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Let's take time to relax and enjoy God's gifts!  Throughout the Year of the Family, intentionally take time for recreation.  Reclaim Sunday as a day of grace and rest from work.  "Just as God 'rested on the seventh day from the work which he had done,' human life has a rhythm of work and rest.  The institution of the Lord's Day helps everyone enjoy adequate rest and leisure to cultivate their familiar, cultural, social, and religious lives." Catechism of the Catholic Church 2184

Activity 1
We are all uniquely different from each other. God has given us different gifts and talents. Many of us may have the same talents, but because of other talents and the combination of these, we are different.
Through our Baptism, we are given the gift of being a child of God and called to be a disciple of Jesus. Each of us is also called to follow Him is a special way through our personal vocation. Our gifts and talents will be used by the Lord as we live out that vocation. By using our talents we come to know and love Jesus more and more and we also make the world we live in a better place. "Some of my gifts are…," "The gift I like best is…," "One gift I want to develop is…"
Activity 2
Find stories of saints who were married, who were priests, who were consecrated religious and who were consecrated lay persons living in the world. Some good examples are St. Joseph, St. Louis, St. Jane de Chantal, St. John Vianney, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Martin de Porres, St. Catherine of Siena, & Blessed Pierre Frassati.
Activity 3
Refer to Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7. What was God asking his chosen servant to do? Name at least 5 types of service you can do and how they serve God's people.

Sign up to complete the virtual Walking with Moms in Need 5k!  This 5k will take place January 21 through January 29, 2021 and benefits the Bethlehem Maternity Home.  For more information, click here. 

Don't get caught with the ornament in your hands! Players sit in a circle and pass a Christmas ornament around behind their backs while someone standing in the center of the circle tries to guess where the
ornament is.

Set up an Advent wreath in your home.  

Consider making a Jesse Tree or adding ornaments to your own tree that reflect the faithfulness of God found throughout the Bible.

Make your Christmas decoratiosn Jesus-centered.

Celebrate a December feast day: St. Nicholas, Our Lady of Guadalupe, The Feast of the Holy Family!

Dress up as your favorite saint and recreate a story from his or her life.

Watch a movie about a saint you admire. 

Take a walk and thank God for each peson who is on the walk, and ask God to bless those who were not able to join the family walk.

Invite your child to lead an activity together such as a board game, playing outside, drawing, or another activity!

Go for a 5-10 minute walk.  Pay attention to the nature that surrounds you.  Take note of how many different kinds of plants and animals you notice. 

Call a family member you haven't visited with in a while.  

For a chance to be featured in The Catholic Lighouse or on our Facebook page, submit pictures of your family doing these activities to ligthouse@victoriadiocese.org and use #DOVFamilies on social media sites! 

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has shared an invitation from Bishop Frank Caggiano of the Diocese of Bridgeport to participate in a free Family Bible Challenge!  The next season for this challenge kicks off on October 18th, but families may join any time.  Older seasons are also avaiable on their website.  For more information or to register, please click here.