Family Faith

Catholic Family Night
A few years ago, my wife and I were travelling to Salt Lake City, Utah. We were very impressed with the Mormon Tabernacle and did all the things that tourists do. But the one thing that impressed me the most was the idea of the Mormon family night. It seems that Mormon families make it a point to set apart one day a week that is dedicated strictly to the family. At that time my wife and I did not even have children. Now we have three!

But I never forgot that idea of setting aside one night a week when family comes first. Each week we have our "Family Night."

The first thing that we do is we gather to pray together. One week we might say a decade of the Rosary. Another week we might celebrate a feast of Mary or the saints. Sometimes we pray for our special intentions out loud, for example, for someone who is sick, for a passing grade on a test. We have even prayed for a "date for the prom." (The prayer was answered!)

The second thing we do is each week is one family member acts as leader. The leader chooses the family activity. It might be playing a game, cards, watching a video, or an arts and crafts project. Everyone participates even if it is not one of your favorite activities.

We end the evening when the leader serves dessert. That might be a homemade cake, pudding, Jell-O, ice cream, or microwave popcorn.

As you can see our family night is filled with prayer, fun, and goodies! Perhaps you would like to start your own family night. Here's a tool to help organize it.

Family Night
When?	.
Where?	.
Time?	.
Prayer?	.
Fun?	.
Goodies?	.
Leader?	.

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