Pope Francis against un-Christian Donald Trump, Mexico wall, 'false prophets' in Election 2016

In a bizarre election, one of the biggest #Election 2016 oddities was the Catholic vote. As Catholics rallied to support "pro-life" Donald Trump and oppose "pro-choice" Hillary Clinton, their leader Pope Francis went the opposite way. Without naming names, the Pope warned against tyrannical governmental terrorism, fear-mongering and "false prophets." He alluded to un-Christian, anti-life Trump policies including a proposed wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Pope Francis opposes un-Christian Donald Trump, walls, 'false prophets' in Election 2016

Halloween candy leftovers use-up recipes, ways to reuse stale candy from Trick-or-Treat

Trick-or-treat is over and now your kids have a haul of Halloween candy. Maybe you're stuck with stale candy you couldn't give away because it rained on Halloween or you didn't get as many trick-or-treating children. You might not be thinking Lenten activities at Halloween, but it's a great time to really. Here are pay-it-forward ways to get a jump on Lent virtues of sharing, almsgiving and even fasting with these candy use-up ideas. Halloween candy leftovers use-up recipes, ways to reuse stale candy from Trick-or-Treat

Free printable Passover kids crafts, Jewish activities on Hebrew Pesach holidays

 Passover or Pesach, is a high celebration in the Jewish Hebrew calendar. Passover is an eight-day holiday, beginning with two days of no work, four days of limited work and ending with two days of no work. The Passover celebration includes several Seder meals, with roast lamb, bitter herbs and matzo bread. Passover, or Pesach commemorates the passing over of the angel of death during the ten plagues of Egypt. God punished the Egyptians for the enslavement of the Hebrews. First born male infants were to die unless the blood of a lamb was put on the lintels and door posts. Passover, or Pesach, is part of Christian calendar as well; it was at the Passover meal that Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist or communion.  Free printable Passover kids crafts, Jewish activities on Hebrew Pesach holidays | Examiner.com

Lenten almsgiving: No-cost good deeds, donations, ROAK, volunteer work for kids | Examiner.com

 Catholics around the world enter into the penitential season of Lent on Ash Wednesday. In 2016, Ash Wednesday will be on Feb. 10. Starting after Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), until Easter, Catholics practice Lenten virtues of prayer, fasting and almsgiving (charitable giving) Catholics "give up things" in sacrifice for others and in imitation of Jesus's temptation in the desert. So abstaining--got it. But what about almsgiving if you're poor yourself? What about kids who typically don't have much money? Can they practice Lent sacrifice? Yes, because almsgiving doesn't have to involve donations of money. You can make donations of time and talent as well as treasure. Here are no-cost good deeds, ROAK (Random Acts of Kindness) and volunteer work for kids. Use this Lenten calendar of no-cost good deeds, one for every day of Lent.  Lenten almsgiving: No-cost good deeds, donations, ROAK, volunteer work for kids | Examiner.com

Pancake Day recipes, Shrove Tuesday pancakes, waffles for Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday feast

Happy Pancake Day! Also called Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday, it's the day Catholics celebrate in preparation for Ash Wednesday and the sacrificial Lenten season. Catholics give up things for Lent. Traditionally that meant abstaining from meat, dairy, eggs, fat and sugar for 40 days till Easter. So they would use up or "shrive" the house of those foods and make them into pancakes. A house shriven (purged) of temptation symbolizes a soul purged of sin (Catholics also to confession before Lent to ready themselves for the penitential season). Here are delicious pancake and waffle recipes for Pancake Day. You can cheat and use pancake mix--the best is Krusteaz Honey Wheat. Krusteaz uses unbleached and whole grain flour. Pancake Day recipes, Shrove Tuesday pancakes, waffles for Mardi Gras feast 

Free printable Catholic rosary coloring: Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious mysteries

Catholic and Orthodox Christians have a devotion to the Mother of God, the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our Lady taught to the Catholic faithful to pray the rosary--the Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious mysteries--to turn the focus away from selfishness and onto her son Jesus Christ. Here are free printable Catholic rosary coloring pages and Marian devotional activities. The events in the rosary are called mysteries because they are so miraculous that human beings can't fully understand them.   Free printable Catholic rosary coloring: Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious mysteries

Catholic Lenten fasting: Vegan pretzel recipes, pretzels object lessons for Lent

Pretzels date back almost 14 centuries to an Italian monk, who, while baking bread for Lent, twisted a roll of dough to resemble the sign of the cross. To genuflect or make the sign of the cross is a prayer posture of Catholic Christians. Pretzels have become a traditional Lenten fasting food as they are made without sugar, fat, meat or dairy. In traditional Catholic homes, all fat, dairy and sweeteners are used up on Shrove Tuesday (also called Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday) in anticipation of the "vegan" Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lenten fasting. Shrove Tuesday is also sometimes called Pancake Day because these ingredients were made into pancakes for the pre Lenten Mardi Gras feast. During Lent, Catholic Christians observe meatless Lenten fasting on Fridays. They may refrain from eating fats, oil, butter, sugar, sweets and dairy products as a spiritual Lenten fasting.   Catholic Lenten fasting: Vegan pretzel recipes, pretzels object lessons for Lent | Examiner.com

Free printable Catholic liturgical calendars with 2016 holidays and holy days

Liturgical calendars guide the Catholic and Orthodox Christian church year. They show when holidays, holy days, saints' feast days, movable feasts and seasons occur. Parents and teachers can use them plan devotions and activities, Homeschool families can follow the calendar at home. Here are free printable Catholic liturgical calendars and church season activities.   Free printable Catholic liturgical calendars with 2016 holidays and holy days | Examiner.com

Teach kids awareness of poverty, curb selfishness, entitlement, develop empathy | Examiner.com

 Ever get tired of seeing entitlement and selfishness in kids? It is annoying, but so are people who complain about insensitive, lazy, unappreciative "kids today." Like entitlement was never a problem before this generation and all who came before were models of selflessness. They weren't--selfishness has been a problem since time began. Where do these self-righteous folks think children learned selfishness? By watching adults! If kids lack sensitivity, it's because adults have fail ed to model it. Parents and all of society must demonstrate compassion or it has no right to complain. Children learn empathy, especially with those in need. Here are ways to break children's selfishness and entitlement attitude and develop empathy, awareness of poverty, sensitivity, compassion and generosity.  Teach kids awareness of poverty, curb selfishness, entitlement, develop empathy | Examiner.com