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Mark’s Gospel portrays Jesus as a man of action and a man on the move. After Jesus teaches and drives out an unclean spirit in the Capernaum synagogue (last Sunday’s Gospel), he goes to the home of Simon Peter and Andrew. Here he finds Peter’s mother-in-law sick with a fever. Jesus heals her and many other people who come to her door. After praying in quiet the next morning, Jesus leads his followers to other towns and villages throughout Galilee, where he will preach and heal those who are sick or troubled by unclean spirits.
The week ahead includes the International Day of Human Fraternity on 2/4, the feast of Saint Agatha on 2/5, the feast of Saint Paul Miki and Companions on 2/6, the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking on 2/8, which is the feast day of Saint Josephine Bakhita. See our post about that here. February 8 is also the feast day of Saint Jerome Emiliani. Also observed this week are the feast of Saint Scholastica on 2/10 and National Marriage Week (2/7–2/14). Whew! It seems as if we’re trying to keep pace with Jesus in the Gospel of Mark. May all our actions give God glory!
Every week in the GROW newsletter, you will find helpful tips for teaching your Gospel Weeklies lesson, a reflection on the Sunday Gospel, and information about our online resources and seasonal activities. Here are tips for teaching the Gospel Weeklies lessons this week:
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
Gospel Reading and Reflection for Kids
Seeds
Lesson Theme: Jesus heals and makes us disciples.
For this lesson, you will need crayons, scissors, copies of the story coloring page (one per child), and a Church Year calendar.
In this lesson, Seeds will help the children understand the importance of loving and caring for old/sick people and praying to God for healing. Make sure you reserve enough time for the “What do you like to do with older family and friends?” activity on page 4, so each child can share his or her experience of loving and being loved by older relatives and friends.
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 helps and heals.
For this lesson, you will need crayons, a children’s Bible, or storybook about Noah, drawing paper or card stock, and a Church Year calendar. We suggest that you separate pages 1–2 from 3–4 in advance. You may also wish to fold one copy of pages 3–4 before class.
This lesson includes acting out the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. You may wish to bring some oil—olive oil or other cooking oil—to help bring out the meaning of anointing. You might want to cover the meaning of anoint (Word of the Week) before the enactment of the sacrament. We suggest that you only use the oil on the hands and forehead of the “sick” child. You may bring hand lotion so that all the children get an experience of the healing and soothing properties of oil.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson 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: Sacraments celebrate God’s love.
For this lesson, you will need Bibles with Mark’s Gospel bookmarked, crayons, drawing paper, pencils, scissors, and a Church Year calendar. You may also wish to plan for an aide or aides to assist with the booklet activity.
Note that we use word celebrate instead of receive to convey that sacraments are celebrations of God’s love and action in our lives and that each sacrament invites a response from us. While using the word receive is also correct, we encourage you to start using the word celebrate when you refer to the sacraments.
For the Gospel of Mark Booklet (page 4), we suggest that you direct the children to make their booklets first and then do the activities together as a group.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
Catholic Seven Sacraments
My Catholic Family – St. Martin de Porres
St. Martin de Porres
Venture
Lesson Theme: Jesus heals and frees people.
Before class, assemble one copy of the first half of the “Gospel Booklet: Jesus Begins His Ministry” that continues in next week’s lesson. The children will complete the project next week. There are small assembly directions/picture on page 8 and more extensive instructions here or by using the QR code on the lesson page. Note that the students will need scissors for this activity.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
St. Josephine Bakhita
Discipleship
Visions
Lesson Theme: Jesus teaches and heals.
In this lesson, the story on pages 2–3 is a choose-your-own-ending story. Give the young people time to discern the best resolution. As an alternative, they could write an ending that suits them better.
For the guided Gospel meditation on page 8 (Imagine a Gospel Scene), select soft music that invites the young people to relax and meditate.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
Discipleship
Conflict Resolution Animation
Image credit: Annalisa/stock.adobe.com
