Ministry in Motion
Do you know of someone we should feature in Ministry in Motion? Please e-mail me with your ideas.
-Karen
kcurtis@dor.org
-Karen
kcurtis@dor.org
3350 Union St. P.O. Box 399, North Chili, N.Y. 14514, 585-594-1400
St. Christopher's Church
Teach Our Children Well:
The DiCesare Family way of life
The DiCesare Family way of life
This is my second article to spotlight persons around us who are truly living a Christian life and maybe do not appreciate how special they are. For these individuals, being Christian is not just part of life, it is part of their being. It is the life they live and how they function in this sometimes unchristian world.
Christian morals and values are taught to us by many individuals. What is taught in the home has the greatest impact on our being. In our homes we begin to learn what is "normal" is what we are living. Life is sometimes harsh and unforgiving. It is easy to sit back and say that a life of hardship is due to the choices the person has made. So what if your "normal" is not a home filled with kindness and compassion? What if you grow up in an environment that is not based on Christ's teachings? What about the lives of the children who have no control over the choices that effect their lives? When you live a life of cruelty, this is your "normal". Are children who suffer a life of abuse and neglect destine to repeat what they have learned is "normal"? Possibly.... if so, how does this pain end and what do we, as Christians, do about this suffering?
When Heidi was growing-up she was raised in one of those homes with a set of parents who loved and respected their children. Her "normal" was a bit different from the statistical average of that day. Her parents were foster parents. Her home was filled with many different brothers and sisters. Some adopted and some foster. By the actions of her parents she began to see "normal" as a life of true acceptance and unconditional love. Her life was impacted by the very Christian act of caring for other peoples children. They helped many children learn that there were adults in the world who do provide a life of love and compassion; a normal life not filled with hurt.
So what do you do when you grow up in a life of loving foster parents? Why you marry a man who is willing to have a house filled with foster children of course! What else would be normal? Heidi and her husband have been married for 20 yrs. Of those 20 yrs they have been foster parents for the past 19 to 40-50 children. Along the way, times have not always been easy. To feed a family the size of theirs it is very costly. Bills always need to be paid. The one thing they can always count on is that love and acceptance will fill their house because that is their "normal". When you grow up with that type of life.... well sometimes you can't help but pass the gift on to your children.
The gift of loving, and teaching another persons child is a gift that will last forever. You not only give yourself the pleasure of watching that child grow, but continues in the child's ability to love one another. When Heidi's parents opened the door of their home to a foster child, they taught Heidi the greatest lesson to be taught; kindness and compassion. What would Christ have wanted to be normal? Love one another as I have loved you comes to mind. Are we our brother's keeper? That is for each of us to decide. In the DiCesare Family surely we are our nieces' and nephews' keeper.
Christian morals and values are taught to us by many individuals. What is taught in the home has the greatest impact on our being. In our homes we begin to learn what is "normal" is what we are living. Life is sometimes harsh and unforgiving. It is easy to sit back and say that a life of hardship is due to the choices the person has made. So what if your "normal" is not a home filled with kindness and compassion? What if you grow up in an environment that is not based on Christ's teachings? What about the lives of the children who have no control over the choices that effect their lives? When you live a life of cruelty, this is your "normal". Are children who suffer a life of abuse and neglect destine to repeat what they have learned is "normal"? Possibly.... if so, how does this pain end and what do we, as Christians, do about this suffering?
When Heidi was growing-up she was raised in one of those homes with a set of parents who loved and respected their children. Her "normal" was a bit different from the statistical average of that day. Her parents were foster parents. Her home was filled with many different brothers and sisters. Some adopted and some foster. By the actions of her parents she began to see "normal" as a life of true acceptance and unconditional love. Her life was impacted by the very Christian act of caring for other peoples children. They helped many children learn that there were adults in the world who do provide a life of love and compassion; a normal life not filled with hurt.
So what do you do when you grow up in a life of loving foster parents? Why you marry a man who is willing to have a house filled with foster children of course! What else would be normal? Heidi and her husband have been married for 20 yrs. Of those 20 yrs they have been foster parents for the past 19 to 40-50 children. Along the way, times have not always been easy. To feed a family the size of theirs it is very costly. Bills always need to be paid. The one thing they can always count on is that love and acceptance will fill their house because that is their "normal". When you grow up with that type of life.... well sometimes you can't help but pass the gift on to your children.
The gift of loving, and teaching another persons child is a gift that will last forever. You not only give yourself the pleasure of watching that child grow, but continues in the child's ability to love one another. When Heidi's parents opened the door of their home to a foster child, they taught Heidi the greatest lesson to be taught; kindness and compassion. What would Christ have wanted to be normal? Love one another as I have loved you comes to mind. Are we our brother's keeper? That is for each of us to decide. In the DiCesare Family surely we are our nieces' and nephews' keeper.
In conclusion, I would like to say thank you to Heidi, her husband and her parents for all the time they have given to help teach our children well. Heidi and Family, please continue to teach our children well. It is a gift that will last a lifetime and continue on into the next.
Events
NEWS-
FROM St. Christopher's AND A BIT BEYOND
FROM St. Christopher's AND A BIT BEYOND
Green Autumn Harvest Raffle
Use link over tree for more information!
Use link over tree for more information!
A Word from Father:
(use link over cross to view page)
(use link over cross to view page)
Annual Parish Picnic
When: Sunday September 26th @ 12 noon
Where: St. Christopher's Property
What to Bring: Dish to Pass and Lawn Chairs
Where: St. Christopher's Property
What to Bring: Dish to Pass and Lawn Chairs
Please join us for a afternoon full of fun and games. We will have a return of some of the favorite festival games and the silent auction.
New this year we will have a farm animal petting zoo!
and the event we have been waiting for will finally be here ....
the drawing for the Green Autumn Harvest Raffle!
No event is possible without the help of a strong group of volunteers. Please see the sign-up sheets in front of church and see if you can help.
Thank you in advance for your support.
New this year we will have a farm animal petting zoo!
and the event we have been waiting for will finally be here ....
the drawing for the Green Autumn Harvest Raffle!
No event is possible without the help of a strong group of volunteers. Please see the sign-up sheets in front of church and see if you can help.
Thank you in advance for your support.