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2009 2010 Church Year Complete A Project

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by Catechist

The PROCEDURE section of this Guide includes convenient verbatim suggestions for presenting the Year of Our Lord 2009-2010 calendar found on pp. 28-29 in the November/December 2009 issue of CATECHIST.

The PROCEDURE section of this Guide includes convenient verbatim suggestions for presenting the Year of Our Lord 2009-2010 calendar found on pp. 28-29 in the November/December 2009 issue of CATECHIST.

CLICK HERE for a convenient Image Key to help you and your students identify the various illustrations in the center of the calendar.

Background

Around 85 A.D., among the small Christian communities near the Aegean Sea, Luke was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write a gospel. Most of the Sunday Gospels proclaimed during the 2009-2010 liturgical year will be from the Gospel of Luke.

Luke was not the first to write an account of the life, death, Resurrection, and teachings of Jesus. As he himself wrote: “Many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us” (Lk 1:1). Among those previous works was the Gospel of Mark, which Luke used as his basic outline. Luke inserted other materials, especially many parables, in producing for a new convert named Theophilus an account to help him “realize the certainty of the teachings you have received” (Lk 1:4). Luke intended his Gospel to be used for catechesis.

Catechists in RCIA and involved in children’s Liturgy of the Word can use the readings from Luke as they are read during the year. Catechists in school-year programs might present the abundant richness of Luke’s parables—many read through the summer—during the Easter Season before the summer break.

One of the most important themes in Luke’s Gospel is “the great reversal.” Mary’s Magnificat (Lk 1:46-55) spells it out: God “has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty” (Lk 1:52-53). In Luke, the “rich” are those who are self-satisfied and feel no need for God’s consolation. They reject Jesus. The “poor” are those not valued in society—those who are economically poor or ill or handicapped; sinners; women; Samaritans; and gentiles. They accept Jesus.

Listen for this theme on many Sundays. On Christmas, for example, we hear that Jesus was born in humble surroundings. On February 14, we hear Jesus bless the poor and warn the rich. On September 26, we hear the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. On Christ the King (November 21), we hear Jesus promise paradise to a repentant criminal crucified beside him.

Scripture background by Joe McHugh. Lesson guide by the staff of CATECHIST. Art by Ansgar Holmberg, CSJ. Design by Ellen Wright.

MATERIALS
* a copy of this guide
* the liturgical calendar on pp. 28-29 in the November/December 2009 issue of CATECHIST, mounted on poster board. You may find the text in bold italics to be helpful verbatim.

PROCEDURE
1. Introduce the Church year.
The Church year has different seasons, like the different seasons in nature. They are called “liturgical seasons.”

2. Help students understand the liturgical calendar.
This calendar will help us understand the seasons and feasts of the Church year and prepare us to hear the Gospel proclaimed at Mass on Sundays. The liturgical seasons are printed here around the outside edge of the calendar. The first liturgical season in the Church year is Advent.
Point to the word “ADVENT.”
Following Advent is Christmas Time.

Continue in a clockwise direction, naming each season. Then point to a single block.
Each block represents a Sunday. The Scripture reference in each block is the Gospel we hear proclaimed at Mass that day.

3. Orient students to the “beginning” and the “end” of the Church year.
The liturgical year begins with Advent.
What is the date of the First Sunday of Advent this year?
How many weeks are in Advent?

4. Explain liturgical colors.
Why is violet, the color of penance and preparation, appropriate for ADVENT and LENT?
Why is white, the color of innocence and joy, appropriate for CHRISTMAS TIME and EASTER TIME?
Why is green, the color of hope, appropriate for ORDINARY TIME?

5. Tell students that each year the Church proclaims a particular Gospel more than the other Gospels.
Which Gospel will be proclaimed most often during this Church year?
(Share some of the information about Luke in the Background found in the material above.)
Which Gospel is proclaimed most in ADVENT and CHRISTMAS TIME?
Which Gospel is proclaimed most during LENT and EASTER TIME?

6. Mention details about the Triduum.
What are the dates of the Triduum in this Church year?
How many days are there in a triduum?
What do we remember and celebrate on the days of the Triduum?
(Explain that the days of the Triduum are counted according to the Jewish custom of measuring days from sunset to sunset. The first day of the Triduum begins at sunset on Holy Thursday and ends at sunset on Good Friday. The second day begins at sunset on Good Friday and ends at sunset on Holy Saturday. The third day begins at sunset on Holy Saturday and ends at sunset on Easter Sunday.)

7. Draw attention to Marian feasts.
What days are marked with a rose?
Who do we honor in a special way on these days?

8. Point out the holy days of obligation for this year—starting with Advent.

9. Point to the lively images that artist Ansgar Holmberg, CSJ, created in the center of the calendar.
These images are connected to Gospel stories we will hear throughout the Church year. Which images do you recognize? (CLICK HERE to find a diagram that identifies the images in the artwork.)

10. Conclude by explaining that, as a class, you will use the liturgical calendar each week to learn about the Sunday Gospel and be prepared to hear proclaimed the teachings of Jesus that help us live our faith every day.

Source: CATECHIST Magazine, November/December 2009

Copyright 2010, Peter Li, Inc. All rights reserved. This article is protected by United States copyright and other intellectual property laws and may not be reproduced, rewritten, distributed, redisseminated, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast, directly or indirectly, in any medium without the prior written permission of Peter Li, Inc.