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We’ve reached the last Sunday of our Gospel Weeklies program year. Sunday, May 11, also happens to be Mother’s Day. We pray that you—coordinators, catechists, teachers, and parents—and the children in your care have had a great year of growing in knowledge of and love for Jesus. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms—biological, adoptive, foster, and spiritual—out there! May our Mother Mary continue to intercede for you and your families!
Don’t forget to send home the What the Church Believes and Teaches Catechism handbooks. These handbooks can serve as useful home reference tools for both children and parents. We also offer End-of-the-Year Certificates for all levels in both English and Spanish. Find them 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 many online resources.
Videos of the Sunday Gospel (John 10:27–30)
Use these videos as you discuss the Sunday Gospel. Please preview all videos you plan to share with your class:
• Filipino Deaf Channel signing of the Gospel
• Gospel Reading and Reflection for Kids
• Holy Heroes
Canonization of Saint Carlo Acutis (suspended due to death of Pope Francis)
• Carlo Acutis: The First Millennial Saint
Jubilee 2025: Pilgrims of Hope Resources
• Jubilee 2025 activities, handouts, resources, and more
Seeds
Lesson Theme: Jesus cares for us like a good shepherd.
For this lesson, you will need scissors, crayons, tape, a walking cane, and a Church Year calendar. We suggest that you fill in the Catechist/Teacher/Parent, Parish/School, Date, and Name lines on the certificates on page 4 of Seeds in advance.
We suggest that you have at least one aide to assist the children with the sheep activity on pages 2–4. Don’t forget to send home the children’s Catechism handbooks. Suggest that they try to learn all the prayers on pages 32 and 33 during the summer.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Extending Activities
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Gospel Reflections and Saint of the Week with Miss Heidi
• Kid-Sized Lessons on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole (Bible Bag)
Promise
Lesson Theme: Jesus is our Good Shepherd.
For this lesson, you will need pencils, crayons, scissors, pennies or dice, a Church Year calendar, and copies of the coloring page (one per child). We suggest that you fill in the Catechist (or Teacher) and Parish/School lines on the certificates on page 1 of Promise in advance.
You will introduce the children to the Glory Be to the Father prayer. This prayer builds on the knowledge they already have of the Sign of the Cross, the words of Baptism, and the Trinity. Encourage the children to practice this prayer at home over the summer months. Suggest that they review or learn all the prayers on pages 29 and 30 in their Catechism handbooks. They may color the star next to each prayer after they have memorized it.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Extending Activities
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Gospel Reflections and Saint of the Week with Miss Heidi
• Kid-Sized Lessons on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole (Bible Bag)
Good News
Lesson Theme: Jesus cares for us like a shepherd.
For this lesson, you will need crayons, scissors, 18-inch lengths of yarn (one per child), a hole punch, pencils, and a Church Year calendar.
The children will be coloring and cutting out cross pendants as a sign that they belong to Jesus. You may wish to enlist the help of an aide or aides to help with this activity. Encourage them to hang their crosses in their homes to serve as reminders to act and speak as followers of Jesus.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Video
• Confirmation – Flame of Faith
Venture
Lesson Theme: We follow Jesus, our Good Shepherd.
For this lesson, gather pens or pencils; scissors; markers, crayons, or colored pencils; dice; game markers (coins or buttons), and a Liturgical Year calendar.
Explain that the Fourth Sunday of Easter is also known as Good Shepherd Sunday. In our Gospel this Sunday, we learn that Jesus cares for us like a shepherd takes care of his sheep. We matter to him, and we matter to the Church. Ask: Whom do you know who is like Jesus? Use “The Spirit Sends Us Out” activity on page 8 as part of a year-end celebration. You may choose to prepare some closing remarks and a special compliment and blessing for each child.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• King Christian of Denmark (1947 Newsreel)
• The Righteous Among the Nations
• Don Aldo Brunacci
• Students Learn of Italy’s Response to WWII Refugees
• What Is the Trinity?
Visions
Lesson Theme: Jesus will always be with us.
For this lesson, you will need pens or pencils; markers, crayons, or colored pencils; drawing paper and poster board; Bibles (one per child); and hymnals or other song resources (page 8 activity).
In this final lesson of the year, Visions students will identify and promote the issues and causes most important to them. In this way, they will begin to be able to embrace the idea of what it means to care for God’s Creation. Share with the young people that the Church and its leaders—including Saint Hildegard of Bingen, Doctor of the Church—have long been committed to caring for the earth. You may wish to allow the young people to use their cell phones to research the song titles in the activity on page 8.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• What Is a Doctor of the Church?
• Paul’s Ministry
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