Proposed “Monthly Themes” Planning Guide to help you stay connected throughout the year “Merciful like the Father” Month Work of Mercy Calendar Connection Suggested Activities Our Plan December Bear patiently with those who do us ill Advent Dec 8 – Immaculate Conception Dec 12 – Our Lady of Guadalupe Dec 13 – Opening the Cathedral Holy Door Dec 25 – Christmas Dec 27 – Feast of the Holy Family Participate in the Our Lady of Guadalupe Procession and Mass on Dec. 6 in Stockton Participate in an Advent penance service Participate in Las Posadas or Simbang Gabi Visit those who are shut in and do not have visitors Share food, sweaters, socks, and blankets with those who are in need January Comfort the afflicted Christmas and Ordinary Time Jan 1 – World Day of Prayer for Peace Jan 11 – Human Trafficking Awareness Day Jan 16 – Day for Migrants and Refugees Jan 18-25 – Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Jan 22 – Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children Jan 31 - Catholic Schools’ Week Begins Bless your home on Jan 3, and mark your own “Holy Door” to remind you of mercy throughout the year Make a donation to CRS or another organization that helps refugees fleeing violence Pray with your family, friends and neighbors who are of other Christian faiths Participate in the Walk for Life on Jan 23 Offer to rake leaves and clean up the yard for elderly neighbors in need
Month Work of Mercy Calendar Connection Suggested Activities Our Plan May Instruct the Ignorant Easter and Ordinary Time May 5 – Prayer Vigil for those in need of consolation May 8 – Mother’s Day May 15 – Pentecost May 22 – Trinity Sunday May 29 – Jubilee for Deacons and Corpus Christi Pray for our priests during their annual retreat, May 9-13 Attend the Priesthood Ordination Mass at the Cathedral, May 21 at 10 a.m. Celebrate the wisdom of Mothers passed on through the generations Remember graduates and those who are completing courses of study June, July and August Feed the hungry and give drink to the thirsty June 3 – Jubilee for Priests June 19 – Father’s Day July 4 – Independence Day July 31 – Jubilee for Young People Aug 6 – Anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima Aug 9 – Anniversary of the bombing of Nagaski Aug 15 – Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (not a holy day of obligation this year) Celebrate Fathers and the many ways they show their love and care of their families Remember the food banks that run low in the summer out closets and share good quality clothes with those who are in need Bless young people headed to World Youth Day Pray for an end to war and the elimination of nuclear weapons Pray with students beginning a new school year Join a team in your parish that promotes Life, Dignity and Social Justice Spend time helping at a homeless shelter
Month Work of Mercy Calendar Connection Suggested Activities Our Plan September Welcome the stranger Sept 4 – Jubilee for workers and volunteers of mercy Sept 5 – Labor Day Sept 11 – Grandparents Day and National Day of Mourning and Remembrance Sept 25 – Jubilee for Catechists Show appreciation to all who work to bring mercy and care to others (social workers, medical personnel, teachers, etc.) Learn about the struggles of workers for just wages and safe working conditions Consider the ways in which you can help in the family and parish community to pass on the faith to others Recognize the catechists and religion teachers who form our young people in the faith October Visit the imprisoned, Cloth the naked and Forgive offences Oct 2 – Respect Life Sunday Oct 5 – World Day of Prayer for Creation Oct 8 – Marian Jubilee Oct 23 – World Mission Sunday Oct 30 – Priesthood Sunday Pray for all who are making life and death decisions Make strides to reduce your environmental impact Pray the Rosary with your family Support the Missionaries who bring the Gospel to the world, through preaching and service Learn about Restorative Justice Pray for vocations to the Priesthood November Bury the Dead/ Pray for the Living and the Dead Nov 1 – All Saints Day (Holy Day of Obligation) Nov 2 –All Day Nov 8- Election Day Nov 11 – Veterans Day Nov 13 – Closing of the Holy Doors in the Diocese of Stockton Nov 20 – End of the Jubilee Year Take a grieving person to and be a good listener Visit a cemetery and pray for those who have died If you have the right to vote, vote