- Entries from March 2010

Mar 30

At Home with the Easter Season: Week One

We Appreciate Light and Growth
by Maryann Ziemer

Jesus’ parables and stories, told in his intimate
and familiar style, are grounded in the senses.
He speaks of sight, hearing, touch; of people’s
need for food, water, shelter. He speaks of love.

Jesus helps us feel the heat of the day and the
laborers’ fatigue; we see the farmer’s ripening
fields. Time and again, the Son of God shows
his own humanity through a deep and profound
understanding of human affliction and deprivation.
In elegant simplicity and with words and actions meaningful to the people, Jesus reveals his absolute comprehension of human need.
Continue reading "At Home with the Easter Season: Week One" »

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At Home with the Easter Season: Growing Wheat

Light for the World and a Grain of Wheat
by Maryann Ziemer

During the Easter Season let’s consider Jesus’ declaration that “I am the light” and, in the context of his sacrifice, his parable about a single grain of wheat.

With this Growing Wheat activity, students can see how the ”death” of one grain of wheat produces abundant fruit, giving them a concrete example of Jesus’ parable about the grain of wheat falling to the ground and dying to produce much fruit. They can share this activity at home as well.
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Mar 29

The Chrism Mass

The Chrism Mass has a three-fold purpose. First, the three oils used in sacramental celebrations are blessed and distributed: chrism, used to anoint those who receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders; the oil of the sick, used to anoint those who are in need of healing; and the oil of catechumens, used to anoint those preparing for Baptism.

During the Chrism Mass, priests renew the promises they made at ordination and parishioners have the opportunity to pray for and support their priests.

The Chrism Mass has its origins in the fourth century. There was a time when it was celebrated exclusively on Holy Thursday morning. Because of the busyness of the day and the burden of traveling great distances to the diocesan cathedral and back to the parish, the Chrism Mass is often celebrated earlier in the week. The blessed oils may be formally received by the parish community during the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper.

Brainstorm a suitable way for you and your students to express gratitude to your parish priest or priests for their ministry.

Visit the church and show the students the place where the sacred oils are reserved. Briefly explain the purpose of each of the oils.

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Mar 26

A Way of the Cross for Peace

by Kass Dotterweich

This Way of the Cross shows how we
can turn aside from thoughts and actions
that lead to fights and arguments and
helps us to choose, instead, to work
and play together in peace.
Continue reading "A Way of the Cross for Peace" »

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Encouraging Family Participation in the Holy Thursday Liturgy

Creative Ways to
Invite Family Participation
by Kate Ristow

Here's some activities to use with your students
to spark family interest in participating in the
Holy Thursday Liturgy. Includes a downloadable
invitation template you can reproduce.

Continue reading "Encouraging Family Participation in the Holy..." »

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Mar 25

Teaching about The Triduum

Light a Fire
by Kate Ristow

Our students can experience so much of the richness and meaning of Christ’s passion, death, and Resurrection when we teach them about the celebrations of the Triduum. Here are some ideas to light a fire in them that they can carry home and share with their families! Continue reading "Teaching about The Triduum" »

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Mar 24

Teaching about Holy Thursday

Service, Nourishment, Commitment
by Kate Ristow

Grandma Gallagher called Holy Thursday “Maundy Thursday.” Because Grandma emigrated from Ireland, I assumed that Maundy was the Gaelic word for “holy.” Assuming is never a good thing!

It turns out that Maundy is a derivative
of the Latin word mandatum, which
means “commandment.” It is a reference
to the new commandment Jesus gave his
disciples at the Last Supper: “Love one
another” (John 13:34). This new
commandment tells us that we must
love each other as Christ loves us.

Continue reading "Teaching about Holy Thursday" »

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Mar 23

Honoring Holy Week

This Sunday, Palm Sunday, is the beginning of Holy Week. Throughout the week, including Mass on Holy Thursday and at the service on Good Friday, we hear Scripture readings that tell us about the events that lead up to the glorious Resurrection of Jesus.

Here is a reflection, action and prayer to use with your students and their families to honor Holy Week. Continue reading "Honoring Holy Week" »

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Mar 19

Come see us in California at LA Congress!

The Religious Education Congress, sponsored by the Los Angeles Archdiocese’s Office of Religious Education, is the nation’s largest annual gathering of Roman Catholics! It’s at the Anaheim Convention Center again this year, March 19-21. If you’ll be there, stop by Booth 211 and say hello, pick up a copy of our latest issue and get a cool FREE button.

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Mar 18

From the Field: CATECHIST Readers Share What Works

Names Written in Heaven
by Sandi Belleque

Here's a group reflection and prayer activity that DRE Sandi Belleque uses with her catechists that can be especially powerful during Lent.
Continue reading "From the Field: CATECHIST Readers Share What Works" »

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