Office for Family & Parish Based Catechesis. From the Editor

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1 Children s Mi nistr y U pdate Office for Family & Parish Based Catechesis Children s Ministry Update YEAR C: LUKE Volume 7 Edition1: 2013 Easter/Pentecost From the Editor Greetings everyone and welcome to the first edition of the Children s Ministry Update newsletter for It is wonderful news knowing we have been privileged to witness a piece of history with the election of our new pope, Francis1, a new wave of hope for us all! Uncanny that the theme adopted for this office this year is New Hope especially with the addition of my new colleague Sr Jenny Seal. We have begun with much energy and brainstorming of new initiatives as well as ways of updating what has been offered in the past that have been well attended. It is exciting to be immersed in such new energy and passion for developing children s ministries and supporting the many catechists within our Archdiocese. It has been an unusually busy start to the year and looks as though it will continue that way. There have been many parishes requesting our support in various local children s ministries and we are delighted that our reputation is filtering through now. We are here to support you as you need within your work, it is our vocation, blessed work for us in the office. I have included the brochure for formation and training 2013 to help you plan ahead. I urge you to attend some of the events on offer as it will be of great benefit to you and your work because we plan our sessions with you at the centre, with the outcome of what is most practically applicable for your ministry. Please contact us if you need specific training in your local parish, we are only too happy to come to you! We are also keen to come and speak at a deanery meeting this year simply to introduce ourselves and highlight the work of this Office for Family Parish Based Catechesis. There is always movement in and out of parish ministries and it is difficult for me to keep abreast of these changes in catechists without your help. I ask that you fill in the relevant form, which will be mailed out, with the necessary details of your list of catechists so that I can keep my data base as current as possible, thank you. May you feel God s energy supporting you in your work, with blessings, Carmen Welcome to the Team Dear Friends...My name is Sr Jenny Seal and I will be working alongside Carmen Balales as Family Parish Catechesis Consultant. I am a Daughter of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart which is an international order ministering in whatever need is necessary throughout the world. Inside this edition Easter 2 Triduum Symbols 2 Activities for Children 3 Detailed Diary dates 4 Your parish Story 4 Catechist Prayer Page Resources from CRIS Reflection Day 19th March Liturgy of the Word 22nd March More Bible Stories 10th May National E- Conference 16th May Diary Dates Expo Day 1st June I am very much enthused to be in this ministry to support, encourage and walk beside you in the important work of Family and Parish Catechesis. I look forward to meeting you over the coming year. I was thrilled to already hear about the wonderful things that are happening in Parishes while at the recent Pastors and Pastoral Associates Conference. I congratulate you on your part in this important ministry and mission of our Church. I encourage you to gather together with other ministers either in your parishes, deaneries and at gatherings which are offered to you through this office. It is in this way that we can encourage and support each other and develop ways to benefit the children and families to whom we minister. Believe in the work that you do and its importance in the faith life of families and the Parish. Together let us go forward. With every blessing and wishes for peace, Sr Jenny Seal fdnsc

2 Children s Ministry Update THE ORIGINS OF EASTER: Easter is the most important of all Christian feasts. The word Easter however, is not religious in its origin. It comes from the Old English eastre, meaning a festival of Spring. Many of the Easter traditions such as eggs and rabbits which have become so strong in our modern culture originated from the ancient pre-christian festival of Spring. The Christian Church s celebration of the resurrection of Christ uses elements of the season to enhance its celebration. In 325AD, hundreds of Christian bishops met in Nicaea for the first Ecumenical Council and agreed that Easter should always be celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon after the Spring equinox. The Gregorian calendar, established by Pope Gregory in 1582, currently used by the western church but the eastern churches still use the Julian calendar, established by Julius Caesar in 40BC to calculate the date of Easter. WHY GIVE EASTER EGGS?: The custom of decorating eggs developed in northern Europe during the early centuries of Christianity. Our pre-christian ancestors knew nothing of science and biology, and were amazed to see a live creature come out of an egg. Thus, the egg became a symbol of new life and fertility. Converts to Christianity gave the egg a religious interpretation, seeing it as a symbol of the tomb out of which Christ emerged to new life. The egg quickly became a symbol for resurrection. Hence, eggs were dyed, decorated, sugar eggs were made and so our modern version of chocolate eggs covered in brightly coloured foil evolved from a combination of the sugar egg and the painted eggs of northern Europe. HOLY THURSDAY: BOWL & TOWEL: Jesus washed the feet of his disciples as a sign of service and great humility. As followers of Jesus, we are invited to do the same for one another. GOOD THE SYMBOLS OF THE TRIDUUM FRIDAY: THE CROSS: The stark, bare wooden cross is a symbol of the cross Jesus carried and his journey to death. We venerate the cross because it has become a symbol of our salvation. EASTER THE EASTER VIGIL: FIRE: The celebration of the Easter vigil begins with an Easter fire outside the church. Fire symbolises the powerful presence of God the light burning in the midst of our darkness. EASTER CANDLE: The flame from the candle is lit from the fire as a reminder that Christ, the light of our world, has risen from the dead and has shattered our darkness. JUG OF WATER: The water in the jug is blessed as our water of baptism and the whole community will be sprinkled with this water as a sign of our own baptism. OIL OF BAPTISM: This oil is used as a sign of welcome for those who will be baptised at the Easter vigil. Oil has strengthening and healing properties. This oil is used for all who will be baptised throughout the year. OIL OF CHRISM: This oil is used to bless and anoint the newly baptised and all those who are confirmed during the year. It is perfumed and administered as an oil of gladness or thanksgiving after baptism. It is also used to anoint priests and royalty at the beginning of their public ministry. WHITE GARMENT/ STOLE: In early Christianity, the newly baptised dressed in white robes to show they had clothed themselves in Christ. Those who will be baptised at the Easter vigil and throughout the year wear a white garment as a sign that they have put on Christ. Page 2

3 Children s Ministry Update IDEAS FOR CHILDREN Easter Art Gallery: Create your own art gallery by displaying images of Easter as portrayed by the great artists of the world. Locate images from art books, the web, or calendars. Encourage children to view, comment upon and respond to these images by creating their own artistic representations. (Maurice Ryan Expressions Book 2 and other books in his series available at CRIS, Thebarton) Easter Role Play: Divide the group into pairs. Each pair takes the characters involved in the Easter story. They prepare their role play and perform for the group. During the debriefing after each role play, children can be invited to express their thoughts and feelings as they took on the character s roles. Possible pairings could be Jesus and Pontius Pilate, two women on their way to the tomb, Peter and Judas discussing the events of the Last Supper. (Maurice Ryan Expressions Book 2 and other books in his series available to borrow fromcris, Thebarton) The Fire of Pentecost One of the most important aspects of the Holy Spirit is that it first appeared above each Apostle as a tongue of fire. Create a fire craft by taking a piece of card stock and either spraying it with spray glue or lightly brushing school glue all over it. Small pieces of red and orange tissue paper can be torn and stuck to the paper to create a fire. The fire paper is then cut in a heart shape and hung with a piece of ribbon. (Pentecost Crafts for Kids ehow.com) Wind Twirlers Wind twirlers remind the children that the Holy Spirit is always moving, even when things appear to be still. Fun foam can be cut into a circle, and then cut around the circle in a spiral towards the middle. Children can decorate the spiral with other foam shapes, glitter or sequins. When hung outside with a piece of yarn or string, these wind twirlers can decorate a porch railing or a tree. (Pentecost Crafts for Kids ehow.com) Stained-Glass Window: With help, children can use their creativity to design a Pentecost-themed stainedglass window. Traditional Holy Spirit or Pentecost icons can center the window's background. To create a stainedglass window, begin with a piece of blue construction paper cut into an archway shape. Glue pieces of rectangular shapes in a variety of colored construction paper to the background. Add to the center a cut-out of a dove or flame. (Activities For Pentecost ehow.com) Reflecting Together on Easter: Why is Easter the most important time in the Church s liturgical year? What does Easter mean to you? In what way are you and your family making a special effort to prepare for Easter? Share an experience of a time of sadness or loss. This is how the disciples may have felt when Jesus died. What do you think it meant to them when they heard the good news that Jesus is risen? How will you celebrate that Jesus is risen and lives in your life today? ( To Know, Worship and Love Series available for all ages to borrow from CRIS Thebarton) Page 3

4 Office for Family & Parish Based Catechesis Children s Ministry Update Catholic Education Office 112 Kintore Street Thebarton PO Box 179 Torrensville Plaza SA 5031 Ph: Fax: We re on the web -parish-based-catechesis The story of Easter is the story of God's wonderful window of divine surprise. Carl Knudsen Detailed Diary Dates 2013 Reflection Day Tuesday 19th 9:30 11:30am Venue: The Monastery, Cross Rd, Glen Osmond Liturgy of the Word with Children leader training Friday 22nd 10:00 11:30am Venue: CRIS: Kilmara site, 112 Kintore St, Thebarton More and more Bible Stories Friday 10th May Venue: CEO Conference Centre, Thebarton National E-Conference Saint Mark Thursday 16th May Venue: CRIS: Kilmara site, Thebarton Annual Expo Day Saturday 1st June Venue: CEO Conference Centre, Thebarton Your Parish Story CATECHETICAL SUNDAY MASS: The first Sunday in February is traditionally known as Catechetical Sunday, where the great work of our catechists in our parishes is acknowledged and they are commissioned for the coming year ahead. This year s mass was a wonderful celebration led by the Archbishop who was delighted to see the many who came to represent their deaneries. As part of this mass, the Religious Education team from the Catholic Education Office were also commissioned in their work to minister and serve the children and their families within all Catholic schools. This is also the day whereby local parishes commission their own catechists in their local communities. TRAINING IN THE CATECHESIS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD: A two day training course was held in mid February at the Bridgewater parish to explore the methodology and practicalities of this Christian education process for children aged 3 12 years of age. Based on the Montessori principles of child-centred learning, it is situated in a particular environment called an Atrium. This is a sacred space in which children can experience and respond in various hands on ways to their holy relationship proclaimed through Jesus the Good Shepherd. It is a place to be with and enjoy God, listen to the Word and to pray. St Matthew s Church at Bridgewater has an Atrium set up and offers sessions every Monday after school. I highly recommend a visit! Page 4

5 Catechist Personal Prayer Page Encountering our God Lectio Divina, meaning Divine Reading is a form of prayer in which we can encounter our God. During this Year of Grace and this Year of Faith, we have been encouraged to pray in this way together. This method of Prayer has been outlined on cards which have been distributed throughout the Archdiocese. I will outline it here for you and a possible reading which you can use. Readings can be chosen from the Sunday or weekday liturgy texts, liturgical season theme or any other theme. Preparation Sit comfortably and silently. Focusing on sounds around you, then on your breathing to help come to quiet in mind and heart. Read the scripture very slowly once or twice for the word or phrase that moves you. John 20:1-8 On the first day of the week, Mary Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, They have taken the Lord form the tomb, and we don t know where they put him. So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. Reflect and let that word or phrase sit quietly in your mind and heart. Just notice what happens Respond to God: a word, a hope, a resolution, a prayer, or an act of love Rest and listen to what this scripture asks you to be or do, in your present situation Resolve to act, with love (Adapted from Archdiocesan Lectio - Praying with Scripture card) Prayer to conclude: Jesus, you are the reason I am a catechist. Through my life, I desire to proclaim and witness to your Resurrection and your message of new life. Like Peter and the other disciple who ran to the tomb, may I be transformed and compelled to announce this good news to all those I teach. I ask this through your name. Amen Some days we go to our Lectio and the Lord is not there; we go to the tomb of the altar and he is not there; and then as we are going out to work, halfway down the garden path we meet him (Guerric of Igny, 12 th Century Cisterian monk) The word we have taken may suddenly come alive for us as we are conversing with someone else, or drying the dishes, or puzzling over something altogether different (M. Basil Pennington OCSO Trappist monk, died 2005)

6 RESOURCES AVAILABLE FROM CRIS THE JOURNEY THROUGH LENT TO EASTER AT CATHOLIC RESOURCE & INFORMATION SERVICE (CRIS). Lent has come early this year. Ash Wednesday has reminded us of the need for deep reflection and to look beyond ourselves to others, especially those less fortunate and to pray often. There are a myriad of resources to help you on your way. Read Bruce Dawe s And a Good Friday was had by all written from the perspective of the Roman soldier or travel on the Lent & Easter journey through Duccio s Maesta in The Art of Faith by Sr. Wendy Beckett, the expert in critiquing religious art. Benedict XVI says that Lent is a privileged time of interior pilgrimage and there are many ways one can embark on this pilgrimage of spiritual growth. There is a series of books on Lent and Easter Wisdom which includes daily scripture and prayers from some of our finest: Pope John Paul II, St Ignatius of Loyola, St Francis and St Clare of Assisi, Thomas Merton, G. K Chesterton, Henri Nouwen among others. For those of a reflective persuasion there is a collation of readings for Lent and Easter entitled Bread and Wine divided into sections that speak of Invitation, Temptation, Passion, Crucifixion, Resurrection and New Life and penned by Oscar Wilde, Meister Eckhart, Moltmann, Dylan Thomas, Tillich, CS Lewis, Tolstoy and more. Read Judy Cannato s Quantum Grace: Lenten reflections on creation and connectedness as well as the Sunday readings for Cycle C, or Experiencing Jesus by Gerald O Collins who concentrates on the meaning of Christ s life, death and resurrection in a global context. For Lenten study Family Prayer Time by Rina Wintour, Radical renovation: Living the Cross-shaped life by James Harnish and study programs with CDs include Remember me Lenten reflections for individuals and groups and Christ our Priest which presents studies on the Sunday Gospel for Lent, Paschale Mysterium (Gregorian chant for Easter) recorded at the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Raccano- Rovigo (Italy) also provides some beautiful noise for the Resurrection. All these resources and many others, as well as a Lent/Easter supplement are available at the Catholic Resource & Information Service (CRIS) to lead us through the days of Lent to the celebration of Easter. And to begin the journey let me leave you with the reflective words from Jane Kenyon s poem Looking at the Stars the God of curved space, the dry God, is not going to help us, but the son whose blood splattered the hem of his mother s robe and remember that this was all about love which Gandhi defines as the strongest force the world possesses and yet it is the humblest imaginable. Dr. Susan Melhuish CRIS Coordinator