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Faith & Family Live is where everyday moms offer one another inspiration, support, and encouragement in Catholic living. Anyone grappling with the meaning of life or the cleaning of laundry is welcome here. Read the blog, check out our magazine, join our community, learn more about our mission, and come on in! READ MORE

Bloggers

Meet the Faith & Family bloggers. We invite you to join us in encouraging and helping the Faith & Family community grow in faith!

Danielle Bean

Danielle Bean
Danielle Bean, a mother of eight, is editor-in-chief of Catholic Digest and Faith & Family. She is author of My Cup of Tea, Mom to Mom, Day to Day, and most recently Small Steps for Catholic Moms. Though she once struggled to separate her life and her …
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Rachel Balducci

Rachel Balducci
Rachel Balducci is married to Paul and they are the parents of five lively boys and one precious baby girl. She is the author of How Do You Tuck In A Superhero?, and is a newspaper columnist for the Diocese of Savannah, Georgia. For the past four years, she has …
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Lisa Hendey

Lisa Hendey
Lisa Hendey is the founder and editor of CatholicMom.com and the author of A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms and The Handbook for Catholic Moms. Lisa is also enjoys speaking around the country, is employed as webmaster for her parish web sites and spends time on various …
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Arwen Mosher

Arwen Mosher
Arwen Mosher lives in southeastern Michigan with her husband Bryan and their 4-year-old daughter, 2-year-old son, and twin boys born May 2011. She has a bachelor's degree in theology. She dreads laundry, craves sleep, loves to read novels and do logic puzzles, and can't live without tea. Her personal blog site …
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Rebecca Teti

Rebecca Teti
Rebecca Teti is married to Dennis and has four children (3 boys, 1 girl) who -- like yours no doubt -- are pious and kind, gorgeous, and can spin flax into gold. A Washington, DC, native, she converted to Catholicism while an undergrad at the U. Dallas, where she double-majored in …
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Robyn Lee

Robyn Lee
Robyn Lee is a 30-something, single lady, living in Connecticut in a small bungalow-style kit house built by her great uncle in the 1950s. She also conveniently lives next door to her sister, brother-in-law and six kids ... and two doors down are her parents. She received her undergraduate degree from …
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DariaSockey

DariaSockey
Daria Sockey is a freelance writer and veteran of the large family/homeschooling scene. She recently returned home from a three-year experiment in full time outside employment. (Hallelujah!) Daria authored several of the original Faith&Life Catechetical Series student texts (Ignatius Press), and is currently a Senior Writer for Faith&Family magazine. A latecomer …
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Guest Bloggers

Kate Lloyd

Kate Lloyd
Kate Lloyd is a rising senior, and a political science major at Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in New Hampshire. While not in school, she lives in Whitehall PA, with her mom, dad, five sisters and little brother. She needs someone to write a piece about how it's possible to …
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Lynn Wehner

Lynn Wehner
As a wife and mother, writer and speaker, Lynn Wehner challenges others to see the blessings that flow when we struggle to say "Yes" to God’s call. Control freak extraordinaire, she is adept at informing God of her brilliant plans and then wondering why the heck they never turn out that …
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First Communion Celebrations

Do you have a special First Communion this year?

This week, I am in Chicago in preparation for my nephew Evan’s First Communion next weekend. As his Godmother, I am thrilled beyond measure to have the chance to be with him as he celebrates this important milestone in his life. I had the chance to go to Mass with Evan last night, and again this morning for his school Mass, and I know that he is anxious for his big day. I also know that Evan and his... READ MORE 


Verifying Mass Attendance

Is it necessary? How does your parish do it?

[Please note that there are now over 50 comments, which is where our pagination system kicks in. To see comments over 50, please go to the second page.]

Yesterday, I had an interesting conversation with one of our readers. This mom had just come from a recent First Communion preparation meeting with her First Grader, a Catholic school student who will be receiving his sacraments next Spring.

One of... READ MORE 


Rejoice!

The season for it

Our parish does First Communion on Easter. In his homily Sunday morning our pastor talked about why they do this: because they want to form a connection in the children’s minds and hearts between the Resurrection and the Eucharist.

He told a story of a little boy in the first communion class a few years ago who bounded up to him before Mass and shouted, “Father, Father! I can’t believe I get to receive... READ MORE 


Sacramental Gifts that Keep On Giving

What is your gift of choice?

I loved this recent article at the Catholic News Service Blog that reported on a young Confirmand’s decision to donate the cash gifts she received for her Confirmation to a worthy cause.

Brianna’s decision to donate to the Alzheimer’s Association on behalf of her beloved Grandmother brought a smile to my face - how wonderful that in seeking spiritual formation, she also learned the value of service... READ MORE 


First Communion Photo Etiquette

What's appropriate?

I received a very thoughtful email today from a photographer who was hired to shoot photos before, during and after an upcoming First Communion mass.  She posed the following question:

I am familiar with the customary poses of the child with hands folded and the group of children and the child and family.  What I am wondering about are photos during mass.  Being an avid scrapbooker I have always wanted... READ MORE 


Sacramental Lego

a creative way to commemorate the day

I was enchanted by this email from reader Becky Thomson, describing a special Lego project her husband worked on with their son as a gift to William, who is receiving his First Communion this year:

“I just had to tell you what my husband and kindergartener made for the First Holy Communion of our second grader, William. We have three boys (ages 10, 8 and 5) so hardly a day goes by when they aren’t... READ MORE 


Joyful Parenting and First Communions

Join us for a chat on this week's podcast

Download Podcast

This week on the podcast (click here to listen or click on the player above), we look at the challenges of joyfully parenting little ones when life can be filled with so many physical and emotional challenges.  How do you train your children under five in the basics of life?  How do you keep yourself from going crazy or burning out when there are so many demands upon your time, strength and mind?

... READ MORE 

First Communion Preparation at Home

What would you recommend?

I was recently contacted by a mother with the following question:

Hello Lisa. I am a catholic Mom living in Indonesia and I need to home school my 8 year old daughter for her first communion. We do have a priest that visits once a month for mass but during the interim it is up to us (her parents) to fulfill our obligations to raising her in the Catholic faith. What are your recommendations for teaching... READ MORE 


First Communion Story Contest

Share yours and enter to win

Earlier today, Danielle pointed you to some absolutely wonderful First Communion gifts at our Catholic.net store.  Her post reminded me to share with you a very fun contest that is currently underway at FirstCommunionStories.com

Readers are being invited to share a special story about their First Communion Day or their children’s special sacramental celebration.  One lucky winner will be rewarded... READ MORE 


Gorgeous Gifts for First Communion

Choose something special for the special day

It’s almost First Communion season!

Do you know someone special who will be receiving their First Communion this spring? Now is the time to think about a special way to honor their special day.

Making your purchases through The First Communion Store at Catholic.net is one way that you can support Faith & Family while finding some beautiful gifts.

The pretty crystal Rosary bracelet featured here... READ MORE 


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