For The Family

Online Resources For Parents:

Lenten Resources 

The Lenten Season is a wonderful time to incorporate some family faith activities into your daily routine.  The resources from the link above will give you some helpful ideas including prayers, daily activities, and more.

Catholic Mom : A website with prayers, printables, activities, and ideas for your family, classroom or organization to help you grow in your Catholic faith.  This is great for parents who want to help teach faith at home.

Holy Heroes : Free newsletter and weekly Mass prep as well as other at home activities to celebrate the liturgical seasons.

Parenting Perspective  full short, concise, practical and helpful ideas are provided weekly. These ideas can assist you in discussions with your family, parenting skills and building family unit.  

“The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality” : Vatican web site for this document from the Pontifical Council for the family.

Life Teen : Life Teen is a website for teens by teen ministers to help teens better connect faith with their daily lives; and to answer questions with Catholic answers.

NSteens : NSTeens features animated comic-book-style characters who model safe online practices.  The site includes animations, peer response videos, and an interactive web-comics to address web-based concerns such as social media and cyberbullying.  In addition to these dynamic content, educators, parents and guardians are provided with safety tips, classroom activities and discussion starters to open the lines of communication with their teens. 

Kids In Mind : Breaks down movies so you can really know what your children are watching.  Kids in Mind actually takes films scene by scene and provides information about specific content such as violence, sex and profanity and offers a rating of the degree of each area within the scene. It even rates G movies which surprisingly might have a scene with bathroom humor or a scary moment or two. 

Lyrics.com : A website full of lyrics and help to decipher song lyrics.

Net Smartz : NetSmartz Workshop is an interactive, educational safety websitefrom the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) .  It is geared toward children ages 5 through 17, parents, guardians, educators and law enforcement.  It uses 3-D activities to teach children how to stay safe on the internet. 

MOMS Groups

St. Gregory the Great  MOMS is an inspiring ministry designed by moms, for moms of all ages and stages. MOMS is a ministry for women seeking to live out their vocation of motherhood through their Catholic Faith, who come together to share the joys and struggles of motherhood. MOMS encourages and inspires women in their life roles as mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, friends. FREE “Angel Sitting” child-care is available upon request. Open meetings are monthly from September to May.  All moms are welcome to participate in all gatherings each month. For more information please contact Dawn Iacono at 716 207-5172 or stgregsmoms@gmail.com.

NFC Moms Group (Niagara Falls Catholic Moms Group)
Moms of all ages and stages are invited to join us monthly to take a break, enjoy a cup of coffee, listen to a great speaker, talk to other moms and grow in your Faith.  Free childcare is available.  Meetings are held from 9:30 am to 11 am in the St. Vincent De Paul Parish Ministry Center, 2748 Military Road, Niagara Falls.  We meet on the second Saturday of every month.   Contact Sarah at (716) 957-2410 for more information.

SS Peter & Paul Moms Group (Williamsville)

SSPP MOMS is a ministry of faith sharing designed for all women at any point on their spiritual journey—whether they be mothers, grandmothers, godmothers or spiritual mothers.  SSPP MOMS provides a relaxed atmosphere to share our Catholic faith, form friendships with each other, and share in the joys and struggles of motherhood and your faith journey!  Meetings include wine and chocolate, a presentation or special speaker, and guided discussion.  Please join us!  For more information and dates, please contact Rose Quebral at 716-635-9488 or by email at ssppmoms.ministry@gmail.com.   

 NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING 

Natural Family Planning provides couples a safe and effective means to learn about their fertility and use that knowledge to plan their family.  The Creighton Model Fertility Care System, offered by the Catholic Health System is available at Sisters and Buffalo Mercy Hospitals.  Introductory Sessions occur each month, followed by individualized instruction over the course of a year.  ** Pre-Registration is required at all locations**  For information regarding natural family planning, or introductory sessions please either go to www.WomenCareWNY.org.

Catholic Fertility Care Centers of WNY Introductory Session Schedule for 2019.

Sisters of Charity Hospital  2121 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214.  716-862-1944. 
Sessions meet on Saturday mornings at 10:30 am. 

Buffalo Mercy Hospital  565 Abbott Road, Buffalo, NY  14220.  716-828-2493.   
Sessions meet on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 pm.  

Mt. St. Mary Hospital 5300 Military Road, Lewiston, NY 14092.  716-298-2385. 
Private Introductory Sessions are currently by appointment only.

In Response to Sex Abuse Crisis

Here are some resources which parents might find helpful in talking to children and youth about the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church.

• How to Talk to Children About the Church Sex Abuse Scandal. Christine Rousselle. Catholic News Agency. September 9, 2018.
• Talking  About Sexual Abuse Scandals in the Catholic Church.  Roy Petitfils. October 3, 2018.
• For Parents–Talking to Children About the Church Scandal.  Catechist Magazine.  August 21, 2018.
• The Clerical Sex Abuse Scandal–What Parents Can Do and How to Talk With Kids.  Jerry Windley-Daoust. Peanut Butter & Grace Blog.
• What Can I Say to My Kids When They Ask Why We Keep Faith in This Church?  Kerry Weber.  America. August 15, 2018.
• We Need to Talk–Why Children Need to Hear From the Church About Abuse Prevention. Elizabeth A. Heidt Kozisek, Ph.D.  U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
• Why Remain Catholic With So Much Scandal?  (video) Bishop Robert Barron.  August 29, 2018.
• Talking to Kids About Sexual Abuse.  Harry Kimball.  Childmind.org
• How to Talk to Kids About Sexual Abuse and How You Can Help Prevent It. Lena Aburdene Derhally. The Washington Post. February 8, 2017.
• How Can I Protect My Child From Sexual Assault?  Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network.
• How to Talk to Your Kids About Sexual Assault. Dr.  Eugene Beresin.  Psychology Today.  

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