Domestic Church resources for Parents - Covid 19

In light of the fact that the Bishops Conference of England and Wales have instructed the faithful that at this time we must not gather for public acts of worship in our churches, the department for Family Life have put together a selection of resources to allow you to develop your own Domestic Church in your home.

Live Stream Mass

There are a number of places you can live stream Sunday mass – perhaps your own parish even does this. Here are two parishes within Brentwood Diocese where you can live stream both Sunday and daily masses, should you be instructed to stay at home.

https://lourdesleigh.org/live Mass Times – https://lourdesleigh.org/news?tag=Services

http://ssppilford.org.uk/wp2/live-stream-church/ Mass Times – http://ssppilford.org.uk/wp2/times-of-masses/

Make an Act of Spiritual Communion

When we cannot attend Sunday Mass (for a valid reason) we are encouraged to make a Spiritual Communion: a wilful dedication to Jesus, as we invite him into our heart. Spiritual Communion is also great practice to teach children before they make their First Eucharist as it prepares them for their eventual physical communion.

About Spiritual Communion, St Teresa of the Child Jesus said “When you do not receive communion and you do not attend Mass, you can make a spiritual communion, which is a most beneficial practice; by it the love of God will be greatly impressed on you.” – The Way of Perfection.

St John Vianney said “If we are deprived of Sacramental Communion, let us replace it, as far as we can, by spiritual communion, which we can make every moment; for we ought to have always a burning desire to receive the good God. Communion is to the soul like blowing a fire that is beginning to go out, but that has still plenty of hot embers; we blow, and the fire burns again.”

You can make an act of Spiritual Communion using the prayer card linked, which has been produced for free by the Knights of the Holy Eucharist

https://www.knightsoftheholyeucharist.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Act-of-Spiritual-Communion.pdf

Pray a Family Rosary / Make time for family prayer

A prayer for protection in time of a pandemic has been produced for free in prayer card form by the Knights of St Columbus here – https://www.kofc.org/en/resources/news-room/11036-protection-prayer.pdf

How to pray a Family Rosary – https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resources/mary/rosary/how-to-pray-a-family-rosary

Print some free children’s bulletins, colouring or worksheets

Catholic Children’s Bulletins for March – https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/2020-March-Catholic-Kids-Bulletins-5062455

Catholic Children’s Bulletins for Aprilhttps://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/2020-April-Catholic-Kids-Bulletins-5311897

http://thekidsbulletin.com – includes colouring, puzzle, worksheet etc all based on the current Sunday mass readings.

Gospel colouring worksheets for Sunday Mass – http://catholicmom.com/kids/catholic-gospel-coloring-worksheets-sunday-mass/

Watch a weekly Gospel video with your children from Holy Heroes http://www.holyheroes.com
Buy Youcat (the Youth Catechism) and use it to stimulate discussion with teens / older children.
Make a Home Altar

Most of us have designated places to eat, sleep, work, exercise, and play at home – why not have a designated, special spot to pray, both individually and together as a family? A home altar serves as a central place for prayer and religious practice in a Catholic household. Further ideas can be found here –

http://- http://katiewarner.com/homemaking/how-to-make-a-home-altar.html

http://- https://www.catholicicing.com/how-to-set-up-a-home-altar-catholic-home-altar-ideas/

and in this video –