First Sunday of Advent 2023

 Welcome back to the OLQHS RELIGIOUS INTERACTIVE SITE.

Every Advent, Christmas, Lent & Easter, we come together to walk the journey of the seasons as a school community. We invite you and your family to join us on our journey as we discover a deeper meaning of the Liturgical Seasons.

During Advent, we will be building a JESSE TREE. 

Every day, this site will post a Jesse Tree Symbol that goes with a story from Scripture. There will also be a short commentary about the symbol and scripture. The Liturgical Readings for the Day will be notated, along with any special Feast Days or traditions. Feel free to use the links at the right of the page to navigate to sites, where you can access the Readings for the Day and other information.

We hope that you and your family have a FAITH-FILLED Advent Season.

WHAT IS A JESSE TREE?

The Jesse Tree

"O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign for all people, standing before the silence of kings, to whom the gentiles offer their prayers.  Come and deliver us."

The Jesse Tree helps us to remember that Advent is a time of waiting for the coming of the Savior.  It is a symbol of life and growth and is expressed through the ancestry of an individual.  The image is not unusual to us since we also speak about our family tree or our roots.

Jesse, whom the tree is named after, was the father of King David.  The tree reminds us of all the people who waited for the coming of the Savior.  We decorate the tree with symbols that remind us of some of the people who waited for the coming of the Savior--the patriarchs and matriarchs (our fathers and mothers in faith), the prophets, and the parents of the Lord.

If you would like to have your own Jesse Tree for your family in your home, please refer to links posted on the sidebar for assistance. 

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT 2023

Jesse Tree Story: ADAM & EVE

Jesse Tree Symbol: THE APPLE

Scripture: "I shall put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; it will bruise your head and you will strike its heel."
Genesis 3:15

Commentary: The first promise of the coming of the Redeemer, Christ, was made to Adam and Eve in Paradise after they disobeyed God.

Readings for the Day:
Isaiah 63: 16B, 17-19, 64: 2-7
Psalm 80
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Mark 13:33-37

Thursday after Ash Wednesday 2023

Today's Verse: Original Sin (Genesis 3:1-20)

Symbol: The Apple

" Now the snake was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the LORD God had made. He asked the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You shall not eat from any of the trees in the garden’?” The woman answered the snake: “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; it is only about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, ‘You shall not eat it or even touch it, or else you will die.’ ”But the snake said to the woman: “You certainly will not die! God knows well that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, who know good and evil.” The woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and the tree was desirable for gaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. When they heard the sound of the LORD God walking about in the garden at the breezy time of the day, the man and his wife hid themselves from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. The LORD God then called to the man and asked him: Where are you? He answered, “I heard you in the garden; but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid.” Then God asked: Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat? The man replied, “The woman whom you put here with me—she gave me fruit from the tree, so I ate it.” The LORD God then asked the woman: What is this you have done? The woman answered, “The snake tricked me, so I ate it.” Then the LORD God said to the snake: Because you have done this, cursed are you among all the animals, tame or wild; On your belly you shall crawl, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; They will strike at your head, while you strike at their heel. To the woman he said: I will intensify your toil in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Yet your urge shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you. To the man he said: Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, You shall not eat from it, Cursed is the ground because of you! In toil you shall eat its yield all the days of your life. Thorns and thistles it shall bear for you, and you shall eat the grass of the field. By the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread, until you return to the ground, from which you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return. The man gave his wife the name “Eve,” because she was the mother of all the living."

Collect:

Prompt our actions with your inspiration, we pray, O Lord, and further them with your constant help, that all we do may always begin from you and by you be brought to completion. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Readings of the Day:
Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Psalm 1:1-6
Luke 9:22-25

ASH WEDNESDAY 2023

 Welcome to the Lenten Edition of

OUR LADY QUEEN OF HEAVEN SCHOOL'S
"RELIGIOUS INTERACTIVE" page.

We hope that this page will aid you and your family as you journey through Lent. Special information, additional devotions, the Readings of the Day and the Daily Collect will be posted on this page. We will also be using a series of SYMBOLS and BIBLE VERSES similar to the Jesse Tree but centered around the JOURNEY OF LENT.

Today's Verse: EVEN NOW (Joel 2:12-13)

Symbol: The Heart

"Yet even now - oracle of the Lord - return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Rend you hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting in punishment."

Thank you for journeying with us during this wonderfully reflective season of the Church.
Peace.

ASH WEDNESDAY
Collect: Grant, O Lord, that we may begin with holy fasting this campaign of Christian service, so that, as we take up battle against spiritual evils, we may be armed with weapons of self-restraint. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Readings of the Day:
Joel 2:12-18
Psalm 51
2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Mardi Gras 2023

 We live in an area of the world that celebrates Mardi Gras. The season of Mardi Gras has many connections with the Catholic Church. 

• First of all, the season starts on Epiphany, or "King's Day," when the 3 kings brought the gifts of gold, frankincense and mur to the Christ Child. 
• It is a time when the 3 liturgical seasons of Christmas (gold), Ordinary Time (green) and Lent (purple) come together. 
• The "baby" in the king cake represents the Baby Jesus. 
• The circular formation of the cake represents a crown. 
• Also, it is a time of celebration before the season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. Please refer to the link for more information about the Christian celebration of Mardi Gras.
• Masks equalized the classes and made a level playing field.
• The torches of the flambeau represented the Light in the Darkness.

Thursday of the Second Week of Christmas 2022 (2023)

"On the twelfth day of Christmas...

my true love gave to me....
twelve drummers drumming...."

Symbolism: The twelve drummers drumming symbolize the twelve beliefs stated in the Apostle's Creed.

Scripture: "Now they were persevering in the doctrine of the Apostles, and in the communion of the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers. And fear developed in every soul. Also, many miracles and signs were accomplished by the Apostles in Jerusalem. And there was a great awe in everyone. And then all who believed were together, and they held all things in common."
Acts of the Apostles 2:42-44

Readings of the Day:
1 John 3:11-21
Psalm 100
John 1:43-51

Wednesday of the Second Week of Christmas 2022 (2023)

 "On the eleventh day of Christmas...

my true love gave to me...
eleven pipers piping..."

Symbolism: The "eleven pipers piping" is symbolic of the eleven faithful disciples.

Scripture: "Now the eleven disciples went on to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And, seeing him, they worshiped him, but certain ones doubted. And Jesus, drawing near, spoke to them, saying: “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go forth and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have ever commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, even to the consummation of the age.”
Matthew 28:16-20

Readings for the Day:
1 John 3:7-10
Psalm 98
John 1:35-42

Tuesday of the Second Week of Christmas 2022 (2023)

 "On the tenth day of Christmas...my true love gave to me...ten lords a-leaping..."

Symbolism: The "ten lords a-leaping symbolizes the Ten Commandments."

Scripture: "I was the mediator, for I was in the middle between the Lord and you, at that time, to announce his words to you. For you were afraid of the fire, and so you did not ascend to the mountain. And he said: ‘I am the Lord your God, who led you away from the land of Egypt, from the house of servitude. You shall not have strange gods in my sight.
You shall not make for yourself a graven image, nor the likeness of anything, which is in heaven above, or on earth below, or which abides in the waters under the earth.
You shall not adore and you shall not worship these things. For I am the Lord your God, a jealous God, repaying the iniquity of the fathers upon the sons to the third and fourth generation to those who hate me, and acting with mercy in thousands of ways to those who love me and keep my precepts.
You shall not use the name of the Lord your God in vain. For he will not go unpunished who takes up his name over an unimportant matter. Observe the day of the Sabbath, so that you may sanctify it, just as the Lord your God has instructed you. For six days, you shall labor and do all your work.
The seventh is the day of the Sabbath, that is, the rest of the Lord your God. You shall not do any work in it, nor shall your son, nor daughter, nor man servant, nor woman servant, nor ox, nor donkey, nor any of your cattle, nor the sojourner who is within your gates, so that your men and woman servants may rest, just as you do. Remember that you also were servants in Egypt, and the Lord your God led you away from that place with a strong hand and an outstretched arm. Because of this, he has instructed you so that you would observe the Sabbath day.
Honor your father and mother, just as the Lord your God has instructed you, so that you may live a long time, and so that it may be well with you in the land, which the Lord your God will give to you.
You shall not murder.
And you shall not commit adultery.
And you shall not commit theft.
Neither shall you speak false testimony against your neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his house, nor his field, nor his man servant, nor his woman servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything out of all that is his.’"
Deuteronomy 5:5-21

Readings for the Day:
1 John 2:29-3:6
Psalm 98
Matthew 1:29-34