Take Out: Family Faith on the Go
Leaders Guide October

Fall Family Night

In the spirit of Respect Life month, gather families in your parish for an evening of conversation and prayer about the great gift of life. For the discussion portion of the evening, use the October issue of Take Out as a guide. The personal reflections on pages 4 and 5 speak of ordinary parents passing on their faith in the church’s teaching that all life is sacred through words and action.

Below is one way the family night could be organized:

7:00 p.m. Gather families at tables and offer popcorn, coffee and juice for refreshments. After the opening prayer, give families 5 minutes to read the stories on pages 4 and 5. (Have several copies of the October issue of Take Out at each table.)

7:10 p.m. After reading the stories, ask families to discuss the following questions at their tables:

Sometimes ordinary people do extraordinary things. What action might these stories inspire in you/your family?
The Church teaches that all life has dignity – from inside the womb to our moment of death. What are some ways that we can “live” this teaching each day?
Both authors seem to be saying that children learn through watching our actions as much as through listening to our words. For parents: did you find this when you were growing up? For kids: Do you pay attention to what your mom and dad as much as what they say?
What are some ways that our modern culture upholds the dignity of human life? What are some ways that our modern culture degrades the dignity of human life?

7:40 p.m. Break and Refreshments (Autumn refreshments would be appropriate – apple cider and cookies, anyone?)

8:00 p.m. Welcome families back from break and ask them to share some of their intentional thoughts about the church’s teaching on the sacredness of all life (as they are comfortable). As a large group, talk about what it means to “do as I do…” How might our actions be more in line with our words? How are we all called to keep life sacred?

8:25 p.m. Closing Prayer

Prayer to Mary, Mother of the Life Within
O Mary, Mother of the Life Within,
all life we entrust to you;
The life of every expectant mother
and the child within her womb:
The life of every human body,
the life of every human soul;
The life of every newborn child
and the life of all grown old.
You held the Lord to your own heart
and drew Him so close in.
So draw us now in all our needs,
O Mother of the Life Within.
Amen.

Take Out: Family Faith on the Go
Leaders Guide October

Fall Family Night

Below is one way the family night could be organized:

7:10 p.m. After reading the stories, ask families to discuss the following questions at their tables:

Sometimes ordinary people do extraordinary things. What action might these stories inspire in you/your family?
The Church teaches that all life has dignity – from inside the womb to our moment of death. What are some ways that we can “live” this teaching each day?
Both authors seem to be saying that children learn through watching our actions as much as through listening to our words. For parents: did you find this when you were growing up? For kids: Do you pay attention to what your mom and dad as much as what they say?
What are some ways that our modern culture upholds the dignity of human life? What are some ways that our modern culture degrades the dignity of human life?

7:40 p.m. Break and Refreshments (Autumn refreshments would be appropriate – apple cider and cookies, anyone?)

8:25 p.m. Closing Prayer

Take Out: Family Faith on the Go Leaders Guide October

Fall Family Night

Take Out: Family Faith on the Go Leaders Guide October

Fall Family Night

Take Out: Family Faith on the Go
Leaders Guide October

Take Out: Family Faith on the Go
Leaders Guide October