The Joy of Consecrated Life! Prepared by Theresa Simeo Lesson Overview Objectives for Deeper Understanding The teens will be able to understand what it means to be a religious sister and what the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience mean. They will be able to explain where in Scripture Jesus talks about those who will not marry for the sake of the Kingdom of God. They will also see how sisters reflect the union with Christ that we will achieve in Heaven. Objectives for Inviting Learners to a Change of Heart The teens will see religious sisters as signs of Christ s presence among them. They will be struck by their generosity and their joy. Hopefully, the teens will be motivated to consider the vocation themselves, and they will be given practical tips to help in descerning thier own vocations. Lesson Details Subject area(s): Religion, Responding to the Call of Jesus Christ Grade Level: High School Resource Type: Discussion Guide, Game/Contest/Activity, Video Special Learners This resource was developed with the following special learners in mind: Traditional Classroom Homeschooled Students CCD/Parish-Based Education
Lesson Plan I. Learning Objectives (the participant will ) Objectives for deeper understanding The teens will be able to understand what it means to be a religious sister and what the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience mean. They will be able to explain where in Scripture Jesus talks about those who will not marry for the sake of the Kingdom of God. They will also see how sisters reflect the union with Christ that we will achieve in Heaven. Objectives for Inviting Learners to a change of heart The teens will see religious sisters as signs of Christ s presence among them. They will be struck by their generosity and their joy. Hopefully, the teens will be motivated to consider the vocation themselves, and they will be given tips for practical discernment in thier own lives. II. Materials/Resources Needed (textbooks, media/technology, supplies, handouts, etc.): Catechism and Bible for reference, sacred space supplies (cross, candles, fabric, poster for verse, etc ), handouts for the application step prayer, projector and speakers for the PowerPoint and videos III. Catechetical Foundations: CHRISTOCENTRICITY: What does this topic have to do with Jesus and the love that never ends? This presentation focuses on how being a religious sister frees one to live totally for God, love Him above all things, and be conformed to His will. It also emphasizes how God is not outdone in generosity and how He gives freedom, joy, and peace to His brides. Religious sisters are proof that it is possible to love God and to receive His inexhaustible love in return (Mother Teresa) SCRIPTURAL DRIVING FORCE: Which foundational passages from Scripture will be used so the teaching relies on God s Word?
Mark 10:29-30 (there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children, for my sake who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time and in the age to come) Matthew 19:11-12 (some people are not called to marriage, and instead are called to be celibate for the Kingdom of God) Isaiah 54:5 (Your maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is His name) Matt. 4:19 (Come follow me) John 10:10 ( I came that they might have life and have it abundantly ) PRIMARY CATECHISM SECTIONS: Which texts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church are central to understanding this topic? CCC 918 (Those in religious life imitate Christ more closely) CCC 915 (the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience) CCC 927 (The work of evangelization and the expansion of the Church require the presence of the religious life in all its forms) OTHER IMPORTANT RESOURCES: What other creative resources will be helpful in this catechesis? (Textbook pages, websites, other books, maps, movie clips, music, art, stories, newspaper articles, etc.) http://www.sistersoflife.org/vocations, Salesian sisters and candidates dance to Gangnam Style (video) Prayer from http://imaginesisters.org/, Day in the life of a Salesian Postulant (video) Beloved: The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia (video) Dominican Sisters of Mary Mother of the Eucharist react to the election of Pope Francis (video) III. Procedure: Preparation (calculated disengagement/prayer) (15 min) Dance-Off Competition Divide the girls up into two teams and give them each a popular song. They will have a certain amount of time to come up with a group dance routine that they will perform. You will judge a winner based on teamwork, creativity, etc Afterwards show them this clip of religious sisters dancing to Gangnam style:
VIDEO: Salesian Sisters and candidates dance to Gangnam style: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z32tmj-zmw -Ask the teens if they were surprised by the video- what it unexpected to see nuns dancing around with so much joy? -Talk about stereotypes and how the religious life does not mean being gloomy all the time- they have given so much to Christ and he is not outdone in his generosity! -Opening Prayer (especially focusing on the Lord s generosity) Proclamation (short, poignant statement of heart/core truth of teaching) (2 min) Jesus said, Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children, for my sake and for the Gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time and in the age to come. (Mark 10:29-30) Explanation (content and method of delivery) (30 min) A. What is a Sister? A religious sister is a woman who has been consecrated to God through the Church, responding to His invitation of love through vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Each religious sister belongs to a particular religious community, serving God and the Church and world in a distinct way. A religious sister is truly a bride of Jesus Christ (the greatest Lover) and a spiritual mother of an enormous family over 6.8 billion worldwide! -Being a sister is about being so filled with the love of Christ that only giving yourself totally and exclusively to Him will suffice. It is a special call that some of us receive. -Unpack the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience (CCC 915) -Poverty-frees us from the anxieties of the world so that we can live totally for God -Chastity- frees us to love God above all things -Obedience- allows us to be conformed to the will of God B. Why are there Sisters? -All Disciples of Christ are called to love without limits, to give the gift of our very selves to others. Those called to religious life are called to live this more in a radical way, a way that would be impossible
without the grace given by Him to carry it out. -Mother Teresa Quote: Because the world needs to know that God is real. The world needs testimonies that Jesus is a living, tangible person, with whom it is realistically possible to fall in love. The world needs to see breathing proof that it is possible to love God and to receive His inexhaustible love in return. This world needs more hope, and sisters provide exactly that a profound witness of joyful hope. Sisters testify with their lives that God created us for greater things: to love and be loved. -Jesus Himself says that some people are not called to marriage, and instead are called to be celibate for the sake of the Kingdom of God (Matthew 19:11-12) -They live in imitation of Christ Himself (CCC 918) -Explain how religious sisters are brides of Christ (Isaiah 54:5) -Their union with God reflects the union with God that we all will have in Heaven VIDEO Beloved: The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udcc5naknay Emphasize: -Becoming a bride of Christ -Giving up the goods of marriage, to reflect heaven on earth -CCC 927 (The work of evangelization and the expansion of the Church require the presence of the religious life in all its forms) Active Orders -They each have a specific mission or apostolate that they run -Examples: Sister of Life (pro-life work), Little Sisters of the Poor (care of the elderly), Salesians (schools and camps), etc Contemplative Orders -talk about cloistered orders that pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17)
-At first it may seem like a waste of time to pray all the time instead of doing missionary work, etc but their prayer fuels the Church s evangelization -Analogy of a Bank- contemplative orders supply the money while the active orders and lay people who do the actual work of evangelization write the checks - but the checks will bounce if there is no money in the bank! C. Life as a Sister -The Lord is not outdone in generosity (Mark 10:29-30) -There is sacrifice, but there is also joy and peace! (Romans 14:17) Steps to get there -Postulancy- (6m-2yrs) time of initial formation and continued discernment through living out the daily life of the sisters VIDEO: Day in the Life of a Salesian Postulant http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuqa922zwe4 -Novitiate- (1-2 yrs) Time set apart for prayer, study and more intentional separation from family and friends so as to focus on your relationship with God, usually take on the religious habit but are free to leave the community at any time -Temporary Profession- (3-6 yrs) They vow to live in poverty, chastity, and obedience and are incorporated into the community s life and apostolate -Final or Solemn Profession- Sisters who profess final vows have discerned that the religious life is truly their vocation and they are now espoused to Christ forever Application (of doctrinal topic to personal life and to culture/real world) (8 min) Discernment, (Mark 4:19) Come, follow me -A vocation to the religious life is not a career, it is a calling Go over tips for vocational discernment:
spending quiet time with the Lord each day attending mass on days besides Sunday when you can Eucharistic Adoration read the Bible pray the rosary talk to a priest or a sister about religious life visit communities do not be afraid! Teach them the Prayer for Discernment : http://imaginesisters.org/ -Use a rosary- -On the Our Father beads pray Run to me, O Lord! I long for your face; you pursue my heart. Teach me how to trust you Lord and send your Holy Spirit to enlighten my soul. -On the Hail Mary beads pray Jesus, I love you. Conform my heart to your perfect will. Celebration (ending in a place of gratitude and praise) and assignment: (6 min) Reflection: (read the last two paragraphs) http://www.sistersoflife.org/vocations/life-in-abundance - Based on John 10:10 I came that they might have life and have it abundantly - Highlights the joy and freedom found in the midst of obvious renunciations Watch the VIDEO: Dominican Sisters of Mary Mother of the Eucharist react to the election of Pope Francis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gscyqxchs6c (JOY!!)