Staff Writer
Catholic families looking for resources to help them creatively incorporate their faith into family time may be interested in these books:
* "Prayers, Activities, Celebrations and More for Catholic Families" by Bridget Mary Meehan includes activities and exercises to enhance family prayer, clarify family values, foster harmony and help families experience God's presence in their daily routines. It's available for $7.95 plus shipping and handling from Twenty-Third Publications (800-321-0411.)
* "Dear God: Prayers for Families with Children" includes prayers for important days in children's lives including the first snow of the season, Christmas, first day of school, losing a tooth, and birthdays. It also includes prayers for difficult times, like being sick, thunderstorms, losing a game and the death of a pet (see page 13). It's available for $7.95 plus shipping and handling from Twenty-Third Publications (800-321-0411.)
* "Dolores Curran on Family Prayer" offers advice on how parents can teach children to pray, how families can pray spontaneously, and offers suggested prayers for special days. It's available for $9.95 plus shipping and handling from Twenty-Third Publications (800-321-0411.)
* "Make Family Time Prime Time" by Denise C. Yribarren and DeAnn L. Koestner offers activities families can do as an alternative to watching television. The authors make it a practice in their own homes to have weekly "family times" -- an hour of time spent together with no television, computers or telephones. The book suggests ways to combat the letdown after Christmas and includes easy ideas for celebrating other holidays and seasons, as well as activities for every day. It's available for $12.95 plus shipping and handling from Twenty-Third Publications (800-321-0411.)
* "You Break It You Buy It" by Kass P. Dotterweich includes three dozen everyday occurrences that parents can use as "teachable moments" to convey values. Teachable moments in the book include how to respond to a rude driver, a bad joke, a prank phone call, a backed-up toilet or a national tragedy. The book is broken down into one-page moments and one-page lessons. It is available for $8.95 plus shipping and handling from Liguori Publications (800-325-9521.)
* "Creative Grandparenting Across the Miles" by Patricia Fry offers tips and ideas to help grandparents build a relationship with their grandchildren despite geographical separation. The book is available for $5.95 plus shipping and handling from Liguori Publications (800-325-9521.)
* "Just Family Nights: 60 Activities to keep your family together in a world falling apart," edited by Susan Vogt, includes 60 activities that build family unity and values. The book includes five activities for each month. Each family night plan includes readings, activities, songs and treats that are built on themes like nonviolence or conflict resolution. The book is available for $15.95 plus shipping and handling from The Institute for Peace and Justice (314-533-4445.)
* "Family Faith Through the Year" is a page-a-day calendar for Catholic families. Each page includes activities for families to do together, including adopting a family in need, saying special graces before meals and reading the newspaper with different eyes. It is available for $12 for a single copy (there are special prices for purchasing larger quantities) plus shipping and handling from The Center for Ministry Development (203-723-1622).