St. Teresa of Calcutta (Feast Day September 5)

August 26, 1910 – September 5, 1997

Born to Albanian parents in what is now Skopje, Macedonia, Gonxha (Agnes) Bojaxhiu was the youngest of the three children. At age 18, she entered the Loreto Sisters of Dublin. The following year, she was sent to the Loreto novitiate in Darjeeling, India. There, she chose the name Teresa and prepared for a life of service. She was assigned to a high school for girls in Calcutta, where she taught history and geography to the daughters of the wealthy. In 1946, while riding a train to Darjeeling to make a retreat, Sister Teresa heard what she later explained as “a call within a call.” She was to leave the Sisters of Loreto and to “follow Christ into the slums to serve him among the poorest of the poor.” Mother Teresa worked tirelessly on behalf of the poor. Her love knew no bounds, nor did her energy, as she crisscrossed the globe pleading for support and inviting others to see the face of Jesus in the poorest of the poor. In 1979, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. On September 5, 1997, God called her home. Pope Francis canonized Blessed Teresa on September 4, 2016.

·      What do you think Jesus was like as a baby?

·      What is one thing your family can do to be more like the Holy Family? 

·      What do you love most about your family?

·      St. Teresa of Calcutta said, “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” What do you think that quote means?

New Year’s Eve Party

·      Gather with friends and family to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Even if you don’t stay up until midnight, getting together and catching up with friends is always fun.

·      Get the kids involved by letting them help decorate, prep food, and prepare the house. Set up activities for older and younger children: coloring station with New Year’s Eve coloring sheets, a BINGO game, board games, etc.

·      Make the Recipe of the Week for the party.

·      Create New Year’s resolution cards out of cardstock for people to write their resolutions and take home.

·      Give people a slip of paper to write one thing they are grateful for in the past year. Collect them and share them over a meal.

Indian Spiced Hummus

Make this delicious recipe in honor of St. Teresa of Calcutta!

1 can (15-ounce) chickpeas

2 Tbsp tomato paste

¼ tsp turmeric

½ tsp garam masala

½ tsp cumin seeds

¼ tsp cayenne

1 tsp salt

2 cloves of garlic

1 tsp fresh ginger

1/3 cup + 1 Tbsp olive oil

Lemon juice + cilantro for the top

First, combine the spices (turmeric, garam masala, cumin seeds, and cayenne) in a small, dry pan and toast over medium heat for about 45 seconds until very fragrant. Remove from the heat. In a food processor, combine the chickpeas (drained and rinsed from the can), tomato paste, toasted spices, salt, garlic, and ginger. Blend while slowly adding the olive oil. If your processor doesn't allow for adding oil while it is on, you can just add it in batches, scraping down the sides of the bowl in between. Blend until very smooth. Top with a big squeeze of fresh lemon juice and about a tablespoon or a little less of chopped cilantro. Serve alongside fresh cut veggies like cucumber or bell peppers, crackers, or naan.

From: https://abeautifulmess.com/2017/02/indian-spiced-hummus.html

Prayer for our Family – St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Heavenly Father,

You have given us the model of life in the Holy Family of Nazareth. Help us, O Loving Father, to make our family another Nazareth where love, peace, and joy reign. May it be deeply contemplative, intensely Eucharistic, revived with joy.

Help us to stay together in joy and sorrow in family prayer. Teach us to see Jesus in the members of our families, especially in their distressing disguise. May the Eucharistic heart of Jesus make our hearts humble like his and help us to carry out our family duties in a holy way. May we love one another as God loves each one of us, more and more each day, and forgive each other's faults as you forgive our sins. Help us, O Loving Father, to take whatever you give and give whatever you take with a big smile.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, cause of our joy, pray for us.

St. Joseph, pray for us.

Holy Guardian Angels, be always with us, guide and protect us. Amen

How many images or statues of the Holy Family are there in your church?

Practice the virtue of gratitude by making a family list of everything for which you are grateful for the past year.

The feast of the Holy Family is held each year on the Sunday between Christmas and New Year's Day; if both are Sundays, the feast is celebrated on December 30.