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October is Respect Life Month. This is a yearly reminder to help Catholics understand, value, and become engaged in building a culture that cherishes every human life. This year’s theme, “Radical Solidarity,” focuses on our call to radical solidarity with mothers in need and their children, reminding us of our responsibility to put our love for them into action. We pray that every person will be respected, valued, and protected as is God’s desire. May we see one another through God’s eyes!
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 – Matthew 22:1–10
Holy Heroes
The Parable of the Wedding Banquet
Seeds
Lesson Theme: Jesus invites us to his table.
For this lesson, you will need crayons or colored pencils, juice, crackers, cups, plates, napkins, and a Church Year calendar.
Find a story coloring page to download and duplicate for “Stephanie’s Party” here. During this lesson, we suggest that you set up a small party so children can share a snack and pray a Blessing Before Meals. Make sure you check with parents if there are any food allergies.
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: Jesus invites us to a holy meal.
Find a story coloring page for “Steve’s Birthday Party” here. This lesson focuses on celebrations of food and friends—the most special celebration being the Mass. We suggest that you end this class session with a snack if possible.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
Extending Activities
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
Bible Bag: Kid-Sized Lessons on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole
Kids Explain the Holy Eucharist
Good News
Lesson Theme: Jesus invites us to his feast.
This lesson uses the Parable of the Wedding Feast to introduce the Third Commandment, the centrality of Sunday for Christians and the celebration of the Mass-Eucharist. The children will make a booklet about the Mass. This is a good review for those children who celebrated their First Holy Communion this past spring. It is also good proximate preparation for those children who will celebrate First Communion in the coming year.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Video
Kids Explain the Holy Eucharist
Venture
Lesson Theme: God prepares a feast for all.
This lesson uses the Parable of the Wedding Feast to explore the problem of hunger and shares a story about young people who support a program that supplies meals to hungry children in Liberia. Note that World Food Day is October 16. Venture also connects this parable to the sharing of the Eucharist, which is a banquet for all people. Note that the answers to the cover quiz and the Celebration Puzzle on page 8 are in the Teaching Guide. Encourage the children to watch Child 31 (via the QR code link on page 2) at home; run time is about thirty minutes. Remind the children that this is the story that inspired Carlin to raise money for Mary’s Meals.
Please note: In the Hunger Quiz on page 1, the definition for food security is incomplete. Food security is having reliable access to enough affordable, nutritious, and safe food that meets a person’s dietary needs for an active and healthy life.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
Mary’s Meals – Saving Grace
Child 31 – The Store of Mary’s Meals
Parts of the Mass
Visions
Lesson Theme: God sets a table for all people.
The Gospel message for this Sunday is an invitation—not to a wedding, but to the table of the Lord. The students will understand the importance of being ready and responsive to God’s call.
The lesson also connects the Parable of the Wedding Feast with the problem of hunger. The main activity stresses the importance of inviting everyone to the table as a place where people discuss important issues; a place where people come together for food; and a place where we gather to celebrate the Eucharist. We suggest using pretzels for the food distribution activity on pages 6–7, but first verify that there are no food allergies. (You can substitute slips of paper to illustrate abundance and poverty.) Point out the QR code on page 8 that links to a video about World Central Kitchen; using multiple senses will enhance learning. Throughout Visions lessons, QR codes link to organizations’ websites, prayers, song lyrics, short videos, or detailed assembly instructions for projects.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
What Is the Eucharist?
What Is the Eucharist?
Image credit: respectlife.org
