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November 10 is the last Sunday in the first unit of the Gospel Weeklies lessons. Use the unit assessments we offer for Good News, Venture, and Visions to see how well the children are learning. It’s also a good way to assess the effectiveness of your efforts to form them in the faith.
Pope Francis has written the first encyclical on the Sacred Heart of Jesus in nearly seventy years. In “On the Human and Divine Love of the Heart of Jesus Christ” (Dilexit Nos) released on 10/24, Pope Francis calls for a renewed understanding of devotions to the Sacred Heart. He suggests that the spirituality of the Sacred Heart offers a response to our modern era and its challenges.
When he announced in June that he was writing a document on this theme, Pope Francis said that meditating on the Lord’s love can “illuminate the path of ecclesial renewal and say something meaningful to a world that seems to have lost its heart.” This encyclical’s release came near the conclusion of the Synod on Synodality and during the celebration of the 350th anniversary of the apparitions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque. This anniversary celebration began on December 27, 2023, and will continue through The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 27, 2025.
Find ten inspiring quotes from this encyclical here. Find a prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus here. The Pflaum Gospel Weeklies Summer Solemnities Unit includes a lesson devoted to The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, a solemnity celebrated annually on the Friday following The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi).
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 (Mark 12:38–44)
Use these videos as you discuss today’s Gospel. Please preview to make sure the videos are appropriate for your group:
• Holy Heroes
• The Poor Widow’s Offering
• Gospel Reading and Reflection for Kids
• Every Day Can Be a Sunday
Jubilee 2025: Pilgrims of Hope Resources
• Jubilee 2025 activities, handouts, resources, and more
Seeds
Lesson Theme: Everyone’s gift is important.
For this lesson, you will need scissors; crayons; glue, tape or stapler; and a Church Year calendar. We suggest that you separate pages 1–2 from 3–4 and make one envelope in advance for the activity “My Gift Envelope” on pages 3–4. It is a good idea to have at least one aide to help children with the assembly of their envelopes.
Note that a new Church Year begins on Sunday, December 1. Now is the time to order a new Church Year calendar to use in your classroom or home. Find one here.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Gospel Reflection and Saint of the Week with Miss Heidi
• Kid-Sized Lessons on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole (Bible Bag)
Promise
Lesson Theme: Every gift is important.
For this lesson, you will need coins; small game markers; a Bible with Psalm 148 marked; scissors; crayons; pencils; glue, tape, or a stapler; Church Year calendar; copies of the story coloring page (one per child); and a statue or image of Mary or another saint. Separate pages 1–2 from 3–4 and assemble one envelope in advance of the lesson.
This lesson continues the recent focus on saints by pointing out that the poor widow in the Gospel is probably a saint in Heaven because she showed her love for God with her whole heart, mind, and strength. She trusted God to take care of her as he had promised to do. Point out that if we want to be saints in Heaven, we need to be generous and love God like the poor widow did.
Note that a new Church Year begins on Sunday, December 1. Now is the time to order a new Church Year calendar to use in your classroom or home. Find one here.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
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
• Kid-Sized Lessons on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole (Bible Bag)
Good News
Lesson Theme: God asks us to be generous.
Supplies you’ll need for this lesson are a crucifix, drawing paper, magazines, scissors, glue, crayons, and a Church Year calendar. Be prepared to name a gift or talent you see in each of your students. The children will be learning that all their gifts and talents come from God.
You will be drawing and referring to a LOVE circle again in this lesson. Find directions for this on page TG1-30 at the bottom of the second column.
Note that a new Church Year begins on Sunday, December 1. Now is the time to order a new Church Year calendar to use in your classroom or home. Find one here.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Ten Commandments with Hand Motions
• The Ten Commandments!
Venture
Lesson Theme: God calls us to be generous.
For this lesson, you will need Bibles (one per child or pair of children); pens or pencils; markers, crayons, or colored pencils; scissors, tape, parish and diocesan publications; and a Liturgical Year calendar.
This lesson focuses on the messages of selfless sharing and generosity as shown by the poor widow. As you prepare for class, consider making a sample of the activity on pages 7–8. Find assembly instructions for the “Everyone Has Rights and Responsibilities” activity (pages 7–8) here. A QR code on page 7 of the student lesson directs students and their families to these instructions as well.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Saint Damien of Molokai
• CST 101: Rights and Responsibilities
• Preparing the Altar
• Liturgy of the Eucharist: Offertory
• Preparation of the Gifts
Visions
Lesson Theme: Christians share without thought of reward.
For this lesson, gather Bibles (one per student or pair of students); pens or pencils; notebook paper; and an empty container (e.g., shoebox).
Remind the students about the story of the rich man (Gospel for Sunday 10/13) and your discussion of what they are willing to give. This Sunday’s Gospel continues that theme with the story of the poor widow. Do we give from what we have left as extra, or do we think of others first before ourselves as the widow does? Encourage the students to spend some time ranking on the cover what they value. Invite them to lead the prayer service.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• The Roman Catholic View on Giving and Charity
• Preparing the Altar
• Liturgy of the Eucharist: Offertory
• Preparation of the Gifts
Image credit: CPP/CIRIC
