February 2010 Religion Teacher Helper. Special Feasts Days to Remember

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1 February 2010 Religion Teacher Helper A Prayer for Haiti All powerful and all-loving God of mercy, look kindly on the people of Haiti in their suffering. Ease their burdens and make their faith strong so that they may have confidence and trust in your care. Help them face the difficulties of this tragedy of nature with courage. Bring their dead into your eternal care and comfort those who mourn them. Bring their wounded and all those who suffer into your healing presence and strengthen those who serve you. And finally, O God, bring us all an abiding sense of your care and comfort that we may respond with generous hearts, open hands and a renewed sense of solidarity with all your children, especially those in greatest need of our all-merciful God, forever and ever. Amen Special Feasts Days to Remember February 2 Candlemas/Presentation of the Lord discuss light as a symbol in liturgy February 3 St. Blasé Blessing of the Throats link to Health: How do you stay healthy? February 10 St. Scholastica February 11 Our Lady of Lourdes February 17 Ash Wednesday February 22 Chair of Saint Peter St. Scholastica was the twin sister of St. Benedict, the founder of Western monasticism. She is the patroness of the Benedictine nuns. Check your school library for the picture book, The Holy Twins Benedict and Scholastica, written by Kathleen Norris and illustrated by Tomie de Paola. By regularly sharing the stories about the lives of the saints, not only are we appealing to the imaginations of our students, as catechists and teachers were are providing examples of what choosing Jesus can bring to one s life. In the teacher resource book entitled Jesus and Mary in the Rosary: Echo Stories for Children by Page McKean Zyromski, an echo story based on the visits of the Blessed Mary to Bernadette in a cave just outside of Lourdes, France.

2 Possible Bulletin Board Theme: (Psalm 51) Create in me a clean heart, O Lord February Prayers for Family and Friends Father in Heaven We praise you that so many people love us. Thank you most of all for your own great and wonderful love. Make us loving too. Grant that we may show our love by helping other people, For the sake of Jesus. Lord of the loving heart, may mine be loving too. Lord of the gentle hands, may mine be gentle, too. Lord of the willing feet, may mine be willing too, So may I grow more like you in all I say or do. Jesus, friend of little children, Be a friend to me: Take my hand and ever keep me Close to thee. We thank you, God, that everyone who loves you, belongs to your family. You are our Father; we are your children. Thank you, God, for the worldwide family of your people. Thank you for our brothers and sisters the whole world over. I pray for those, Lord Jesus, Who will be unhappy today; For parents who have no food to cook for their children; For those who cannot earn enough money for their families; For children who are sick or frightened; And for all those who are alone without people to love them. (The above prayers were taken from Children s Prayers from Around the World, compiled by Mary Batchelor (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress Publishing House, 1995)

3 Read Aloud Story Theme: Anti-racism Belonging by Joyce Eagle One day a girl moved to a new community and so to a new school. She felt different, she looked different, she spoke differently she could even speak a different language. All the boys and girls looked at her and were very quiet. It will take some time to get acquainted, said the teacher. But days passed, - and it didn t change. No one asked her to eat lunch with them, now one asked her to join in the games. No one asked her to visit after school, or walked home with her. No one asked her to birthday parties. She was very lonely. It s because I m different, she said to her mother. How can I be like everyone else? The teacher was the only one who noticed how sad she was. One day the teacher looked out of the window at the snow. Who will help me catch snowflakes? she asked. Everyone wanted to help. Then they looked at the snowflakes through a big magnifying glass, and saw the many beautiful designs. See if you can see any two alike, suggested the teacher, but no one could. They are all different, said the children. Everyone is just like itself. Like kittens, said one girl, all our kittens are different. And puppies, said someone. And fingerprints, said someone else. And people too, it s more fun that way. Yes, said the teacher, wouldn t it be confusing if we all looked alike? God made us different so that we can all be just especially ourselves. Yes, we re all different, said someone, and smiled at the little girl. When she went home that night, the girl walked with her head held high, I m not just different. I m special, she said to her mother with a smile. Ask students: How did God make you, especially yourself? Other Picture books that would support this theme: Note: Rosa is in all elementary school libraries and is supported by an Intermediate Mentor text lesson.

4 My Mass Kit This new Religion kit can be borrowed from the Catholic Resource Centre. It is most appropriate for Early Years and Primary teachers to use as a teaching tool; the kit can also be set up as a centre to explore the importance of the Eucharist and the sacramentals used on the altar. It will appeal to the kinesthetic and visual learners in your class. Call or Mary Lacroix to book this new resource. Celebrating Mardi Gras/Carnival in the Classroom Carnival marks the time between the two liturgical seasons of Christmas and Lent. Carnival is a fun-filled antidote to winter. It is the feast before the fast. It should be a time to dance, sing, and encourage your students imaginations. It is filled with merriment and splashes of colour. It is a time to make masks, puppets and use pantomime to act out favourite stories, especially bible stories like those from the Old Testament including Jonah and the Whale, Queen Ester, David and Goliath, or Jacob and his Multi-coloured Coat. By promoting the festive mood of Carnival in the first couple weeks of February, your students will be able to better understand how the season of Lent contrasts it. Perhaps this idea of Carnival can be used to promote Niagara Catholic s annual Kids Helping Kids Campaign.

5 Planning for Lenten Religion Lessons To support the appropriate units in the Born of the Spirit (K-6) catechetical series and the Together, We are Strong series for Grades 7 and 8, supplemental teacher resources for Lent can be found in your school library. Please browse through The Lent-Easter Book and Learning Centres for Advent and Lent for excellent lesson ideas, including many that link to literacy and to the Arts. Preparing for Lent: Burying Alleluia Alleluia means Praise the Lord. With the season of Lent, the word alleluia is removed from the text of the Eucharistic liturgies. The absence of this powerful word in the songs and prayers helps Christians to be ever mindful of the call to simple living and the somber mood which the Lenten season encourages. The 40 days reminds us to retreat and spend time fasting, prayer and sharing charity. By not saying or singing the Alleluia, it is like we are exiled from heaven and the song of the saints and angels, and recall that we are sinners. We anticipate Easter Sunday and look forward to singing the Easter Alleluias with all our might. To assist your class in understanding the change in mood and focus of Lent, make a ritual of physically packing away a banner of the word Alleluia that the students created. Perhaps small groups can be assigned a letter to design in the Mardi Gras/Valentine s festivities that precede Lent. Store the word in a box under your prayer table or in a special hiding place in the class that the students pick. After Easter, bring out the Alleluia to decorate the class.

6 Possible Bulletin Board theme: Our (Class/School) keeps Lent! use the silhouette images of footsteps leading to three crosses on a hill highlight your Lenten focus use photos and student work to illustrate these, adding new items to sustain interest throughout this season be sure to include prayers and scripture reflections Bookmark these to your Favourites Looking for websites and organizations that assist your students develop their awareness and understanding of Social Justice Issues and Catholic Social Teachings.explore: Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace to learn about Share Lent and the need for farmers in developing countries to have food sovereignty get your students involved in the petition campaign Free the Children to encourage your students to sign up for the 10 x 10 Campaign in which they commit to 10 small and ordinary actions that will help to make the world a better place to live. Once you or your students commit, $10 will be donated. This may be an excellent Lenten promise if you remember to add prayer. and link to giveyour10 the Nelson Mandela s Children Fund (Canada) to help support your endeavors to promote Black History month,

7 Intermediate Literacy Mini-Lesson: Understanding the Word Choice and Imagery in Liturgical Text Facts: The ashes used in the rite are the burned remains of the palms from last year s Palm Sunday. In some parishes, people gather the dry palm during the weeks before Lent. These palms are then burned outside. Once cooled, the ashes are sifted through a wire colander and collected into containers. These ashes are blessed and are used to mark our foreheads on Ash Wednesday. The blessing below includes the Shehecheyanu, the Jewish prayer proclaimed at turning points of life. Share the text of the blessing with your students. Have them read it silently first, and then, out loud. Ask: How can the ashes be symbols of beginnings and endings? What words or phrases of this blessing support each of these ideas? The Rites of Ash Wednesday: The Blessing of the Ashes My friends, nearly a year ago, at the end of Lent, we carried these branches to welcome the Messiah. In preparation for a new Lent, the church s holy springtime, we have gathered these holy branches to be burned. On Ash Wednesday, as Lent begins, the ashes will be placed on our foreheads. Ashes are the leftovers of life. They are reminders of death. At one time ashes were scattered on fields to make them fertile. They were used with other ingredients to make soap. For us the ashes signal an ending and a beginning, a season of repentance, a time of purification and cleansing, a time of fresh growth. My friends, let us bless the Lord, the maker of all our endings and beginnings. Blessed are you, Lord our God, the sovereign of creation. You preserve us in life, you sustain us, and you have brought us to this season. And to this let us all say: Amen Use charcoal pencils to have students illustrate the word or phrase that best represents what participation in the rites and rituals of Ash Wednesday and Lent should be about. Display their word choices and artistic interpretations of the imagery.

8 The Seven Sacraments Name As followers of Jesus Christ, you celebrate the sacraments throughout your life. Pick the correct sacrament from the word box and fill in the blanks below. Word Box Eucharist Anointing Holy Orders Baptism Reconciliation Marriage Confirmation 1. In, Jesus tells us through the sign of water: God my Father loves you. You are God s own child. 2. In, Jesus sends us the Holy Spirit to anoint us with oil to make us strong in our faith and to be with us always. 3. In, Jesus tells us through the signs of bread and wine: I am the Living Bread. Whoever eats this bread will have life forever. 4. In, Jesus tells us through the priest: God loves and forgives you; go and sin no more. 5. In the sacrament of, we pray, Bless this couple and unite them in love, O Christ. May they have a holy family life. 6. At, the church prays: Bless these men who lead others to you. May they follow you always. 7. In the sacrament of, God blesses the sick and dying in Jesus name and deepens their faith. O Jesus Christ, Thank you for giving us the church to lead us to God. Thank you for the seven sacraments that celebrate God s great love for us. Amen

9 Upcoming CARFLEO Conference (Catholic Association for Religion and Family Life Educators of Ontario) May 13 & 14, 2010 University of St Michael's College Toronto Bringing together a noted Child Psychiatrist, Dr. Derek Puddester and a renowned Moral Theologian, Dr. Moira McQueen, this conference will invite educators into authentic conversation about the life issues faced by today s teens. More information and on-line registration will soon be available at Choral Prayer: A Psalm for the Beginning of Lent Begin with the sign of the cross Leader: Behold! Now is the acceptable time! All: Now is the day of salvation! Leader: I love you, Lord God, and you make me strong. All: You are a mighty rock, my fortress, my protector. Side A: You are the rock where I am safe, My shield, and my place of shelter. Side B: I praise you, Lord! I prayed, and you rescued me from my enemies. Side A: I was in terrible trouble when I called out to you, But from your temple you heard me and answered my prayer. Side B: You are the living Lord! I will praise you. You are a mighty rock. I will honour you for keeping me safe. Leader: I love you, Lord God, and you make me strong. All: You are a mighty rock, my fortress, my protector. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen (Psalm 18: 1-2, 2-3, 6, 46 from the Children s Daily Prayer)

10 (This was an activity presented at the recent Make and Take Eucharistic Workshop. Grade 2 teachers may want to incorporate this into a literacy centre or into a group work activity in Religion to assist their students who are preparing for First Eucharist to understand what it means to be a follower of Jesus and a part of the Body of Christ.) We are People of the Eucharist After reading each gospel story, share what you learned about Jesus and how he wants you to live as his followers with your group members. After your discussion, record your own thoughts on the chart that is provided. Matthew 6: 9 13 Matthew 19: Mark 8:34 Mark 12: Luke 5: 1 11 Luke 10: John 15: 17 Our Father Rich man Take up your cross The Greatest Commandment Jesus calls the Apostles The Good Samaritan Love One Another

11 Gospel What I learned about Jesus What I learned about being a follower of Jesus Matt 6: 9 13 Our Father Matt 19: Rich man Mark 8:34 Take up your Cross Mark 12: The Greatest Commandment Luke 5: 1 11 Jesus calls the apostles Luke 10: The Good Samaritan John 15: 17 Love one another