St. María Guadalupe García Zavala (Feast Day June 24)

April 27, 1878-June 24, 1963

Engaged to be married at the age of 23, María began to feel the Lord calling her to religious life. She spent much time in prayer and consulted with her spiritual director before discerning that not only was she called to religious life instead of marriage, María (also known as Madre Lupita) was being called to found a new religious order. In 1901, the Handmaids of Saint Margaret Mary and the Poor was formed. The religious order was named after St. Margaret Mary, who is known for her devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Members of the new religious order worked as nurses who dedicated their lives to caring for the poor and sick.

When the Mexican Revolution began the same year, Catholic persecution came with it. Madre Lupita offered protection for priests and clergy members who were in danger of being captured. Her congregation helped protect many priests, including the Archbishop of Guadalajara. Even in the face of religious persecution, Madre Lupita and the Handmaids of Saint Margaret Mary openly welcomed anyone who came to them for help. Madre Lupita died at the age of 85. She lived out her vocation as a nurse and religious sister. Today, her religious sisters continue her work in five countries.

• It took a little while for the apostles to realize Jesus was with them. Share a time when you realized that Jesus was near to you.

• If you had breakfast with Jesus, what would you talk about?

• How would you respond to Jesus if he asked you, "Do you love me?"

• Madre Lupita thought she had one vocation but realized she had a different calling through prayer and discussion. Which vocation do you think God is calling you to?

Vocation Dress-Up

Using clothes from around your home, create outfits to dress up as saints who had different vocations. It may be your favorite saints, saints from different time periods, or new saints you are just learning about. Search the Internet to find pictures and dress up as saints who served God in the following ways:

• a saint who was a religious sister or brother
• a saint who was a priest
• a saint who served as a doctor or nurse
• a saint who traveled as a missionary
• a saint who was a teacher

Mexican Lentil Soup

Celebrate Madre Lupita with this Mexican recipe.

2 Tbsp of olive oil
⅔ cups white onion finely chopped
1 large garlic clove minced
1½ cups of celery finely cut (2 large stalks)
⅔ cups carrots diced
½ pound lentils, washed and rinsed (about 1 ⅛ cups)
6 cups of chicken or vegetable broth
2 sprigs of parsley finely chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Lime wedges to serve

Heat olive oil in a saucepan and sauté the onions and garlic for 5 minutes over medium heat. Add the celery and carrots and cook for 10 minutes at a lower temperature. Stir in the drained lentils, 6 cups of broth, and the parsley. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to simmer. Cook for 25-30 minutes. Season the soup with salt and pepper. Cooking time will depend on the lentil variety you use. Serve your Lentil Soup in small bowls, add a few drops of lime juice, and enjoy!

Adapted from https://www.mexicoinmykitchen.com/lentil-soup/

Prayer Journaling

Sometimes it takes time to understand the meaning of the Gospel. Journaling is a great way to unpack the words and talk to God.

Create a simple prayer journal or get an empty notebook. Set aside 10-20 minutes for your family to reflect on the Gospel. Create a prayerful environment by lighting candles and/or playing instrumental music in the background. Read today's Gospel and invite everyone to listen to what God is saying to them in the silence of their hearts. After a period of quiet, invite everyone to write what they heard in their journal; younger children can draw or doodle. At the end of your reflection time, take turns sharing your experience. Close your time in prayer by saying the Our Father together.

Those distributing Holy Communion hold a ciborium, which is a vessel used to hold the consecrated hosts-the Body of Christ. Describe the ciboriums you see today.

In the Gospel today, Jesus tells Peter to feed his sheep. Think of someone who needs company or lives alone. Invite him or her over for dinner one evening this week.

Fishing was often done at night around the Sea of Galilee so that fish could not see and swim around the nets. Nylon nets prevent this problem in modern times, but in Jesus's time, fishermen used nets made of flax or linen.