JANUARY 2000

SPECIAL DAYS:
January 1 World Day of Peace
January 2 Jubilee Day for Children
January 3 Jubilee of Migrants/Refugees
January 16 Jubilee of Peace and Justice
January 18-25 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
January 24 March for Life-Washington D.C.
January 31 Start Catholic Schools Week

MONTHLY THEME: Open the Door To My Heart

INDIVIDUAL PRAYER:
Dear Lord, please be with me as I strive to be your joyful servant in all that I say and do. Help me to open my heart to see every person, including myself, as a unique and beautiful creation who you love totally.

COUPLE PRAYER:
Dear Lord, thank you for the gift of my spouse and our relationship. Help me to open my heart to show my love for my spouse, and increase our intimacy and our dedication to each other and You.

FAMILY PRAYER:
Dear Lord, thank you for the gift of each member of our family. Help us to open our hearts, so that we may be sensitive and concerned for each other. Give us the grace we each need to bring true peace, and laughter, and love into our home.

DAILY RENEW PRAYER:
Gracious God, You gave us your Divine Son 2000 years ago. You created Him in human form. Create us anew to live in His image. Amen.

SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES

As our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II opened the doors to St. Peters Basilica, you might want to choose one door in your home to be a special symbol of your opening the door to your heart. Perhaps you might put a Jubilee 2000 Symbol on or near this door to remind you of this holy year.

Set up a shrine in your home. This could be on a table you already have, or a small shelf put in a quiet corner. Choose an image that has meaning for your family. It may be your crucifix, a favorite statue or even your Nativity set that will be a meditation tool for you throughout the Jubilee year. (See more information about a home shrine on this website.)

Plan a 20 minute "Family Renew Time" each day this month. It could be a meal together, or driving back and forth to school or activities, or even 20 minutes before bedtime. Recite the prayer to begin and then reflect on how you may have responded to God’s love for you today. Share one thing you are grateful for that day.

OPPORTUNITY FOR RECONCILIATION:
This month let us seek forgiveness for those times when we have locked ourselves in our own poor self-image, and not accepted God’s unconditional love for us.