2025-01-10-eEdition

JANUARY 10, 2025 THE CATHOLIC WEEK PAGE 3 n a number of occasions, I have had the pleasure of attending youth athletic competitions, whether high school games, CYO or various youth leagues.They are enjoy- able times, made even more so by knowing that the players have trained and practiced hard for these games and are playing to the best of their ability. The atmosphere is made even better by the parents of the players cheering their kids on.The kids have worked hard to develop their God- given talents, but the parents have played their part too.The parents know that the coach is important, but so are they. The parents get up early in the morning to drive their children to practice.The parents rear- range their schedules to make sure their kids make the prac- tices and games.The parents practice with their children at home.The parents buy grocer- ies which meet the nutritional needs of their child’s training. The parents are present for the games—even though some games are boring or do not go the way that was hoped—but the parents are there, encourag- ing, supporting and showing enthusiasm, because they know this is important for their kids. In addition, they want their kids to know that athletic development is important for their welfare. All of this is good. I am impressed with parents who take such an interest in their child’s development. At the same time, it raises the question of whether we are as intent on the spiritual development of our young people. Of course, young people have “coaches” who are attentive to their spiritual development. The kids have teachers in Cath- olic schools, youth minsters in parishes and teachers in the parish religion programs—but the parents are important too. As the Second Vatican Council taught in 1965: “Since parents have given children their life, they are bound by the most serious obligation to educate their offspring and therefore must be recognized as the primary and principal educators.” Just as parents of budding athletes sacrifice to support their child, so parents of de- veloping Christians must do at least as much. Just as parents get up from a sound sleep to bring their children to practice, so must parents be willing to sacrifice to make sure their children receive religious instruction. Just as parents rearrange their schedules for practices and games, so parents must be willing to rearrange schedules for Mass. Just as parents practice with their children at home, so parents must be willing to pray with their children at home. Just as parents make sure their child has a nutritional diet, so parents must make certain that their home life strengthens their child in faith, through the media which is watched, the conversations which are shared and the example given. Just as parents are with their children at the games, so parents need to be with their children at Mass. Just as parents encour- age their children in athletics, explaining that athletic devel- opment is important for their welfare, parents must encourage their children in spiritual mat- ters—explaining that spiritual development is important for their welfare now and for all eternity. There is an old conventional wisdom that sports teach values for life. May our willingness to enthusiastically support our kids in sports, motivate us to do at least as well in enthusi- astically supporting our kids in their spiritual life. The Office for the Protection of Minors and Adults Reports of abuse should be made to civil authorities in your county. If the report involves a member of the clergy, Archdiocesan employee or lay volunteer, please also notify the Office for the Protection of Minors and Adults at 251-434-1559. If the report of abuse involves a bishop, please notify the Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting Service at ReportBishopAbuse.org or 1-800-276-1562. The Archdiocesan Child Protection Policy can be found at the websites mobarch.org or protection.mobarch.org Baldwin/Escambia Deanery St. Lawrence Parish—6:30 p.m. 2 nd Tuesday of most months Jan. 14, Feb. 11, March 11 Mobile Deanery St. Dominic Parish—6:30 p.m. 4 th Wednesday of most months Jan. 22, Feb. 26, March 26 Montgomery Deanery Montgomery Catholic High—6:30 p.m. 4 th Wednesday of most months Jan. 22, Feb. 26, March 26 Dothan Deanery Training sessions are conducted on an “as needed” basis. Contact your pastor in the Dothan area for more information. FROM THE ARCHBISHOP Parents are 'coaches' in their children's spiritual life O Most Reverend Thomas J. Rodi JANUARY 12 - JANUARY 25 DAILY READINGS Sun., January 12 Is: 42:1-4, 6-7 Ps 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10 Acts 10:34-38 Lk 3:15-16, 21-22 Mon., January 13 Heb 1:1-6 Ps 97:1 and 2b, 6 and 7c, 9 Mk 1:14-20 Tues., January 14 Heb 2:5-12 Ps 8:2ab and 5, 6-7, 8-9 Mk 1:21-28 Wed., January 15 Heb 2:14-18 Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9 Mk 1:29-39 Thurs., January 16 Heb 3:7-14 Ps 95:6-7c, 8-9, 10-11 Mk 1:40-45 Fri., January 17 Heb 4:1-5, 11 Ps 78:3 & 4bc, 6c-7, 8 Mk 2:1-12 Sat., January 18 Heb 4:12-16 Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 15 Mk 2:13-17 Sun., January 19 Is 62:1-5 Ps 96:1-2, 2-3, 7-8, 9-10 1 Cor 12:4-11 Jn 2:1-11 Mon., January 20 Heb 5:1-10 Ps 110:1, 2, 3, 4 Mk 2:18-22 Tues., January 21 Heb 6:10-20 Ps 111:1-2, 4-5, 9, 10c Mk 2:23-28 Wed., January 22 Heb 7:1-3, 15-17 Ps 110:1, 2, 3, 4 Mk 3:1-6 Thurs., January 23 Heb 7:25—8:6 Ps 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 17 Mk 3:7-12 Fri., January 24 Heb 8:6-13 Ps 85:8, 10, 11-12, 13-14 Mk 3:13-19 Sat., January 25 Acts 22:3-16 Ps 117:1bc, 2 Mk 16:15-18 APRIL 14 PROGRAM SCHEDULE www.catholicinamerica.com Jan. 12............................................................Horoscopes, Tarot Cards, and Voodoo Jan. 19 ........................................................................................Female Porn Addiction Jan. 26 .................................................................................................... Papal Infalability Feb. 2 .....................................Extraterrestrial Intelligence and the Catholic Faith WJTC UTV 44 Mobile/Pensacola—6 am Sunday • WTVY CW 3 Dothan—11 am Sundays The Baptism of the Lord January 12 Prᴀy fᴏr Vᴏᴄᴀᴛiᴏns