Equipping Catholic Families

How My Kids Became Part of Penance from the Pope

February 26, 2013 by Monica McConkey 5 Comments

When Elizabeth told us about her meeting with Pope John Paul II, (her husband’s first cousin) and what he told her when she gave him my book A Treasure Chest of Traditions for Catholic Families, she also told us a few other stories. She spoke about the mischief the two boys would get into, when Karol would spend weeks in the summer with his cousin’s family after his own mother had passed away. Elizabeth told us how Fr Wojtyla had married them in secret, in a cold Church…running down the aisle to chase after the rings when they were accidentally dropped on the floor.

[See My Direct Order from the Pope for the beginning of this story!]

When Elizabeth was brought to Strawberry Island to meet with the Holy Father during his visit to Canada for World Youth Day, the two were meeting as old friends. They both knew that it would probably be their last visit: both of them were in their 80’s and the likelihood of another visit seemed pretty remote.

Filed Under: pope posts

Journal the Sacraments

February 25, 2013 by Monica McConkey 2 Comments

This article launches our new =&0=& series, based on the article I wrote for =&1=&=&2=&

Over the next few weeks, I plan to highlight a few ideas to celebrate the First Sacraments, giving them the significance and hoopla that they deserve. I’m hoping to offer ideas to help integrate the regular reception of the Sacraments into family life… with reverence and enthusiasm!

Filed Under: Printables, Sacraments

My Direct Order from the Pope

February 22, 2013 by Monica McConkey 8 Comments

Back in 2002, I was attending World Youth Day in Toronto. My husband and mom took care of my 3 kids and I attended events all week in the city. My friends and I tootled around Toronto as tourists in our own town. We had our printed schedules, but some of the most memorable moments seemed to happen by chance.

Filed Under: link-up, Catholic Bloggers Network, pope posts

Keeping the Love of Jesus… in Lent!

February 19, 2013 by Monica McConkey 29 Comments

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What is your most unique or satisfying Lent Challenge? Leave a comment below!
We’d love to hear from you!

Take away something…but add something too!

Filed Under: Catholic Crafts, Lent

Hey Frankie…it’s a Snow Day!

February 16, 2013 by Monica McConkey 1 Comment

Hi Frankie,
Sorry I haven’t been writing so much this week, but I’ve been pretty busy playing in the snow.You see, last Friday was a “snow day” which meant my older siblings were home from school because the buses were cancelled and most people were just staying home. It was good to have them home, because we had a lot of work to do!

Filed Under: Catholic Toddler Letters, link-up, Catholic Bloggers Network

Revolving Rosary… PRINTABLE!

February 15, 2013 by Monica McConkey 5 Comments

***2015 Update: Deluxe Version of the Revolving Rosary Craft Kit

Available NOW: Mysteries of the Rosary with the Kelly Saints

6 different templates, fully illustrated with Kelly Saints, 3 distinct crafts including the Illustrated Revolving Rosary…with a few new surprises!

Filed Under: Printables, Rosary Tagged With: Rosary

Happy Saints Valentines…for 2013!

February 15, 2013 by Monica McConkey 2 Comments

=&0=& say=&1=&=&2=&=&3=&I used my craft punch to make a circular window in the front of the cards to view the Saint on the inside. We wanted to match up the Saints with the kids’ names…but except for =&4=& for Juan, =&5=& for Lauren and=&6=& for Frankie, we just don’t have Saints for most of the names of kids these days. Bridget was happy to give ‘pretty girl saints’ to the girls and boy saints to the boys.Last year’s =&7=& looked like this:

I just love the excuse to sneak in Saints in place of Spongebob, Angry Birds, Barbie or whoever the commercial valentine packages feature. Every chance I get…I like to remind the kids of these
Superheroes in Holiness!

Filed Under: Saints

All for JESUS Lent Challenge

February 13, 2013 by Monica McConkey Leave a Comment

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I thought a neat way for both of our families and our readers to tackle Lent together would be for a good old fashioned All for Jesus Lent Challenge. Hey Frankie, just so you know, there are PRIZES!

So basically, every week people could choose their best =&1=& or a special chore they carried out, keeping Jesus’ Sacrifice in mind =&2=&. They would visit either your Mom’s blog or my Mom’s blog and enter their weekly challenge after they completed it. At the end of Lent, you (Frankie) and I could randomly choose a couple entries and those people would win a free download link to their choice of one of my Mom’s=&5=&=&6=& Now, just so all the nice people know…we’re probably going to be a little biased when we pick the winning entries. =&7=& People can enter by 1. joining the link-up below =&8=& 2. they can leave comments below that include the words=&9=& along with a =&10=& of the challenge that they conquered =&11=&(in case they win!).

My mom will probably add the first one in the link-up, but it might be kind of lame, because we’re just getting started (and she also doesn’t want to win in place of anyone else=)

Filed Under: Lent

Year of Faith Tumble Tower

February 12, 2013 by Monica McConkey 3 Comments

Another Converted 2 Catholic Classic Board Game
brought to you by
Equipping Catholic Families!

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In honor of the Year of Faith, I decided to take
our family Jumbling Tower game
and convert it to Catholic!

Filed Under: catechism activities, Catholic Crafts, converted 2 Catholic

New Release: All Season Prayer Bank!

February 11, 2013 by Monica McConkey 4 Comments

Every Lent, I start out with a lot of plans, to give up things, to do extra things, to clean closets and give away clothing and toys we don’t need, to go to weekday Masses, to bring out our =&0=&or the =&1=&and actually say the prayers as a family, to be strict about meatless Fridays and for all of us to walk around hand in hand and cheerful, but praying and fasting, all the time. This pretty much never works. School is busy, kids’ activities don’t stop, at least one family birthday sneaks in and usually our March Break happens, bringing with it at least 2 significant Feastdays. There are also usually Catholic conferences requiring immediate planning as well. I inevitably give up munchies … and end up getting just plain grumpy, with not a cheezie, cheeto or chocolate chip cookie in sight.In addition to a few things I have in mind for this Lent, I’m hoping to lead my family in a deeper commitment to prayer. At =&2=& we have just released our latest,=&3=& =&4=&.

This Cathletics Craft Kit offers instructions for a unique hand-made prayer bank to hold a collection of classic Catholic Prayers and Saint devotions.
When I say that the paper craft kit has been expanded, I mean it!
It now features a cool envelope template, lots of clipart, 74 special prayers with graphics, along with over 25 prayer card templates for you to add your own prayers, composed at home, school or Church! The little heartfelt prayers that our kids come up with are the best…and will be cherished for years to come!

Filed Under: Catholic Crafts, Printables