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We continue to move closer to remembering and celebrating the big events of Jesus’ Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension. Together, these events are known as the Paschal Mystery. In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus alludes to his upcoming suffering and Death—and the glorification that is to follow. The glory of the Resurrection is dependent on Jesus’ suffering and Death. Without Good Friday, there would be no Easter Sunday.
The lesson of the Paschal Mystery is important for all of us—and for the children in our lives as well. Since we are followers of Jesus, our lives must mirror his. We too will suffer. And, like Jesus, we too will find that suffering can lead to new life—a lesson learned, greater sensitivity to others, stronger faith, renewed hope, a strengthened relationship, a new perspective. Jesus shows us that our suffering can have meaning and will lead to Easters in our own lives.
A grain of wheat must die to produce a harvest. Grains from the harvest are crushed to make flour for bread that will nourish others. We too must die to self to serve our Lord and his people.
What experience of suffering has led you to an Easter experience of renewed faith and hope?
Through what current suffering might Christ be inviting you to new life in him?
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:
Gospel Reading and Reflection for Kids
Holy Heroes: 5th Sunday of Lent
Jesus Predicts His Death
A Grain of Wheat—Death or Life?
The Hour Has Come
The History of Saint Patrick: A Short Story
Joseph, Dreamer or Believer (webinar)
Videos for Lent
Lent Webinar for Kids! Songs to Journey with Jesus during Lent, Featuring Miss Heidi and John Burland
Lent: Catholic Central
Lent in 3 Minutes
Cardinal Timothy Dolan: What Is Lent?
What Is Lent?
The Stations of the Cross with Bishop Barron
10 Fun Things You Might Not Know About Lent
Faith, Fun, and Celebration: Lent Episode (featuring John Burland)
Seeds
Lesson Theme: God makes food for us.
For this lesson, you will need crayons, glue, wheat stalk or grains of wheat, copies of the Blessing Before Meals (one per child) 5 x 1/2-inch red paper strips (two per child), copies of the story coloring page (one per child), and a Church Year calendar.
In this lesson, we will thank God for the food he has given us and for the people we share it with. We will make the connection between the food we share with our friends and family and Jesus’ Body, which we share in the Eucharist.
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: We grow as Jesus’ followers.
Plan ahead to plant grass seed in cups for the children to take home. Supplies you’ll need are potting soil, grass seed, spoons, newspaper, water, and small cups or containers (one per child). This activity will give the children an experience of watching seeds grow. This connects to the lesson theme: We grow as Jesus’ followers.
Other supplies you’ll need are scissors, pencils, crayons, drawing paper, and a Church Year calendar. We suggest that you separate pages 1–2 from 3–4 in advance.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
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: Kid-Sized Lessons on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole
Good News
Lesson Theme: Bread gives life.
Plan ahead to bring some stalks of wheat or grains of wheat and a loaf of fresh bread to share with your class. You’ll also need to gather pencils, crayons, paper, a Church Year calendar, and your copy of the Faith in Action Lenten Calendar from the February 18 lesson.
Prepare six Parts of the Mass cards in advance. See the bulleted points on page 22 of the What the Church Believes and Teaches handbook for what to include on the cards.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
How It’s Made: Bread
Children of the Eucharist in Ireland
Venture
Lesson Theme: Jesus’ Death gives us life.
This lesson will help the children learn more about the Lord’s Prayer (Our Father), which many of them have been praying for years. They will locate the Lord’s Prayer in the Gospel of Matthew. Note that another version appears in the Gospel of Luke. Using their What the Church Believes and Teaches handbooks, the children will identify the seven petitions of the Lord’s Prayer. Pairs of children will identify why they think Jesus included their assigned petition in this “perfect prayer.”
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Video
The Meaning of the Lord’s Prayer
Visions
Lesson Theme: Jesus is our bread.
During the doctrine portion of this lesson (page 4, bottom), the young people will reflect on Jesus’ Resurrection and the new life he brings to all of us. This section of the What the Church Believes and Teaches handbooks is not long, however, it contains essential Church teaching, so make sure you take your time with each of the three paragraphs.
The students will return to Old Testament Scripture study in this lesson; this time with Jeremiah, who speaks of a new covenant. Ask the students to identify this covenant and its details. Make sure to give the students time to discuss the question about the best advice they have received and share it with the rest of the class; be prepared to share an example from your own experience (and who gave you the advice).
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
How It’s Made: Bread
“One Bread, One Body” Video
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