Posted by admin on November 27, 2009
We are so pleased to participate in the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway, sponsored by Catholic Frugal Mommy.
Handmaid For The Lord has donated one of our beautiful Catholic Saint’s Charm Bracelet in Red for the giveaway. Aside from the Crucifix the saint’s chosen for the bracelet are: St. Faustina/Divine Mercy, St. Joseph, Our Lady of the Rosary, St. Maria Goretti, St. Padre Pio, and St. Therese.
We are one of 11 other Catholic companies to offer items that make wonderful Christmas gifts with the true meaning of Christmas! Please visit Catholic Frugal Mommy to enter for one of these great prizes!
Posted by admin on November 13, 2009
As the leader of Religious Education for our parish, I’m always looking for new ways to impart the faith to our youth and to enhance their spiritual lives through retreats, pilgrimages, and other experiences outside of the classroom.
After Christmas our students, grades 5 through 8, are going to enter a new phase based upon the Theology of the Body. Boys will be taught by a male catechist, girls by a a woman. The culmination of these gatherings will be a slumber party for the girls, and a lock-in for the boys. It will be a celebration of fellowship as the men and women that God is calling them to be.
I’ve also been asked to do a retreat for girls at another parish. While the logistics have not been worked out, I have come up with a rough draft of sorts. I want the girls to have a “ya-ya” experience, celebrating sisterhood through the ministry of the Visitation.
The first part of the day will be that of taking care of your own person. You can’t minister to others if you are not taking care of yourself first. We’ll focus on healthy lifestyles; eating/exercise, hygiene:makeup/hair/etc., modesty, and spirituality through the sacraments and prayer.
The 2nd half will be about how to be a good girlfriend - a sister in Christ. Stripping down the barriers of clique, social status, and stereotypes then building communication and having fun. We’ll talk about how gossip hurts, cyber-bullying and how to protect yourself, dating and courtship, and finally, how to communicate God’s love through all that we say and do.
I have 2 friends who have agreed to help. Both are cosmetologists. The day will actually begin with having the girls wash their faces and remove all make-up. We’ll give them each an oversized tee-shirt that they’ll wear over their own clothing. Then we’ll pull their hair back and remove all jewelry. We’ll strip them down to the beautiful, natural girls that were created in the Image and Likeness of God.
During the 2nd half of the day, when we focus on ministry to others, the girls will be be giving pedicures to each other. Reminiscent of Jesus washing the feet of the 12.
I’d love to do this event as a slumber party. There is SO MUCH that can be done. I’d like the first half to be one day. End the day with an hour of Adoration at 11:00pm. An hour of quiet time, then lights out at 1:00am. Wake-up at 7am, a continental breakfast, then begin the 2nd half of the day at 9am. I need a praise & worship team. Food. Adults to help. And fuzzy slippers for each girl. 
I’d love my readers thoughts on this! Let me know what you think!
Posted by admin on October 29, 2009
These are sheets of prayer cards that you can print, cut out, and hand out.
http://www.handmaidforthelord.com/gertrude-cards.pdf
We are putting a card with candy in a little gift bag and handing out to our CCD students at our All Saint’s Day Party.
Posted by admin on
To costume or not to costume. That seems to be a question on many Christian’s minds each October. It’s quite difficult, if not impossible, to ignore Halloween here in the US. Everywhere you go there are signs of ghosts and ghouls, Freddy Kruger and Jason, and this year, Michael Jackson and Hannah Montana. Candy Corn, spider webbing, black cats, and skeletons deck the halls and houses, shopping centers and grocery stores. TV and movies enter the season of the macabre with some stations showing 24 hours of non-stop horror.
Can a Christian take part in such activities? Does our participation incur the pain of sin? Is it possible to celebrate Halloween without praising Satan, turning our backs on Christ, putting our souls in danger?
This humble blogger says, “yes”.
Keeping in mind that we are ‘in’ the world, not ‘of’ it and recognizing that this secular holiday is what we make of it, it is possible to celebrate in a way that does not hurt our relationship God. Here are some ideas:
- Make sure that costumes are wholesome - would it be something you would wear sitting with the Blessed Mother or her Son?
- Keep the focus positive, light, and fun - imitate doctors, teachers, firefighters, angels, etc.
- Ditch the blood, gore, and traditionally evil costumes - if a little one would have possible nightmares why would you want those elements in your home?
- Decorate for Fall instead of Horror.
- Bring All Saint’s and All Soul’s celebrations back into the picture. Work with your church to hold an All Saint’s Day Party.
- Have your child make spiritual bouquets for those who have lost a loved one.
- Pray for those who imbibe on evil during this time of year. Evil comes not only has witches and vampires - it comes as alcohol and drugs.
- Take your child to Adoration, giving thanks for life and love and friends who will be celebrating Halloween with your children and family.
- Pray for the souls in purgatory (check our “Resources” for a page of holy cards you can print and hand out!)
These are just a few ideas for you. I’m sure others can expand on them — add your own ideas! God can take anything and make it holy. We are His hands. We can take this pagan holiday and turn it into something good. Things are what we make them. I’m not looking to change the world, just my own family.
A Great Giveaway!
