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February 2 – Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord creates a fitting transition from Christmas to Easter. The small Christ-Child is still in His Mother's arms, but already she is offering Him in sacrifice.
February 2 - World Day for Consecrated Life
Please pray for all those who have made commitments in the consecrated life, and be sure to thank them on their special day. May they continue to be inspired by Jesus Christ and respond generously to God's gift of their vocation.
February 11 - Our Lady of Lourdes
 Our Lady has appeared to many people throughout history, including a fourteen-year-old girl named Bernadette in Lourdes, France.
Observing the Lenten Season
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 22 this year. Check out the many online Lenten resources available, and watch for additional resources in next month's Family Matters!
- Loyola Press - resources for your Lenten journey
- Catechist's Journey - articles, activities, and prayers
- Pray with the Hallow App
- YoungCatholics.com - Sunday themes, resources, prayers, games, and more!
- Dynamic Catholic - prayers, ideas, and sign up for Best Lent Ever emails
- Sadlier Religion - activities, prayers, and more!
February 22 - Ash Wednesday
 Check out these resources for making your Ash Wednesday a holy entrance into the Lenten season.
February 22 - Feast Day of the Chair of St. Peter
This is a day set aside to pray for Pope Francis, past popes, and future popes.
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January 29 - February 4 – Catholic Schools Week
 The Archdiocese of Dubuque is blessed with Catholic schools that help parents teach the Catholic faith to over 11,000 children across the archdiocese, forming them as followers of Jesus. Join Catholic schools from across the country in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Catholic Schools Week! Pray for Catholic school teachers and staff, pastors, parents, and children as they thank God for and celebrate Catholic school education! Additional free resources and ideas can be found here!
February is Black History Month
Learn about Black Catholics and celebrate the influential lives and beautiful witness of those who broke racial barriers and fought against racial injustice while spreading the word of God. Learn about and pray with Black Americans with the Prayer Service found here.
February 8 - International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking
On this day, Catholics all over the world are encouraged to host or attend prayer services to create greater awareness about and combat the tragic reality of human trafficking.
February 11 - World Day of the Sick and National Shut-in Visitation Day
World Day of the Sick coincides with the commemoration of Our Lady of Lourdes, and is a great opportunity for us to pray for the sick, and for those who care for them. National Shut-In Visitation Day is also observed on February 11. If you have a family friend, relative, or neighbor who is homebound, take a few moments out of your day to visit or call and say hi and brighten that person’s day. 
February 14 - Valentine's Day
Learn about the real St. Valentine. Make heart-shaped snacks and deliver them to elderly neighbors or family members, especially ones that might not get a lot of visitors. Make Valentine crafts or send Scripture-based Valentines this year.
February 20 - Mardi Gras
'Mardi Gras' is French for "Fat Tuesday." It is the day before Ash Wednesday and the forty days of Lent. Join as a family to pray this Mardi Gras Prayer. Watch this video to learn how Mardi Gras is a Church tradition! Learn more about Mardi Gras here.
Winter Activity Ideas
Winter Activities for Catholic Families
February Activities for Catholic Families
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My Valentine for Jesus
 This board book has a sweet message about loving Jesus with all our heart. It reminds young children to share Jesus' love with family, and to remember the most important Valentine of all: Jesus!
This book is available for sign-out from Faith Formation Resources: #BK 201312
Order the book here.
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THE CHILDREN OF FATIMA
Celebrating the Day the Sun Danced
 On February 20, we remember Saints Jacinta and Francisco Marto. In 1917, Francisco and Jacinta, and their cousin Lucia experienced a great miracle. The blessed Mother visited them not once, but many times. Yet, no one believed them until one day the sun danced! Here are some ways for your kids to learn about the children of Fatima:
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COMMUNICATION TIPS
 Teens and 'tweens often feel insecure about themselves and their social acceptability, and are extremely vulnerable to pressure from their peers to fit in. Those who develop high self-esteem and healthy values are less likely to give in to peer pressure. In order to build self-esteem, it is important to develop a relationship with your children that is based on mutual respect. Click HERE to find helpful advice for building communication with your 'tweens and teens!
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FEBRUARY IS THE MONTH OF THE HOLY FAMILY!
 February marks a transition from the feast of Christmas to the fasting of Lent. Therefore, traditionally, February has become a time to recall the Holy Family; within the Holy Family is where Jesus spent the time between his birth and embarking on his public ministry. To celebrate the Month of the Holy Family, pick a day (or more!) to spend together doing family activities all day, such as games, family prayer, outdoor fun, a movie night, or whatever activity your family loves best! Check out the Archdiocese of Dubuque website for more family prayer resources!
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NATIONAL MARRIAGE WEEK
February 7 - 14, 2023
 National Marriage Week
This year's theme, "Marriage...one flesh, given and received" highlights the one-flesh union of husband and wife that is willed by God, and the personal self-gift of each spouse, and points to Christ who gives Himself to us in the Eucharist. Join your spouse in offering a Prayer for Married Couples, or take a Seven-Day Virtual Marriage Retreat. Additional information and resources can be found here.
February 12 - World Marriage Day
 Sponsored by Worldwide Marriage Encounter, World Marriage Day highlights the beauty of marriage and honors husbands and wives for their faithfulness and sacrifices to one another. Couples are encouraged to talk about true married love as a perfect union and a noble vocation to be lived out together. Marriage creates families that become domestic churches forming souls for Christ!
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GRANDPARENTS: KEEPERS OF THE FAMILY'S STORIES
 Deacon Gary and Kay Aitchison live in Ames, Iowa and have 14 grandchildren. In their article, Grandparents: Keepers of the Family's Stories, they share that "grandparents, more than anyone else, are the keepers of the family stories. They are a living bridge between the past and the future of a family. Their intimate connection with the two generations that preceded them and the two that follow gives them a remarkable knowledge and view of the landscape of five generations." Click here to read the Aitchisons' article and discover some ways that grandparents can share family stories with their grandchildren.
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OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE
Parent-to-Parent / Peer-to-Peer: Share the Special Journey
 Have you experienced the struggles and joys of caring for a family member living with a disability? Have you become disabled due to an accident? Do you find comfort in accompanying others who share similar experiences? If you are interested in providing guidance and support through the maze of emotional, health, educational and transitional times, please contact Deacon Steve MacDonald (stevekathymac@gmail.com), Spiritual Director for Disability Inclusion Ministries and parent of a child with special needs, or Lynne Chapman (L.Chapman@dbqarch.org), Archdiocesan Coordinator of Disability Inclusion.
For additional information and resources for inclusion of persons with diverse abilities, please contact Lynne Chapman at l.chapman@dbqarch.org or 563-556-2580, ext. 246.
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February Pinterest Highlights for Families
From the Archdiocese of Dubuque Pinterest Boards: www.pinterest.com/dbqarch
Check out these February Pinterest topics focused on the family - the Domestic Church!
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LENTEN FASTING AND ABSTINENCE
 Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence. The norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Catholic Church from age 14 onwards. Additional information can be found here. Download these printable fasting guidelines. Read A Reflection on Lenten Fasting.
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2023 Beauty in Christ Archdiocesan Women's Virtual Conference
 "Fiat! Saying Yes to God!"
Saturday, January 28, 2023 8:00 AM - 1:30 PM
 There's still time to register for this year's virtual conference! The conference enables women to participate from the comfort of their own homes or to gather in parishes to experience the event together! The theme of the conference is "Fiat! Saying Yes to God!" and will include keynote presentations by national speaker and author Marcia Lane-McGee and local women's health educator, Jamie Rathjen. Visit www.archwomensconference.org for more information and registration!
2023 Archdiocese of Dubuque Men's Conference
Saturday, March 25, 2023 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
 You’re invited to the 27th Annual Archdiocese of Dubuque Men’s Conference on Saturday, March 25, 2023 at Mt. Mercy University in Cedar Rapids (with live-stream available)! This conference will be held on the Solemnity of the Annunciation and will focus on the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in our lives. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Edward Sri, a world-renowned author and speaker, and co-founder of FOCUS (the Fellowship of Catholic University Students). The day will also include Mass celebrated by Archbishop Michael Jackels and breakout sessions presented by local speakers. For more information and registration, please visit www.archmensconference.org.
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A Valentine's Day Prayer for Parents
God of Love, I submit myself to You.
I realize that teaching the faith in the way You would have me do is beyond my human abilities.
I know I need You to help me.
I want to partner with You,
and partake of Your gifts of wisdom, discernment, revelation, and guidance.
I also need Your strength and patience,
along with a generous portion of Your love flowing through me.
Teach me how to love the way You love.
Where I need to be healed, delivered, changed, matured, or made whole,
I invite You to do that in me.
Help me to walk in righteousness and integrity before You.
Teach me your ways, enable me to obey Your commandments
and do only what is pleasing in Your sight.
May the beauty of Your Spirit be so evident in me that I will be a holy role model.
Give me the communication, teaching, and nurturing skills that I must have.
Make me the parent You want me to be
and teach me how to pray and truly intercede for the lives of this family entrusted to my care.
Lord, You have assured us that,
"Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive" (Matthew 21:22).
In Jesus' name, I ask that You will increase my faith
and give me wisdom and compassion to share Your love. Amen.
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Upcoming Opportunities for Teaching the Faith
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PLEASE NOTE:
SAINTS OF THE MONTH can now be found on the Archdiocesan Website!
Click HERE for the home page.
(Each month is listed separately in the lefthand column.)
Click HERE for the FEBRUARY Saints of the Month!
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Check out the following online resources with prayers and reflections, blogs,
discussion groups, tools for parents and catechists, and more:
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