palm at Mass. Lacy at Catholic Icing has all kinds of neat ideas about what to do with your palm.

And here is a fun song to learn about Jesus coming into Jerusalem!

(youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QiMCO0WNzs)

 

 

Have a good Holy Week and we'll talk to you soon! Woof!

 

Cloë and Tallulah

You Have a Friend in Jesus

Hi Everybody!

We are really late with this blog entry about last Sunday's Gospel. But it was such a good one that we figured better late than never!

Just like you, Jesus had friends. Three of his good friends were Mary, Martha and Lazarus.

You are my friend Cloë! And of course all the people out there.

And you are my friend Tallulah, even when you are being silly.

Getting back to our story. Lazarus got very sick. They sent for Jesus, but he did not make it before Lazarus died. One of the ways that we know that Jesus loved Lazarus is because he cried when he found out his friend was dead.

I'm crying just thinking about this Cloë! It's so sad when someone dies.

Yes it is Tallulah. But in this instance, because Jesus is also God, he was able to bring Lazarus back to life.

(youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBY-3iXwwb0)

Click here to download the story of Lazarus. You can colour the pages as you read it.

 

Here is a Word Scramble to help you remember this story.

Here are some clues if you need help.

One of the things we really want everyone to know is that Jesus wants to be your friend. Even if you cannot see him the way you see your other friends, He is always there and wants to be part of your life.

This is a great song to remind you of what a good friend Jesus is!

(youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pyz537O-aE)

Well that's it for today. Woof!

Your furry friends
Cloë and Tallulah

If you would like to see more cartoons like the one of Martha, Mary and Lazarus visit
The Good News Cartoon Blog.

Two Saints

Today is the feast day of Saint Stanislaus!

Saint Stanislaus was born more than 1000 years ago in Poland. Tallulah can you find Poland on this map?

I sure can Cloë! It's the green country with the red and white square in the middle of it.

When Stanislaus grew up he became the bishop of Krakow. He often criticized the King for some of the bad things he did. The King did not like this and eventually killed Stanislaus. Today, Stanislaus is one of the patron saints of Poland.

Cloë did you notice the similarities between Stanislaus and another great saint?

Do you mean Pope John Paul II?

That is exactly who I mean.

So what are the similarities Tallulah?

Well both men were

• born in Poland
• became bishop of Krakow
• were critical of their government
• paid for that criticism - Stanislaus with his life, John Paul almost with his life
• saints
• patrons of Poland

That's pretty amazing! And to think they were born more than 1000 years apart.

It just goes to show Cloë how the Church is one big family even if separated by hundreds of years!

To learn more about Pope John Paul II you may want to purchase this book.

 

Did you know Tallulah, that almost 87% of all Poland is Catholic and that there are only 7 other countries in the world that have more Catholics!

Click here to learn more about Poland.

Żegnaj - that's good-bye in Polish! Woof!

Cloë and Tallulah