How can my family have fun and grow in faith this summer? : St ...

Summer vacation is coming, which is great news! ?Unfortunately, that means that the Bite-Sized Faith blog will also take a break, but we?ll be back with more practical faith and parenting topics this Fall!

Summer is a time of unlimited opportunity, but it can also mean kids moping around the house with ?nothing to do.? ?To help jumpstart your summer, we?ve compiled a list of five ideas that should not only be quality family fun, but should make sure that summer is the perfect time for your child?s faith to continue to grow.

Family-Faith Summer Ideas

Complete a family road trip and pilgrimage

Take a family trip that will not only be fun, but will also have a spiritual purpose.? Use the car ride to listen to entertaining CDs on spiritual topics, such as Lighthouse Media CDs or the Chronicles of Narnia series on CD.? Here are some local and regional sites that would be fun places for your family to visit.

The Grotto of the Redemption, West Bend, Iowa ? Visit a nationally famous series of nine grottos, each portraying a scene in the life of Christ.

Trinity Heights Sioux City, Iowa ? Walk through beautiful grounds of various reminders of the Catholic faith, including a 33-foot high statue of Jesus!

The Cross in the Woods Shrine, Indian River, Michigan ? This is a longer trek, but you can check off your ?bucket list? that you have visited the world?s largest crucifix.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help, Champion, Wisconsin ? Visit a Marian apparition site.

Do service as a family

Make an effort to include service in your summer schedule. ?Even a one-time trip can be life-changing to kids who may not regularly see families and persons in need. ?Help serve a meal to the homeless at?Connection Caf?,?or wake up early and help with the mobile Salvation Army breakfasts. Visit a nursing home and let your children learn the value of listening and respect for the elderly. ?Volunteer as a family with Habitat for Humanity and let teens sense the rewarding feeling from working with their hands for the good of others. ?On the drive home help the children reflect on how service is a great way to show the love of Jesus to those around us.

Spend family time outdoors

Time in nature is a great way to reconnect with both family and God. ?There is something about walking or biking together outside that allows conversation to flow easily and more deeply. ?Romans 1:20 says, ?Ever since the creation of the world, [God?s] invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what He has made.? ?So go for a picnic in a state park, a hike by Saylorville Lake, or star-gazing in your backyard. ?Remind your children about Who made the beauty around them and that He made it for love of them.

Continue to go to Mass (and Reconciliation)

Summer vacation is not a vacation from Mass. When you travel, make sure that you find out ahead of time when and where Mass and reconciliation are offered. The website, MassTimes.org is a great resource. Celebrating Mass in places other than your home parish is a great way to help your children feel that they are part of a universal Church. While there may be slight differences? in music and style at other parishes, it?s a great reminder that Jesus is present everywhere.

Try family adoration

To create a perfect balance to the chaos of summer activities, enjoy Eucharistic Adoration as a family. ?Teaching kids that silence and time away from technology is a gift. ?We grow in silence, and it is much easier to hear God in silence than when we are constantly distracted by noise and activity. ?Fit it into your schedule by going to either St. Augustin or St. Pius X Parish which host perpetual adoration.

Celebrate all the summer Church holidays

To be Catholic should mean that life is a constant party! ?The Catholic Church always has something or someone to celebrate! ?Find creative ways this summer to celebrate Church feast days and take time as a family to find out the meaning of these special days.

One easy way to do this is use your daily food to lead to discussion of the feast days and make the day fun.? Visit Catholic Cuisine, a faith-filled foodie blog with recipes and ideas for celebrating these feast days. ?They even have recipes easily categorized by month, so you can go through the summer months and pick out one or two feast days a month to turn into an educational party!

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Blessings on you and your families this summer! We hope that you are able to use some of the ideas above to have a fun and faithful summer!

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(Rachel Egan, SJEC Staff Member)

(Image from www.burnttoastprojects.com)

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