God's Recipe for School & Family

To kick off the school year, a ceremony what held at the school to bless new Ten Commandments plaques that are being installed throughout the school. Father also blessed the Ten Commandments Family Kits for your family to discover together how the Commandments enrich family life. Throughout the school year, we will feature one Commandments each month in our newsletter, at school Masses and in our prayers of intentions. Toward the end of the year, we will recognize those children who have exhibited the Commandments most in their daily lives. 

As you are aware, there is a growing list of negative influences aimed directly at children to rob them of their future, erode their faith in Jesus, and persuade them away from family life. But through God’s Recipe for School and Family we have a proven solution; the truth and wisdom of God’s Ten Commandments. You may be thinking the Ten Commandments aren’t that big of a deal. But they really are a BIG DEAL!

Hidden in their simplicity, the Commandments offer endless opportunities for authentic joy and boundless happiness. They provide insight and promise for raising joy-filled children, preparing them for a life of friendship and success and they are the guide for enjoying happy and fulfilling marriages. (Re) Discover them here. 

God’s Recipe for School and Family: Learning and Living the Ten Commandments is based on a priceless gift, given directly from God himself, to protect your children and pave the way for a promising and joy-filled future for your children. Not just their earthly future, but for their eternal future with Jesus in heaven. 

The vision to instill within the children, and their families, a solid understanding of how to use the Commandments as their guide to recognize and avoid the temptations and confusion they face. And instead, guide them to Jesus and the goodness of wise choices. 

As your child(ren)’s most influential teacher, you have the best opportunity to teach the truth and wisdom of God’s Commandments to your children than any one else.  

To help you get started, we have provided you with a Ten Commandments Family Kit. The kit includes a puzzle for you and your children to assemble together. When fully assembled, put the puzzle into the enclosed picture frame and decide, as a family, on a good place to hang it. If you want, find a photo of your family and place it over the family in the puzzle. 

The kit also includes the book, God’s Recipe for a Wonderful Life. This book easy to read book will expand your understanding of the Commandments and guide you in teaching them to your children. 

Don’t be intimidated. It is actually quite easy and fun. There is a short narrative for each Commandment and a Family Activity to make the Commandments come alive and show how relevant they are in everyday family life. We suggest making the Family Activity part of your Sunday family time.  

"'Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?' He answered him, 'Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.'" (Matthew 19:16)

The Ten Commandments are God's laws that show us how to live and how to have eternal life. 

The Commandments are not a list of outdated rules, but are relevant every day. They prepare children to avoid the landmines of our culture and make decisions that pave the way for a promising future here on earth, and with Jesus in heaven.

They are listed in order and build on one another. "The Ten Commandments state what is required in the love of God and love of neighbor. The first three concern love of God, and the other seven love of neighbor." (CCC 2067).

For additional Ten Commandment resources, Click Here.

HOW will I get the most out of this program? WE have an acronym that we'd like to share:

1. H = Honest. Be honest with yourself and with others. God has called you to be a living example and role model for the people in your life. Reflect on these questions:

• Are you living the life worthy of Heaven?
• Do I want to change for God?
• Do I care what happens to the souls of the children in my life?
• Do I want to become a saint?

If you answered "no" to any of these questions, you should reflect, pray, and reach out to a trusted adult, like a priest or staff member for guidance and support.

1. O = Open. God will always knock on the doors of our hearts, but the door knob is on the inside. We have to be open to let God in and speak to us. We must be open and receptive with open hearts to receive whatever it is God is telling us. 
2. W = Willing. God gave us something called "free will". We all have a choice to follow God or not, it is totally up to us. A relationship with God, takes effort on our part. Prayer, perseverance, patience, sacrifice, and of course, love.

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.'" (Matthew 16:24-26).

The Ten Commandments are listed two separate times in the Bible: Exodus 20:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. Also, you can explore each Commandment using the links below.   

1. I am the Lord your God: you shall not have strange gods before me.
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. 
3. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.
4. Honor your father and your mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

"Catechism" is the name given to a written work that contains a summary of all the beliefs of the faith. It is a wonderful resource for the family to understand the Catholic teachings. Every catholic family would be well served to own a copy. Click here to purchase a copy of the CCC. 

The Catechism is comprised of 4 Parts. One entire Part is dedicated to the Ten Commandments. 

Click here to view the online Catechism of the Catholic Church.