St. John Berchmans FREE Coloring Page

This simple saint kind of reminds me of a male version of St. Therese. He lived a very unassuming life filled with a desired to love and please God in his ordinary life. He wanted to be a priest and a missionary but died at a very young age before he was able to be ordained. He is the patron of Alter Servers and young people. You can read more about him at Catholic Saints.

Bring the Catholic Conference 4 Moms to Your Parish or Mom's Group!

 

I am going to share with you all today an interview with Tami Kiser, the founder and creator of www.CatholicConference4Moms.com Lent is still a little ways off, but if you want to get this rolled out at your parish or in a women's group now is the time to start thinking about it!

Introduce yourself and tells us a little bit about yourself:

Gladly.  I am Tami Kiser, aka, Smart Martha in some circles.  I live in Greenville, SC with my husband of 28 years.  We have 10 children (ages 3-26) and 5 grandchildren.  DH is a headmaster at a Catholic School and most of my time is spent managing this large brood providing family dinners, essay edits, haircuts, rides, stories, and lots of advice (mostly unsolicited).  I also teach dance part-time and work on this exciting conference whenever I get the chance.

What is the “Faces of Mercy” 2016 Catholic Conference 4 Moms?

It is simply an online conference for this coming Year of Mercy, particularly catered to moms.  It is set up so that Mom’s groups or parishes can use the presentations to put together their own simple conference/retreat/mom’s day out.  It is also for individual moms to use the presentations on the conference day, Feb. 20, for their own day of reflection, but also to use the presentations throughout all of Lent as a time of growth. 

What gave you the inspiration to do a project like this?

 I was familiar with online webinars.  I was also familiar with Protestant groups doing a similar thing focused on just one presenter (for 1000’s of $!).  And I also ran a mom’s ministry, called Smart Martha, where I traveled to parishes and held one day seminars.   I blended all these concepts together and came up with this idea.  I consecrated the whole thing to Mary, and this is where we are today.

So the day of the conference is February 20^th?

Yes, this is the day which we are asking everyone to set aside for the conference so that we can all be united in mission and in prayer on this day.  There will be a couple of live presentations on this day and at 3:00 EST we are asking everyone to unite in saying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.  But that being said, the online conference is very flexible and can accommodate many different days and weekends.  If that day doesn’t work for a mom or even a mom’s group, the conference is still available all throughout Lent after February 20^th  in order to be flexible with everyone’s busy schedules.

Is there a cost? 

There is a small cost, not 1000’s.  I am asking parishes or mom’s groups to pay around $60 (use the code HandmadeHost for a discount)  for the whole package which includes: downloads, discussion guide, and a hosting information guide.  This cost cover’s everyone who is in the group attending.  For individuals, the cost is closer to the price of one book, $12 ( use the code Handmade for a discount).  Not only does this get them online access throughout Lent, but it also gets them a conference “swag bag” which is full of online gifts and offers suitable for mothers.   There are discounts for both of these programs available through the conference affiliates for an even lower price. 

When do I sign up?

In November and December, we are looking for parishes willing to be hosts.  As the Year of Mercy begins, December 8, we want to see as many parishes as possible be able to announce that this is something their parish is doing for the Year of Mercy.  And yes, any mom can do this!  Please prayerfully consider this for the moms at your parish.  For more information or to sign-up, please go to: http://www.catholicconference4moms.com/host-it.html

Individual conference sign-ups are also available now, but when the season of Lent approaches we will begin emphasizing that aspect of the conference and encouraging moms to sign up then. 

 

How can our readers get involved?

Not to sound desperate, but please, please, consider hosting this at your parish or for some moms that you know, even if it is just a dozen of you sipping tea (or wine, or beer) in your living room.  The more moms and parishes involved in this—the cooler it will be!  And I can guarantee that you will have a spiritually moving experience.  It will be a “Jubilee Year of Mercy.”   

St. Nicholas Giveaway & FREE Coloring Page

Here is a coloring page of St. Nicholas. In some traditional icons the saint is depicted with Jesus  and Mary in the clouds on either side of him, so I put symbols of Jesus & Mary in this coloring page. St. Nicholas is also sometimes depicted with a book and 3 golden spheres so those are pictured also. Check out the awesome giveaway for the St. Nicholas Movie and a special 1 Decade St. Nicholas kids rosary, you can enter at the bottom of the page!

Here are some links we love on celebrating St. Nicholas Day, maybe you will enjoy them too!
Celebrating the Feast of St. Nicholas  St. Nicholas Cookies  St. Nicholas Center- Celebrating the truth about Santa Claus
       
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FREE Coloring Page for St. Margaret Queen of Scotland

Well tomorrow is November 16th and the day we celebrate St. Margaret of Scotland. Catholic Online has a lovely story up about her you can find it here in this link. I hope you enjoy this page as much as I did making it. Did you know she sewed vestments for the priests? What a humble and beautiful thing for a queen to do!

Pray for Peace, Pray for Paris a FREE Profile Picture

Here is a little Profile picture for FB if you would like to use it. Now more than ever we need to step up our game and pray for peace in this world. May we entrust our world to the Mercy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and ask for the intersession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary for peace throughout the world.

 

 

Military Mission Rosaries for Veteran's Day

Well Veteran's Day is around the corner next week. Being the daughter of a veteran always compels me to hold veterans in particularly special place of my heart. Especially the wounded or suffering ones, the ones who have no hope or no one to love them. Jesus wants us to show our love and care to them. They need to feel their lives matter and one place I truly see this happen is at the chapel at the VA Domiciliary in White City, OR. They are there for the physical help they need at the hospital but then Jesus meets them at the chapel. He meets them in the Pastor, Priest, and ordinary folk who come just as they are to worship God with them. There are no distinctions there because all of us are wounded and broken coming humbly to our Lord in prayer and praise. It's a special place, that chapel there. A place for people to come together a place for veterans to feel God's love for them. My momma plays the music out there for Mass and sometimes for the protestant services too. She seeks out the vet's who have a desire to serve with their musical talents and tirelessly commits to making them feel loved and welcome. I can't remember a Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter at my parents house that isn't attended by a few of the veterans that have no place to go on those special days.

As I was walking out of the chapel last Sunday I noticed a few little mission rosaries that were lying on one of the tables as I walked out.  I felt compelled to make some sturdier more rugged ones that we could give and have available for the taking on that little table. So the inspiration was to make these Military Mission Rosaries for the Veterans at the VA.

We set up a fundraiser to buy the supplies with and my sister and I are donating our time to make these. Maybe you will feel inspired to pray for our efforts or make a donation. Either are equally appreciated. May God Bless you!