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In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus distills all the commandments down to the Great Commandment. Jesus’ response to the scholar of the Law has a wonderful tie to a song that plays on my local contemporary Christian radio station. It’s definitely worth a listen—and possibly a share with your class or family. Danny Gokey echoes Jesus’ teaching as he sings, “It all comes down to this: love God and love people.” Enjoy—and may we embrace and truly live the Great Commandment and change our world!
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.
Videos of Sunday’s Gospel
Use these videos as you discuss today’s Gospel. Please preview all videos you plan to share with your class:
• Holy Heroes
• Greatest Commandment
• Sunday Setup—Weekly Video and Post (courtesy of the Diocese of Bridgeport)
• Bishop Frank Teaches the Faith—Videos and Activities for Children (courtesy of the Diocese of Bridgeport)
Other Resources
• Pope Leo XIV and the Papacy
• Special Message from Pope Leo to Young People (NCYC | November 21, 2025)
For Catholic Schools
• Albert’s Expeditions Join Albert, a fierce yet friendly Peregrine Falcon, named after Saint Albert the Great (who even gave the Peregrine Falcon its name 800 years ago!) on scientific expeditions all around the globe.
Seeds
Lesson Theme: Jesus has two rules for us.
For this lesson, you will need scissors, tape, crayons or colored pencils, a puppet, a soft ball or plush toy, and a Church Year calendar. You will also need paper hearts to distribute to the children during the class each time they follow the classroom’s rules. Make sure you have at least two hearts per child.
The children will make a prayer card with a family prayer. We suggest that you cut the prayer cards in advance. You can use a utility knife to cut only the top part of the heart, following the dashed line. Encourage families to pray this prayer together at home, asking God for help to follow Jesus’ most important commandment.
This lesson talks about rules. Make sure you explain to the children that Jesus loves us and wants us to live as members of his family. Because Jesus loves us, he gives us the Great Commandment, not to make life difficult, but to help us love him and love one another. It´s all about God’s love for us!
All Saints’ Day is celebrated next Sunday, November 1. There is a bonus All Saint’s Day activity in your Teaching Guide on page TG1-36. You may use this in class or send it home with the children.
Teaching Guide
Family Companion & Weekly Parent Resources
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Gospel Reflection and Saint of the Week with Miss Heidi
• Bible Bag: Kid-Sized Lessons on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole
Promise
Lesson Theme: Jesus teaches us to love.
For this lesson, you will need paper hearts, coins, game markers, scissors, tape or glue, and a Church Year calendar.
This lesson talks about the two rules that Jesus gives us in the New Testament. Make sure you explain to the children that Jesus loves us and wants us to live as members of his family. Because Jesus loves us, he gives us the Great Commandment, not to make life difficult, but to help us love him and love one another. It´s all about God’s love for us!
All Saints’ Day is celebrated next Sunday, November 1. There is a bonus All Saint’s Day activity in your Teaching Guide on page TG1-36. You may use this in class or send it home with the children.
Teaching Guide
Family Companion & Weekly Parent Resources
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
Extending Activities
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Assessments
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Gospel Reflection and Saint of the Week with Miss Heidi
• Bible Bag: Kid-Sized Lessons on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole
Good News
Lesson Theme: Jesus teaches us to love God and neighbor.
For this lesson, you will need newsprint or poster board, coloring tools, coins, a Church Year calendar, game markers, a crucifix, pencils, and a classroom Bible.
Find an answer key for the word search (page 1) here.
In this lesson, we encourage you to invite the children to use three fingers to help them remember three key concepts:
- The Great Commandment tells us to love God with our whole (1) heart, (2) soul, and (3) mind.
- In the Great Commandment, Jesus tells us to love (1) God, (2) neighbor, and (3) self.
- There are Three Persons in the Holy Trinity: (1) Father, (2) Son, and (3) Holy Spirit.
All Saints’ Day is celebrated next Sunday, November 1. There is a bonus All Saint’s Day activity in your Teaching Guide on page TG1-36. You may use this in class or send it home with the children.
Teaching Guide
Family Companion & Weekly Parent Resources
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Assessments
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• The 10 Commandments!
• What Do the Ten Commandments REALLY Command?
Venture
Lesson Theme: Jesus teaches us to love God and neighbor.
For this lesson, gather pencils or pens, writing paper, and props for the TV show (optional).
The Living the Gospel activity (pages 6–7) is hosting a TV talk show. It’s optional—but way more fun—to have a stage and microphone (even if the microphone is a paper towel tube).
Note the QR code on page 3 of the lesson. We are trying to add quick connections to short, relevant videos and websites that may be shared in class or at home.
All Saints’ Day is celebrated next Sunday, November 1. There is a bonus All Saint’s Day activity in your Teaching Guide on page TG1-36. You may use this in class or send it home with the children.
Teaching Guide
Family Companion & Weekly Parent Resources
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Assessments
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Feeding America: How We Work
• Prayers of the Faithful
• Mary Virginia Merrick, National Christ Child Founder
Visions
Lesson Theme: Jesus teaches us his Law of Love.
For this lesson, you will need pens or pencils and Bibles (one per young person).
In this lesson, the young people will learn about the two main parts of the Mass: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. While learning about the Prayer of the Faithful, the young people will be asked to write their own prayers. We suggest you talk in advance with your parish priest to ask him if these prayers could be included in an upcoming Mass. You could also send them via email to the students’ families for them to include in their mealtime prayers.
All Saints’ Day is celebrated next Sunday, November 1. There is a bonus All Saint’s Day activity in your Teaching Guide on page TG1-36. You may use this in class or send it home with the children.
Teaching Guide
Family Companion & Weekly Parent Resources
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Assessments
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Irena Sendler Story
• Irena Sendler, A Catholic Hero
• Prayers of the Faithful
• The Servant of God Julia Greeley
Image credit: Belen Benitez via cathopic.com
