ALBEMARLE — Members of the Knights of Columbus Council 10495 and their spouses bagged and delivered bags of food Dec. 18 to 50 needy families in the Albemarle area as part of the council’s Food for Families Program.
— Donald Barker
LET THE SACRED HEART TRANSFORM YOUR RELATIONSHIPS
Keep the Sacred Heart of Jesus close to yours in June and beyond with wisdom from Emily Jaminet, the author of the recent release from Ave Maria Press, “Holy Habits From the Sacred Heart.” Jaminet, the executive director of the Sacred Heart Enthronement Network, explores 10 habits and virtues that come from the Sacred Heart and how readers can intentionally practice these virtues to get closer to Jesus and strengthen the relationships that are most important to them. To order: www.avemariapress.com
LEARN FROM ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE
Best known for doubting the Resurrection of Jesus, St. Thomas the Apostle’s feast day is July 3. In a 2006 general audience, Pope Benedict XVI shared three things we can learn from the apostle’s initial unbelief: ”First, because it comforts us in our insecurity; second, because it shows us that every doubt can lead to an outcome brighter than any uncertainty; and, lastly, because the words that Jesus addressed to him remind us of the true meaning of mature faith and encourage us to persevere, despite the difficulty, along our journey of adhesion to Him.”
TAKE A HIKE WITH THE ‘MAN OF EIGHT BEATITUDES’
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati (pictured right) was born into a wealthy family in Turin, Italy, and died of polio at the young age of 24. His feast day is July 4. Frassati was admired for his athleticism, political activism, serving the poor, and his everyday holiness, inspiring Pope John Paul II to dub him a “man of eight beatitudes.” He loved to talk about the faith and made many friends. He enjoyed hiking mountains and found many parallels between that and his faith. Discover these insights through your own hiking experience and by reading more at www.frassatiusa.org/frassati-biography.
KEEP YOUR KITCHEN COOL THIS SUMMER
Want to avoid using the oven during the heat of summer? Try the Catholic Kitchen’s crockpot and Instant Pot recipes such as honey garlic chicken, tangy turkey meatballs, and taco pasta at www.thecatholickitchen.com.
MAKE A FAITH-FILLED BUCKET LIST
Many families have more time to relax and plan fun activities in summer. Amid all the items on your warm-weather bucket list, be sure to include faith-related items such as learning about a saint, spending time in Eucharistic Adoration, making it to Confession more frequently, making dinner for a family in need, and hosting a movie night with “The Chosen” or another faith-based production. Find more ideas at www.catholicmom.com/articles/a-summer-bucket-list-for-catholic-families
— Annie Ferguson