- Lent and Easter

Lessons for the Gospel: Ascension of The Lord

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Wed, 12 May 2010 08:55:24 -0400

Reflecting, Sharing, Acting
and Praying Ideas

Ideas for teaching your students about the Ascension Gospel, including reflections, sharing ideas, activities and prayer.

May 16: Ascension of the Lord
Luke 24:46-53

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At Home with the Easter Season: Week Seven

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Tue, 11 May 2010 09:39:27 -0400

We Pray and Celebrate with Wheat
by Maryann Ziemer

From the time of the Jewish Passover meal that
became Christ’s Last Supper, our rituals and
prayers have been rich in references to the grain
of wheat, to harvests, to bread. We express it in
our communal meals, in our mission to feed the
hungry, in thanksgiving for abundant crops, and
in the ultimate bread of life that we share in
the Eucharist.

Continue reading "At Home with the Easter Season: Week Seven"

At Home with the Easter Season: Week Six

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Tue, 04 May 2010 09:02:04 -0400

We Produce Much Fruit
by Maryann Ziemer

To the listening crowd of people, Jesus describes
the fate of a grain of wheat: “Unless a grain of
wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains
just a grain of wheat, but if it dies, it produces
much fruit” (John 12:24). From a single grain will
come many.

Jesus’listeners know what he is talking about.
They understand wheat. It’s fundamental to their
well-being. From it is made bread, the staff of
their life.

Continue reading "At Home with the Easter Season: Week Six"

At Home with the Easter Season: Week Five

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:58:44 -0400

We Pray and Celebrate with Light
by Maryann Ziemer

The Easter Vigil brings the blessing of fire
that symbolizes the dispelling of the darkness
of sin and death. The light of the paschal
candle, touching its flame to the wicks of
many smaller candles, symbolizes Christ
spreading his light to all. Easter is the
feast of light overcoming darkness.

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At Home with the Easter Season: Week Four

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 08:48:00 -0400

We Reflect the Light of Jesus
by Maryann Ziemer

Our Catholic faith tradition and Judaic heritage are rich in the imagery of light. God provided a column of fire to give the Israelites light through the night in their journey out of Egypt (Exodus 13:21). Isaiah calls the house of Jacob to walk in the light of the Lord (Isaiah 2:5). The psalmist praises God as light and salvation, and so knows no fear (Psalm 27:1).

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Sharing the Good News!

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:55:05 -0400

April's tip comes from B. D., Chandler, AZ
I learned in my first year as a catechist (nine
years ago) that my fifth-grade students didn’t
seem to come into the room that first class
after Easter with much joy. So I devised a
lesson that I now present during that class that helps them be joyful and
share the Good News!

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At Home with the Easter Season: Week Three

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:42:39 -0400

We Stand in the Light of Jesus
by Maryann Ziemer

Jesus says to the people, “I am the light.” Now the people of the time knew the importance of light. It was during the hours of daylight that they could tend their fields and vineyards, herd their sheep, and manage their daily chores. Their light sources—lamps and burning oils—were valued possessions, tended to carefully. In fact, the lighting of lamps each evening was a blessing ritual. In declaring himself “the light,” Jesus places himself within the people’s everyday experience—familiar and essential to life itself.

Continue reading "At Home with the Easter Season: Week Three"

At Home with the Easter Season: Week Two

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 09:14:00 -0400

We Understand the Importance of Light
by Maryann Ziemer

We absolutely need light. We cannot function completely in the dark. We cannot live nor thrive without light.

Light is a form of energy, originating in the seething activity of the sun. The light of the sun travels through cold, dark space, reaching the earth in various energy levels, from gamma rays to visible light rays to infrared.

Continue reading "At Home with the Easter Season: Week Two"

A Prayer for the Easter Season

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 06:07:00 -0400

Feeding My Soul with Emergence
by Sister Alice Ann Pfeifer, CSA

I praise you and thank you, Creator God,
for the beauty of spring—a grand season
of emergence. Its sounds and scents fill
me with delight: the twittering of birds;
the gentle patter of rain on the roof;
the smell of warm, damp earth.

I welcome the sights and sounds of springtime sports: outdoor playing fields
again jammed with people; the crack of a bat; tennis shoes pounding an
asphalt track.

I welcome longer hours of daylight, too, for they lighten spirits even as they
brighten city streets and country meadows. I welcome my students’ learning
year coming to its culmination. I welcome the new insights, facts, and concepts
that have come together for them—concepts that have broadened their mental
and spiritual horizons.

Heavenly Father, may all the little resurrections of spring remind us of the
greatest Resurrection of them all, when your Son Jesus rose from the dead,
restored joy to his family and friends, and announced joy to the world
forever and ever! Amen.

Daily Scripture Reflection: Easter Sunday, Apr. 4

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 21:22:00 -0400

Reading: John 20:1-9

Drawing Near: "On the first day of the week..."
How does your life celebrate the joy of Easter
every day?

To view the entire Gospel reading, click here.

At Home with the Easter Season: Week One

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:51:00 -0400

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"

At Home with the Easter Season: Growing Wheat

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:11:59 -0400

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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The Chrism Mass

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:44:04 -0400

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.

A Way of the Cross for Peace

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 11:06:34 -0400

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.

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Encouraging Family Participation in the Holy Thursday Liturgy

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 09:41:53 -0400

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.

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