Children And Families Ministry Update for the Week of July 26, 2026

Dear families,

The week, we’ll continue our theme of simple Christian practices with a practice often called the Examen, made most famous by St. Ignatius of Loyola.

There are many ways to pray it, and even apps that can guide you through it, but the basic idea is simple: at the end of the day, you prayerfully review the day, asking where you saw God.

The point is not just to review what went well or what went badly, though I find that helpful too. The deeper purpose of the Examen is to notice where God was present.

Ignatius used the language of consolation and desolation. These do not simply mean good things and bad things. Rather, a consolation is something that draws you closer to God, while a desolation is something that pulls you away.

For example, someone may have cut you off on the subway platform, but instead of responding in anger, you prayed for them. That may be a consolation, despite the unpleasant situation. On the other hand, you may have checked everything off your to-do list and had an incredibly productive day, yet ended it feeling restless, isolated, and spiritually dry. That may be desolation, despite getting so much done.

After some practice and prayer, the Holy Spirit begins to reveal things you may have missed at first. Sometimes, simply making it through a hard day is enough to recognize God’s presence in our lives.

If you’re looking for a way to start, at the end of the day, ask: “God, where did you show up today?” and wait to hear what God says.

This is a small practice, but over time it can teach us to notice meaning as the days go by. Not as a blur of tasks, emotions, and interruptions, but as places where God is already present and inviting us to notice.

Here are some resources to explore the Examen further:

Reimagining the Examen App

Spirituality at your fingertips: 5 practical apps

I will be out of town for the next few weeks as I travel to visit friends and family. If you need to get in touch you can reach Ms. Morgan or Ms. Lane.

Please be on the lookout for vital information about the coming CFM year in the coming weeks!

Many blessings,
Fr. Preston

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Upcoming: Welcome Back Dates

September 12: Choir Camp

September 13, Parents’ Meeting and First Formation of the Year