This year's theme was "The Restoration of the Catholic Culture in the Home". Because this was a some what smaller event, all of the vendors had the chance to listen to almost every single speaker. What a blessing! Within minutes of the first speaker beginning, I was scrambling to find a pen and scrap paper to make notes on. I gleaned so many new insights into the faith, parenting and teaching. Once again I was a student and soaking up everything!
Susan Brindle enjoying listening to the speakers from behind the Precious Life Books booth in Memphis.
Tamar Hugoboom spoke about the importance of teaching children the importance and sacredness of the Mass. She also suggested:
- Teach children the prayers found in the Baltimore Cathechism to be recited during the Elevation of the Eucharist.
- Give children and family special prayer time after Mass. Include family prayer and silent personal prayer.
-Use a rosary or string of beads to teach little ones to recite simple praises to Our Lord when they aren't old enough to say rote prayers.
- Teach your children to bow there head at the name of Jesus.
- Use a special Mass bag for little ones with wholesome (quiet) Catholic material. Make it special by ONLY using it during Mass.
- Help your children to realize the sacredness of The Mass by never allowing it to become too familiar or too ordinary.
- Explain the importance of kneeling before Our Lord.
Tamar Hugoboom (left) with Ann Coakley
Alicia van Heckey, of Love2Learn.com, shared some ideas including:
-The importance of allowing children to help with things. She pointed out that we should challenge them while being aware of their capabilities. She also stated that it is important not to be condescending.
- It is important to expose children of all ages to culture. This should include Classical music, Gregorian Chant and Traditional Catholic hymns.
-Families should spend time with consecrated and religious persons. Children should learn the beauty of religious vocations by getting to know people who have been called to the religious life. This can include making a visit to a convent as a family or having a priest or seminarian over for dinner. (I personally have fond memories of having priest come to dinner and then playing board games with our family when I was growing up.)
-Celebrate the liturgical seasons and Catholic traditions within the home as well as within the parish community.
- Most importantly: Do not try to do it all. Take things one step at a time and do as much as you can.
Alicia also spoke about Hope. She shared that some of the effects of hope include:
-Hope allows us to embraced our littleness.
-Perservance
-Joy... "Joy is the gigantic secret of Christians." G.K.Chesterton
-A willingness to suffer
How do we cultivate hope?
- Through prayer. Hope practiced through patience, humility and trusting in times of darkness. Especially by reciting The Lord's Prayer and night prayer from The Liturgy of the Hours.
- By not taking ourselves too seriously.
- Give- Luke6:38
-Help others and pass hope on to others.
- Stay engaged! Get out, shake things up. You can't eliminate suffering, so don't withdraw to avoid pain. That will only lead to emptiness.
- Turn off the news if it becomes a source of despair.
- Rejoice in good and make a list of the things you are thankful for.
- Slow down and enjoy the process of daily things.
-Enter into your children's daily lives.
- Study the saints and teachings on hope in books and movies.
She shared a beautiful quote from our dear Pope.
"To have Christian hope means to know about evil and yet go to meet the future with confidence. The core of faith rests upon accepting being loved by God, and therefore to believe is to say Yes, not only to Him, but to creation, to creatures, above all, to men, to try to see the image of God in each person and thereby to become a lover. That's not easy, but the basic Yes, the conviction that God has created men, that He stands behind them, that they aren't simply negative, gives love a reference point that enables it to ground hope on the basis of faith." Cardinal Ratzinger, Salt of the Earth
Check out Alicia's blog! http://www.studeo.blogspot.com/
Even the amazing Nashville Dominican's were represented! Sister spoke about her own experiences growing up on a ranch in a small town in Texas and how her understanding and love of education were formed. She shared about the importance of education in St. Dominic's teachings and the balances between prayer and formal education.
I HEART THE NASHVILLE DOMINICANS!!!
This was a wonderful conference and we met so many wonderful families! Alicia van Heckey's daughter drew the name of the winner of our book giveaway and the winner was Cassandra Poppe of Oklahoma!
The Poppe family have their own wonderful ministry where they offer amazing, downloadable Catholic material to families. Visit their website at http://www.intercessories-fm.com/ !
If you were unable to attend this last conference, I would highly recommend trying to make it next year. It was a very uplifting experience for everyone. We hope to see everyone at next year's conference!
Many Easter Blessings to you!
Ann Brindle Coakley
