Resources for the Fifth Week of Ordinary Time, the National Day of Prayer for Victims and Survivors of Human Trafficking, and More!

This Week in Ministry is a product for myUSCCB members that provides timely content every week, formatted for   use in a variety of ways. Whether your content needs include a parish   bulletin, e-newsletter, social media, or more, This Week in Ministry provides solutions, helping you spend less   time planning and more time doing!

Free   Downloadable Video:

• This informative video   provides a quick overview on the problem of human trafficking during this week of special prayer for freedom and healing of victims and survivors of   human trafficking. Download this MP4 file and post it on your parish website or share it in a social   media post. It also makes an excellent discussion starter for presentations about human trafficking. This free   weekly resource is available to myUSCCB members and nonmembers.
 
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Exclusively for   myUSCCB members:
 
  Sunday to Sunday Bulletin Insert:
                                                                       
  • How can the Church provide appropriate pastoral care to its members who are   hospitalized? Who was the twin of St. Benedict? Read Sunday to Sunday for spiritual nourishment, short catechetical items, and   interesting facts about the origins of Catholic customs and liturgical practices.

Prayer to St. Josephine Bakhita:

  • On Sunday, February 8, share this prayer asking for the   intercession of St. Josephine Bakhita on behalf of victims and survivors of human trafficking and other forms of slavery. Feature this prayer in your bulletin or in a social media post. Also available in Spanish!

Blessing of the Season and of a Place of Prayer for Lent:

• From Ash Wednesday (February 18) to Easter (April   5), a place in the home should be set aside for prayer. Distribute this prayer as a bulletin insert or flier to encourage a greater emphasis on family prayer during the upcoming Lenten season.

Ministry Resource:

• As the Year of Consecrated Life continues, check out these suggestions for dioceses,   parishes, and families to foster vocations to consecrated life in a convenient one-page format. Use this resource as a discussion starter to plan how your Catholic community will participate.

Saint of the Week:

  • This week, we celebrate St.   Scholastica whose feast day is February 10. Scholastica is the   patron saint of women religious and the sister of St. Benedict. Use this feature in bulletins, newsletters, websites, and in social media posts.

Fact   of Faith:

• This week, Paulist   Father Larry Rice provides advice on how Catholics can prepare themselves   for hospitalization in an era when many health care facilities do not have full-time Catholic chaplains. Use this brief article in bulletins, newsletters, on parish websites, and in   social media posts. 

Pro-Life Perspective:

• What is human trafficking and what has the Church said about it? Use this article as a   bulletin insert for catechesis, and to educate outreach volunteers on the topic.

Shareable Image:

• This week’s shareable image portrays the pain and desperation of a victim of human trafficking in a photo illustration of a young woman with a message of hope from the Lord through the prophet Ezekiel. Also available in Spanish!

Social Media Post:

• A bride and groom with a quote from 1 Corinthians (Use for National Marriage Week, February 7-14)

• An image of St. Josephine Bakhita (Feast day is February 8)

• Pope Francis anoints a hospitalized man (Use   on February 11 for the World Day of the Sick)

• Spanish text also available!
  • Includes ideas on using images with text on Facebook.

Salt & Light Column:

• Fr. John Crossin reflects on the newsworthy topics of race relations and justice in the United States and ecumenical efforts to address them. Check it out here.

Planning Ahead?
  • Use the myUSCCB calendar to find content months in advance!