Welcome to the Family Life Education page just for Parents! We are very happy that you chose to visit. Parenting is one of the most difficult and yet most rewarding choices you have made in your life; full of challenges and joys, as well as disappointments and sorrows. Parenting is a life long journey with God and community to help support you, as your family moves through this journey. We hope that this site will help you in developing a strong and faith-filled family. Enjoy!
Check out this out!
Lenten Activities for Children GO TO: http://www.catholicmom.com/kids_lent_activities.htm |
Online Stations of the Cross:
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Helpful Links:
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Lent is a special time when you can share the concepts of prayer and giving with your children. Take family time each day to offer devotional prayers. Consider as a family how you might help others in need by giving of your time or resources. Even very young children can understand and will enjoy participating in the process. As a mother, carve out time in your day for your own special prayer time. This may involve early rising or time spent away from a favorite hobby or activity.
A New/Old Prayer (for parents)
Teaching your children about prayer-paraphrasing!
Turn the same prayer you taught your toddlers to say into a more meaningful experience for your child who may be beginning to prepare for First Penance and First Communion; and for a lifetime of a good relationship with God and his teachings. Jesus in the Gospel teaches the apostles to pray as He did, so we should, too, help our children! Letters and words are used to communicate a meaning. What meaning are we communicating with our words? Especially words we use everyday. Teach your children to say what they mean and to mean what they say when it comes to prayer.
To read more, click here.
Parenting Matters
A weekly radio show on WAER from 10-11am features local child development specialists in conversation with parents, teachers and other adults who contribute to the growth of children.
Community Resources For Parents click here
To get helpful hints for Keeping the Love Alive during baby's first year, click here.
Do's and Don'ts for Parents click here
For Ideas on "Mealtime Devotions" click here.
Check this site out.... www.parenting.org from Boystown
Click here for our review of the book, Families Apart: Ten Keys to Successful Co-Parenting, by Melinda Blau
Take Back Your Family
Families are reeling under the burden of too many activities. A telltale article in the New York Times 4/15/06 by Aina Tugend sums it up. "I went to London a few weeks ago for 5 days and left my husband a multi-page schedule for our son's activities."
In response to the stresses of modern life and parenting, grassroots organizations have sprung up to help families simplify life and take back their families.
If you are struggling with the time crunch try some of these sites:
and start today to "take back your family"!
Passing on the Faith
What is the greatest gift I can give my child? To me, it is eternal life with our God. I wanted God to be alive for my children, but how? I have learned that faith is lived. Click here to get ideas to develop your own sacred moments of faith.
For more great tips on parenting click here
Groups for Parents
Syracuse Area
St. Mary's Minoa, www.stmarysminoa.org
Time Out For Moms, a mothers support group, will be meeting on the first and third Fridays of the month at St. Mary's Rectory, on the corner of Dorothy and North Main Streets, next to the Church from 9 to 11am. For more information please contact Terri at 315-656-8712. All are welcome. Child care is provided by The Nannies, with a program for pre-schoolers, in the lower level of the Church. (All are VIRTUS trained.)
Elizabeth Ministry, a ministry to meet the needs of parents at all ages and stages. Please see our parish web site for information at www.stmarysminoa.org or call Terri at 315-656-8712. All are welcome!
Grief Support Ministry, meets every third Friday at St. Mary's Parish Center, to meet the needs of those who are struggling with grief due to losses experienced in a person's life, whether it is the loss of a friend, spouse or parent. Support is also provided for youth and teens in a separate gathering as needs arise. For information please call Margie at 315-656-2333. All are welcome!
M.O.M.S. (Ministry of Mothers Sharing) Night Out Evening Retreat: It's an evening out for mothers and women of all ages and all stages to help them live and develop their spirituality as women in the Church today and as nurturers of their families. Marth and Mary walk with our ladies starting at 6 PM for prayer, covered dish supper, a talk and lots of large and small group conversations over coffee and dessert. Come and meet and greet new and old friends as we, the women of the Church, grow in our relationship with Jesus. For information on this as well as MOMS 8 week Program and MOMS continues please contact Margie Bowhall at 315-656-2333.
St. Joseph the Worker Church, 1001 Tulip St, Liverpool, NY 315-457-6060, Contact: Mrs. Betty Nichols, Mission: To offer a variety of activities supporting mothers
Confraternity of Christian Mothers, meets the third Wednesday of the Month 7-9pm. This group is diversified and the programs vary, such as: Special presentations on topics of interest, Holiday events for the family and Bible study (mornings). There are also Special Events such as a yearly Retreat and Pot Luck Dinners.
Toddlers Gym/Playgroup, meet weekly on Fridays from 9:30-11am. It is an informal group where Moms or caretakers bring toys, including riding toys and snack and then share clean-up.
St. Joseph's Church, 5600 W. Genesee St, Camillus, NY 315-488-8490, Contact: Sue Hupman or Lucy Alphonso, Mission: To provide an opportunity for families with young children to come together in a safe and enriching environment. Social, physical and spiritual needs are addressed by creating a program where family members are given the opportunity to interact and develop parent/child relationships, to explore and develop relationships with other families in the community, to exercise their bodies and minds, to come together and nurture their Christianity through fellowship and charitable activities.
St. Joseph's MOMS-N-TOTS Playgroup, meets weekly on Fridays from 9:30-11am. Due to large numbers, activities are structured and monitored by the mothers by developmental level. Snack
Holy Cross Church, 4112 E. Genesee St, Dewitt, NY 315-446-0473, Contact: the church at 315-446-0473 Mission: To offer spiritual support to mothers and socialization to their children.
Moms and Tots Playgroup, meets weekly on Mondays from 9-10:30am in the O'Brian Room (when weather permits the group will gather at a specified outdoor location). Informal gathering three weeks of the month; the fourth week is set aside for a more formal reflection.
Immaculate Conception Church, 400 Salt Springs Road, Fayetteville, NY 315-637-9840, Contact: Joanne Abene-Meagley, Mission: To offer support to women and their families through the establishment of spiritual, educational and social programs.
Stay and Play Playgroup (for parents and caretakers of young children), this is an informal playgroup that meets at Church or a nearby park, please call for more information.
Open Gym (for ages 2-5 years), call for meeting information and times.
Women of IC, is a group with a diversified format: Spiritual Group for Mothers, Circle of Care (activities to help mothers in need of meals; correspondence: at birth, Baptism, etc.), Provides babysitting for Lenten Luncheon Series, IC Picnic, please call for more information.
Utica/Rome Area
St. John's, 240 Bleeker St, Utica, NY 315-732-2417, Contact: Sr. Mary Theresa, Mission: To offer a sevure and affirming setting for moms and children to gather from different denominations in the city of Utica.
The Mothers' Group of St. John's, meets weekly on Wednesdays from 9-11am. The format is diversified and programs vary, such as: Arts and Crafts, Domestic arts (sewing and cooking), Health and Child Development. Special events include breakfast out and trip to Auriesville. Childcare is available.
St. Mary of Mt. Carmel, 648 Jay St, Utica, NY 315-735-1482, Contact: Mrs. Regina Peterson or DRE: Sr. Linda Love, Mission: To offer a morning out with informal gatherings for moms and children (birth to 4 years).
Playgroup, meets weekly on Tuesdays from 10-Noon. There are a diversity of activities, such as: Arts and crafts and community visitors (firemen, etc.). They also have parish events such as a Halloween Party and Breakfast with Santa.
Binghamton Area
Mom's Group
Contact: Sarah 607-687-0781
A meeting place for women with children of all ages. Catholic Mom's Group meets every other Tuesday morning throughout the school year for Friendship, Fun, and Spiritual Growth. Meetings are held at Our Lady of Sorrows Church Hall, Clark St., Vestal, NY from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. Children are welcome! The group is open to new members at any time throughout the year just stop in!
*If there is a snow day or school delay, the meeting is cancelled*