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Sunday, November 24, marks the end of the Liturgical Year in the Catholic Church. It’s also the day that Catholics observe the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. It’s a good time to remember—especially in times of uncertainty and trouble—that Jesus Christ reigns over our world. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has collected a number of resources related to this solemnity, including this reflection on religious liberty.
This feast was instituted in 1925 in response to the growing secularism among people around the world. In Mexico, my home country, the measures taken by the government to impose anticlerical articles to the Constitution, led to the Guerra Cristera, a civil war that brought many deaths between 1926 and 1929. Faithful Catholics throughout the country cried “¡Viva Cristo Rey!” (Live, Christ the King!) and fought the government and its efforts to deny basic rights to the Church and suppress any popular religious celebrations. Priests were persecuted and murdered during these times. My own great-grandmother helped a few priests escape the firing squad by smuggling them out of danger zones hidden in food sacks. Learn more about the Cristeros War and Blessed Miguel Pro here.
Lord and King of the Universe, grant us the strength to defend our beliefs as we journey through this increasingly secular world. Amen.
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 (John 18:33b–37)
Use these videos as you discuss today’s Gospel. Please preview to make sure the videos are appropriate for your group:
• Holy Heroes
• 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: Jesus is our leader.
For this lesson, You will need crayons, scissors, a hole punch, tape, various lengths of string (4 per child), coat hangers (one per child), copies of the Blessing Before Meals (one per child), copies of the story coloring page (one per child), and a Church Year calendar.
For the mobile activity, we suggest that you have an aide to assist with this project and that you assemble your own mobile in advance so the children can see the finished product while working on their own mobiles.
During the doctrine segment of this lesson, the children will learn the Blessing Before Meals prayer. They will draw a picture of their family and something they are thankful for on a sheet of paper that has the words “Blessing Before Meals” on it. Find a template for the Blessing Before Meals here.
Note that a new Church Year begins on Sunday, December 1. Now is the time to purchase a new Church Year calendar to use in your classroom or home.
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
• Kid-Sized Lessons on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole (Bible Bag)
• Jesus Is Our King (song)
Promise
Lesson Theme: Jesus is our leader.
In addition to crayons, pencils, and a Church Year calendar, you will need scissors, tape, copies of the story coloring page (one per child) for this lesson. You may wish to engage the help of an aide or aide(s) to assist with the cutting activity. We suggest that you separate pages 1–2 from 3–4 and make one table prayer in advance. Since families in the US will celebrate Thanksgiving this week, you may suggest that the children include this prayer in their meal prayer on Thanksgiving.
A more accurate objective for the activities in the Share Experiences segment of the lesson (page TG2-10) is that the children will recognize characteristics of good leaders.
Note that a new Church Year begins on Sunday, December 1. Now is the time to purchase a new Church Year calendar to use in your classroom or home.
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)
• Jesus Is Our King (song)
Good News
Lesson Theme: Jesus is our leader and king.
In addition to pencils, crayons, and a Church Year calendar, you will need scrap paper, dice, and game markers for this lesson.
When discussing Christ as the Catholic Faith Word, you may wish to add that the Hebrew word with the same meaning as Christ is Messiah. Christ is the Latin term. If this is the second year that your class is using Good News, they would have covered Messiah as a Catholic Faith Word in December 2023. The children may also be interested to know that Jesus would have been known as Jesus (more likely Yeshua, comparable to Joshua) bar Joseph, meaning “Jesus, son of Joseph.” You might compare this way of naming someone according to their father’s name with last names such as Johnson, Jackson, Jefferson, Emerson, Dawson, Anderson, Harrison, Patterson, etc.
Note that a new Church Year begins on Sunday, December 1. Now is the time to purchase a new Church Year calendar to use in your classroom or home.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Venture
Lesson Theme: Jesus calls us to serve his kingdom.
For this lesson, gather game markers, Bibles (one per four children), scissors, tape, pens or pencils, dice, copies of parish bulletin or diocesan newspaper, a Liturgical Year calendar, and fall décor for the Closing Prayer.
Note the change in liturgical color on the cover (the date and bottom band are gold). This color marks a special celebration in the Church, the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Ask: What makes someone a good leader? How do these qualities match our descriptions of Jesus? Note the QR code on page 3 in the article about Saint Jeanne Jugan. Encourage the children to link to the video that answers why Catholics pray to saints—and share it with their families.
Plan Ahead: Advent begins next Sunday. You will need materials for an Advent wreath next week.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• The Kingdom of God
• St. Jeanne Jugan
Visions
Lesson Theme: Jesus is our king.
For this lesson, gather pens or pencils, markers or colored pencils, drawing paper or poster board, and Bibles (one per student).
Note the change in liturgical color on the cover (the date and bottom band are gold). This color marks a special celebration in the Church, the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Ask: What makes someone a good leader? Do all leaders have the same qualities? What kind of leadership do they see in their own families?
This week’s story is about bullying. Be sensitive to the fact that many of your students have experienced being bullied.
Plan Ahead: Advent begins next Sunday. Make sure to have the materials to create an Advent wreath to be used in your prayer rituals during these weeks.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• The Kingdom of God
• Why Jesus
• Teaching Kids to Respect Others
Image credit: © USCCB
