Homilies about children

The Cost of a Child's Education: A Missionary's Plea from Peru

Father Pacy

The homily is split into two parts. The first, very brief part by Father Pacy, emphasizes God's patience and leniency due to His love, and reminds the congregation that all are called to be missionaries by virtue of their baptism. The second, main part is delivered by Sister Suzanne, a missionary from the Sisters of St. Joseph, who shares poignant stories from her order's work in Peru, highlighting the struggles of abandoned children and hunger, and appealing for prayers and financial support for their mission.

Crying Babies, Cheese Heads, and Sandhill Cranes: Finding the Kingdom of God in Unexpected Places

Father Dominic Rashi

The homily uses three seemingly disparate images—crying babies, cheese heads, and sandhill cranes—to illustrate different aspects of the Kingdom of God and our relationship with it. It emphasizes the importance of welcoming children in church, trusting God's plan even in suffering, and finding joy and wonder in God's creation and our memories. The core message is about recognizing God's presence and love in both the mundane and the extraordinary, and having a childlike faith.

How a Simple Meal Transforms Lives: The Mission of Mary's Meals

This homily, delivered by a representative from Mary's Meals, focuses on the organization's mission to provide daily meals to children at school in impoverished countries. It highlights how these meals enable children to learn, develop, and have hope for a better future, emphasizing the importance of sharing resources and the profound impact of this simple act of charity on individuals and communities.

How a Rebellious Teen Learned to Trust His Parents (and God)

The homily emphasizes the importance of listening to and trusting our parents and God, drawing parallels between a compass guiding a boat home and God's guidance in life. The priest shares a personal story about his rebellious youth and learning to obey his father and a fisherman named Aussie, ultimately realizing the wisdom and love behind their guidance. He concludes by highlighting that parents, like God, are there to teach us how to love and lead us to our true home in heaven.

How Your Faith Can Grow Like a Mustard Seed

This homily is a children's liturgy of the word, focusing on the parable of the mustard seed. The priest uses actual seeds to illustrate how faith, like a small seed, can grow into something large and life-giving, encouraging the children to pray for their faith to grow.

Raising a Child of God: Responsibilities of Parents and Godparents in Faith

This homily, delivered during a baptism, emphasizes the spiritual transformation of the baptized child, Mary, into a child of God, inheriting light and the Kingdom. It outlines the responsibilities of the parents and godparent to nurture her faith through prayer, scripture, church attendance, and virtuous living, stressing that teaching should be through action, not just words.

The Family as the First Church: Lessons from the Prodigal Son on Parents' Day

This homily, delivered on Parents' Day, emphasizes the importance of parents as the first teachers of faith and love within the 'domestic church' of the family. It highlights the need for mutual respect and forgiveness between parents and children, drawing parallels to the parable of the Prodigal Son to illustrate God's unconditional love and forgiveness.

The Patience of Faith: Growing God's Seed in Your Heart

Father Christopher

The homily, delivered as a 'family teaching mass,' uses the parable of the wheat and weeds and the mustard seed to explain that faith, like a seed, takes time to grow and requires patience and nourishment from parents and the Eucharist. The priest shares a personal childhood story about planting a seed and learning patience, emphasizing that the effects of faith, though not immediately visible, will eventually bear fruit and shine brightly.

Are You Good Soil? Sowing Seeds of Faith in Your Children

Father Amrud

The homily reflects on the Parable of the Sower, emphasizing that the Word of God is the seed and we are the soil. It challenges listeners to examine what kind of soil their hearts are, and encourages parents to generously sow seeds of faith and goodness in their children's lives, drawing on personal anecdotes about declining church attendance among youth in Italy.

Preparing Your Heart: The Parable of the Sower in Modern Life

Père Saint-Gilbert

The homily, delivered in Haitian Creole, focuses on the Parable of the Sower, emphasizing the different types of 'soil' (hearts) that receive God's word. It urges parishioners to prepare their hearts to be good soil, actively share the Gospel, and protect children from negative influences that deny God's existence, highlighting the importance of parental guidance in faith formation.

The Power of Small Acts: How Little Things Flourish in God's Time

Father Orlando

The homily begins with the priest introducing himself and sharing a personal anecdote about his 16-year-old nephew, who has matured into a responsible young man, reflecting the parable of the wheat and the weeds. He emphasizes the importance of perseverance in faith, even when understanding is lacking, drawing a parallel to his own experience of praying multiple rosaries while commuting. The priest then connects this to the mission of the Piarist Fathers, founded by St. Joseph Calasanz, highlighting their struggle to provide Catholic education to the poor and asking for prayers and financial support, emphasizing that small acts of love and faith will flourish in God's time.

How Small Acts of Love Transform Lives: The Mustard Seed and Yeast in Action

Sister Anne

The homily, delivered by a visiting sister, focuses on the parable of the mustard seed and yeast, emphasizing how small acts of love and generosity can lead to extraordinary blessings and transform lives, particularly through supporting education for poor children in Vietnam. She highlights the Dominican scholarship program's impact, connecting it to the Gospel message of God working through seemingly insignificant actions to build His kingdom.

Are You Worthy of God's Love? Lessons from Young Saints

The homily emphasizes that God calls all young people to holiness, using the theme of 'worthiness' from the Steubenville East youth conference. It connects this idea to King Solomon's request for wisdom and highlights contemporary young figures like Maria Middleton and Guido Schaefer, whose lives exemplify seeking God and being deemed worthy of His love, encouraging the congregation to foster this in the youth.

A Quinceañera's Path: Faith, Responsibility, and Trusting God

Father Henry

The homily, delivered during a Quinceañera Mass, emphasizes the importance of spiritual growth and fidelity to God, especially for young people facing modern challenges. The priest advises Ashley, the Quinceañera, to prioritize her spiritual life over material pursuits and to trust God, drawing parallels with Mary's faithfulness. He also gives her two rules: no dating until after college and to always be faithful to God, highlighting the increasing responsibilities and consequences that come with age.

Aileen's Quinceañera: Living Your Life as God's Loving Plan

This homily celebrates Aileen's Quinceañera, emphasizing that her life is not an accident but part of God's loving plan. The priest encourages her to live with faith, honor her parents, and serve others joyfully, drawing parallels to the Virgin Mary's 'yes' to God. It highlights the transition from childhood to young womanhood, urging a renewed commitment to Christ.

The Greatest Treasure Grandparents Can Give Their Grandchildren

This homily, delivered on Grandparents Day, emphasizes that the greatest treasure to pass on to the next generation is faith, not material possessions. It highlights the importance of resting in Jesus amidst life's worries and encourages grandparents to continue sharing their stories and teaching prayer to their grandchildren, as these acts of faith will be remembered more than any gifts.

Faith in Jesus: Our Greatest Treasure in a Faithless World

The homily begins with a humorous anecdote about a young priest and pig farmers, then transitions to the Gospel parables of the treasure and pearl of great price. The priest emphasizes that faith in Jesus Christ is our greatest treasure, urging the congregation to choose an understanding heart and a moral way of life, especially in a society that often rejects God's teachings. He concludes with a special blessing for graduates, reminding them to keep Jesus at the center of their lives.