Ordinary Time - Interesting Time

Well Tallulah, the Church is back into Ordinary Time.

What does that mean Cloë? Actually it sounds kind of boring.

Not at all Tallulah. You know how exciting it is to go on a holiday!

Like when we go to our Granny's cottage?

Exactly. But as much fun as we have there, it's still nice to come home and to get back into our regular routine. Well the seasons of Advent and Christmas are like the holiday. Ordinary Time is the coming home.

So what do we learn during Ordinary Time?

We learn all about Jesus and his life here on earth.

The stories help us to know him better and to remind us that He is not just a made up character, like Little Red Riding Hood or Hansel and Gretel.

He lived and He still lives and He wants to be our friend.

He is definitely my friend Cloë!

He is my friend too Tallulah. And the way that you grow a friendship is to learn about each other, which is what the Gospels help us to do each Sunday.

In today's Gospel John the Baptist introduces his friends to Jesus.

John had told his friends about Jesus and many of them were very excited to meet him in person.

Hey we are kind of like John the Baptist because Jesus is our friend and we love to tell others about Jesus in the hopes that they too will want to be his friend.

You got it Tallulah!

(youtube link: http://youtu.be/_pyz537O-aE)

Why not draw a picture of you and Jesus together. Or you can colour this picture.

(link to download picture)

Woof!

Cloë and Tallulah

 

And the Christmas Season Comes to a Close

Hi Everybody! We were sooooo tired after writing all those blogs during the 12 days of Christmas that we took a bit of a break this week. Actually, as you can see we are still resting up. But during our walk home from Mass this morning we told our master what to write!

Cloë did you notice that the church was still fully decorated for Christmas! Did they forget to take the decorations down?

Of course not Tallulah. Remember we told our readings a few weeks ago that Christmas goes for 12 days but that it actually kinda goes longer than that?! Well this is what we meant.
 
In the Church, the Christmas season ends today with the baptism of Jesus.
 

Most of you were baptized not too long after you were born.

So I think that is probably why we remember Jesus' baptism today, even though he is a full grown man in the Gospel story!
 

 

(youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THaAcyLs1OE)

 

Baptism is the very first of the sacraments that Catholics receive. Once you have been baptized you officially become part of the Church's family.

 

Ask your mom and dad to tell you about the day you were baptised.

 

 

Cloë, I think everyone should mark the date of their baptism on the calendar so that they can celebrate this important day.

 

Great idea Tallulah.

 



While we were too lazy to blog last week we missed a very important feast day for Canadians - the feast of Saint André Bessette, best known as Brother André. His feast day was January 7th.

 

 

If you have ever been to Montreal you have no doubt seen the giant church on the side of the mountain. That is Saint Joseph's Oratory.

 

 

Brother André was a doorkeeper and then he became a janitor. But even though he did not have money or a big important job, Brother André had a great goal - to build a giant church in honour of the saint that he loved - Saint Joseph.

 

Why don't you and your family plan a visit to the Oratory.

 

To help plan your visit, go to the Oratory's website, you can even take a virtual tour. While you are there you can go to visit their exhibition of crèches.

 

 

When Brother André died, more than a million people walked by his coffin!! Pope Benedict named him a saint in 2010.

 

Well that's it for today. Woof!

 

Cloë and Tallulah

Day 12 - The Arrival of the Magi

Today is the final day (sort of) of the Christmas Season. Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord!. Today is the day the Wise Men come to pay homage to Jesus. Click here to read the story.

 

Here is a video clip from the movie The Nativity Story. We love it because it shows how these grown up men, who were very, very smart, were able to recognize that this little tiny baby was God!

 

 

And here is one final recap of the whole story!

 

This has been a long holiday Cloë, I'm just pooped!

Woof!

Cloë and Tallulah

Day 12

 

Day 11 - The Recap

Well Tallulah just 2 more days of Christmas! I thought today would be a good day to recap the Christmas Story.

We have each found a video that shows the story and that gives a sneak preview of tomorrow's Feast Day.

Here is Tallulah's Pick!

(youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABP57sznhZ0)

Here is Cloë's more accurate pick!

(youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sO3InyiIjw)

Click here to colour some fun Christmas pictures - you can colour them right on the computer!

Woof!

Cloë and Tallulah

 

Day 11

Day 10 - The Magi Are Coming

What are the Magi Cloë? and why are they coming?
 

The Magi are three Wise Men who lived in a different country than Jesus. Among other things they studied the stars and planets and they found the star that shone over Bethlehem. It was so big and so bright compared to the other stars that they knew it must be very important.

So I bet they decided to follow it, right Cloë?

That's right Tallulah. The Church will celebrate their arrival this coming Sunday.

We actually don't know very much about them and only Matthew speaks about them in his Gospel. But there is a lot of tradition around their visit including their names.

Melchior, a Persian scholar
Caspar, an Indian scholar
Balthazar , an Arabian scholar

Today's activity is learning to draw the first Wise Man. And if you go to the link below you will find other videos that teach you how to draw the other Wise Men as well as other parts of the Nativity.

(youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joSXl-tI3_c)

Woof!

Cloë and Tallulah

Day 10

Day 9 - Joy to the World

I'm digging this long version of Christmas Cloë, I can't believe how many people miss out on all this fun and joy because they think Christmas is just one day!

In fact here is a great song to express how I'm feeling!

 

Check out the Go Fish Guys Website for all kinds of upbeat  Christmas songs.

 

Our other project for today is to make Turtles! Yum! Yum!

 

Good choice Tallulah, those look both delicious and simple to make. Click here for the recipe.

Woof!

Cloë and Tallulah

Day 9

 

 

Day 8 - Happy New Year!

 
Wow! Today is the start of a brand new year - 2014!
 

 
Today is also the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God! You may remember Tallulah that a Solemnity is a super important feast day in the Church.
 

 

And finally today is a also the World Day of Peace! This is especially important since there are so many parts of our world that are currently having some very serious problems and even wars.

 

 

But what can we do Cloë to help with peace in the world?

 

Well Tallulah we can all pray that the people who are fighting will be persuaded to stop.

 

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

(St. Francis of Assisi)

 

We can also donate money to organizations like Development and Peace who help the people who are affected by these wars.

 

 

 

How about if we be nice to each other so that we do not add to the bad feelings?! Is that a good way to help spread peace Cloë?

 

 
That's definitely a good one Tallulah!

Woof!

Cloë and Tallulah
 

Day 8