Our Lady of Fatima & Summer
Jul 11, 2026
Our Lady of Fatima
On this day in 1917, three shepherd children in a small Portuguese village saw something that would change the Church and the world. Our Lady appeared to Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta in the fields where they tended their flocks and asked them to pray the Rosary every day for peace. She returned five more times. She showed them a vision of hell. She asked for the consecration of Russia. She promised that in the end, her Immaculate Heart would triumph. What strikes us most as homeschooling families is who she chose. Not theologians or bishops. Children. Children who were outdoors, doing simple work, and already praying. Fatima reminds us that the spiritual life of our children is not something we build on top of their education. It is the ground beneath everything. Pray the Rosary with your family today. Our Lady asked for it, and she does not ask for what is unnecessary.
"Pray the Rosary every day to obtain peace for the world." — Our Lady of Fatima
Your Summer at Home Starts Here
School is winding down. Here's how to keep the learning alive while taking a break:
Listen. Sign up for the Classical Encounters newsletter and receive a free 30-Day Orchestral Listening Guide — one masterpiece a day, delivered to your inbox.
Parlez. Free sample week of a beginner French course for upper elementary and high school students. Relatable everyday conversations. Full course launches in June.
Read. CHECH Summer Reading — register in May, read in June, celebrate in July. Members only.
Dissect. Doc Dissections at The Health Museum — real organ dissections guided by doctors. Heart, brain, spinal cord, and more. Sessions selling out fast.
Explore.Free science programs from Texas Wildlife Association — TEKS-aligned lessons for K–12, Critter Connections Magazine (free quarterly for ages 13 and under), a Lesson Portal with downloadable activities, and distance learning videos available 24/7. All free.
Play. Kids Bowl Free all summer at Main Event Webster. Free Tuesdays at the Houston Zoo (July/August tickets open June 24th at 7 p.m.). Free Second Sundays at the Houston Arboretum. George Observatory Summer Stargazing in Needville. Check your local library for summer reading programs, and many restaurants reward readers too — Pizza Hut, Panda Express, and Nothing Bundt Cakes all run free summer programs. See our full list on the Summer Reading page.
Discover. America 250 Guide— Fleet Week, Freedom Plane at HMNS, Independence Hall at HCU, and 40+ local museums and historic sites.
Go. Summer camps are filling up. Browse options on our Summer Programs page.
Join. Use code REGINA26 for $5 off CHECH membership through May 31. Join now.
Community Spotlight
St. Michael's Homeschool Group (Sugar Land)
St. Michael's is a Catholic homeschool group in Sugar Land offering community and support for families through enrichment activities and park meet-ups. Connect with them on Band. CHECH members can find St. Michael's and other area groups on our Community Groups page.
Upcoming in Houston
UST Summer Literary Series — Free Public Readings | June 8–16 | University of St. Thomas, Cullen Hall | Evening readings by Ron Hansen, Sally Read, Christopher Beha, Kevin Hart, Karen Ullo, and Alfred Nicol | 7:15 p.m. nightly | Free
Great Books: Classical Civilization — Oxrose Academy | Online summer course | May 25–July 17 | Homer, Plato, Virgil, Cicero, Plutarch | Juniors and seniors, 3.0+ GPA | Dual credit available through Benedictine College
THSC Leader Summit — Houston | May 27 | Tools for homeschool group leaders
Chatechism — Catholic AI Companion | AI tool grounded in the Catechism, Scripture, papal writings, Church Fathers, and the saints | Free tier available | A great resource for catechism study and apologetics
Picasso–Klee–Matisse: Masterpieces from the Museum Berggruen — MFAH | Opens May 20 | U.S. debut of 95+ works — Picasso, Klee, Matisse, Giacometti, Cézanne | Free for children 12 and under
Looking for more? Visit our Community Calendar for upcoming events across the Houston Catholic homeschool community.
Classical Encounters helps families experience the power of orchestral music at home. Their free 30-Day Listening Guide delivers one masterpiece a day to your inbox with tips for how to truly enter into the music — play it loud, listen with intention, and let the full sonic landscape of each piece unfold. Sign up through their newsletter to get started. CHECH members receive a discount on their full program through the Member Discounts page.
