St. Perpetua Church

A Catholic Community in Lafayette, California
Celebrating our faith, enriching our community, sharing our gifts

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RESOURCES FOR PERSONAL PRAYER AT HOME

- Home

Dear St. Perpetua Parishioners,

It seems that we are often “given” our Lent, and this is one of those times. Now that our typically busy calendars have cleared, even if not by our choosing, this may be an extraordinary Spirit-filled opportunity to build family or individual prayer, reflection, and enrichment into our days. The disruption of ordinary life is creating isolation and profound hardship for many who have few resources to draw on. The bright side for us, as individuals and families, may be having time and motivation to deepen our spiritual practice and to explore creative ways to reach out to others. Some of these may develop in habits to sustain us after this crisis wanes. If you, or someone you know, is stranded or needs a vital errand run, please email The Women's Ministry at [email protected] and they will do what they can to assist.

We hope the following resources will be helpful as you navigate the world as we find it now.

PRAYER IN TIME OF PANDEMIC

Almighty and merciful God, Lover of all you have made, we come before you imploring a speedy end to the corona virus now ravaging our world.

Hear our prayer for everyone everywhere affected by the virus:
give healing to the sick; strength and protection to their families;
courage to those in isolation; eternal life to the dead; consolation to the bereaved.

We pray for those on the front lines of the battle against the virus:
for researchers seeking remedies to prevent and contain its spread;
for health care workers everywhere;
and for those in public service making decisions for our welfare.

Look upon us in your mercy and forgive us our failings.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

7 Last Words of Christ: A Lenten Reflection
Stations of the Cross for Self-Reflection
Stations of the Cross for Self-Reflection with Music

Video Message by Pope Francis

Eucharist
As we watch this crisis unfold on a scale we haven’t experienced in generations, being deprived of the Body of Christ in and around us is a great loss. America Magazine offers a worthwhile reflection for our consideration: https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2020/03/17/how-can-we-be-body-christ-when-coronavirus-closes-our-churches

A treasure trove of resources here, Eucharistic celebrations and much more can be found at: https://catholiccurrent.org/covid19/?mc_cid=653133a134&mc_eid=901d781957

https://www.stjohns-creighton.org/mass Click on “St. John’s Live.”
St. John’s is the Jesuit parish associated with Creighton University in Omaha, NE. Live-streamed masses daily at noon and also Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m., all of them archived on Youtube for viewing at any time at St.Johns Church/Creighton University Live Stream - YouTube

Spirituality Websites

http://www.prayingeachday.org/

https://info.franciscanmedia.org/

https://www.joanchittister.org/

https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/

https://www.sacredspace.ie/

In the absence of our usual parish Lenten activities, you may find the following free booklet helpful for deepen your relationship with the Lord in this holy season: Getting More Out of Lent, by Deacon Keith Strohm and Mark Hart:
https://bookstore.wau.org/faithseries.aspx?utm_source=email&utm_medium=JeffEmail2&utm_campaign=covid19

For children and families, see the [email protected] eResource Bundle:
http://products.pastoral.center/b/b320/1/download-s97q/index.html

Resources for Parents and Children

The National Association of School Psychologists offers general guidelines on talking about covid-19 with children of different ages at:
https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-climate-safety-and-crisis/health-crisis-resources/talking-to-children-about-covid-19-(coronavirus)-a-parent-resource

Coronavirus Tips & Resources for Parents, Children & Others

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/03/17/coronavirus-looks-different-kids-than-adults/

https://www.pbs.org/parents/

Children's Worship Bulletins: Ages 3-6
Children's Worship Bulletins: Ages 7 and up

Puzzles, Bible activities, worship bulletins on carefully selected topics and Scripture texts

Tips for Making Connections Within and Without

A recent Washing Post article noted that in this new world we may well become more aware of space and less aware of time. It’s disorienting, but perhaps it can be reorienting, as Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky suggested on the Facebook page of his Los Angeles congregation, B’nai David-Judea. The rabbi wrote:

“The very last thing we need right now is a mindset of mutual distancing. We actually need to be thinking in the exact opposite way. Every hand that we don’t shake must become a phone call that we place. Every embrace that we avoid must become a verbal expression of warmth and concern. Every inch and every foot that we physically place between ourselves and another must become a thought as to how we might help that other, should the need arise. Let’s stay safe. And let’s draw one another closer in a way that we’ve never done before.”

For a wonderful article with a much-needed social justice slant, see Jim Wallis at Soujourners https://sojo.net/articles/spiritual-health-care-social-distancing-without-social-isolation

Connect with yourself. Treat yourself gently and compassionately as you would a friend.

Build enjoyable routines and rhythms into your life (ditto for families) – routines make the world feel more predictable.
Pray, meditate, engage with some of the many spiritual resources available
Stay active: exercise or just get out in nature.
Do yoga or tai chi.
Journal or read
Avoid looking at the news all day – read a book or watch a show just for fun
Limit isolating and anxiety provoking screen time
Do some of the important things for yourself that you’ve been putting off

Connect with family members near and far. This is a good time to rebuild or strengthen relationships that need attention, compassion and forgiveness.

Set goals together for making family life work well during this stressful time with more “togetherness” than anyone is used to. Repeat. Everyone, even little ones, should feel they have an important part to play in making this happen.
Listen, listen, listen. We all need to be heard with compassion, not judgment. Everyone is feeling anxious, disappointed, even angry, about missing important events and milestones they were looking forward to, especially young people. We’re all uncertain about what comes next.
Learning new skills and finding new interests together can be fun. Cook or garden together. Pull out the cards, board games and puzzles.
With distant family, make personal connections by phone, Skype, Facetime, or Zoom instead of just text, email, or Facebook.

Connect with your history and culture. With schools closed and parents working from home, this is a great time to explore family history. This can be a wide-ranging multi-disciplinary learning project for kids.

Explore your culture and its traditions with books or online.
Cook meals together that reflect your cultural heritage.
Look at photo albums and share family history. Put order the chaos of family photos. Here’s another great opportunity to connect with family members who may know more that you do.
Create a family tree.

Connect with friends and neighbors. In lieu of playdates, shared meals, and group gatherings, reach out in ways big and small, inside your community and out. You may discover unexpected and fun ways to be helpful.

Call to find out how others are doing, especially folks you know are alone. Can you help the elders you know find out about to how to arrange for delivery of food, medications, or other needs? (Many companies are waving fees for delivery.) Can you shop for them when shopping for your own family?
Be aware of the financial hardships and worry others may be coping with. Do you have the resources to help?
When you go outside, greet and talk to neighbors and passersby from a safe distance.
Host a virtual meal.
Play an online, card, or board game together.
Use Zoom to check in with your Walking with Purpose group or other significant small groups in your life.

Philippians 4: 1, 4-8, 11b-13
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

. . . I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances, I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4: 1, 4-8, 11b-13