Hudson Valley Vicariate West Faith Formation

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Family Talk: “I’m Too Busy!”“We don’t have time.”Sound familiar?Between school, work, sports, appointments, and activiti...
10/12/2026

Family Talk: “I’m Too Busy!”

“We don’t have time.”

Sound familiar?

Between school, work, sports, appointments, and activities, family schedules fill up quickly. Sometimes the things that matter most are the first to get pushed aside.

In Sunday’s Gospel (Matthew 22:1–14), some guests were so caught up in their own concerns that they ignored the king’s invitation.

Jesus challenges us to consider: Are we making room for God in our lives?

This isn’t about feeling guilty for being busy. God doesn’t ask us to abandon our responsibilities. He invites us to make Him part of our everyday lives.

That might mean protecting time for Sunday Mass, praying together, or helping someone when it’s inconvenient.

But sometimes following Jesus isn’t about finding time. It’s about finding courage.

Choosing kindness when others aren’t kind. Telling the truth when it’s difficult. Standing up for someone even when we worry what others will think.

God’s invitation calls us to make room for Him in both our schedules and our choices. And His grace gives us the strength to respond.

💬 Talk about it as a family:

* When life gets busy, what do we tend to push aside first?
* When might choosing God’s way take courage this week?

✅ Choose one small way to make room for God this week, and encourage each other to follow through.

Family Discussion: Will You Accept the Invitation?In today’s Gospel (Matthew 22:1–14), Jesus tells of a king who prepare...
10/11/2026

Family Discussion: Will You Accept the Invitation?

In today’s Gospel (Matthew 22:1–14), Jesus tells of a king who prepares a wedding feast. Some invited guests refuse to come, but the king continues inviting others.

Like the king, God invites us into His Kingdom and a loving relationship with Him. His invitation is a gift of grace, not something we earn.

But saying “yes” means more than believing. The wedding garment reminds us that God’s grace should transform how we live, the choices we make, and how we treat others.

At Mass, the Eucharist nourishes our relationship with Jesus and gives us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet.

For Younger Children (PreK–Grade 2)

1. What special celebration did the king prepare?
2. How do you feel when someone invites you to something special?
3. What is one way you can say “yes” to Jesus today?

For Older Children (Grades 3–8)

1. Why do you think some people ignored the king’s invitation?
2. What things sometimes become more important than prayer, Mass, or following Jesus?
3. How does receiving the Eucharist help us respond to God’s invitation?

A Thought for the Whole Family

God’s invitation comes first. Our faithful choices are how we respond to His gift of grace.

💬 Choose one question to discuss as a family today. What is one way you can say yes to God’s invitation this week?

This Week at Mass: You’re Invited!Have you ever received an invitation to something special?Maybe a birthday party, a we...
10/10/2026

This Week at Mass: You’re Invited!

Have you ever received an invitation to something special?

Maybe a birthday party, a wedding, or a celebration with people you love.

This Sunday, Jesus tells a parable about a king who prepares a wedding feast for his son.

Everything is ready. The invitations have been sent.

But something unexpected happens.

Some people refuse to come. Others are too busy with their own concerns to accept the invitation.

The king doesn’t stop inviting people. He sends his servants out to gather others to share in the celebration.

Through this parable, Jesus teaches us something important about God’s Kingdom.

God’s invitation is freely given. But an invitation calls for a response.

This Sunday’s readings help us understand that invitation:

📖 First Reading - Isaiah 25:6–10a

God prepares a wonderful feast for all peoples and promises to destroy death and wipe away tears.

📖 Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 23

The Lord is our shepherd. He protects us, guides us, and prepares a table for His people.

📖 Second Reading - Philippians 4:12–14, 19–20

St. Paul reminds us that Christ gives us strength in every circumstance and that God provides what we need.

📖 Gospel - Matthew 22:1–14

Jesus compares the Kingdom of heaven to a wedding feast and teaches that God’s generous invitation calls for a faithful response.

Listen for this at Mass:

“Everything is ready; come to the feast.” Matthew 22:4

Pay special attention to the reasons people give for ignoring the king’s invitation.

What might those reasons teach us about our own priorities?

God prepares, provides, and invites. His grace gives us the strength to respond.

👂At Mass this weekend, listen for God’s invitation and notice how the guests respond. Talk about what you heard on the way home.

Before Mass, gather your family somewhere quiet.Light a candle if you have one.Take a few moments to become still.Then p...
10/10/2026

Before Mass, gather your family somewhere quiet.

Light a candle if you have one.

Take a few moments to become still.

Then pray:

Leader: Lord Jesus, You have given our family many gifts.

Family: Help us use them faithfully.

Leader: When we are worried, teach us to pray with thanksgiving.

Family: Guard our hearts and minds with Your peace.

Leader: Help us recognize what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and gracious.

Family: Teach us to fill our minds with what is good.

Leader: When our choices are selfish or unfaithful,

Family: Give us the grace to change.

Leader: Help our words and actions bear good fruit for Your Kingdom.

All: Amen.

After the prayer, let each person name one gift from God they are thankful for this week.

Then quietly ask God:

“How can I use this gift faithfully?”

🙏🏻 Carry that prayer of thanksgiving with you to Mass tonight or tomorrow.

St. Paul gives us a challenge this week:Fill your mind with what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and gracious.Ho...
10/09/2026

St. Paul gives us a challenge this week:

Fill your mind with what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and gracious.

How much of that can your family find today?

☐ TRUE - Tell the truth when an excuse would be easier.

☐ HONORABLE - Do something worthy of respect, even when no one is watching.

☐ JUST - Notice someone being treated unfairly and respond with courage and kindness.

☐ PURE - Choose something to watch, read, say, or share that helps keep your heart focused on what is good.

☐ LOVELY - Notice something beautiful God has made and thank Him for it.

☐ GRACIOUS - Speak kindly when it would be easier to complain or criticize.

Bonus: When something worries you today, replace the worry with prayer and thanksgiving.

At the end of the day, ask:

What happened to our thoughts and actions when we intentionally looked for what was good?

🙏🏻 See how many of St. Paul’s six words your family can put into practice today.

Remember the gift your family identified earlier this week?Today, put it to work.If your gift is time - give some of it ...
10/08/2026

Remember the gift your family identified earlier this week?

Today, put it to work.

If your gift is time - give some of it to someone who needs you.

If it is a talent - use it to make, fix, teach, create, cook, organize, or help.

If it is your home - practice hospitality or take care of it together.

If it is your possessions - share something useful.

If it is a relationship - give that person your attention, patience, or encouragement.

If it is creation - care for something God has made.

If it is your faith - pray for someone, invite someone to Mass, or share the hope you have.

Then ask:

“Did the way we used this gift produce something truthful, loving, just, or faithful?”

Stewardship isn’t simply having less.

It is using what God has entrusted to us well.

🎁 Turn one of God’s gifts into an act of faithful service today.

It’s a surprisingly useful family question.Not simply:“Am I allowed to do this?”But:“What fruit will this choice produce...
10/07/2026

It’s a surprisingly useful family question.

Not simply:

“Am I allowed to do this?”

But:

“What fruit will this choice produce?”

Think about ordinary moments:

Someone is frustrated and you’re about to respond.

A responsibility needs to be finished.

You’ve already spent a long time online.

Someone needs help.

You’re deciding whether to spend or share something.

You have the chance to tell the truth, or make an excuse.

Before choosing, stop and ask:

What fruit will this choice produce?

Will it produce greater love?

Truth?

Justice?

Peace?

Mercy?

Faithfulness?

Or will it leave behind anger, selfishness, dishonesty, hurt, or neglect?

God doesn’t only care about the gifts we’ve been given. He cares about what we do with them.

Family Talk: Think of one choice your family made recently. What fruit did it produce?

Then ask:

What could we choose differently next time?

💬 Use this question at least once today: “What fruit will this choice produce?”

In Sunday’s Gospel, the landowner carefully prepares a vineyard and then entrusts it to tenants.That word matters.God ha...
10/05/2026

In Sunday’s Gospel, the landowner carefully prepares a vineyard and then entrusts it to tenants.

That word matters.

God has entrusted gifts to our family, too:

Our time.
Our talents.
Our home.
Our possessions.
Our relationships.
Our faith.
Even the part of creation placed in our care.

God’s gifts are meant to be received with gratitude—but they also come with responsibility.

Talk together:

For younger children:
What is one gift God has given you?
How could you use it to help someone?
What does “good fruit” look like in the choices you make?

For older children and adults:
What has God entrusted to our family?
Which gifts do we sometimes take for granted?
What responsibilities come with those gifts?
What “fruit” are our choices producing right now?

Then choose one gift God has entrusted to your family.

Write it on a card and place it near your crucifix or family prayer space.

During the week, return to it and ask:

“How can we use this gift for God and for others today?”

Choose your family’s gift today. Watch for the good fruit it can produce this week.

This week at Mass, listen for an image that appears again and again: a vineyard.In Isaiah, God lovingly prepares a viney...
10/04/2026

This week at Mass, listen for an image that appears again and again: a vineyard.

In Isaiah, God lovingly prepares a vineyard and gives it everything it needs to grow. But instead of the good fruit He seeks, especially justice, it produces wild grapes.

In the Psalm, God’s people ask Him to return, care for His vine, and restore them.

St. Paul reminds us what life with God can look like: prayer with thanksgiving, God’s peace, and minds focused on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and gracious.

Then Jesus tells the parable of a carefully prepared vineyard entrusted to tenants. They were given something valuable to care for—but they refused to give the owner its fruit and even rejected his son.

The readings leave us with an important question:

What are we doing with what God has entrusted to us?

Our time.
Our talents.
Our relationships.
Our possessions.
Our faith.

God cares for us, entrusts us with gifts, and calls our lives to bear good fruit for His Kingdom.

👂🏼At Mass, listen for: vineyard • grapes • justice • thanksgiving • peace • cornerstone • Kingdom • fruit

💬 After Mass, ask: What kind of fruit is God asking our family to produce this week?

Address

66 William Street
Catskill, NY
12414

Opening Hours

Monday 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Tuesday 2pm - 4pm
6pm - 8pm
Thursday 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Friday 11am - 3pm
Saturday 2pm - 4pm
5pm - 5:30pm

Telephone

+15189433150

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