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The World Day of Prayer for Vocations is observed on Sunday, April 30, 2023, which is also known as “Good Shepherd Sunday.” The purpose of this day is to publicly fulfill the Lord’s instruction to “pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:38; Luke 10:2).
Please pray that young men and women hear and respond generously to the Lord’s call to the priesthood, diaconate, religious life, societies of apostolic life, or secular institutes. Please also pray for all young people, that they may know the personal love of the Lord for them and respond with open and generous hearts.
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:
Gospel Reading and Reflection for Kids
Sunday Gospel Cartoon Reading and Lesson
Holy Heroes
Good Samaritan Parable
Seeds
Lesson Theme: Jesus is our shepherd.
For this lesson, you will need scissors, crayons, tape, pencils, a story coloring page (one per child), large manila envelopes (one per child), and a Church Year calendar.
In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus talks about being our shepherd. A shepherd’s job is to care for his sheep and keep them safe. Seeds helps the children see how their caring for pets, plants, and perhaps siblings are forms of shepherding. It is a good idea to have an aide to help with the cutting activity.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
Extending Activities
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 cares for us like a shepherd.
For this lesson, you will need scissors, crayons, pennies, game markers, copies of the story coloring page (one per child), a Church Year calendar, and a children’s story about Noah’s Ark from a picture book or children’s Bible.
For the What the Church Believes and Teaches part of the lesson, we suggest that you share the story of Noah’s Ark from a children’s picture book or children’s Bible. Note that we encourage you to emphasize how God took care of Noah and his family. Steer the children away from focusing on the destruction of the flood. Be especially sensitive if any of the children have experienced the damaging effects of a flood or other natural disaster.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
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
Bible Bag: Kid-Sized Lessons on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole
Good News
Lesson Theme: We follow our Good Shepherd.
For this lesson, you will need crayons, pencils, and a Church Year calendar.
In the lead up to the story “The Lost Hamster,” include any children who don’t have a pet by asking what kind of pet they would like to have and the kind of care it would need.
Before doing the cover activity “No Jesus or Know Jesus?” make sure the children know the difference between the homophones no and know. You may wish to invite them to brainstorm other homophones to help ensure that they grasp that some words may sound alike but have different meanings (and may be spelled differently). Some examples are there / their / they’re; here / hear; sea / see; your / you’re; night / knight; be / bee; way / weigh; ate / eight; hole / whole; one / won. A short (under 3 minutes) video reading of Dear Deer: A Book of Homophones by Gene Barretta can be found here.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Venture
Lesson Theme: Jesus gives us life to the full.
The Responsorial Psalm for this Sunday is from Psalm 23: this is the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd who protects and cares for his flock. This lesson provides several examples of taking care for God’s people and his Creation. Ask the children to consider the ways that they take care of the earth—from recycling to avoiding waste. Share with the children and their families that May is considered “Mary’s Month” in the Church; encourage them to pray the Marian prayers together as part of their family meal prayer—the Hail Mary; Hail, Holy Queen; and Memorare are all included in their Catechism handbooks. (These should go home with them at the end of the Venture year.)
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Video
Mary: Catholic Central
Visions
Lesson Theme: Jesus leads us as a shepherd.
The Responsorial Psalm for this Sunday is Psalm 23: this is the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd who protects and cares for his flock. This lesson provides several examples of taking care for God’s people and his Creation. Ask the young people to consider the ways that they take care of the earth—from recycling to avoiding waste. Share with the young people and their families that May is considered “Mary’s Month” in the Church; encourage them to pray the Marian prayers together as part of their family meal prayer—the Hail Mary; Hail, Holy Queen; and Memorare are all included in their Catechism handbooks. (These should go home with them at the end of the Visions year.)
Note: The date that appears on the Visions student lesson for the 4th Sunday of Easter is incorrect. The correct date is April 30, 2023.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
Recalling the Martyrdom of Father Stanley Rother
The Farmer
St. Kateri Tekakwitha
Image credit: Renata Sedmakova/stock.adobe.com
