New is the
watchword for
September—
new
students,
new
lessons, and
new
energy! You may have
served as a
catechist or teacher
before, or perhaps,
this is your first
year and you are
finding your new
role just a little
bit scary. In either
case, the goal of
the Pflaum Gospel
Weeklies Newsletter
is to help you plan
your weekly lessons
and give you
practical tips and
insights to help you
to be a more
successful teacher.
We know you have a
busy life. That’s
why the ideas,
inspiration, and
support you need are
just a click away.
This month’s
issue features ideas
for Sunday,
September 24—the
twenty-fifth Sunday
in Ordinary Time and
the last Sunday of
the month. Look for
newsletters in the
following months to
spotlight the
lessons for all the
Sundays in the
month.
-
back-to-school
ideas to
welcome
children to
your
classroom
-
developmentally
appropriate
activities
to support
the Gospel
lessons
-
classroom
management
tips
-
background
information
to introduce
children to
St. Vincent
de Paul
-
links to the
Pflaum
Gospel
Weeklies
Family Pages
for
activities
and
resources
that parents
can use at
home:
www.pflaum.com/families
Several other
free online
resources for use
with the Pflaum
Gospel Weeklies,
including a training
video for catechists
and teachers, are
listed at the end of
this newsletter.
-
Saint of the
Month –
After a
summer of
hearing
about pirate
adventures,
young people
will be
drawn to the
story of a
young priest
who was
captured by
pirates,
sold as a
slave, and
then became
known for
his works of
charity. The
Church
honors St.
Vincent de
Paul on
September
27.
-
Back-to-School
Ideas –
Welcome your
Seeds
and
Promise
youngsters
with
Bible-themed
decorations
and
nametags.
Good
News
students can
start the
year by
creating a
“Good News”
current
events
bulletin
board that
they’ll use
throughout
the year.
Venture
and
Visions
students can
browse
through a
lending
library of
paperbacks,
CDs, and
DVDs.
-
Classroom
Management
Tips –
Choose from
ideas to
welcome your
students,
arrange your
classroom
space, and
manage your
time with
your
students.
-
Teacher Tips
– Knowing
what to
expect at
different
ages and
stages of
development,
setting
realistic
expectations,
and avoiding
problem
behavior
will help
you to be
more
successful
in your
teaching.
-
Student
Activities
–
Seeds
children
will tell
you what
they know
about Jesus
and
role-play
Jesus
welcoming a
child in
Mark
9:36-37.
Make these
little ones
feel welcome
with a
familiar
song,
nametags,
and a name
game.
Promise
children
will discuss
how to
follow Jesus
and then
play an
action game
of “Jesus
Says.”
Good News
children
will
identify
themselves
as followers
of Jesus
with an art
project.
Venture
and
Visions
students
will
recognize
that Jesus
values
service and
discover
ways to
serve the
community.
-
Parent Tips
– The Pflaum
Gospel
Weeklies
Family Pages
offer
activities
and
resources
that parents
can use at
home to help
their
families
grow in
faith. Go to
the Family
Pages at
www.pflaum.com/families
and choose
pages to
send home
with
students or
suggest
pages for
parents to
download and
print.
-
Pirates, slave
ships, royal
intrigue, and war
are part of the life
and times of Saint
Vincent de Paul.
Vincent was born
around 1580 in
Gascony, France. He
became a priest in
1600, and remained
in Toulouse as a
tutor. Then his life
took a dramatic
turn. Returning by
sea from a trip to
Marseilles in 1605,
Vincent was captured
by Turkish pirates.
He was taken to
Tunis and sold as a
slave, finally
escaping in 1607. He
traveled to Avignon
and then Rome to
continue his
studies, returning
to France in 1609 on
a secret mission to
Henry IV. In 1612,
he entered the
service of a rich
French family, the
Gondi, as a teacher
to their children.
While in their
service, he
established missions
for the poor
peasants on the
Gondi estates.
Working in Paris
among imprisoned
galley slaves,
Vincent de Paul
found his passion.
In the seventeenth
century, conditions
for slaves on
sailing ships were
brutal. Vincent
ministered to the
slaves on the
galleys supervised
by Monsieur de Gondi
and to the convicts
who were chained and
crowded into
dungeons in Paris.
He converted many of
them to
Christianity. He
established a
hospital and was
appointed by Louis
XIII to distribute
alms to the galleys.
Building on this
success, Vincent
founded the
Congregation of
Priests of the
Mission, also known
as Vincentians.
These priests
devoted themselves
to needy people in
smaller towns and
villages. The work
of the Vincentians
was expanded when
Vincent, with the
help of St. Louise
de Marillac, founded
the Daughters of
Charity. This
religious community
for women continues
their work today
with the poor in
hospitals and
prisons all around
the world.
At the request of
the Archbishop of
Paris, Vincent also
founded the Ladies
of Charity. These
high-ranking, pious
ladies ministered to
the sick at the
Hotel-Dieu, the
oldest hospital in
Paris, and also
visited the prisons.
With the support of
these influential
ladies, St. Vincent
de Paul collected
large sums of money
to aid the sick, the
poor, and orphaned
children. He also
became popular at
the royal court in
Paris and used his
influence to
distribute aid to
provinces devastated
by the Thirty Years
War. He established
soup kitchens in
Paris, where soup
was served daily to
15,000 to 16,000
refugees of the war.
In addition to
helping the poor of
France, he also
established
seminaries and
encouraged retreats
for clergy at a time
when training for
priests was rare.
Vincent sent priests
to Ireland,
Scotland, Poland,
and Madagascar.
Vincent de Paul
died in Paris on
September 27, 1660,
and was canonized in
1737. He was later
declared the patron
saint of charitable
societies by Pope
Leo XIII. In 1833,
Blessed Frederic
Ozanam founded the
Society of St.
Vincent de Paul, the
organization that
functions in
Catholic parishes
around the world to
provide help for the
poor.
-
Before
sharing the
story of St
Vincent de
Paul, show
students a
picture of a
seventeenth-century
pirate ship.
Ask: What do
you know
about pirate
ships? What
is the Jolly
Roger flag?
Why were
pirates so
feared on
the open
seas? (Children
may have
seen the hit
summer movie
)
Tell
students
they will be
learning
about a
saint who
was captured
by pirates.
Share the
story of St.
Vincent de
Paul. Have
older
students
compare St.
Vincent de
Paul’s
experience
to the story
of
Kidnapped
by Robert
Louis
Stephenson.
Children,
aged nine
and older,
will be
intrigued
with facts
from the
many books
about
pirates that
are
available.
-
On a map of
France, have
older
children
locate
Gascony,
Toulouse,
and Paris.
On a world
map, they
can locate
Tunis on the
coast of
North
Africa.
Young people
can create
old world
“parchment”
maps to take
home as a
reminder of
the lesson.
Have each
young person
use a pencil
to draw a
treasure map
on brown
paper cut
from a large
grocery bag.
Shapes and
details of
land masses
can be added
with crayon
or permanent
marker. Have
children
submerge
their maps
in warm
water. Then
they can
squeeze
their maps
into wet
balls to
distress and
wrinkle
them. The
last step is
to carefully
flatten out
the maps and
allow them
to dry. When
dry, each
treasure map
can be
rolled up
and tied
with string.
-
Introduce
the words
convict
and
galley.
Ask students
to imagine
living
conditions
on a
seventeenth-century
sailing
vessel and
determine
three things
they would
want to take
on the
voyage. Have
each student
write each
item on a
separate
strip of
paper.
Collect the
strips and
put them in
a paper
lunch bag.
Next, divide
the class
into small
groups and
have each
group form
the crew of
an imaginary
sailing
ship. Each
group names
its sailing
ship,
selects a
destination,
and pulls
three items
from the bag
to take on
board. Group
members work
together to
plot a
course.
-
Ask: Why do
you think
St. Vincent
de Paul
devoted his
life to
helping the
poor, sick
and
imprisoned?
Remind
students of
the efforts
of Vincent
de Paul and
the
Daughters of
Charity and
compare
these to
modern-day
charitable
efforts,
such as soup
kitchens and
other
volunteer
work. Have
one student
take the
role of a
Daughter of
Charity and
speak to
your class
about the
order’s
mission: “We
are
ordinary
Catholic
women, but
we have an
extraordinary
mission! We
follow in
the
footsteps of
Vincent de
Paul, Louise
de Marillac,
Elizabeth
Seton and
thousands of
Daughters of
Charity who
have brought
hope to the
poor for
more than
three
centuries!
We work in
schools,
hospitals,
social
agencies,
and
parishes. We
visit the
elderly in
their homes,
advocate for
women and
children,
walk with
youth and
much, much
more! We
find
strength
through
prayer and
community.”
If possible,
have older
students
research the
Daughters of
Charity
online at
www.doc-ecp.org/core.asp,
a very
kid-friendly
attractive
site.
-
Welcome
Seeds
and
Promise
children by
decorating
your
classroom
door with a
Bible theme
or character
and provide
coordinating
nametags for
the first
class. For a
Noah’s ark
classroom
theme, trace
and cut out
animal
shapes to
create
nametags.
Serve animal
crackers and
juice for a
snack. Sing
“Old Man
Noah Had An
Ark” to the
tune of “Old
McDonald,”
using animal
names and
sounds.
-
All children
need to feel
that they
belong.
Before your
first class,
send
postcards to
welcome your
students and
to introduce
yourself to
their
parents.
Create your
own
postcards on
a computer
or purchase
them from a
Christian
bookstore
and
customize
them. Write
or cut and
paste a
Bible verse
on each
card, and
ask students
to memorize
their verse
before
coming to
class. Ask
parents to
learn the
verse along
with their
child.
Children
will be
eager to
come to
class and
share their
“homework.”
Plus they
will know
your name
and their
room
assignment.
-
Establish a
Gospel
Corner to
highlight
the Gospel
lesson each
week. Cover
a small
table or
bookcase
with a piece
of colored
cloth to
match the
liturgical
season.
Start with
green since
classes
begin in
Ordinary
Time. Place
a Bible on
the table
between two
candles.
Open the
Bible to the
Gospel
reading each
week.
Children
will notice
the change
in church
seasons when
you change
the color of
the
tablecloth.
-
Invite
Seeds
and
Promise
children
into the
Gospel
Circle. Have
children sit
in a circle,
if possible
in a
carpeted
area. Read
or tell the
Gospel
lesson each
week with
the help of
flannelboard
characters.
In the
Gospel
Circle, you
might also
introduce a
new word,
song, or
symbol each
week, and
review the
next week.
At the end
of each
class, share
a prayer
with the
children in
the Gospel
Circle so
they will
remember the
routine.
-
When
preschoolers
arrive for
class, get
down on
their level,
make eye
contact, and
greet each
child by
name.
Provide
nametags for
them to wear
on strings
around their
necks. Place
a different
animal
sticker on
each nametag
so even
nonreaders
can pick out
their
nametags
each week.
Label their
cubbies and
their places
at tables
and chairs
with
stickers
also.
-
Before
Good News
students
arrive,
cover your
bulletin
board with
newspapers
framed with
a colorful
border. At
the top, add
the title,
“Good News!”
After
pointing out
that
Gospel
means “good
news,” have
students use
markers to
write
sentences on
the
newsprint
that show
what good
news means
to them. Ask
students to
bring in
current news
articles
each week
that reflect
good news in
the world
and post
these on the
“Good News”
bulletin
board.
-
Before
Ventures
and
Visions
students
arrive,
create a
selection of
paperback
books, CDs,
or DVDs for
a lending
library.
Enlist the
aid of
several
children and
visit a used
book store
for titles.
Make sure
that at
least some
of the
books, CDs,
and DVDs
have
religious
themes or
teach
lessons.
Older
children may
wish to
trade books
they have
read over
the summer
or exchange
video games
they have
played.
-
Preschoolers
who cannot
tell time
need
routines to
give them a
sense of
security and
the
confidence
that they
know what’s
coming next.
Call them to
Gospel story
time with
the same
favorite
song each
week.
Establish
routines for
arrival,
cleanup,
hand
washing,
snack time,
and
departure.
Discuss with
children how
to enter the
classroom,
choose an
activity,
and
transition
from one
activity to
another.
After story
time, review
what they
learned, and
explain what
comes next.
Always close
with a
prayer and
dismiss
preschoolers
by name.
-
Place your
art area
near a sink
for ease of
cleanup. Art
materials
should be
prepared and
counted in
advance with
adequate,
but not
huge,
amounts
readily
available.
Provide a
drying rack,
counter
space, or
clothesline
to dry
artwork. Ask
parents to
provide old
shirts for
their
children to
use as paint
smocks.
Messy art is
fun! Just
prepare for
it with
newspaper on
the tables
and a
plastic drop
cloth on the
floor. Or
take your
art activity
outside and
provide tubs
of water and
sponges for
cleanup.
-
When you
decide to
make the
playground
your
classroom,
make sure it
is free of
hazards –
unsafe toys,
puddles,
insects,
animals, and
unlocked
gates. Check
equipment
for safety.
You can have
children act
out Gospel
lessons
outdoors.
Bring music
and art
outside for
a change of
pace.
-
When you
would like
children to
share a
snack, send
parents
sign-up
sheets that
list
nutritious
snacks such
as veggies
and dip,
cheese
cubes, and
fruit slices
rather than
high-calorie,
high-sugar
choices.
-
The Gospel
for the
twenty-fifth
Sunday in
Ordinary
Time teaches
Seeds
children
that Jesus
loves them
and welcomes
them. They
can begin to
understand
the many
ways we can
welcome
others—with
hugs,
handshakes,
smiles, and
by calling
one another
by name.
They can
recognize
their names,
or at least
the
beginning
letter of
their names.
Preschoolers
may have
difficulty
separating
from parents
the first
few weeks of
class, so be
prepared to
help
children
join their
classmates
by having
several
inviting
activities
for them to
choose from
as they
arrive at
class,
including
blocks,
puzzles, and
art
materials.
-
Promise
children are
beginning to
understand
the ways
they learn
about Jesus.
They can
stand
quietly
while you
say a
prayer, and
they can
respond with
“Amen.”
Allow them
to share in
the routine
of the
Gospel
storytelling
by gathering
on a
carpeted
area,
opening the
Bible to the
marked
passage, or
lighting a
candle. End
each session
with a
prayer that
calls for
children to
respond.
Simple
litanies can
provide them
with good
opportunities
to
participate.
-
Good
News
children
begin to
understand
that the
Church is
the family
of God and
that they
are all
children of
God gathered
in the
Church
community.
Worshiping
with their
parish
community
and
listening
with that
community to
the Gospel
on Sunday
will
reinforce
that sense
of belonging
to a
community.
When they
reflect on
their own
experiences
of following
a leader,
they can
identify
with the
disciples
who followed
Jesus from
Galilee to
Jerusalem.
-
The first
issue of
Venture
focuses on
welcoming
others.
Students at
this age may
be
self-conscious
in a new
class. They
can also be
competitive
and may tend
to compare
themselves
to others.
To increase
the sense of
belonging
within your
class, you
may want to
try a
getting-to-know-you
icebreaker,
especially
if the class
has new
members.
Have each
student make
a list of
five
favorites –
food, pet,
music,
sport, and
TV show.
Then ask
students to
talk to the
other
members of
the class to
find at
least one
classmate
who has
picked the
same
favorite.
Students
this age are
able to
understand
the Gospel
message that
greatness
means
serving all.
-
Visions
students can
understand
that they
are part of
the outreach
of the
Church. They
like to work
as a group
to build
their
Christian
community,
especially
when this
combines
service and
socializing.
Plan a
gathering
time at the
beginning of
class for
food and
socializing
before
getting into
the Gospel
lesson.
These young
people are
at a stage
in which
they are
able to
develop
personal
faithfulness
to a cause
or belief.
Their
success in
achieving
this
fidelity to
a cause can
be important
to their
developing a
commitment
to service
in later
life.
Seeds
children can share
what they know about
Jesus. Children this
age can learn to
recognize their
names and the names
of their friends.
Children should be
able to:
-
recognize
who teaches
them about
Jesus
-
recognize
their names
and the
names of
friends
-
learn a
welcoming
song that
will become
part of
their Gospel
Circle
routine
Animal shapes, black
markers, animal
stickers, tagboard,
hole punch, yarn,
scissors, lined
chart paper, a
Bible, the parish
photo directory,
copies of Seeds
for September 24,
2006, one for each
student
Trace and cut out
animal shapes or
strips from tagboard
to make nametags.
Use a marker to
label one nametag
for each child.
Punch a hole in each
nametag and insert a
piece of yarn so
children will be
able to wear the
nametags around
their necks. Also
make a name card for
each student.
-
As
children
arrive,
give
them
their
nametags.
Greet
each
child by
name as
you do
so.
After
all the
children
are
gathered
on a
carpeted
area for
story
time,
share
the
Gospel
story.
Ask: How
can we
make
everyone
feel
welcome
and that
they
belong?
How
could we
welcome
Jesus if
he were
here?
Could we
make him
a
nametag,
too?
What
letter
does
Jesus
start
with?
Write
the word
Jesus
on the
chart
paper.
-
Ask
children:
Who is
Jesus?
What do
you know
about
Jesus?
Write
their
statements
on the
chart
paper.
Ask:
Where
can we
learn
more
about
him?
(Children
should
see that
we learn
about
Jesus
from
other
people
in our
Church,
from the
Bible,
from
Seeds,
in
songs,
poems,
and
stories.)
Show
children
photos
from the
parish
directory—the
pastor,
religious
education
director,
school
principal
and
teachers,
music
director—anyone
they are
likely
to see
when
they are
in
church.
Also
show
them the
Bible
and the
copies
of
Seeds.
-
Tell
children
that
they
will be
singing
a song
to learn
the
names of
their
friends.
Teach
the
following
song:
Good
morning
to you.
Good
morning
to you.
We’re
all in
our
places
with
bright,
happy
faces
Good
morning
to __(child’s
name)___.
Good
morning
to
_________________.
Go
around
the
Gospel
Circle,
singing
the song
for each
child as
you show
his or
her name
card.
Begin
each
Gospel
Circle
in this
way to
establish
a
routine.
Children this age
can recognize that
they are followers
of Jesus. Promise
students should be
able to:
-
role-play
disciples
following
Jesus
-
express how
it feels to
be
embarrassed
-
play a game
of “Jesus
Says” (based
on “Simon
Says”) to
welcome
friends
-
recognize
themselves
as followers
of Jesus
Road map, chart
paper, markers
-
Show the
road
map.
Ask:
When
would
you need
a road
map?
Where
have you
traveled
this
summer?
(Allow
children
to think
and
answer.
Then
write
their
destinations
on the
chart
paper.)
-
Tell
children
that
Jesus
was on a
journey
from
Galilee
to
Jerusalem
when
this
Gospel
story
happened.
(Write
and
on the
chart.)
Tell
them
that the
disciples
were
following
Jesus on
the
road,
but in
this
story
they
were
arguing
along
the way.
Read the
Gospel.
-
Ask: Why
were the
disciples
embarrassed
to tell
Jesus
what
they
were
arguing
about?
Introduce
the word
embarrassed.
Ask:
What
does it
mean to
be
embarrassed?
-
Ask:
What
does
Jesus
say
about
being
the
first
and the
greatest?
(Jesus
taught
that if
you want
to be
first,
you must
be
willing
to be
last,
and if
you want
to be
the
greatest,
you must
serve
everyone.
Explain
that
Jesus
wants us
to
welcome
everyone,
especially
the
little
children
and
those in
need.)
-
Tell
children
they
will
pretend
to be
Jesus’
disciples.
Have
several
children
role-play
the
disciples
arguing
over who
is the
greatest,
saying,
“I am
the
greatest!”
“No, I
am the
greatest!”
-
Ask: How
can we
follow
Jesus
and
welcome
everyone?
(Prompt
children
to give
hugs and
handshakes.)
-
Play a
game
called
“Jesus
Says”
(patterned
on
“Simon
Says”)
to help
children
practice
welcoming
friends.
Here are
some
sample
directions.
Jesus says,
“Shake
hands.”
Say,
“Good-bye.”
Jesus says,
“Give a
hug.”
Jesus says,
“Wave
hello.”
“Tip your
hat.”
Your Good
News students
can understand
Jesus’ message that
to be first and
greatest, they must
be servants.
Children should be
able to:
-
identify
themselves
as followers
of Jesus
-
express
feelings of
belonging to
a parish
community
-
create a
disciple
wristband
and a cross
-
identify
ways they
can serve
others
-
make a
commitment
to welcome
and serve
others in a
“Disciples
Prayer
Service”
One foam wristband
for each child or
foam sheets to cut
into one-inch
strips, scissors,
glitter glue pens,
the parish photo
directory, hole
punch, one foam
cross cutout for
each child, leather
cord, copies of
Good News for
September 24, 2006,
one for each child
Purchase foam
wristbands and/or
foam sheets at an
arts and crafts
store. If necessary,
cut foam strips, one
for each child. Also
cut a foam cross for
each child. Place a
table with two
candles and a cross
in your Gospel
Corner.
-
Introduce
the word
disciples.
See page
3 of
Good
News.
Then
read the
Gospel
lesson,
“Who Is
the
Greatest?”
You may
want to
ask good
readers
to take
the
parts in
the
story.
Ask
children
to
summarize
Jesus’
message
to the
disciples.
(If you
want to
be first
and
greatest,
then you
must be
the
servant
to
everyone.)
-
Ask: How
do the
people
in our
parish
community
serve
one
another?
Share
the
parish
photo
directory
and have
children
identify
people
who
serve.
(Members
of the
community
greet
newcomers,
carry up
the
gifts at
the
Offertory,
help the
priests
distribute
the
Eucharist,
take up
the
collection,
teach
religious
formation
classes,
help in
the
parish
food
pantry,
sing in
the
choir or
decorate
the
church,
volunteer
to cook
or serve
a meal
for
someone
who is
ill, or
visit
parishioners
who are
homebound.)
-
Tell
students
that
Jesus
wants us
to be
disciples,
too.
Give
each
child a
wristband
and foam
cross to
decorate
with
glitter
pens or
markers.
Have
each
child
write
his or
her name
on a
wristband
and a
cross.
Tell
children
that
they can
wear
these
wristbands
every
day and
that
they
will
wear the
crosses
for the
“Disciples
Prayer
Service”
on page
4 of
Good
News.
When
students
have
completed
their
wristbands
and
cross
necklaces,
meet at
the
Gospel
Corner
for the
prayer
service.
-
Call
each
child
forward,
carrying
his or
her
cross.
Ask each
child to
hand the
cross to
you and
say,
“Yes, I
want to
learn
Jesus’
way.” As
your
response,
place
the
cross
around
the
child’s
neck.
Venture
students can
understand that
greatness means
serving all. They
are interested in
learning about other
cultures and will be
able to identify
Mother Teresa’s
signs of holiness.
Students should be
able to:
-
learn the
definition
of the words
sainthood,
blessed,
miracle,
curry,
hovels,
dignity,
hospices,
Nobel Peace
Prize, Iron
Curtain,
epidemic
-
understand
the Gospel
message of
how serving
makes one
great
-
learn about
Mother
Teresa’s
work in the
slums of
Calcutta and
at Pure
Heart home
for the
dying
-
learn about
the steps to
sainthood
Index cards labeled
with vocabulary
words above,
dictionaries, map of
the world, copies of
Venture for
September 24, 2006,
one for each student
-
Ask:
What do
you know
about
Mother
Teresa?
Wait for
and
listen
to
students’
comments.
Explain
that
Pope
John
Paul II
declared
Mother
Teresa
of
Calcutta
“blessed”
in 2003,
and that
this is
a major
step in
becoming
a saint.
To be
declared
blessed
means
that a
person
has been
found
worthy
of the
veneration,
or deep
respect,
of the
faithful.
The next
step to
becoming
a saint
is
canonization.
To be
canonized
means to
be added
to the
Church’s
canon,
or list,
of
saints.
Venture
students
will
also be
interested
in all
the
places
associated
with
Mother
Teresa’s
story
and with
her
missionaries.
On the
map of
the
world,
have
students
locate
India,
Pakistan,
Nepal,
China,
Calcutta,
Albania,
Lebanon,
and
Israel.
-
Introduce
each
vocabulary
word.
Provide
partners
with one
index
card and
a
dictionary
so they
can look
up their
word and
share
its
meaning
with the
class.
-
Read
Mother
Teresa’s
story on
pages 2
and 3 of
Venture.
Ask
volunteers
to take
turns
reading
out loud
if you
think
your
group
would
enjoy
this.
After
discussing
the
“Think”
questions,
ask:
What do
you
think
Mother
Teresa’s
miracle
is? How
did she
inspire
others?
What can
you do
to “do
something
beautiful
for
God”?
-
Remind
students
that
Mother
Teresa
rescued
37
children
trapped
in a
hospital
in
war-torn
Beirut,
Lebanon,
in 1982.
Once
again in
2006,
Beirut
and
southern
Lebanon
are
under
siege as
Israel
tries to
destroy
militant
Hezbollah
forces.
Ask:
What do
you
think
Mother
Teresa
would do
to help
end the
conflict
in
Lebanon
today?
-
To
follow
up, have
students
choose
an
activity
from the
following
to share
with the
class at
the next
meeting.
Visions
students can
understand the
concept of the
Church as an
assembly of
people who believe
in Jesus and come
together to offer
praise and thanks to
God. Students should
be able to:
-
learn the
definition
of the word
assembly
-
describe the
difference
between an
assembly
and an
audience
-
identify
ways we can
celebrate
being an
assembly
One white T-shirt
for each student,
fabric paints,
chalkboard, chalk,
and copies of
Visions for
September 24, 2006,
one for each student
-
Write
the
words
“We Are
the
Church”
on the
chalkboard.
Explain
that
students
will be
looking
at what
this
means.
Read
“The
Church
Assembles”
aloud as
a class
and
discuss
the
questions.
-
Continue
by
asking,
How can
we
identify
ourselves
as
belonging
to the
assembly,
or
Church?
Help
young
people
to name
specific
ways in
which
they and
their
families
can
participate
in the
life of
the
Church.
Maybe
they or
family
members
have
musical
talent
and can
join the
choir or
provide
instrumental
accompaniment
at Mass.
They may
have
time to
give to
the
parish
food
pantry
or
another
area of
parish
service.
They may
be able
to
attend a
parish
mission
or
retreat,
or
participate
when the
parish
prays
the
rosary,
vespers,
or
stations
of the
cross.
They may
wear
crosses
or other
jewelry
with a
Christian
theme,
or
display
Christian
art in
their
homes.
-
Explain
that
your
class
will be
decorating
T-shirts
with
your
parish
name or
the
words,
“We Are
the
Church.”
Provide
each
young
person
with a
T-shirt
to
decorate
with
fabric
paints.
Urge
young
people
to wear
their
T-shirts
when
they are
serving
in
church
or in
the
community.
Go to the Pflaum
Gospel Weeklies
Family Pages at
www.pflaum.com/familypages
and log in to check
out the activities
and resources
available there.
Choose pages to
print and send home
with students or
send notes home
suggesting pages for
parents to download
and print. Parents
can use the engaging
and age-appropriate
At-Home Activities
to share their faith
with their children
during the upcoming
weeks of Ordinary
Time. The family
prayer and the
stories about the
saints the Church
will honor and about
the feasts the
Church will
celebrate can
provide a good focus
for family devotions
and discussions.
The Family Pages
are a free service
available to all
families in schools
and parishes that
use the Pflaum
Gospel Weeklies.
Welcome to a year
of teaching and
learning! Of course,
you want to make
this year fun and
memorable for the
children you’ll work
with. But, be
honest! Are you also
wondering, “Why did
I volunteer for
this?” Are you
asking yourself,
“How am I going to
keep these kids
busy?”
You’ll find the
help you need at
http://www.pflaum.com/.
In addition to this
electronic
newsletter and the
Pflaum Gospel
Weeklies Family
pages, you’ll find
news about other
products that can
help you in your
ministry—everything
from Bible Arts
and Crafts to
Bible Maps.
We look forward
to supporting you in
your important
ministry—sharing
your Catholic faith.
Remember that each
of you brings
invaluable and
unique gifts and
talents to your
classroom. You are
making a difference
by helping children
to put down their
spiritual roots—and
strengthening your
own!
-
-
Now
available
online, this
44-page book
includes
strategies
for
implementing
the
Weeklies
in school
and parish
programs. Go
to
www.pflaum.com/pgwdirector.
-
Ready-made
to help
familiarize
teachers and
catechists
with the
Weeklies,
the video
can be found
at
www.pflaum.com/pgwvideo.
-
Age-appropriate
pencil
puzzles and
other
reproducible
activities
can be used
in a
classroom
setting, or
printed by
parents for
use in the
home – plus
Saints of
the Season,
Feasts of
the Season,
and more. Go
to
www.pflaum.com/familypages.
-
Monthly
September
through May,
this
electronic
newsletter
offers
enrichment
activities
to reinforce
the Sunday
Gospel
lessons.
Sign up at
www.pflaum.com/newsletter.
-
Our
Gospel for
All Ages
program
helps you
integrate
the
Weeklies
into
parish-wide
programs.
This
resource
includes
gathering
rituals and
discussion
questions
for Sunday
from
September
through May,
plus
detailed,
how-to
guides for
four major
seasonal
events, at
www.pflaum.com/gfaa.
-
-