Daily Scripture Reflection: Wednesday, May 16

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Wed, 16 May 2012 07:38:01 -0400

Reading: Acts 17:15, 22—18:1 John 16:12-15

Drawing Near: You will be guided to all truth. This is my assurance to you in today’s Gospel. Be joyful, for this is my assurance to you in your ministry as a catechist.

To view the complete Gospel reading, click here.

Idea of the Month: April

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:07:59 -0400

Invite Children and Their Parents to Become a Living Rosary
by Donna Stachulski

Would you like to find a creative, active way to teach children to pray the rosary? And what if you could at the same time bring children and parents together for a prayer experience to honor Mary? DRE Donna Stachulski invites children and parents to participate in a “Living Rosary” service during October and May, the months in which the Church honors Mary.

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Sharing the Good News!

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 11:29:00 -0400

B. D. from Chandler, AZ shares this lesson for the first class after Easter:

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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Idea of the Month: March

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 16:01:15 -0400

F.R.O.G. Awards
by Caren Sue Argenzia

Catechist Caren Sue Argenzia uses F.R.O.G. (Fully Rely On God) Awards to help enrich her lessons and involve parents.

Caren Sue regularly assigns homework to her students such as finishing a worksheet, researching a saint, or reading a scripture. She strives to assign homework that will involve parent and family participation.

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Why the Egg is a Symbol of Easter

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 08:00:00 -0400

The egg is like Jesus’ tomb. It is enclosed, it is quiet, and it seems lifeless. Yet within an egg, the promise of new life is waiting to burst forth. Jesus’ tomb was like an egg until early on Easter when Jesus rose up to a new and glorious life. Because of this rich symbolism, we add beautiful decorations to our eggs at Eastertime. Candymakers have added even more richness by creating wonderful candy treats in the shape of eggs.

Some people say that at an egg roll, the egg takes on a different Easter symbolism. They say that the egg stands for the huge rock that sealed Jesus’ tomb. When children roll eggs, they are reenacting the rolling back of that huge rock, so that Jesus can come forth once more into the bright sunshine of life.

Spring Crafts Using Egg Cartons

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 09:19:00 -0400

by Jeanne Heiberg

Who would have thought you could use simple egg cartons to make so many crafts with your students! Ask your families to save egg cartons—plastic, pasteboard, or foam—for these fun Spring crafts.

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Honoring Holy Week

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:20:00 -0400

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.
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Teaching about The Triduum

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 07:47:00 -0400

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!
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Teaching about Holy Thursday

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:49:00 -0400

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.

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The Chrism Mass

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 15:44:00 -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.

Bits O' Wisdom: Trampling Down Death

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 08:37:58 -0400

by Cullen Schippe

Easter has always been my favorite feast. Every Easter morning for at least the past 35 or 40 years, I have had a small personal tradition. Early—usually before dawn—when everybody else in the house is still asleep, I put on a headset and listen to Rimsky-Korsakov's Russian Easter Festival Overture (Op. 36)—full blast.

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Daily Scripture Reflection: Monday, March 19

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 07:22:38 -0400

Reading: 2 Samuel 7:4-5, 12-14, 16 Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22 Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24

Drawing Near: In today’s Gospel, you hear of the faith of Joseph, my foster father. How might you embrace Joseph as your patron saint in your ministry as a catechist?

Feast: The Solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary

To view the complete Gospel reading, click here.

Encouraging Family Participation in the Holy Thursday Liturgy

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 09:41:00 -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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Way of the Cross Strike a Pose

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 07:46:00 -0400

As you lead the prayer, have learners
strike a silent pose, statue-like, of a
person depicted or suggested at each
station. At the end of the Stations of
the Cross, allow several minutes of
complete silence.

Stones & Blooms for Lent and Easter

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 09:40:00 -0500

by Sheila Kearney

Halfway through Lent is a good time to help students think about their Lenten resolutions and renew the spirit of Lent. So I plan a two-part lesson for my fourth-graders about sin (represented by stones) and Jesus’ Resurrection, when he overcame sin and death and made eternal life possible (represented by the empty tomb and flower blooms).

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