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During the month of October, the Catholic Church in the United States celebrates Respect Life Month. As we approach this celebration of reflecting on the dignity of every human life, may we be emboldened to defend and protect the most vulnerable among us.
October is also the Month of the Rosary. Let’s join the Catholic Church around the world in asking Our Blessed Mother to cover us under her mantle during these hard times when we so desperately need her protection and intercession.
Every week in the GROW newsletter, you will find helpful tips for teaching your Gospel Weeklies lesson, a reflection on the Sunday Gospel, and links to online resources.
Video of Sunday’s Gospel (Mark 9:38–43, 45, 47–48)
Use these videos as you discuss today’s Gospel. Please preview to make sure the videos are appropriate for your group:
Holy Heroes
Gospel Reading and Reflection for Kids
Sunday Gospel Cartoon Reading and Lesson
Jubilee 2025 activities, handouts, resources, and more
Seeds
Lesson Theme: We gather in Jesus’ name.
At the beginning of every Seeds lesson, we encourage you to invite a child to point to the current Sunday on a Church Year calendar. If you don’t have a calendar for 2025 (begins on 12/1/24), you can order one here.
For this lesson, you will need crayons or colored pencils, a rubber ball or soccer ball, images or statues of Mary and Jesus and a Church Year calendar. Make sure you have enough orange crayons for all the children.
Find answers to the hidden children activity on page 2 here.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
Gospel Reflection and Saint of the Week with Miss Heidi
Kid-Sized Lessons on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole (Bible Bag)
Promise
Lesson Theme: We belong to God’s family.
Materials you’ll need are crayons, pencils, a stapler, dice, game markers, a Church Year calendar, and copies of the story coloring page (one per child).
Before the lesson, cut 1″ by 5″ paper strips and print a child’s name on each. Note that the page 4 activity involves a visit to your parish church. Plan ahead for a church visit. If it doesn’t fit in this week, schedule a time to do this soon.
Find answers to the hidden object and people activity on page 1 here.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Extending Activities
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
Gospel Reflection and Saint of the Week with Miss Heidi
Kid-Sized Lessons on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole (Bible Bag)
Catholic Church Tour for Kids
Good News
Lesson Theme: Jesus connects us.
This lesson suggests that you have Bibles (one per child), crayons or pencils, and a Church Year calendar. This would be a good lesson for inviting a special guest to share about his or her ministry as a parish lector.
You will need to prepare Liturgy of the Word cards in advance. Find guidance for what to include on the cards and how you’ll use them at the bottom of the first column on page TG1-11 in the Teaching Guide.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Venture
Lesson Theme: Jesus reveals God’s love for all.
For this lesson, gather pencils or pens, notebook or lined writing paper, Bibles (one per child), a Lectionary, and a Liturgical Year calendar. If you can bring a Lectionary to class this week, share with the children how the readings for Mass are listed in this book and how it is similar to and different from a Bible. This would be a good lesson for inviting a special guest to share about his or her ministry as a parish lector.
The article in this week’s Venture lesson introduces the children to three saints from the Americas. Explain to the children that the Church often canonizes new saints in the fall. On October 20, Pope Francis will canonize the eleven “Martyrs of Damascus”: Manuel Ruiz López, Carmelo Bolta, Nicanor Ascanio, Nicolás M. Alberca y Torres, Pedro Soler, Engelbert Kolland, Francisco Pinazo Peñalver, Juan S. Fernández, and Francis, Abdel Mohti, and Raphael Massabki; Giuseppe Allamano; Marie-Léonie Paradis; and Elena GuerraIf. If time permits, you may wish to share this resource about the process of canonization.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
Oscar Romero Is a Saint
St. Marianne Cope
Biography of St. Kateri Tekakwitha
Understanding the Sunday Lectionary
Visions
Lesson Theme: Jesus reveals God’s love for everyone.
For this lesson, you will need pencils or pens, notebook or lined writing paper, a Lectionary, Bibles (one per child), and sticky tabs or small slips of paper for marking Sunday Scripture in the Bible.
After they complete the survey on the cover, invite the children to share their thoughts about Church without judgment. Assign one “lesson” in this week’s article to small groups or pairs of students. They can then report back to the larger group. If possible, have a copy of the Lectionary available for the students to view. Help them to identify how the Lectionary is similar to and different from a Bible. This would be a good lesson for inviting a special guest to share about his or her ministry as a parish lector.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
How to Contact Pope Francis
Pope Francis 10th Anniversary
Understanding the Sunday Lectionary
Paul VI: His Influence on the Pontificate of Pope Francis
Image credit: Reprinted with permission. Copyright © 2024, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C. All rights reserved.
