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DIOCESE OF BAKER
Sacramental Workshops Guidelines
-
First Holy Communion
Workshop I
Office of Evangelization and Catechesis
Last Updated: August 8, 2015
Holy Communion Workshop I: Sample Schedule / Outline
9:00 – 9:05 ARRIVAL AND INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS
9:05 – 9:20 LARGE GROUP GATHERING 1: WE GATHER
(Acts 2:41-47) Gathering of the first Christians
9:25 – 9:55 TEACHING 1 FOR CHILDREN “PREPARING AND PRAYING”
CHILD ACTIVITY 1 “PREPARING AND PRAYING”
TEACHING 1 FOR PARENTS
10:00 – 10:15 LARGE GROUP GATHERING 2: WE LISTEN
(1 Samuel 3:1-10) Samuel listens to God
10:20 – 10:50 TEACHING 2 FOR CHILDREN: “LISTENING AND RESPONDING”
CHILD ACTIVITY 2: “LISTENING AND RESPONDING”
TEACHING 2 FOR PARENTS
10:55 – 11:25 SNACK BREAK AND PARENT-CHILD ACTIVITY TIME
PARENT / CHILD ACTIVITY 1 “PREPARING AND PRAYING”
PARENT / CHILD ACTIVITY 2 “LISTENING AND RESPONDING”
11:30 – 11:45 LARGE GROUP GATHERING 3: SHARING OF BREAD
(Luke 9:10-17) Jesus feeds the people
11:45 – 12:00 LARGE GROUP REVIEW AND HOMEWORK
PARENT / CHILD ACTIVITY 3 “SHARING OURSELVES”
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C O N T E N T S
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................. 1
WORKSHOP I: LESSON PLAN ................................................................................................................................... 2
LARGE GROUP GATHERING 1: WE GATHER ................................................................................................... 8
TEACHING 1 FOR CHILDREN “PREPARING AND PRAYING” ...................................................................................... 9
CHILD ACTIVITY 1 “PREPARING AND PRAYING” ......................................................................................... 11
TEACHING 1 FOR PARENTS ................................................................................................................................... 12
LARGE GROUP GATHERING 2: WE LISTEN ................................................................................................... 19
TEACHING 2 FOR CHILDREN: “LISTENING AND RESPONDING” .............................................................................. 20
CHILD ACTIVITY 2: “LISTENING AND RESPONDING” .................................................................................. 23
TEACHING 2 FOR PARENTS ................................................................................................................................... 24
PARENT / CHILD ACTIVITY 1 “PREPARING AND PRAYING” .................................................................................... 29
PARENT / CHILD ACTIVITY 2 “LISTENING AND RESPONDING” ............................................................................... 30
LARGE GROUP GATHERING 3: SHARING OF BREAD ................................................................................... 31
PARENT / CHILD ACTIVITY 3 “SHARING OURSELVES” ............................................................................................ 32
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INTRODUCTION
This 3-hour workshop is part one of two for the preparation to receive the
sacrament of First Holy Communion (six hours in total). This workshop is
designed for both parent(s) and their child(ren). This workshop assumes the
child has completed one year of religious education, is enrolled in the second
year of religious education, and has received the sacrament of Confession and
Reconciliation in accordance with the Diocese of Baker Catechetical Guidelines
and Norms for Sacramental Preparation.
This resource is provided to help pastors, and catechetical leaders who assist
them, in the development and implementation of catechetical and sacramental
preparation programs. This resource has the following predominant goals:
Promoting family-centered catechesis aimed at life in Christ
Integrating religious education and sacramental catechesis
Enhancing the parish community celebration of the liturgy and
sacramental life
Incorporating the New Evangelization appropriate for our time & culture
Emphasizing our Catholic faith as a Continuum of Faith
Workshop I: Framework and Goals
I. God gathers his family (we prepare)
We prepare to receive Him
We pray to Him
We respond to Him
II. God proclaims his Word (we participate)
We listen and receive His word
We learn and our strengthened by His word
We profess our belief in Him
Workshop II: Framework and Goals
III. God breaks, blesses, and gives his life and love (we receive)
We remember His works of life and love for our sake
We receive His life (Body and Blood) so that we have His life in us
We confess our unworthiness of His sacrifice for us
We give thanks to Him for the unmerited gift of His life and love
IV. God sends his disciples (we live)
We bring Christ to others
We invite others to Christ
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WORKSHOP I: LESSON PLAN
Objectives
God gathers his family (we prepare)
We prepare to receive Him
We pray to Him
We respond to Him
God proclaims his Word (we participate)
We listen and receive His word
We learn and our strengthened by His word
We profess our belief in Him
Large Group Gathering 1: We Gather
(Page 8) (20-minutes)
This workshop begins with all candidates and parents gathered together (preferably in the
church or a chapel setting).
Welcoming, introductions and overview (schedule and topics) for the workshop
Opening liturgy “We Gather” (Acts 2:41-47, Life among the first Christians)
Instructions for “We Gather”
Prior to the workshop arrange to have an entrance procession like that of a Sunday
Mass to include wearing albs: cross bearer, candle bearers, Gospel book bearer
(deacon if available), acolyte/server and priest.
After the initial welcoming, introductions and overview for the workshop:
Invite everyone to stand.
Entrance procession with appropriate opening hymn
Stop the procession prior to entering the sanctuary to provide a brief explanation
of each role in the procession (see “Entrance Procession Catechetical Moment”)
After the brief explanation, the entrance procession proceeds taking their proper
places in the sanctuary
Entrance Procession Catechetical Moment (2-3 minutes)
In these or similar words, provide a brief explanation of the entrance procession…
Cross: representing Christ who is the head of the Church and remembering His
Sacrifice made for all of humanity – which has conquered death
Candles: Christ is the “light to the world”
Book of the Gospels: the living word of God – the words and deeds of Christ
Acolyte/servers: ministers who assist the priest
Priest: the celebrant who acts in the place of Christ, the one High Priest
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TRANSITION TIME: 5 – MINUTES
Teaching Session 1 for Children: Preparing and Praying
(Pages 9 – 10) (30-minutes / 55)
Opening Prayer: Jesus, Mary and Joseph pray for us! (2-minutes)
Proclamation: we prepare ourselves to listen, pray (3-minutes)
and respond to Jesus who is always present in the
Holy Eucharist at Holy Mass
Teaching: We gather, prepare, pray and give thanks (5-minutes)
Activity 1: “Preparing and Praying” (page 11) (20-minutes)
Teaching Session 1 for Parents: Reclaiming the Sabbath, Part 1
(Pages 12 – 18) (30-minutes / 55)
NOTE: print pages 12 and 13 (double sided) for parents
Opening Prayer (2-minutes)
Ask for three volunteers to lead the prayer.
Reflection Readings: Experiencing the Mystery of Christ (7-minutes)
Ask for seven volunteers to read each of the paragraphs.
Teaching: Made for Worship (20-25 minutes)
Holy Mass (handout). Invite parents to take it home and to spend time with it in prayer
and reflection until the next workshop.
TRANSITION TIME: 5 – MINUTES
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Large Group Gathering 2: We Listen
(Page 19) (15-minutes / 75)
Instructions for “We Listen”
Gather the parents together (preferably in the church or a chapel/prayerful
setting) – leave enough room in the front pews/chairs for the children to sit
together
The priest (or lay leader) reverently processes into the church/chapel holding
the Bible (or the Book of the Gospels if available) in their hands at about eye level
and proceeds directly to the Ambo/reader stand
The children process in behind the leader with their hands together at chest level
and proceed to the front pews/chairs and remain standing – parents are invited
to stand – opening prayer…
Closing Ritual: (music optional) Leader places the Bible (or the Book of the
Gospels if available) on a stand in an accessible spot (in front of the Altar
area/steps if in the church). Sing an appropriate hymn or play a recording of
appropriate (sacred) instrumental music during the ritual reverence of the book.
TRANSITION TIME: 5 – MINUTES
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Teaching Session 2 for Children: Listening and Responding
(Pages 20-22) (30-minutes/ 110)
Opening Prayer: My Jesus I need you, Mary pray for me! (2-minutes)
Proclamation: When we come to Holy Mass we can know God
better; by listening, praying and responding to God (3-minutes)
Teaching: “Listening and Responding like the boy Samuel” (5-minutes)
Activity 2: “Listening and Responding” (Page 23) (20-minutes)
Teaching Session 2 for Parents: Reclaiming the Sabbath, Part 2
(Pages 24-28) (30-minutes/ 110)
NOTE: print pages 25 for parents
Opening Prayer (2-minutes)
Ask for three volunteers to lead the prayer.
Reflection Readings: Experiencing the Mystery of Christ (3 minutes)
Ask for three volunteers to read each of the paragraphs.
Teaching: God Speaks (15-20 minutes)
TRANSITION TIME: 5 – MINUTES
Snack Break / Parent-Child Activity Time (30-minutes/ 145)
Instructions
Gather the parents and children together
While eating, explain the parent-child activity booklet
Have catechists/adult volunteers available and walking around to be available for
questions and assistance
Parent-Child Activity 1: “Preparing and Praying” (Page 29)
NOTE: print parent-child activity 1and 2 double sided
Parent-Child Activity 2: “Listening and Responding” (Page 30)
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TRANSITION TIME: 5 – MINUTES
TOTAL ELASPED TIME: 150 – MINUTES
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Large Group Gathering 3: Sharing of Bread
(Page 31) (15-minutes / 165)
Instructions for “Sharing of Bread”
Gather the parents and children together (preferably in the church or a
chapel/prayerful setting) – children sit with their parents
Invite the participates to settle themselves and to become aware of God’s presence
Sing an appropriate hymn (optional)
Large Group Conclusion (15-minutes/ 180)
Instructions
Gather the parents and children together
Have the children come up front and sit on the ground in a semicircle
The leader asks questions to ensure that the teaching goals have been met
As the children give correct answers they are given something from the “grab
bag” and then return to where their parent(s) are seated – all children should be
afforded to answer one question correctly
Homework 1. Parent-Child Activity 3 “Sharing Ourselves” (Page 32)
2. Study and bring to all Masses the
“Children’s Preparation Guide for Holy Communion”
Closing Prayer Make the sign of the cross.
Leader
Spontaneous Prayer…
Amen.
TOTAL ELASPED TIME: 180 – MINUTES
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LARGE GROUP GATHERING 1: WE GATHER
Note: this ritual is adapted from the Eucharist Program Director’s Manual, Published by RCL · Resources for Christian Living, 2003.
Leader Let us begin by praying the Sign of the Cross to remind us of our baptism.
All (Make the sign of the cross, saying) In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Leader God, our loving Father, You call us to gather around your Word. You are with us as we come together in prayer. As we listen to your Word, open our hearts to the Holy Spirit. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ.
All Amen.
Scripture Reading (Acts 2:41-47, the first Christians gathering)
Reader A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons
were added that day. They devoted themselves to the teaching of
the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.
Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the
apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common;
they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all
according to each one’s need.
Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to
breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and
sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people.
And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
Conclude the reading saying, The word of the Lord.
All Thanks be to God. Closing Prayer Leader God, our loving Father, today we gather around your Word as we prepare to receive the Body and Blood of your son, Jesus Christ. Send us the Holy Spirit to help us remember to follow Jesus every day. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. All Amen. Ritual Closing Procession The children follow behind the closing procession to the back of the church. Children and parents to proceed to the first teaching session.
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TEACHING 1 FOR CHILDREN “PREPARING AND PRAYING”
Opening Prayer (2-minutes)
Child 1 Jesus, meek and humble of heart;
All make my heart like Your heart.
Child 2 Mary, Mother of God;
All show yourself a Mother to me.
Child 3 Saint Joseph, protector the Holy Family;
All protect me in all dangers.
Child 4 Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
All I give You my heart and my soul.
Amen.
Proclamation (3-minutes)
In these or similar words appropriate for children…
God made you – everyone – because God is good and He wants you – all of us – to be
good and happy with Him forever
To be happy I must KNOW God, LOVE God, and SERVE God
We come to Holy Mass to know God by listening to God’s word
We come to Holy Mass to love God by praying to God and giving thanks to God for
all that He does for us
Before we come to Holy Mass there are many things we should do to prepare
ourselves so that we are ready to listen, pray and respond to Jesus who is always
present in the Holy Eucharist at Holy Mass
Jesus gave us His Church and the sacraments so that we can know Him and his love
for us
Who can name the first sacrament we have all received? (Baptism)
Who can name the next sacrament you received?
(Confession / Reconciliation / Penance)
Who can name the sacrament we are preparing to receive?
(Holy Eucharist / Holy Communion)
Who can tell me why this sacrament is extra special? (Answers will vary;
looking for the understanding that the Holy Eucharist is the sacrament of the
Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ)
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Teaching (5-minutes)
Review and reinforce key principles of the first gathering of Christians (Acts 2:41-47).
We show our love for God by gathering together every Sunday
In the story of the first Christians – believers of Jesus Christ – they gathered together
How often did they gather together? (every day)
Where did they gather together? (in the temple (church) and in their homes)
Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple
area and to breaking bread in their homes. (Acts 2:46)
What did the first Christians do when they gathered together? (Acts 2:42)
…devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles
(listened to the Word of God and the teachings of the Church)
… breaking of the bread and to the prayers
(received Holy Eucharist and prayed together)
We are happiest when we share with our friends and family
The first Christians shared all of their belongings with each other and ate their meals
together every day!
Can anyone tell me about the last time you had friends or family over to your
house for a meal? (let one or two children share)
How does it feel when you share your things with your friends or family and
share a meal together? (let one or two children share – looking for the
understanding of being happy when we share with friends and family)
They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart,
praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. (Acts 2:46-47)
God is happy when we gather together to listen to Him and share ourselves with Him!
Every time we go to Holy Mass Jesus is there waiting for us and is happy to share
with us His life and love – even though we cannot see Jesus, he is really there! He
talks to us and teaches us (Liturgy of the Word). He gives us something to eat and
drink - his Body and Blood to make us strong (Liturgy of the Eucharist) – which helps
us know Him better and to make good choices every day so we can be happy
It is important when we go to Mass we prepare ourselves to listen and pray to God
Why do you think it is important to prepare and pray to God? (Answers will
vary; looking for the understanding that when we prepare we are better able to
pay attention and pray (participate) in Holy Mass so we can know God better in
our life and are better able to receive God’s love and to be happy – also, it is
disrespectful to God, who loves us and gives us everything, not to listen and
respond to Him.)
Activity 1: “Preparing and Praying” (20-minutes)
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____
Getting Dressed in Your Best
____
Being Kind at Home
Preparing For Mass
____
Taking a Shower
____
Genuflect
____
Eating
____
Getting Up
____
Bless with Holy Water
____
Kneeling and Praying
____
Drive to Mass
____
Hear the Bells & Stand
____
Brush Teeth
____
Comb Hair
CHILD ACTIVITY 1 “PREPARING AND PRAYING”
How do we prepare ourselves for God who calls us to gather at Holy Mass every Sunday
and Holy Days of Obligation? Number these images in proper order, 1-12.
Your Name:
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TEACHING 1 FOR PARENTS
Opening Prayer (2 minutes)
(RM, 1st Week, Collect Prayers)
Adult 1 Prepare our hearts, we pray, O Lord our God, by your divine power,
All so that at the coming of Christ your Son
we may be found worthy of the banquet of eternal life
and merit to receive heavenly nourishment from his hands.
Adult 2 Keep us alert, we pray, O Lord our God,
as we await the advent of Christ Your Son,
All so that, when he comes and knocks,
he may find us watchful in prayer and exultant in his praise.
Adult 3 Stir up your power, O Lord,
and come to our help with mighty strength,
All that what our sins impede the grace of your mercy may hasten.
Amen.
Reflection Readings (5 minutes)
A meditation from Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel, C.F.R., “Experiencing the Mystery of Christ”
Adult 1: On the day before he was given over to suffering and death, Our Lord ate the
Passover dinner with His disciples. As the meal drew to a close He took
unleavened bread and wine into His sacred hands and, blessing them,
established the Eucharist.
Leader: And when the hour came, he sat at table, and the apostles with him. And he said
to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer….
And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to
them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of
me." And likewise the cup after supper, saying, "This cup which is poured out for
you is the new covenant in my blood. (Luke 22:14, 19-20)
Adult 2 How mysterious and unfathomable this must have been to the Apostles as
they received from the hands our Divine Savior a bit of bread which He called
His Body and sip from a cup which He claimed contained not wine by His own
Blood.
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Adult 3: Christ was not bound to bring the Eucharist into being in this fashion.... He
chose as the context for the Eucharist the Passover (or Paschal) dinner, a
tradition already steeped in centuries of holiness. A sacred obligation for all
Jews from the time of the Exodus to the present, the Passover meal
commemorates God’s liberation of the Hebrew people from brutal Egyptian
slavery. At Passover God freed His people from brutal bondage, and as a free
people they later accepted His covenant at Mount Sinai.
Leader: So Moses told the people of Israel that they should keep the passover. And they
kept the passover in the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, in the
evening, in the wilderness of Sinai; according to all that the LORD commanded
Moses, so the people of Israel did. (Numbers 9:4-5)
Adult 4: In transforming the Passover meal into the first Eucharist, Jesus connects the
long ago divine deliverance of the Jewish people to His own acts of
redemption. He brings to fulfillment the promises implicit in the original
Paschal event and reveals God’s plan for the salvation of mankind. Taking
upon Himself the role of the Paschal lamb, the victim whose blood is shed to
bring on deliverance, He sacrifices himself for a world that is hopelessly mired
in sin, whose relationship to God has been terribly wounded.
Leader: …for although they knew God they did not honor him as God or give thanks to
him, but they became futile in their thinking and their senseless minds were
darkened…Sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and
so death spread to all men because all men sinned... (Romans 1:21; 5:12)
Adult 5 As Jesus passes over from our corrupt and dying world to His heavenly
Father, He liberates us from slavery to sin and death. He transforms us by His
sacrifice, bringing us into a new relationship with God, a “new and everlasting
covenant,” one sealed in His own blood.
Adult 6 When we kneel at Mass and watch the priest consecrate bread and wine just
as Christ did on that Passover night, we should be in awe of the love which
Christ shows for us in His Passover, in His Eucharist. We should have a fierce
yearning to live the covenant that Christ’s death and resurrection brought
into being and abandon ourselves to the relationship to God that is made
possible in the Eucharist.
Leader: Jesus, our Paschal victim, bridges the infinite distance between God and the
sinful human soul, restoring the relationship to the divine that mankind had
forfeited through sin, restoring it visibly in the Eucharist, the Paschal
sacrament of His Body and Blood, the most intimate relationship possible
between God and humanity the most perfect sign of covenant imaginable.
With St. Paul, we should joyfully proclaim: “Christ, our Passover, has been
sacrificed for us; therefore let us keep the feast.”
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Teaching “Prepare, Pray, Listen and Respond” (20 – 25 minutes)
Note: this teaching and the second teaching are designed as one teaching; you can
adjust as necessary (e.g. break where it makes sense) to accommodate the total
teaching across both sessions. The second teaching has less content with this in mind.
A day of Rest?
What is your experience of Sunday Mass?
Is it “awe of the love which Christ shows for us in His Passover, in His Eucharist?”
Is it “a fierce yearning to live the covenant that Christ’s death and resurrection brought into being?”
Do you experience “the most intimate relationship possible between God and humanity the most perfect sign of covenant imaginable?”
OR – does it seem more like a game of charades with your children?
As parents, Mass can be filled with distractions …
The moment we become a parent; crying babies, spilled cereal, energetic kids, dirty
diapers become a reality…
Sundays probably are anything but a “day of rest” – changing into a day of
1. Chaos - catching up - constant housework
The idea of a “day of rest” may seem like a fantasy!
For several years this experience may have marked your Sunday routine – in that
time we may have started to see Mass as something routine that we attend or do;
rather than something that we:
1. PREPARE, PRAY, LISTEN, RESPOND, RECEIVE AND LIVE
as a mission – “missio” – truly, to be a living sacrament (visible
sign of Christ in us) to the world – a world in desperate need of
the true light and love of Christ…
Even the best Mass is filled with distraction and it can be hard to focus
If this has been your experience…OR
1. If you feel you understand less about the Mass than you would like to
admit – I have great news!
As our children are preparing to receive the greatest gift –
indeed, preparing to enter into and experience the “source and
summit” – the very heart of God’s love – His plan for the
salvation of ourselves and the entire world – indeed, the great
ACT OF WORSHIP – we have an opportunity to do the same!
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If we can clear the air and admit that perhaps we don’t give Mass the place in our
Sunday that we should…
1. That we may not know as much about Mass as we would like…
2. That we may not know that we do not know – or even why we
should want to know…
…Then we are in the right place and time to renew – rediscover – or discover for the first
time, the greatest and most profound realities of Holy Mass – that heaven and earth
meet – that God and Man meet in an exchange of the Divine and human natures, every
time we gather in Holy Mass.
Made for Worship
To really understand Holy Mass, we need to first understand worship and why it
is an essential part of who we were created to be, worship is…
1. Adoration and honor that we give go God
2. Thanksgiving for what He has given us – life itself
Anytime we give reverence through prayer to God, we worship Him
We were made to worship God, because God created us – Our heart has been
designed by God to seek out God and be in a relationship with Him…
It is only in God that we can really find happiness and truth (Ef. CCC, 27-30)
1. The desire for God is written in our heart in our conception…
2. Human nature is wired as a religious being…
You are great, O Lord, and greatly to be praised: great is your power and your wisdom
is without measure. And man, so small a part of your creation, wants to praise you: this
man, though clothed with mortality and bearing the evidence of sin and the proof that
you withstand the proud. Despite everything, man, though but a small part of your
creation, wants to praise you. You yourself encourage him to delight in your praise, for
you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.
(St. Augustine)
God saves us, we cannot save ourselves
God loves us perfectly, but our love – in return – can often be fickle
As a result, we owe God our worship, adoration, and love
God, in turn, loves us and saves us from our sins – but not because of our worship –
simply because God loves us
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To the Mountain to form a Covenant between God and Man
At the time that Moses lived, the Israelites were slaves in Egypt. God liberates the
Israelites from their captivity, but not only because they were enslaved – God
liberates them so they can have the freedom to worship God…
1. The entire story of the Exodus is about freedom:
Freedom to know the Lord and Worship Him –V– knowing
Pharaoh (the world of men) and working/worshiping worldly
things – note: Hebrew word used is AVAD (work/worship)
We can learn two important things from this:
1. The freedom to worship God is the most fundamental
freedom – without it, not one can truly be free, despite
what other rights we may have.
2. God must lead the Israelites into the desert so that God
can show them how to worship – if this was not
necessary, the people would have just made up their
own worship practices inside of Egypt.
God has other plans! Moses tells Pharaoh that he must let the people go free to
worship – but Pharaoh several times tries to put restrictions on worship
Despite repeated attempts by Pharaoh to stop the Israelites, God liberates them
from captivity and leads them to Mount Sinai to make a covenant with God and
worship Him
Moses goes up the mountain, not only to receive the Law (Ten Commandments
AKA the Natural Law for our true human nature) – but also for instruction from
God about worship and receive a community rule of life
Moses is gone for a long time (40 days) and the people begin to get restless (recall
St. Augustine’s Quote…)
The Golden Calf
While Moses is away, people start to worry – they do not know how to worship,
and they are concerned perhaps God has deserted them – after all, they are in the
middle of the desert
The people begin to build an idol…
1. They build a giant golden calf to worship – something they had saw
many times in Egypt (remember, Man is hardwired a “religious
being”)
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2. Having a desire to worship God, the people started to worship in the
only way they knew how because they became impatient – however, it
is not how God calls us to worship…and there were consequences…
Sabbath Worship
God gives the people of Israel guidelines for authentic worship (last part of Exodus
and most of Leviticus)
He asks the people to make sacrifices, to offer prayers and praise through priests,
and to rest and observe a Sabbath
The Sabbath is a day that the people were to rest and set aside for the worship of God
– and had many restrictions – absolutely no work (way of the world) was to be done
Not meant to be a burden, but to remind the people that the purpose of the day was
not to “catch up” on work, but to worship God
The Sabbath was originally celebrated in commemoration of the seventh day of
creation (Saturday), the day that God rested – it was a blessed day that recognized
that humanity needs rest and an opportunity to focus on our creator
On this day, people gathered in large assemblies for prayer, and then would rest –
even animals were prohibited from working
The Sabbath day recognized the human need for worship, inscribed on every
person’s heart
The Sabbath was observed through the time of Christ, when – following the
resurrection (on Sunday) – a new worship was instituted and the Sabbath was
transformed – beginning of the new creation
The New Covenant
At Mount Sinai, the people entered into a covenant with God. On the night that the
Jewish people celebrated Passover, the event that liberated the Israelites from
Egypt so they could worship God, Jesus institutes a new covenant of worship
At the Passover meal, Jesus gives the disciples the Eucharist…
1. Gives them bread and wine, and it becomes the sacrament of /Christ’s
Body and Blood – and tells the apostles to “do this in remembrance of
me” – this is the institution of the Eucharist and of the Mass
(Luke 22:19-20)
2. Jesus shows the disciples that this is the new way of worshipping
God – it is true communion with Christ through the Eucharist – the
new “tree of life” which is eternal life
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The next day, Jesus is put to death on the cross; on the third day after his death,
Jesus is raised from the dead – the Christian community, remembering Christ’s
words that “The Son of man must suffer many things… be rejected … and be killed,
and on the third day be raised," quickly realized the correlation between Christ’s
resurrection and the Sabbath
The Christians began celebrating Christ’s resurrection on the same day it happened
– Sunday – and celebrated it as the Sabbath
Sunday now stood as the fulfillment of the Old Testament Sabbath (which was
rooted in sacrifice, pray and praise) to be truly free (from sin and death) to rest and
worship God
To Become Fully Alive
We can reclaim the Sabbath day as a day of rest and prayer, even if we have not
claimed it as such for a while
Mass is important – necessary – as it is the place where we encounter Christ in the
Eucharist and build our relationship with God the Father
Over our remaining teaching moments in this workshop and the next, we are going
to explore the incredible privilege of worshipping God at Mass
This is what our children are preparing for today
God calls all of us to be a part of his family, with all of our imperfections and
weaknesses, and our desire to worship and praise God, pleases him…
Every Holy Mass may not be free of distractions, but we can point our heart in the
right direction by giving God the best that we can bring – and lead our children to
do the same!
Let us pray in the words that our Lord and Savior taught us.
“Our Father…”
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LARGE GROUP GATHERING 2: WE LISTEN
Note: this ritual is adapted from the Eucharist Program Director’s Manual, Published by RCL · Resources for Christian Living, 2003.
Leader Let us begin by praying the Sign of the Cross to remind us that we are disciples of Jesus Christ.
All (Make the sign of the cross, saying) In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Leader God, our loving Father, As we gather around your word to us, prepare our minds and hearts to listen to your word that we may grow in wisdom, knowledge, and grace. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ.
All Amen.
Scripture Reading (1 Samuel 3:1-10, a boy listens to God)
Reader A reading from the prophet Samuel.
During the time young Samuel was minister to the LORD under Eli, the word of the LORD
was scarce and vision infrequent. One day Eli was asleep in his usual place. His eyes had lately grown so weak that he
could not see. The lamp of God was not yet extinguished, and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of
the LORD where the ark of God was. The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.” He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.” “I did not call you,” Eli answered. “Go back to sleep.” So he went
back to sleep. Again the LORD called Samuel,
who rose and went to Eli. “Here I am,” he said. “You called me.”
But he answered, “I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.”
Samuel did not yet recognize the LORD, since the word of the LORD had not yet been
revealed to him. The LORD called Samuel again, for the third
time. Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am. You called me.”
Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth.
So he said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, ‘Speak, LORD, for your
servant is listening.’” When Samuel went to sleep in his place, the LORD came and stood there, calling out as before: Samuel, Samuel! Samuel answered,
“Speak, for your servant is listening.”
Conclude the reading saying, The word of the Lord.
All Thanks be to God.
Closing Prayer
God, our loving Father, today we show our reverence for your word, the Sacred Scriptures. Send us the Holy Spirit to help us remember and follow your word every day. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All Amen.
Leader Children, please come forward with your parents and reverence the Word of God, then proceed to the next teaching session.
Ritual: Reverencing the Word of God This may be done by touching the book, kissing the book, or genuflecting before the book.
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TEACHING 2 FOR CHILDREN: “LISTENING AND RESPONDING”
Opening Prayer (2-minutes)
Child 1 My Jesus,
All I need You. It is hard for me to be good.
Child 2 My Jesus,
All Come to make my soul strong.
Child 3 Holy Mary, Mother of God,
All pray for me to help me grow in Love for your Son Jesus.
Amen.
Proclamation (3-minutes)
In these or similar words appropriate for children…
Did you know that God is listening to you all the time – even the thoughts in your
head?!
God is always ready to listen to us – especially when we are sad or lonely
Jesus gave us His Church and the sacraments so that we can know Him and his love
for us
When we come to Holy Mass we can know God better and better by listening to
God’s word, praying to God and responding to God, which means:
paying attention
participating with the priest and Jesus at all of the right times
knowing what to say, sing, or pray and when to say it
being grateful/thankful for all that God does for you and your family
Who can tell me something that God has done for you/us and why that makes you/us
happy? (Answers will vary; looking for the understanding that all good things come from God,
like our parents, family, friends, nature and animals to enjoy, etc. Ultimately, we want to lead
the children to appreciate God’s love through the gift of Jesus on the Cross, that he loves us
and wants us to be with him to the point that he suffered and died for us.)
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Teaching (5-minutes)
Review and reinforce key principles of the importance of listening and responding according
the story of the boy Samuel (1 Samuel 3:1-10).
Samuel Listens and responds to God
The Bible has many stories about people listening to God
What did the God say to Samuel? (“The LORD called to Samuel”)
How did Samuel respond? (He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.”)
Who is Eli and how did he help Samuel? (Eli was a priest and he helped
Samuel listen to God’s word – and told Samuel to respond to God “Speak,
Lord, I am listening.”)
Who helps you listen to the word of God? (Answers will vary; looking for the
understanding that priests, religious and our parents help us to listen to God.)
God speaks to us in Holy Mass and we listen, just like Samuel
God speaks to us through the Bible. God gave us the gift of the Bible because he loves
us and He wants us to know Him.
What is another name that we call the Bible? (Sacred Scripture)
The Bible has two main parts
Who can tell me the two parts of Sacred Scripture? (Old and New Testament)
The Old Testament tells us the story of God’s people who lived before Jesus was born
– stories like that about Samuel
The New Testament tells about Jesus and the first Christians – like the first story we
read today about the first Christians
We respond to God when he speaks to us, just like Samuel
At every Sunday Mass we listen to three reading from the Bible during the Liturgy of
the Word – and we respond to each reading
i. First Reading is from the Old Testament which tells the story of God’s love
for us before Jesus was born
What is our response after the first reading? (“Thanks be to God”)
We also respond by singing a response called a Psalm – we listen to a
Cantor (a person who leads us in song) and repeat what they sing
ii. Second Reading is from the New Testament and tells us what the apostles
and first Christians believed about Jesus – the apostles were the first leaders
of Jesus’ followers
What is our response after the second reading? (“Thanks be to God”)
iii. Third Reading is from the New Testament and is called “the Gospel reading.”
Gospel means “good news” and they tell us who Jesus is and what Jesus said
and did
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How do we prepare to listen to the Gospel reading?
We stand; make the sign of cross on our foreheads, lips, and
heart and then say “Glory to you O Lord.”
How do we respond after listening to the Gospel reading?
We say “Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ”
The priest helps us to understand God’s word, just like Eli the priest in the story of
Samuel
After God speaks to us through Holy Scripture the priest helps us to understand who
God is and how we should respond to God in our daily life – this is called a “homily”
Why is it important to listen to the priest? (Answers will vary; looking for the
understanding that the priest (our pastor) wants to help us to know and love
God better, just like Eli helped Samuel. Jesus gives us priests to lead us and
teach us to know, love, and serve God so that we can make good choices and
be happy with God.)
Activity 2: Listening and Responding (20-minutes)
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Scavenger Hunt Activity #2 Church Tour Items check off each item as you locate it
∆ Holy Water
∆ Baptismal Font
∆ Pews
∆ Altar
∆ Candles
∆ Pascale (Easter) Candle
∆ Lectern (Ambo)
∆ Cross/Crucifix
∆ Stained Glass Windows
∆ Stations of the Cross
∆ St. Francis
∆ Statues
∆ Tabernacle
∆ Sanctuary Light
∆ Confessional
∆ Sanctuary
∆ Alter Cloth
∆ Holy Water Sprinkler
∆ Host
∆ Corporal/Purificator/Pall
∆ Cruets
∆ Alb & Cincture
∆ Ceborium
∆ Pyx
∆ Stole
∆ Chausable/Vestment
∆ Lectionary
∆ Missal
∆ Thurible/Incense
∆ Sacred Oils
∆ Alter Bells
∆ Monstrance
∆ Processional Cross
∆ Presidential Chair
CHILD ACTIVITY 2: “LISTENING AND RESPONDING”
Scavenger Hunt! Take a Church tour with your teacher and adult helpers, find and check off each item as you locate them.
Your Name:
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TEACHING 2 FOR PARENTS
Opening Prayer (2 minutes)
(Cf. John 15:1-11)
Adult 1 Lord God, in your own words you tell us the You are the true vine,
All we are the branches of you O Lord; without You we cannot bear fruit.
Adult 2 Lord God, you tell us that we are made clean by the word
which You have spoken;
All help us Lord to listen to your Word,
that You may abide in us and we abide in You.
Adult 3 Lord God, there is no greater love then when you
laid down Your life for ours;
All help us Lord to respond to your love, to be branches that bear much fruit.
Amen.
Reflection Readings (3 minutes)
A meditation from Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel, C.F.R., “Experiencing the Mystery of Christ”
Leader: The word “liturgy” has numerous meanings. Most commonly it is a word used to
indicate the Mass, but it means many things other than that and therefore can
become confusing.
Adult 1: Liturgy includes all the works that Christ, our High Priest, does in His Church.
In its broadest application, liturgy includes any exercise of Christ’s own
ministry as Head of the Mystical Body, the Church.
Adult 2: This, of course, includes public worship, especially the celebration of the Holy
Eucharist; but it also includes the other sacraments, other forms of worship,
all good works done in union with Christ by His followers, all preaching and
teaching of the Gospel, and all works of true charity.
Adult 3: The liturgy joins the action and blessing of the Son of God to the works of
human beings…. It requires a degree of maturity and spiritual insight to
realize that the whole work of salvation and sanctification, the whole reason
for our being Christians, is to allow the Son of God to grow in us so that we
may be transformed into Him.
Leader: He alone has eternal life, and our entrance into that life depends on our
incorporation into Him, which requires a response.
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Teaching (15 – 20 minutes)
Responding to What and to Whom?
Is it possible to respond to someone if we do not know them, or only have a cursory
understanding of who they are?
Actually, yes we can – and do all of the time – both rightly and wrongly…
Person Example:
Think about a time when you might have made responded with
assumptions about someone based on how they dressed, the manner of
their speaking, the type of job they had?
Now reflect on a situation where your perspective changed when you
came to know this person and discovered a truth about them – a truth
discovered through a personal experience/encounter with them, or based
on something they said to you…
Suddenly you realize that your understanding of them was largely based
on your own projection of who you thought they were…
Now apply this to God, His Church, the Liturgy and Sacraments:
How much of our response to God, Church, Liturgy and Sacraments is
based on our own projections of whom God is and what His thoughts,
wishes, and desires are regarding His Church, His Liturgy, and His gifts
for us found in the Sacramental Life?
Do we imagine God from our own thoughts – OR – do we know Him from
outside of ourselves?
Our goal, I believe, is that we want to know God and respond to Him rightly –
God tells us himself that our thoughts and ways are not His:
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than
your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9)
Thus, to know who God is can only be revealed to us by Him – and we come to
substantially know God precisely in His Words and Works…
God Speaks
Invite parents to following along in their adult handout “Holy Mass, “Order of Holy Mass.”
As a Sunday Mass, we her four readings from Sacred Scripture – which is the
inspired Word of God – take that in; every time you hear or read from the Bible, you
are hearing God’s voice…
It is so easy to get so caught up in distractions at Mass that we miss the voice of
God
Each week we have an opportunity to be impacted by the life-changing power of
God’s Word – have we let it take root in us this week?
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The Letter to the Hebrews says:
The word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword,
penetrating even between soul and spirit…able to discern reflections and
thoughts of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
The word of God is powerful and life changing – but we have to be ready to receive
it. We prepare ourselves to hear god’s Word and receive Christ in the Eucharist
through what are called the Introductory Rites at Mass.
Gathered to Worship
Holy Mass begins as the congregation stands and the priest enters – we stand out of
readiness for what is about to happen in the liturgy. The priest invites everyone to
take a moment to think about areas where they have fallen into sin, and leads them
in a prayer of penance – called Penitential Act.
The Penitential Act allows the congregation to seek God’s mercy and forgiveness
for any venial sins that they have committed during the week so their hearts can
better disposed to hear God’s Word and receive grace.
The Penitential Act is not the same as receiving absolution in the Sacrament of
Reconciliation. If a person is in a state of mortal sin, he or she needs to receive the
Sacrament of Reconciliation in order to be absolved of that sin.
Pastoral Note: this may require further discussion about the difference between
mortal and venial sin and the necessity of Sacrament of Reconciliation
The Gloria is sung or spoken immediately following the Penitential Act and Kyrie
Eleison.
The Gloria is the hymn the angels sang to the shepherds at the birth of
Christ – we give God praise with this hymn, in thanksgiving for his love,
mercy, and the gift of Christ…
The final part of the Introductory Rites is called “The Collect,” – the opening prayer
that calls us to be mindful of God’s presence!
This prayer, according to ancient tradition, is usually addressed to God the
Father, through Christ, in the Holy Spirit
After this prayer, the congregation and priest are seated and ready to receive
God’s Word in the Sacred Scripture
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God Speaks
The Liturgy of the Word is a crucial part in the celebration of Mass – if we want to
know who God is and what is His mind, it begins here by carefully listening…
Four readings, chants or songs in between
1. Old Testament, except during Easter than Acts of the Apostles
2. Psalm Response – collection of songs from the OT; hence, they are
usually sung
3. Second Reading – from one of the letters in the New Testament –
contain instructions for Christian life
4. Gospel – the high point of the Liturgy of the Word – contains the
narrative and words of Christ
Out of reverence to God, we stand
Proclamation of the Gospel reserved for those ordained in the
Sacrament of Holy Orders (priest or deacon)
The homily, is given (by priest or deacon) to help us dive more deeply into the
Sacred Scriptures to aid us in reflection and application in our personal and
public lives
The whole time we have been immersed in God’s Word -
hearing God’s voice made present to us
Have we been drifting through the readings? Thinking about how the cantor
sang the Psalm Response? Thinking about what we have to get done after
Mass during the homily?
After the homily we Respond – a response which also comes from God’s
Word – our Profession of Faith – given to us by God from the Apostles – I
believe…!
We conclude the Liturgy of the Word with the prayers of the faithful (our
petitions) – giving thanks and asking God for the help we need, for the world
and world leaders, for our Church (the diocese) and Church universal
Did you know that the readings are chosen for Mass in an ordered and particular
way, found in a book called the Lectionary?
1. When you listen carefully, you will notice that there is often a theme
that runs through the readings – especially the first reading and the
Gospel
2. Three yearly cycles of readings – so that we can be brought fully into
the life of the Christ
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3. In fact, if you just attend Sunday Mass for three years, you will hear
over half of the Bible
4. If you go to daily Mass, every day, for three years you will hear nearly
the entire Bible!
Hence, you can tell our Protestant and Evangelical friends that we are very much a
“biblical church” – indeed, the Church is what gave us the Word of God!
The One That Has Ears
My friends, our world is filled with a lot of noise that competes for our attention
Some of that noise tries to sell us something
Some of it is just distracting
And some of it can actually harm us
It can be a challenge to hear God’s voice in all of the sound – but we can hear it clearly
every time we attend Holy Mass, we just need to focus our heart on God’s Word
Holy Mass allows us to tune our ears to the Word of God – and when we do this we
begin to hear God’s voice everywhere in our life – even when it is noisy and crowded
Note: if your parish has an adult Bible study, invite parents to consider signing up as a way to
dive deeper into God’s Word. Encourage personal scripture study in combination with a good
Catholic study source. Invite parents to find time to spend a few moments each day with the
Word of God.
Proclamation and Witness “Reclaim the Sabbath day”
In these, or similar words...
Prepare, prayer, listen, and respond – this is what our children are being
taught right now…
My friends, every day and every moment is an opportunity to start anew – to
reclaim the Sabbath for what it truly is. Is there any better moment than right
now as your child is preparing to enter into a whole new realm – a profound life
– to receive the Body and Blood of Christ … to enter into a new level of intimacy
with God – to live more fully in the “new covenant” the Way, the Truth, and the
Life of God which is the entire reason we exist – to know, love, and serve God
and be an image of him in this world so as to live with Him forever in the next!
How do we find the time for ourselves – make it happen…find the time, make
the time, start simply – prayer, study, adoration – individually and as a couple…
become aware of His abiding presence in every moment…
Next time we meet we will explore the other “presence” of our Lord which is the
Liturgy of the Eucharist – where Jesus Christ is present to us in more than just
His Words – where He is “really present Body, Blood, soul and divinity.” Amen!
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PARENT / CHILD ACTIVITY 1 “PREPARING AND PRAYING”
Gathering with Jesus
Preparing for Jesus
Talk to your child about your parish community. Review names of:
Talk about ways your family can better prepare for Holy Mass.
Your parish (and school if applicable)
Your pastor
Other people who you know that serve in the parish/school (e.g. assoc. pastor, religious, principle, DRE, teachers)
Other special people you know at church
What can you do at home before you depart for Holy Mass?
What can you do in the car on the way to Holy Mass?
What can you do when you enter the church for Holy Mass?
Review how your family plan to pray together (from the First Confession/Reconciliation workshop) is going and how you might make it better. Sign of the Cross, Glory Be, Our Father,
Hail Mary, St. Michael Prayer, Grace before/after meals.
Consider adding a few additional prayers, such as:
Morning/Evening Prayer, Act of Faith, Act of Hope, Act of Love
(see “Children’s Preparation Guide”)
Praying Together
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PARENT / CHILD ACTIVITY 2 “LISTENING AND RESPONDING”
Listening to Jesus
Responding to Jesus
This is a good time for you to talk with your child about the Bible.
Talk about ways your family can better listen and respond to God’s
word at Holy Mass.
Share a favorite Bible story of yours with your child
Ask your child what is his or her favorite story in the Bible
Discuss what God’s word to us might be in that Bible story
What can you do when we are sitting in church to pay more attention to what is being said?
How can you be a helper to your parents and/or an example to your brothers or sisters in Holy Mass?
Preparing to Receive
Holy
Communion
Begin reviewing the “Children’s Preparation Guide for Holy Communion” to learn the Introductory Rites and Liturgy of the Word and our responses.
I. Introductory Rites Penitential Act The Gloria
II. Liturgy of the Word Profession of Faith First Reading Responsorial Second Reading Gospel Reading
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LARGE GROUP GATHERING 3: SHARING OF BREAD
Note: this ritual is adapted from the Eucharist Program Director’s Manual, Published by RCL · Resources for Christian Living, 2003.
Leader Let us begin as we were baptized.
All (Make the sign of the cross, saying) In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Leader God, our loving Father, You have called us to come together in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. We give thanks for the love and care you have for us. We make our prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All Amen.
Scripture Reading (Luke 9:10-17, Jesus feeds the people)
Reader A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
All Reverently sign your forehead, lips, and over your heart with the sign of the cross saying, Glory to you, O Lord.
When the apostles returned, they explained to him what they had done. He took them and withdrew in private to a town called
Bethsaida. The crowds, meanwhile, learned of this and followed him. He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of
God, and he healed those who needed to be cured. As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve approached him and said, “Dismiss
the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms and find lodging and provisions; for we are in a
deserted place here.” He said to them, “Give them some food yourselves.”
They replied, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have, unless we ourselves go and buy
food for all these people.” Now the men there numbered about five thousand. Then he said
to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of [about] fifty.” They did so and
made them all sit down. Then taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to
heaven, he said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples
to set before the crowd. They all ate and were satisfied. And when the leftover
fragments were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets.
Conclude the reading saying, The Gospel of the Lord.
All Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Closing Prayer
God, our loving Father, all our blessings are from you. Today we celebrate your love. We gather to share the love you give us and to give you thanks. Send us the Holy Spirit to help us remember to give you thanks every day. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All Amen.
Leader Provide an explanation of the “Sharing Ourselves” homework and invite parents and children to seriously consider doing this before the next workshop!
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PARENT / CHILD ACTIVITY 3 “SHARING OURSELVES”
HOMEWORK
Jesus fed about five thousand people to show them that God loves and cares for people.
Find out how your family can donate to a local food collection
Invite a guest to share a meal with your family. As you plan, talk about how your family can share God’s love with your guest.
Sharing is one way we show God that we are thankful.
Name the things that your family shares with one another
Pray this or a similar prayer at family meals or at other family prayer times until our next sacramental preparation parent-child workshop.
Loving God, Our Father, today we gather to celebrate the love
you share with each of us.
We give you thanks for all your gifts to us.
Send us the Holy Spirit to help us remember to give you thanks every day.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Sharing Together
Praying Together
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DIOCESE OF BAKER
Office of Evangelization and Catechesis
PO Box 5999
Bend, OR 97701
Phone: 541-388-4004
Fax: 541-388-2566