October Religion Teacher s Helper 2009 Focus on the Communion of Saints this month to help your students better understand that each of us is called to Holiness in the way we live our lives. With those that have gone before us the saints and our ancestors we form one body in Christ linked by grace and God s love. Passing from life on earth to life in heaven is our hope and this journey should not be feared. As Christian Catholics, we find great comfort knowing that we will be reunited with God, the Creator s angels and our deceased family members in heaven. Try this month to read about the lives of Saints to your students. Practise summarizing, identifying and then recalling important details of their lives as possible reading strategy foci. Ask your library tech to assist you in locating the many different books about Saints in your library. Request materials from the CRC; there is a boxed Saints kit that is a collection of autobiographical cards your students can read and use for research. You can model the research process and then gradually release for independent projects like the Saint Tripych Display that is presented next in this issue of the RTH. Oct. 1, 2009 St. Therese of the Child Jesus Oct. 2, 2009 Feast of Guardian Angels Oct. 3, 2009 St. Francis of Assisi Oct. 7, 2009 Our Lady of the Rosary Oct. 9, 2009 - St. Denis Oct. 12, 2009 Thanksgiving Oct. 15, 2009 St. Teresa of Avila Oct. 16, 2009 St. Hedwig Oct. 17, 2009 St. Ignatius of Antioch Oct. 18, 2009 Feast of St. Luke, the evangelist Oct. 19, 2009 St. John de Brebeuf, St. Isaac Jogues and Companions (Canadian Martyrs) Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Oct. 24, 2009 St. Anthony Oct. 25, 2009 NCDSB Pilgrimage Sunday Pray for and support our 8 Secondary School communities as they walk to increase awareness, raise funds and answer the call to action for the Third World and please pray for sunshine, too! Oct. 28, 2009 St. Simon and St. Jude, apostles Oct. 31, 2009 All Hallow s Eve Nov. 1, 2009 All Saint s Day Nov. 2, 2009 All Soul s Day the tridium (3 day observance) celebrating the Communion of Saints
Write a brief point form note to include nward. saint s place of birth, date of birth and template death, patron of?, what best known for and other interesting facts Saint s Project Idea Triptych Display A triptych is made of three panels that can fold. Use two sheets of 8 x 11 ½ cardstock to form a similar to the below. Use tape on the back to attach. Saint s Picture or symbol PICTURE traditionally OF S associated with this person. Self-written or Found Prayer to this Saint Paragraph on what you most admire about this saint s life and what you can do to be more like this saint Saint s Name and Feast Day Idea adapted from How to Celebrate Name Days in the Classroom by Kathleen M. Basi, Religion Teachers Journal, October 2009, pp. 12-13. Holiness does not consist in doing extraordinary things. It consists in accepting, with a smile, what Jesus sends us. It consists in accepting and following the will of God. B lessed Mother Teresa
Creating a Shrine in your Class or School Foyer (Note: this would best be initiated after Thanksgiving) A shrine is an assemblage of all sorts of materials which memorializes the dead and is displayed reverently, purposefully, and affectionately. It helps to focus prayer and spark remembrance. It stirs our imagination and with that, helps us to a closer union to the Father, Son and Spirit. 1. Clear a spot, something larger than the usual prayer center/corner. Ensure that it is near a cross or crucifix. 2. Add a beautiful blank book for all to write in the names of the dead your community wants to pray for. 3. Decorate the shrine according to the ethnic customs and imaginations of your students. Usually, four types of objects are associated with shrines: photos and memorabilia, foods and other gifts for the dead, emblems of autumn and of the harvest, and emblems of living and of divine life that is stronger than death. (Example: scanned pictures of deceased family members and friends, cornucopia with fruit & gourds, pumpkins, celestial signs of stars, sun, moon, clouds, images of angels and the saints, especially St. Michael, folklore s ferryman of the dead, images of birds like geese and the mythological phoenix and feathers 4. After built, use the shrine to focus prayer. Research the Mexican and South American custom of celebrating the Day of the Dead El Dia de los Muertos. Perhaps ELL students from Mexico, who may have celebrated this before immigrating, can tell the class about their memories. Adapted from School Year, Church Year by Peter Mazar, pp129-133
Blessing of the Pets Connecting to St. Francis of Assisi Dedicate a day this month to honour and celebrate the animals we love. Invite your students to bring in photos of their pets or pictures of their favourite animals or those they wish to have as a pet. Use these photos to make lists or to focus journal writing. Introduce onomatopoeia by identify animal sounds in an anchor chart. Share the scripture story of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey before his last Passover meal. Brainstorm other work animals. Invite a speaker to tell your class about seeing eye dogs. Display the photos/writing samples/etc. under the caption All creatures of our God and king, lift up your voice and sing. Dear St. Francis, You loved all creatures great and small. You praised and blessed the Lord for the animals who shared your life. Joining our prayer to yours, we too thank and praise God for our pets. We give you thanks, God, our Creator, for your wonderful and surprising gifts: for birds and fish, and all creatures of the sea and sky, for wild animals and tame ones, for cats and dogs and all our pets. Help us, God, take good care of our pets. Thank you for the happiness they give us. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us and pray for our pets too. Amen (p. 10, School Year Activities for Religion Class by Gwen Costello, in the CRC) Some Picture Books to Read Aloud that feature St. Francis Saint Francis of Assisi by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr St. Francis of Assisi by Joyce Denham. Saint Francis and the Wolf by Richard Eglielski Francis Poor Man of Assisi by Tomie depaola
CLASS PRAYER SERVICE: LITANY OF THE SAINTS Teacher: Let us pray a short litany of saints to ask their help that we may continue the work they have begun. Side 1 Holy Mary, Mother of God and of the church, help us be as attentive to God's Word as you were. Side 2 Holy Angels of God, who continually adore God, help us put God first in our lives. Side 1 Saint Joseph, patron of the dying, give blessings to all who are sick and dying. Side 2 Holy Apostles, upon whom the church is built, help us "make church" by being involved in our parishes. Side 1 Saint John the Baptist, who pointed the way to Jesus, make us signs that point to God. Side 2 Saint Mary Magdalene, who proclaimed the resurrection, help us believe that good follows suffering. Side 1 Saint Stephen, martyred for your belief and preaching, make us fearless when we need to stand up for our values and beliefs. Side 2 Saint Teresa of Avila and Saint Th6r6se of Lisieux, whose love of the church gave you the title "doctor," make us holy members of the church. Side 1 Saint Elizabeth, who knew even the hidden presence of Christ, help us see Christ when he is hidden in unlikely persons and situations. Side 2 Saint Martha, who worked hard in humble ways to serve the Lord, help us work hard at home to serve Christ in our family. Side 1 Saint Maximilian Kolbe, priest who died in a concentration camp to save the life of another, give us courage to sacrifice so that others may survive. Side 2 Saint Elizabeth Seton, first native-bom saint from the United States, and pioneer in religious education, help all teachers and students learn more about Christ. Side 1 All holy men and women, pray for us. Side 2 All parents and grandparents, friends and relatives who see the Lord face to face, bring us one day to that same glory. Teacher: May we be your saints too in all that we say and in all that we do. Continue your work in us and may all your saints in heaven guide us. All: Amen. Reprinted with permission from Prayer Services for Teens. Published by Twenty-Third Publications, Mystic, CT (800.321.0411).
Sunday Gospel Readings and Reflection Questions 27 th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Oct. 4 th Gospel: Mark 10:2-16 Why do you think that grown-ups need to become more like children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven? Image from: www.silk.net/reled/gospelmark10.htm 28 th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Oct. 11 th Gospel: Mark 10:2-17 Jesus does not care if we are rich or poor but how we use our talents and gifts for the good of all. How do you use your gifts and talents to help other? 29 th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Oct. 18 th Gospel: Mark 10: 35-45 A life spent following Jesus is not always easy. John and James found this out when Jesus said, Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant. What did Jesus mean? What other sayings of Jesus or of your teachers/parents are hard to live out? 30 th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Oct. 25 th Gospel: Mark 10: 46-52 When have you or your family members called on Jesus for pity (mercy) for yourself or others like the blind man did?
Colours of Fall God our Creator, you have made our world so beautiful at this time of year. For the red, orange and yellow leaves that adorn the trees, we give you thanks. May we always appreciate the beauty of the world you have created, and may we always take good care of it. We pray in Jesus name. Amen Suggestions: Use this prayer as an introduction to an art lesson on the colours of the season or a science lesson that focuses on the why the leaves change colours. Litany for Thanksgiving Leader: Loving God, at this beautiful time of year, when the trees are dressed in wonderful colours and we are enjoying all the fruits and vegetables of the harvest, we thank you For juicy apples R WE GIVE YOU THANKS, O LORD. For round pumpkins R For fresh baked pies right out of the oven R For colourful autumn leaves R For our families R For faithful friends R For our school,...r For our country, Canada R For Jesus, who died for us R For God, who created us R Adapt this version by having each child take a turn to name out loud something or someone that he or she is thankful for, which the class would respond to with a phrase that they decided upon. If the responses are written and the writing trait of word choice (SALSA WORDS/HOT & SPICY WORDS/ $100 WORDS) is introduced and the writing process followed draft, edit, rewrite, conference, possible rewrite, good copy, illustration a beautiful class book of thanks can be created and displayed in the school library.
Early Years Praise of Thanks (to the tune of Happy Birthday) We thank You, we do. We thank You, we do. We thank You, dear Jesus. We thank You, we do. There are still spots available to attend When Faith Meets Pedagogy as a NCDSB sponsored delegate. This conference runs the evening of 0ct. 22 Oct 25, at the Doubletree by Hilton/Toronto Airport. Please approach your principal to submit your name to nadine.vantsant@ncdsb.com ASAP. WFMP on-line registration closes on Oct. 7 th! Check out this website www.accessola.com/osla/bethechange/home.html This website was recommended by Sheila Lohnes, Supervisor of Library Information Services and is a rich resource for lessons focused on Social Justice with links to literacy and inquirybased learning. Be The Change contains lessons from K 12 and provides many BLM that are downloadable. Please don t forget to identify the CGE(s) that you will be targeting before delivering the lessons!
THE U IN JESUS Before U were thought of or time had begun, God stuck U in the name of His Son.. And each time U pray, you'll see it's true, You can't spell out JesUs and not include U. You're a pretty big part of His wonderful name, For U, He was born; that's why He came. And His great love for U is the reason He died. It even takes U to spell crucified. Isn't it thrilling and splendidly grand He rose from the dead, with U in His plan? The stones split away, the gold trumpet blew, and this word resurrection is spelled with a U. When JesUs left earth at His Upward ascension, He felt there was one thing He just had to mention. "Go into the world and tell them it's true That I love them all - Just like I love U." So many great people are spelled with a U, Don't they have a right to know JesUs too? It all depends now on what U will do, He'd like them to know, But it all starts with U. (Thanks to teacher, Stephanie Speth-Maiuri, for sharing this with me!...what could you contribute? E-mail Terri Pauco with your best practices- prayers, lesson plans, faith building activities or your suggestions as to what you would like in the upcoming additions of the Religion Teacher Helper.)