Loving God and Others Our Call To Mission

Loving God & Others: Our Call to Mission Background Notes for Teacher Reflection and Preparation ELEMENTS CHRISTIAN LIFE: The flourishing of human persons, the common good of societies, shared responsibility in relation to creation. AIMS Being a person of mission Acting with social responsibility, witnessing to the Reign of God Making connections Being a person of integrity and responsibility CONTENT STATEMENT Students will learn how those who know that God loves them and who love God and others in return, have a sense of mission. When we love and serve others we participate in the mission of the Church. When we participate in the mission of the Church we realize more fully the reign of God. This mission has a preferential option for the poor. STANDARD See Good News For Living Refresh Document 2014 Strand Core Doctrinal Concepts Catechism Reference Jesus Christ 5. Jesus shows us the way God wants us to live. 1716 God 3. God is experienced in other peoples love for us. 5. God invites us to respond in love. 308, 2196, 2822 Christian Life 2. My choices and actions affect others. 3. Jesus shows us how to live. 1749-1761 460 Church 2. The Church is a community that listens and responds to the Good News of Jesus. 771 LINKING WITH OTHER RESOURCE BANKS Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 I am loved by God Loving God and Others Our Call To Mission Compassion 02

2 STUDENT CONTEXT Level Two students display a vivid imagination which gives rise to lifelong religious images and concepts; incorporating images of God from loving and powerful adults and from stories and symbols. They are focused on themselves but are increasingly aware of the requirements of belonging to a group. Here, students readily relate to the concept of Mission, but they require good modeling and developmentally appropriate Scripture and stories so that teaching and learning experiences are in line with their social, emotional, intellectual, faith and moral development. The concept of love, for Level Two students, is grounded in family experiences. They understand that parents show their love particularly by the care they offer and by self-sacrifice. The students themselves have learned to express love in a number of ways: What they say ( I love you mummy ), various gestures (kisses, cuddles), sharing with other family members and making allowances (especially for younger brothers and sisters), and doing things that comfort people and make them happy. Students at this level are becoming more aware of the effects their attitudes and actions have on the lives of others. They are beginning to appreciate the effects of their words and actions on themselves and significant adults and friends. These suggested learning and teaching experiences encourage the students to explore the effects of their acts of service and how their actions on a personal, local and global level are a part of the mission of the Church. THEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND FOR TEACHERS Prior to the Second Vatican Council, Mission was understood to refer to the Church s work for the salvation of souls, which was carried out for the benefit of non-christians abroad, mainly by priests, religious brothers, sisters, and specificallycommissioned lay people, with the financial and spiritual support of the laity back home. The goal of mission was to establish the church in these mission fields. Mission, at this time, meant foreign mission, that is, mission in all the continents that were not considered already Christianised. The understanding of church and the understanding and practice of mission has changed since the Second Vatican Council. The contemporary Church s identity is rooted in the mission that Jesus received from his Father. Thus, the church has as its mission the establishment of the reign of God. Jesus lived and preached the values of the reign of God. Many of his parables speak of the reign of God, and his miraculous deeds are signs that the reign of God had drawn near in his ministry. This new world order is said to be of God because its arrival signals the gracious, forgiving, and redeeming presence of God in the world, and is not the fruit of human efforts. This way of being is open to all people, and all are invited to transform their lives according to its values, but it is given especially or preferentially to those who are marginalized, that is, the poor, the afflicted, the oppressed, the captives (Luke 4: 18). The present day work of mission is a continuation of the establishment of the reign of God, and all the baptised are called to this task, even though some are more engaged in missionary activities than others. This understanding of mission prompts cooperation with all Christians, and with the followers of other religions as well, since they too are called to the reign of God, even though not all of them will join the Church. Mission is proclaimed through personal witness, dialogue and through projects of evangelism, healing, teaching, development or liberation. The Holy Spirit through the whole community of believers inspires and directs the mission of the Church. Christian mission is no longer a one-way proclamation of a message of salvation to a world of pagans bereft of God s self-revelation and grace, but first of all a search for and recognition of the presence and activities of the Holy Spirit among the peoples to be evangelised. Mission is directed to the whole world, including the cosmos. Whilst the content threads of mission education are woven throughout the primary religious education curriculum, these resource banks explicitly focus on Jesus, the reign of God and the call to mission. The aim of these resource banks is to develop a contemporary understanding and appreciation of mission, which is to realize more fully the reign of God (see table on following page).

What is mission for? To whom? Before Second Vatican Council The church s work for the salvation of souls. Carried out for the benefit of the pagans abroad. Since Second Vatican Council For the full realization of the Kingdom of God, which is already-butnot-yet, present-and-future, realized-and-eschatological. To the whole world in all its dimensions and arenas, including the cosmos, to all peoples whatever their religious faith. 3 By whom? SCRIPTURE Matthew 28:18-20 What Jesus followers must do Jesus came to them and said: I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptise them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world. Mainly by priests, religious brothers, sisters, and specificallycommissioned lay people, mostly from Europe and America. Acts 2:44, 46-47 Life among the Lord s followers All the Lord s followers often met together, and they shared everything they had. Day after day they met together in the temple. They broke bread together in different homes and shared their food happily and freely, while praising God. Everyone liked them, and each day the Lord added to their group others who were being saved. Acts 4:32 Sharing Possessions The group of followers all felt the same way about everything. None of them claimed that their possessions were their own, and they shared everything they had with each other. By God, first of all, because the Church s mission is nothing but a continuation of God s mission in Jesus; and secondly, by all, hierarchy and laity, even though some are more engaged in missionary activities than others. With whom? With the financial and spiritual support of the laity back home. With all Christians, and not only with Catholics, without denominational confrontation and competition; and furthermore, with the followers of other religions as well, since they too are called to the reign of God, even though not all of them will join the church. How? By planting the church in these mission fields. By personal witness and dialogue. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love isn t selfish or quick tempered. It doesn t keep a record of wrongs that others do. Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting.

4 PLANNING A L EARNING S EQUENCE Level Focus God s love for us enables us to love. Knowing: The students will understand that loving is something we learn to do because we ourselves are first loved. Thinking: The students will explore some of the many ways love can be expressed. Connecting: Engaging with all creation enables us to deepen our encounter with God. Essential Questions Example: How can we take part in our Church s mission to witness to the reign of God? Evidence of Learning Students should be able to: Recall examples of loving actions. 1. Discuss the significance of the actions of the 2. apostles in the light of Acts 2: 44, 46-47 and Acts 4:32. Devise ways they can contribute to the mission of 3. the Church by loving God and by giving practical help to people in their class, school, family, local community and people throughout the world. Suggested Assessment Tasks Introduce the current World Mission Week materials to the class. Students underline words (for example, those that indicate care and compassion) and actions in stories and articles that tell about people sharing in the Church s mission of loving God and others. Based on Acts 2:44, 46-47, Acts 4:32, create a story map showing the lives of the early Christians shortly after Jesus death and resurrection. (Teaching Strategies Resource Book) Find a Fib activity based on Mission resources. (Teaching Strategies Resource Book) Make a paper chain/contribute to a class chain (of words) of ways that they can show love for others, based on Mission material. Devise a class plan of action that can contribute to the Mission of the Church. Students to plan and participate during Mission week, or other appropriate time. Suggested Learning Experiences Focusing Activity: Listen to and question a guest speaker talking about their mission work. List the actions of the apostles in Acts 2: 44, 46-47 and Acts 4:32, do a story-board to illustrate some of their actions. View a contemporary video of a modern day saint. (Or maybe a section from a G movie or cartoon, for example, Shrek, Willy Wonka) Discuss/write/ draw how that person/character shows love for others. Learning Activity: Read 1 Cor 13:4-7. Identify the ingredients of love. Make labels to hang around the classroom under the heading, The Recipe for Love. Discuss the meaning of these words and incorporate into a prayer time together. Use liquid pictures, freeze frames (Teaching Strategies Booklet), to break open the Scripture. Participate in a guided meditation/reflection activity on experiences of love. Recommended resources: In My Heart Room book 1&2, On God s Magic Carpet, Moonbeam Explain that the call of Baptism is to share in the mission of Jesus as a member of a loving family and parish community. Why? What happens to the person who is baptised? How does our Baptism challenge us to live? Design and draw a poster or make a badge or a heart shaped mobile, entitled, My Mission is to Love.

List things that parents shared with students in the morning before coming to school. Discuss what is would have been like if they hadn t. Write a thank-you card to parents for their sharing. Work through the appropriate stories and activities in the World Mission Week materials. Participate in fundraising activities for the missions. 5 Brainstorm things they can share with people less fortunate. Students devise a plan for what and how they will share with others less fortunate, eg, St Vincent de Paul, Project compassion, Mission Week. Write a class or personal acrostic poem based on the word, sharing. Cut mission pictures into fours. Give each student a piece. Students find pieces/ partners to form groups of 4. Then as a group re-read the stories and discuss them. Respond to the question: How do the people in the stories show love for each other? How are they acting like the apostles described in Acts? Students share with each other stories they know of loving people. Groups record ideas to share with the whole class. Plan for participation in an assembly using appropriate symbols. Prepare a class Liturgy of the Word for the conclusion of this learning sequence. Use resources already created throughout the class activities.

6 Resources NB: OP means Out of Print Highly Recommended Resources Catholic Mission Kit Donze, Mary Terese (1982) In My heart room, Book 1 Ligouri Publications Donze, Mary Terese (1990) IN My Heart room, book 2 Ligouri Publications Garth, Mareen (1994) Moonbeam, Collins Dove (OP) Macdonald, Anthony SN (2004) To God on a Magic Carpet, Spectrum Publications Mangan, M. (1993). A life of love. Sing your joy. [CD]. Australia: Litmus. Pfister, M (1992) The Rainbow Fish. New York: North South Pfister, M (1998) Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale. New York: North South Pfister, M (1995) Rainbow Fish to the Rescue. New York: North South Shanahan, L., & Quay, E. (2001). Bear and chook. Sydney: Hodder Headline. Community Resources Catholic Mission personnel. Parish Priest. Local people who have worked in the Missions. Parishioner to discuss ways the Parish community shares with the less fortunate. Teacher Resources Australian Bishops Annual Statements on Social Justice Catholic Mission. (1998). Mission mad: A multimedia mission module. Sydney: Catholic Mission. [OP] Catholic Mission. (1997). Prayer box I & II. Sydney: Catholic Mission. [OP] Catholic Mission. (2005). Catholic missions kit. Sydney: Catholic Missions. Student Resources Rock, L. (2002). Learning about God. Oxford. UK: Lion Publishing.

7 Literature Allen, Pamela. (1991). Black dog. Ringwood: Penguin Books. [OP] Gliori, D. (1999) No matter what. Mascot N.S.W.: Koala. Graham, B. (2001). Let s get a pup! London: Walker. Grindley, S. (2000) What are friends for? London: Kingfisher. [OP] Horn, P. (1999) When I grow up. New York: North-South. [OP} King, S. M. (1998). Henry and Amy : right-way-round and upside down. Sydney: Scholastic. King, S. M. (1995).The man who loved boxes. New York: Scholastic. Lee, L., & Gamble, K. (2000). Pog. Norwood, S.A.: Omnibus.Scholastic. Shanahan, L., & Quay, E. (2001). Bear and chook. Sydney: Hodder Headline. Weedn, Flavia. (1995).The elephant prince. London: Hodder Children s Books. Music Alstott, O. (1995). God s greatest gift. Great gifts. [CD]. Australia: Willow. Brown, M. (1989). Love is the greatest gift. God delights in you. [CD]. Australia: Emmaus. Burland, J. (1996). We are God s children. Songs for the journey. Brookvale: Willow Connection. Farrell, Bernadette. (1997). Jesus you live in our hearts. Great gifts. Brookvale: Willow Connection Glendenning, Phil. (1994). It wouldn t be the same. Nothing to lose. North Sydney: Caritas Australia. Kearney, Peter. (1987) Thank you God for loving me. Celebration. Welby: Crossover Music. Mangan, M. (1993). A life of love. Sing your joy. [CD]. Australia: Litmus. Raue, Mark. (1997).The face of God. Restless heart. Catholic Mission. World Wide Web / Internet Scripture: a search engine for the NRSV translation.http://www.devotions.net/bible/00bible.htm Treasures, New and Old. http://vision.cangoul.catholic.edu.au The Vatican: includes a detailed index for the Catechism of the Catholic Church. http://www.vatican.va/ Caritas Australia, the Catholic agency for overseas aid and development. http://www.caritas.org.au/ The Society of St Vincent de Paul (a service organization for the disadvantaged.) http://www.vinnies.org.au/national/