September 21st Pastor's Message
- Communications AllSaints
- Sep 20
- 2 min read
Read this week's message from Father Don
Dear friends,
Modern life is very busy, not only for young families but for employees, priests, grandparents and everyone else. We find it hard to slow down, even when we recognize this would be for our good. We struggle to maintain a balanced and healthy lifestyle.
Here are some suggestions from parishioners on how they try to balance their lifestyle:
Time
Spend time around the dining table, snacking and talking. Talk to each other every day, but especially when someone is hurt or sad or needs to forgive or be forgiven.
Say “no” to extra activities when they start to overwhelm your schedule and try to keep any extracurricular activities on the weekdays (or don’t enroll your kids in extracurriculars). Sometimes you need to say 'no' to good things.
Reduce the number of devices in the home, e.g. one TV and one iPad. Limit your kids’ screen time and give them lots of independent outdoor time.
Include everyone in activities. “If the kids are playing video games, their father plays too.” Play together with the kids, with no distractions, right after dinner.
Be intentional about the weekend. “One day is dedicated to resting and attending Mass, while the other is spent visiting a park, play area or new restaurant.”
Hold regular family meetings. “Each child gets the chance to be chairperson and set the agenda, e.g. the route for trick or treating. They fix the snacks, and run the meeting.”
Money
Buy second-hand and accept hand-me-downs from neighbors, friends and family. Keep it simple with your kids' clothes/entertainment. Take inexpensive vacations, e.g. road trips to visit family.
Limit your spending by cooking and eating at home. Dinner together is very important.
Prayer
Morning prayer together in the car and grace before meals, which are always at the table and together. Also bedtime prayer. Parents should take time to pray together as a couple.
Parent time
Have quality one-on-one time several nights a week, after the kids have gone to bed
Communicate about how to spend your time and money, ensuring that you are aligned with your family values. Be vulnerable with your feelings and discuss things that impact your life.
I think these are great suggestions.
It is good for us to be clear about our priorities. What is important to me and my family? How do we want to relate to each other? What practical decisions do we need to make to ensure our family life is stable and balanced?
Our lives are largely shaped by our behaviour. Let us ask God to assist us with living good and sensible lives.
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