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As I look to our Saints and Feasts Calendar for a “hook” for this post, I see that there’s a lot happening. Following the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time on 10/30, we begin our observance of All Saints’ Day (11/1) with All Hallow’s Eve (Halloween) on 10/31. The Solemnity of All Saints, a Holy Day of Obligation, on 11/1 is closely followed by a day of Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls) on November 2. The month of November is considered the Month of Remembrance of the Holy Souls in Purgatory. We believe that our prayers for those who have died may shorten their “time” in Purgatory and hasten their arrival in Heaven. The month of November is also Black Catholic History Month, National Adoption Month (USA), and National Native American Heritage Month (USA).
We pray in union with the Communion of Saints—those in Heaven, saints-in-the-making on earth, and those preparing for Heaven through purification in Purgatory: “Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving, honor, power, and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” –Revelation 7:12, from the First Reading for All Saints’ Day
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
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
Zacchaeus
Zacchaeus with Lego
Bonus videos:
All Saints’ Day and Halloween Explained with Lego
All Saints’Day
Bishop Barron on All Saints’ Day
Seeds
Lesson Theme: Jesus wants to be with us.
For this lesson, you will need crayons, scissors, glue, a hand puppet (optional), and a Church Year calendar.
Discuss with the children what it means to be a friend. The Gospels tell many stories about Jesus making friends. For the activity “What Do I Do with My Friends?”, there might be a few children who are hesitant to participate in the conversation. As catechists, we should do everything we can to promote the participation of all our students to avoid any feelings of isolation. One way to make it easier for preschool students to share during Seeds class is to have a puppet ask the questions or give the puppet to a child who might be struggling and direct the child to have the puppet answer questions or join in the discussion. You can ask a question to the puppet, instead of the child, and wait for the child to give you the puppet’s answer.
Remind the parents to take their children to Mass on All Saints’ Day, which is a Holy Day of Obligation celebrated on November 1.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Lesson Planning Ideas for Grandparents
Extending Activities
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
Kid-Sized Lesson on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole
Gospel Reflection and Saint of the Week
Promise
Lesson Theme: Jesus invites us to share a holy meal.
For this lesson, gather crayons, pencils, a Church Year calendar, and copies of the story coloring page (one per child).
The story of Zacchaeus, the short Jewish tax collector who climbed a tree to see Jesus over the heads of the crowd, will capture the children’s interest and imagination. The lesson points out that Zacchaeus did what Jesus told him to do: come down from the tree and host him in his home. Hosting Jesus presumes providing a meal. The activity using the Catechism handbook leads the children from Zacchaeus to Jesus’ Apostles and disciples to themselves—all doing what Jesus told them to do. The holy meal that Jesus tells us to share in his memory is the Mass, the Eucharist, Holy Communion.
Make a connection of this lesson to All Saints’ Day, which is a Holy Day of Obligation celebrated on November 1. The saints are people who did what Jesus told them to do. They join us at every Mass. Remind the parents to take their children to Mass on All Saints’ Day.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Lesson Planning Ideas for Grandparents
Extending Activities
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
Kid-Sized Lesson on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole
Gospel Reflection and Saint of the Week
Let’s Pray the Our Father! 2 minutes of guided prayer
Good News
Lesson Theme: Jesus invites his friends to a holy meal.
For this lesson, you will need Parts of the Mass cards (see the What the Church Believes and Teaches box on page TG1-31), pencils, scissors, crayons, and a Church Year calendar.
The story of Zacchaeus, the short Jewish tax collector who climbed a tree to see Jesus over the heads of the crowd, will capture the children’s interest and imagination. The lesson points out that Zacchaeus did what Jesus told him to do: come down from the tree and host him in his home. Hosting Jesus presumes providing a meal. This lesson connects the meal shared at the home to Zacchaeus to the holy meal that Jesus invites us to share—the Eucharist. You will review what the children learned about the Eucharist in the 9/18 lesson and build on that with emphasis in this lesson on the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
Make a connection of this lesson to All Saints’ Day, which is a Holy Day of Obligation celebrated on November 1. The saints are people who did what Jesus told them to do. They join us at every Mass. Remind the parents to take their children to Mass on All Saints’ Day.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Lesson Planning Ideas for Grandparents
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Video
What (Who) Is the Eucharist?
Venture
Lesson Theme: Whom does Jesus seek out?
Remind the young people that the Church celebrates All Saints’ Day this week. We honor all saints and martyrs, known and unknown, throughout Christian history This is a Holy Day of Obligation, which means that all Catholics have a duty to go to Mass. Invite the young people to pay close attention when the Communion of Saints is noted during the Mass. We pray for all our loved ones—here on the earth or those enjoying eternal life with God the Father.
Assign pairs of students for the cover activity and distribute Bibles. Jesus’ invitation extends to all people, even tax collectors like Zacchaeus. Make this message personal for the children. God invites all of us—even those who often find themselves on the outside of the group. If the class meets in a small space, plan ahead to move into an open area (outside, if space and weather permit) to do the inside/outside activities on pages 6–7.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Lesson Planning Ideas for Grandparents
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Video
St. Martin de Porres
Visions
Lesson Theme: Jesus befriends sinners and outsiders.
Remind the young people that the Church celebrates All Saints’ Day this week. We honor all saints and martyrs, known and unknown, throughout Christian history This is a Holy Day of Obligation, which means that all Catholics have a duty to go to Mass. Invite the young people to pay close attention when the Communion of Saints is noted during the Mass. We pray for all of our loved ones—here on the earth or those enjoying eternal life with God the Father.
We return again this week on the Gospel theme of the outsider—this time, it’s Zacchaeus, who we might argue brings his outsider status on himself by being a tax collector for the Romans. He’s not a victim of disease or poverty like the lepers or the poor widow; however, he still needs Jesus, and Jesus recognizes his need.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Lesson Planning Ideas for Grandparents
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
How Do I Go to Confession?
What Is the Communion of Saints?
Image credit: Fra Angelico, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
