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The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time is designated as Sunday of the Word of God. While we revere and reflect on the Word of God at every Mass, the Church invites us to more intentionally build and strengthen our love of Sacred Scripture. As users of the Pflaum Gospel Weeklies, you are doing that with every lesson!
We encourage catechists, teachers, and families to place a Bible in a special location as a sign to the children of the value of the Word of God in Sacred Scripture. Catechists and teachers may begin class with a Bible procession, enthroning the Bible in a place of honor where the Gospel is proclaimed. You may wish to use or adapt our Bible Enthronement Prayer and Bible Blessing Prayer Service as fits your needs. You may also find catechetical, ecumenical, liturgical, and prayer resources related to this observance here.
Catholic Schools: Plan now for a great Catholic Schools Week (January 25–31)! Find a recent GROW blog post with a new saint resource here.
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
• Holy Heroes
• Jesus Calls Four Fisherman
• Sunday of the Word of God (3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time)
• Sunday Setup—Weekly Video and Post (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. From under the soil to the sky full of stars, discover the stunning natural world full of life that God has created. Meant for children ages 5–10 and all families who want to learn more about their beautiful world around them and the Divine Creator who formed it all.
Seeds
Lesson Theme: Jesus finds friends to help do his work.
For this lesson you will need to gather pencils; scissors; crayons; large popsicle sticks; tape; a staple; tissue paper, newspaper, or facial tissue; copies of the story coloring page (one per child); and a Church Year calendar. We suggest you separate pages 1–2 from 3–4.
Note that the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time is designated as the Sunday of the Word of God. If you are not already doing so, we encourage you to begin class with a Bible procession and enthronement to show the children the honor we give to God’s Word in the Bible. Continue to do this at every class session. Invite the children to take turns carrying in the Bible and placing it on your prayer table.
In preparation for the activity, “I’m Good at Helping,” make sure you prepare in advance several simple tasks for some of the children. Three or four would be enough. They could be simple assignments, such as closing the door, handing you a marker, etc.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
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 Gospel Lesson with Mrs. Cole
Promise
Lesson Theme: Jesus calls followers.
For this lesson, you will need a Bible for procession and enthronement, crayons, pennies, game markers, drawing paper with a large star (one per child), and a Church Year calendar.
Note that the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time is designated as the Sunday of the Word of God. If you are not already doing so, we encourage you to begin class with a Bible procession and enthronement to show the children the honor we give to God’s Word in the Bible. Continue to do this at every class session. Invite the children to take turns carrying in the Bible and placing it on your prayer table.
As you teach about God’s promises to his people on page 12 (top and middle) in the Catechism handbook, you may wish to show the children where the stories about Jesus can be found in the Bible (New Testament) and where the stories about Abraham and Moses can be found (Old Testament). Emphasize that the entire Bible is a long story about how God loves his people.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Extending Activities
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 Gospel Lesson with Mrs. Cole
Good News
Lesson Theme: Jesus calls us to follow him.
For this lesson, gather these supplies: crayons, pencils, Bibles (one per child), scissors, tape, stapler (optional), and a Church Year calendar. You may wish to plan for an aide or two to assist with cutting and taping. We suggest that you separate pages 1–2 from 3–4 before class.
Note that the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time is designated as the Sunday of the Word of God. If you are not already doing so, we encourage you to begin class with a Bible procession and enthronement to show the children the honor we give to God’s Word in the Bible. Continue to do this at every class session. Invite the children to take turns carrying in the Bible and placing it on your prayer table.
As you teach about the Gospel, show the children where the four Gospels can be found in the Bible (first four books of the New Testament). As you introduce page 16 (bottom) in the Catechism handbook and talk about Saint Paul, show the children where the stories about Saul/Paul can be found in the Bible (Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament) and where the letters (Epistles) that Saint Paul wrote to several Christian communities can be found (New Testament). Help the children understand that many of the Epistles are named for the places where people lived. Using the name of your city or town, determine what a letter written to the people in your community might be called, e.g., A letter to the Chicagoans, Bostonians, etc. Invite the children to guess the name of the community from the names of Epistles that Paul wrote: Galatians/Galatia, Philippians/Philippi, Romans/Rome, Thessalonians/Thessalonica, Corinthians/Corinth.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Galilee: Secret Christian Tour
• Tour of Galilee
• Holy Land Tour
Venture
Lesson Theme: Jesus calls us to follow him.
For this lesson, gather pens or pencils, Bibles (one per child), coloring tools, copies of your diocesan newspaper, and a Liturgical Year calendar.
Pope Francis established the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time as Sunday of the Word of God in 2019. He made the announcement in an Apostolic Letter titled Aperuit illis, which means “He opened.” The title references Saint Luke’s Gospel in which the Risen Jesus appeared to his disciples and “opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45).
Every Venture lesson includes multiple opportunities to share Scripture with the children. This week, the children will look up and study Scripture as part of the photo essay “Jesus of Galilee” (pages 2–3) and in the prayer activity “God Speaks to Us in the Word” (page 8).
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Galilee: Secret Christian Tour
• Tour of Galilee
• Holy Land Tour
• Why Do Bishops Dress Like This?
• Sunday of the Word of God (3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time)
Visions
Lesson Theme: Jesus gathers followers in Galilee.
For this lesson, you will need pens or pencils, coloring tools, and Bibles (one per student).
Pope Francis established the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time as Sunday of the Word of God in 2019. He made the announcement in an Apostolic Letter titled Aperuit illis, which means “He opened.” The title references Saint Luke’s Gospel in which the Risen Jesus appeared to his disciples and “opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45).
Every Visions lesson includes multiple opportunities to share Scripture with the children. This week, the children will look up and study Scripture as part of “How Does God Call His People” (page 1) and in the map study “Israel in Jesus’ Time” (pages 6–7).
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Galilee: Secret Christian Tour
• Tour of Galilee
• Holy Land Tour
• The Great Isaiah Scroll
Image credit: BillionPhotos.com/stock.adobe.com
