Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Kindergarten – 3rd grade
The children are ending the year in the atrium with the celebration of Pentecost. We begin the celebration by acknowledging the special Church time period we are in. We then go on to proclaim that Jesus promised his disciples that, after he died and rose and ascended to the Father, another gift would be sent to them, the gift of the Holy Spirit. He also told them to wait in the city of Jerusalem until “power from on high” would come to them.
The readings we proclaim are Acts 2:1-4 for the Kindergarteners and Acts 2:1-11 for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders. We lift up the many images found in the text – “mighty wind and flames.” We also lift up the gift of the apostles speaking in many languages. We ponder what Good News they suddenly had the courage to proclaim. We also announce that with the coming of the Holy Spirit, we are invited to share in the gifts of the Spirit of the Lord proclaimed in Isaiah 11:2-3a. We light seven red candles, as we name the seven gifts – wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, the fear of the Lord and piety. We hear in John 16:24 “Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.” The children are then invited to prayerfully consider which particular gift they would like to ask for. It is very meaningful to the children as we light their candle from the particular red candle that signifies the gift they most want to receive. After the
lighting of the candles the children have the opportunity to respond through silence, spontaneous prayer and songs.
The Holy Spirit in our lives: As we enter into the summer months, how will we live well in light of the great gift we have been given through the Holy Spirit? How could we continue to allow ourselves to be transformed and also respond to that gift by assisting the growth of the Kingdom of God around us?
• Tune your ear to references to the Holy Spirit in Scripture passages and in the prayers of the liturgy.
• Do some research on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and then choose one gift each week, asking the Holy Spirit to stir up that gift within you, that he might help you to live as Christ in the world.
• Think of one way you and your family could live in service of others each month in the summer and then prepare by taking time together as a family to ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen you in your work.
4th grade religion has focused on the Beatitudes we have been defining each beatitude using skits, watching Douglas a very informative puppet, and Jared Dees's beautiful book Beatitales 80 Fables about the Beatitudes for Children.
We will end the year with discussing the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. The last week of school the 4th graders will watch a movie about Mother Teresa.
The students acted out the ascension this week.
5th grade religion Vatican Projects are due Tuesday May 21st! We cannot wait to see their creative approach to this assignment.
We are wrapping up the sacraments and the students role played the sacrament of reconciliation. Next week we head to the Vatican!
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