McGuire Memorial Awakening Spiritual Dimensions II Catholic Adult Education for Persons with Severe Disabilities Sacred Articles for Prayer and Liturgy Introduction: This program offers Catholic adults with cognitive disabilities the opportunity to become familiar with sacred articles that are used for prayer and liturgy within the Roman Catholic tradition. A simple format is used: a prayerful environment, background instrumental and calming music, scented candle aroma, brief and simple prayer, brief and simple text, hand over hand fill-in the blank writing, the use of a flash cards, BIGmack Communicator (optional), and the presence of the sacred article that is the focus for the catechesis. The approach is sensory-based using voice, sight, touch, hearing, motion, aroma, and for wine the sense of taste. As with McGuire Memorial, Awakening Spiritual Dimensions I, the approach is simple and prayerful. Following the guidelines given in that program this curriculum focuses on a sacred article that is used within Catholic worship at a Sunday liturgy. This program was prepared so that persons with cognitive disabilities are able to become acquainted with the names and purposes of these sacred articles so that their time of prayer and liturgy are more meaningful for them. The Method: Each period of instruction is presented slowly and clearly, with emphasis upon key words and phrases. This allows the students to hear and hopefully understand and respond in a positive
way. The goal of the program is to have the participants see, hear, touch, and comprehend the purpose and the focal point of the sessions, i.e., the SACRED ARTICLE, e.g. a crucifix, the altar, a chalice, etc. The Setting: The Setting should be a quiet and out of the way setting a room with no surrounding distractions or a small chapel. A table should be set up in the middle of the space. A cloth with a plain and bright color is placed over the table. Only the sacred article, that is the focus of the session, is placed in the center of the table. This allows the article to be the focal point of the session and it allows the students who are able to see focus upon the sacred article. The students are placed so as to surround the table. Allow time for settling and quiet (at least five minutes) with instrumental music playing softly in the background. (I recommend music composed by David Phillips or Jack Heinzl). The Sessions: The Greeting: After the participants have settled with silence accompanied by relaxing instrumental music, the instructor lowers the music and greets each one by name, Good morning (Name) welcome to church, welcome to the house of God. The Opening Prayer: This prayer is brief, spontaneous and prayed slowly and deliberately with simple and concrete language. The Prayer should make reference to the sacred article that will be the focal point of the lesson. The Brief Review: A brief review of the previous lesson can take place after the opening prayer. Place the sacred article of the previous lesson on the table. After a few moments slowly and deliberately read only the lesson of the previous session. Have each student see and feel the article. Once the brief review has taken place, remove the article of the previous lesson. The Learning Session: Place the sacred article for the current Lesson in the middle of the table. Read the lesson slowly and clearly. If possible, you may want to hold up the sacred article before each student as you read the lesson. Do not rush. You may want to repeat the lesson. Ad lib if you care to but are very careful not to become too wordy or use vocabulary that might not be understandable. After reading the lesson, take the sacred article to each student and have them see and feel this focal point of the lesson. Only background music should be heard at this time. It is not necessary to say anything during this part of the learning session. This part of the lesson allows the student to see if possible, and learn by feeling, observing, and focusing upon the sacred article. Flash Cards: For re-enforcement, and for those who are able to see, the use of flash cards illustrating the sacred article helps the student identify the correct sacred article. This exercise reinforces the lesson that is being taught. Select two flash cards, one that is the correct card, one that is not. Hold the two cards in front of the student so they are able to see each one of them. Ask
which one is correct. Allow them time to eye gaze to the correct card. When they have chosen the correct card, give them a positive reinforcing comment. Switch the cards behind your back and try again. If they eye gaze to the correct card, they have accomplished this reinforcement. BIGmack Communicator: Using this device is optional however it does provide good re-enforcement for the lesson. A BIGmack Communicator * is a battery operated device that is used as a means of communication for the individual who is not able to speak. To operate the communicator, the teacher records the one sentence summary taken from the entire lesson. Allow each student to press the rounded cover of the communicator to hear the summary. Place the communicator near the person s ear. Hand over hand facilitation may be needed. The teacher remains silent during this activity. With everyone in the group hearing this added reinforcement, it is hoped that a better understanding of the sacred article takes place. (The Big Mack Communicator or similar device can be found on line). Write: To complete the lesson, the above one sentence summary of the lesson recorded on the BIGMack Communicator is printed on a single sheet of paper with key words to be completed by the student. Using hand over hand facilitate the student completing the sentence. Pray the Our Father Closing Prayer: A brief and spontaneous closing prayer is said by the instructor including some reference to the lesson that has just been taught. Blessing: Using the portrait of Jesus done by F. Hook, place the portrait in front of each student, place your right hand upon their head, and bestow a simple blessing upon each student. The Lesson, the Flash Cards, the BIGmack Communicator, and the Writing exercise are the materials for the learning session. Hopefully the student is able to grasp the meaning of the lesson, i.e., the use of the sacred article to help them have meaningful prayer at a Sunday liturgy. McGuire Memorial Articles for Prayer
Table of Contents: Introduction pp.1-3 Introductory Session p.5 1. The Sign of the Cross p.6 2. The Church Building p.7 3. Holy Water p.8 4. The Altar p.9 5. The Bible p.10 6. The Lectionary p.11 7. Candles p.12 8. The Crucifix p.13 9. Bread and Wine p.14 10. Chalice and Paten p.15 11. Altar Linens p.16 12. The Roman Missal p.17 13. The Tabernacle p.18 14. Bells p.19 15. The Rosary p.20 16. Music p.21 17. Vestments p.22 18. Vestment Colors p.23 19. Ashes p.24 20. Statues and Pictures p.25 21. Palm Branches p.26 22. Holy Oils p.27 23. Nativity Scene p.28 24. Easter Candle p.29 Bread and Wine Session 9: Bread and Wine Music and settling
Greeting: (Name) Welcome to church. Welcome to the House of God. Sign of the Cross: (With holy water using hand over hand assistance with each student) Opening Prayer: God the Father, hear our prayer. Jesus, Son of God, sit beside us. God the Holy Spirit, help us listen. Help us learn. Make us holy. (Continue with prayer pertaining to Bread and Wine). Brief Review: Crucifix: The crucifix is a cross that shows us Jesus dying on the cross. (Have each participant see, feel, and touch a crucifix.) Repeat the lesson narrative. Lesson: We come together in this church to celebrate what we call Mass. We listen to God s Word. We listen and learn about Jesus. Then we gather at God s special table. We call this table the altar. At Mass we use bread and wine. The bread and the wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus. Have the participants see and touch the wafers of bread large and small. Have the participants see, smell, and taste the wine. Have the participants see the Hook picture of Jesus along with the Bread and Wine. Flash Cards: Choosing from two cards, have each student choose the correct card. BIGmack Communicator: Have each student press and hear the following: Write: We use bread and wine at Mass. They become Jesus. Jesus is our Food so that we can love like Him. Our Father Closing Prayer and Blessing Bells Session 14: Bells Music and settling
Greeting: (Name) Welcome to church. Welcome to the House of God. Sign of the Cross: (With holy water using hand over hand assistance with each of the students.) Opening Prayer: God the Father, hear our prayer. Jesus, Son of God, sit beside us. God the Holy Spirit, help us listen. Help us learn. Make us holy (Continue the prayer pertaining to the Bells.) Brief Review: the Tabernacle: The tabernacle is the place where we keep the Bread that has become the Body of Jesus. (If possible, take each student to the tabernacle to see, touch, and feel its doors.) Repeat the lesson narrative. Lesson: We use bells when we are in church. Bells make a joyful sound. (Ring the bells gently).when we hear the sound of bells we know it is time to pray. When we hear the sound of bells we know that Jesus is with us. (Ring the bells gently). Bells make a happy sound. Have each student see and touch the bells. Do hand over hand ringing the bells used for Mass. Flash Cards: Choosing from two cards, have each student choose the correct card. BIGmack Communicator: Have each student press and hear the following: Write: When we hear the joyful sound of bells, we know that Jesus is with us. Our Father Closing Prayer and Blessing Bread and Wine We use
and at Mass. They become. Jesus is our food so that we can love like Him.
Bells When we the joyful sound of
, we know that Jesus is with us.