Monday Motivation

Giving during Lent does not have to mean giving money.  In fact, there may be some people who would prefer a visit, a kind gesture or some other kind of encouragement.

I recently came across a project advertised by the charity Age UK called Postcards of Kindness.  Many people had written cards to elderly people living in a care home.  The residents of the care home were touched to receive so many messages.

Task: Use this idea to create a card for someone you know to let them know you are thinking about them.  Tell them about yourself or about how you've coped these last few weeks. What you have enjoyed. Let them know how much you appreciate them!

Tuesday Music

Jesus taught his disciples to pray.  He told them they didn't need a lot of words then he taught them the Our Father.  I wonder if they realised then that this prayer would one day be used all over the world!

The video below is a video of some children performing "Baba Yetu"  which is the Our Father in Swahili. This language is spoken in many countries around East Africa.  Search the internet to see if you can find which countries.  Then watch the video.

Task: Slowly pray the "Our Father" prayer thinking about people you know and praying for them.  God knows what they need just as Jesus says in today's readings.  Maybe he will inspire you to pray for someone in need.  Go to the prayer wall and enter your intention.

Wednesday Wellbeing

Jesus calls us to seek forgiveness today. There are few things bring us more peace than showing and receiving mercy.

Today's task is simple.  Take five minutes in a quiet place and listen to the video above. Pray along with the video. It is a quiet prayer that Mother Teresa of Calcutta used to pray.

Part of the prayer uses the idea that Jesus would shine through us.  "Shine through us and be so in us that every soul we come in contact with may feel your presence in our soul.  Let them look up and see no longer us, but only you Jesus."

John Ogilvie was brought up in Scotland but studied in Europe where he became a Catholic priest.  At the time, the start of the 17th Century, it was dangerous to be a Catholic in Scotland where the years of reformation and Christian division had turned to violence and hatred.

Ogilvie was arrested for being a Catholic priest, even although he had come to Scotland in disguise. He was tortured and interrogated and tried by the King himself.  Eventually he was found guilty of treason and hanged in Glasgow.  You may well be familiar with the old Tolbooth tower in Glasgow, which is where he was killed (although the tower we are familiar with was built a few years later.)  

Task: The death of St. John Ogilvie reminds us of a time of division and violence between Christians.  Although his life and death shows his extraordinary bravery, it is sad that someone would be killed for their faith.  Use the internet to find out the names of other Christian churches that are not Catholic. There are many!

Friday: The Way of the Cross

On Fridays during Lent we pray the Stations of the Cross.

Today's video is a little unusual.  Join two young explorers as they find out about some of the ancient paths around Jerusalem where Jesus may have walked

Task: Watch the video that's attached here and think about some of the historical sites.  It's amazing to think that the events of the Bible and of the story of Easter actually took place in Jerusalem.  Maybe next year, we will be able to visit!

Saturday Charity

Another well loved charity we support with our almsgiving is Mary's Meals.

We often use the film "Child31" as a way to learn about their work and about their focus on always trying to help one more child.  

With this focus they now support well over a million children! The charity is a powerful example of how what seems like a small act of service can have a huge impact. 

The short film below looks at some of the young people from "Child31" 9 years later.

Task: Watch the film and comment in your calendar about the ways in which Lette's life has changed through giving.

Monday Motivation

"If God is for us who could be against us?" Romans 8; 31

The photograph today shows an image of a father and his son.  Clearly the son is upset and looks to his father for comfort and strength.  It's quite a common thing to see a young son looking to his father for help but for Jesus to talk about God as our father is a revolution! Then there is his story about the father who waits for his Prodigal Son to come home...!  This kind of mercy seems so generous. Imagine! A father who loves us no matter what!

In fact it is an idea which is an important part of God's story with his people from the very beginning of the Bible.  God wants us to see him as a compassionate father who, unlike us, is always faithful, always generous and always ready to forgive.

Task: Two things. 1. Fast from (give up) criticizing others aloud or silently in your mind today. Seek to understand instead and see things from their point of view.
2. Pay attention to someone you are tempted to brush aside or ignore.

Tuesday Music

There's a definite Celtic vibe to our music today. It seems appropriate since Thursday is St. Patrick's day.

More about the history of the song then. For now enjoy this version of "Be Thou My Vision" performed by a group of Scottish musicians who call themselves Celtic Worship. 

Task: listen to the song and then read the words. Imagine St. Patrick praying them before risking his life for his faith.

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light

Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, and I thy true son
Thou in me dwelling and I with thee one

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tow’r:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Pow’r of my pow’r.

Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise
Thou mine inheritance, now and always
Thou and thou only first in my heart
High King of heaven, my treasure thou art

High King of heaven, my victory won

May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's sun

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall

Still be my vision, O ruler of all.

Wednesday Wellbeing

Task: Is it dry?  Go on outside. There is something incredible about this time of year as nature begins to burst into life again after a long winter.  Go find some inspiration for photos, art or sound and upload your files here.  We'll add them to our carousel for next week.

Just click "Fill out form" to add your files.

 Feast of St. Patrick

Tuesday's piece of music is connected to Patrick in a very real way. The melody is an old Irish melody called "Slane" which is named after the hill where St. Patrick had one of his most famous victories.  In that time, the 5th Century AD, druids refused to allow any people to celebrate Easter and stopped them from lighting the Paschal fire (the Easter Vigil always begins with a fire and the lighting of the Paschal Candle.)  

Patrick risked his life to light a massive fire on the top of the hill that could be seen for miles around so that the Irish people knew that Jesus Christ and his resurrection was here to stay!

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun, Splendour of fire,
Speed of lightning, Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea, Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.
I arise today
Through God’s strength...

Task: The prayer above shows Patrick's appreciation of the created world and nature.  For some Thursday Creativity go out and take a photo that shows the light or wind or earth.

Friday: The Way of the Cross

For this activity you will need to follow the link to another page.  There you will find 8 prayers along with the story of Holy Thursday and Good Friday.

We will return to this link each Friday throughout the 40 days and read 2 stations each time.  

In Lent Catholics often pray the Stations of the Cross or the Way of the Cross as it is also called.  In all of our churches there are 14 images that depict 14 stages on Jesus' journey to Calvary (the hill top where he is crucified.)  This activity is called the Scriptural Way of the Cross as it only follows the parts of the story found in 2 chapters of Luke's Gospel and a small section of Matthew's Gospel.

Task: Follow the link below where you can read and pray the first two stations.  You might like to do this with someone else in your house.  Use some investigation skills to find the names of the other stations.

The Feast of St. Joseph

As well as our normal focus on charity of, today we celebrate the feast of St. Joseph.  He is a character who never speaks in the Bible but who takes on one of the most important roles of anyone in God's plan: that of caring for Jesus and his mother Mary.  This is what makes him seem like such a humble man, a great example for us.

For this reason he was named as the Patron of the Universal Church 150 years ago. To mark the anniversary Pope Francis has made this year a special one dedicated to St. Joseph.  The video below explains a bit more.

Monday Motivation

A few days ago many people around the world marked International Women's Day.  For our Monday motivation today let us consider this incredible Catholic nun who bravely put her life on the line to try to lessen the violence and bloodshed in her country.  She showed heroic virtue in that moment and incredible strength inspired by her faith and her desire for peace and justice.

One of the characteristics of saints is this idea of heroic virtue.  It means they show extraordinary devotion to doing the right thing not just once, but over time or throughout their lives.  Let's take some time today to think about the many women we know, our mothers, sisters & friends and the ways they have to demonstrate heroic virtue every day.  This might be in their families, in their jobs or in other ways.

Task: think about one of these women who has had an impact on your life and thank them for it. 

Tuesday Music

The last two Tuesdays have seen us listen to different kinds of music that offer different kinds of prayer to God.  Music is a beautiful way to pray and to think about the words you sing.

Today's piece of music is inspired by the readings at Mass where Jesus encourages his disciples to forgive people countless time.  Don't put a number on mercy but show it as freely and as frequently as God shows mercy to us.

This song is by a singer called Audrey Assad and it repeats that the mercy of God is 'new every morning' (from the book of the Bible called Lamentation 3; 23.)

A beautiful reminder even in the midst of the most challenging times.

Task: listen to the song and read the words. Write down why you think it is so hopeful.

Some Peaceful Creativity

Apart from the 40 days of Lent, another important example of the Bible's use of 40 is the wonderful story of Noah and the flood when it rained for 40 days and nights.  This time God wanted to purify creation and the world that he believed basically needed a new start.  Noah and his family had remained faithful to God and were saved from the destructive flood by building an ark.

Scholars argue about whether these stories are true, partially true or just make a teaching point.  For us, the 40 days of rain to help start over are like our 40 days of Lent: a time to become more holy and prepared for the Resurrection.

Task: use your patience and creativity to try to make the origami dove.  In the story of Noah, the dove finds the branch to show that the water has gone down.  In the Bible, God promises he is close to us like the Holy Spirit as it descends on Jesus "in the form of a dove." (Luke 3; 22)  Both times, the dove is a sign of something new happening!  

Thursday Creativity

Anyone who has ever been in a power cut or a dark lane on a dark night will understand why darkness is often used as a metaphor for evil and fear.  You only need to look briefly at the news to understand how much we need some light nowadays!

At our Baptism, the priest lights the Paschal Candle and it stands there beside the Baptismal font to symbolise the Light of Christ in our lives. Your family will light your own candle from it.

At Easter many people are baptised and join the Church.  We all renew our Baptismal vows with candles and Holy Water!  Thank God we are able to do it in our churches this year.

Task: Follow the tutorial in the video above and make a collection of colourful candles.

Make Your Own Rosary

Today is a very important feast which reminds us of the story from Luke's Gospel of the Annunciation.  There is a famous piece of art above which shows the moment Mary is told by Gabriel she will be Jesus' mother.  As a young Jewish woman she would have known how significant this was. Perhaps you can tell by her face and her gestures. She was being asked to be the mother of Messiah!

Task: how crafty are you?  Try this video which shows how to make a rosary bracelet.  If you feel that's a bit too tricky then follow the link to our Rosary Page and and scroll to the first decade of the Joyful Mysteries.  Maybe you could pray a Rosary for the many intentions people put on our prayer wall this Lent.

Saturday Charity

Last week we asked you to suggest charities you like to support because they have some personal connection to you.  One of you suggested this wonderful children's hospital in London called Great Ormond Street or GOSH for short.

Many of us have experienced first hand the need for the incredible staff at a place like this. It is very difficult to see children suffer through illness and we really appreciate the people who try to help, heal and bring hope to us during times of illness.

Task: You can have a look on their video here and see around the hospital. You may also wish to look at some of their other videos. There are even ways to donate if you would like to.  You may also be aware of the incredible children's hospital here in Glasgow.

Monday Motivation

Today is a good day to be grateful for all we have, to appreciate the things we might take for granted.  

The last Wednesday before shutting churches Fr. Jude came to say Mass for us.  We knew it would be the last time in the school for months. But the first reading that day said "what nation has God so close to them as the Lord our God is to us." Maybe he was trying to tell us he was close even when things have seemed challenging.

Task: Watch the video above.
Fast from worrying. Trust God instead.
Send a greeting card or a letter to a relative, friend, or fellow parishioner to thank them for something they have done for you.

Tuesday Music

This Tuesday we have another piece of music.  This time it is a song that was recorded during lockdown when people were unable to meet together.  The words of the song are from one of the oldest parts of the Bible and are written below. It is a blessing from the book of Numbers 6; 22-23.  

The book tells the story of Moses and the people in the desert during the 40 years and this blessing is for hope in difficult times.  Maybe that is why it was so moving to hear so many people sing it during lockdown in 2020: a prayer of blessing, of peace and of hope.

Task: listen to the song and then read the words. Write down why you think it is so hopeful.

The Lord bless you & keep you
Make his face shine upon you & be gracious to you
The Lord turn His face towards you & give you peace. Amen

May His favor be upon you & a thousand generations
& your family & your children & their children & their children.

May His presence go before you & behind you, & beside you. All around you & within you. He is with you. He is with you.

In the morning, in the evening In your coming, & your going. In your weeping & rejoicing. He is for you
He is for you!

This Wednesday it's Wellbeing for others. 

Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is a charity we might be less familiar with than SCIAF and Mary's Meals.  Believe it or not, many places persecute Christians and ACN try to support Christians where they are in need. You can read about their work here: https://acnuk.org/about/

You may also wish to put a date in your diary for their virtual prayer event for Ukraine on 6th April.

https://acnuk.org/event/acn-in-scotland-lenten-reflection-and-prayers-for-ukraine/

Task: Visit the ACN Youtube site and find out about the refugees in Lebanon.  You will find a two minute video above. Then use research skills to find out where else people are not allowed to celebrate their faith.

Thursday Creativity

I couldn't resist this task today even although it is more challenging. Your doves were so successful that you are ready for a Celtic Cross.  It's been a while since St. Patrick's day but it's a nice reminder!

Some people even attribute the early use of Celtic crosses to St. Patrick or, perhaps more likely, the Christian missionaries who came after him.  Either way, it is a Christian image which incorporates the local artwork, design and even some of their ideas about faith and life.  The knots, spirals and circles that are so associated with Celtic art are clearly adopted by the missionaries and artists who made the crosses. So the culture of the Celts becomes united to this fundamental symbol of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on his cross.

Task: Give this origami Celtic Cross your best shot and post us a picture when you're finished.

As we approach the holidays we post this repeat activity.

Friday: The Way of the Cross

For this activity you will need to follow the link to another page.  There you will find 8 prayers along with the story of Holy Thursday and Good Friday.

We return to this link each Friday throughout the 40 days.  

In Lent Catholics often pray the Stations of the Cross or the Way of the Cross as it is also called.  In all of our churches there are 14 images that depict 14 stages on Jesus' journey to Calvary (the hill top where he is crucified.)  This activity is called the Scriptural Way of the Cross as it only follows the parts of the story found in 2 chapters of Luke's Gospel and a small section of Matthew's Gospel.

Task: Follow the link below where you can read and pray the eight stations.  Listen to them and watch the short video made by pupils and staff in St. Luke's. You might like to do this with someone else in your house.  Use the stations as a way to prepare for Holy Week and Good Friday.

Saturday Charity

"Stopping hunger is about more than food and it starts with a little bit of kindness."  The narrator of this short ad is talking about the impact of the food banks of a charity called the Trussell Trust.  

During Lent we think a lot about giving and charity.  There is even one reading that challenges people and asks why they are fasting when they are ignoring the people who are going hungry:  “The kind of fasting I want is this: ... Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor. (Is 58; 6-7)

Once again, when we think about charity and we focus on others, we do what we are supposed to do and we live the way we are supposed to live.  It may be challenging sometimes but it isn't hard to start "with a little bit of kindness."

Monday Motivation

One of the major themes of this time of Lent is forgiveness and mercy.  That means not holding hurt or resentment but allowing people to say sorry and be forgiven.

There is a famous line in an old play by Shakespeare where he is amazed at how showing mercy blesses the person who is forgiven and the person who is showing mercy.  Both people benefit from mercy.

Task: watch this video about the science of happiness. It is made by the same people who talked about gratitude last week. Who could you forgive?  Who would you like to forgive you?  Think about the things you are sorry for & the things that have hurt you and offer them over to God. He loves you and wants you to know that He is Mercy! So get to know him.

Lent is a time when it is important to go to confession. Look for a chance to go before Easter.

Tuesday Worship

Jesus lived in a country where many languages would have been spoken.  Perhaps Aramaic is most likely to have been his own native tongue.  A number of years ago when the Pope visited Georgia some singers performed this version of the Our Father.

It is amazing to think that this is the actual language Jesus would have spoken.  Not only that, he called God his Father, and taught us to do the same when we pray and especially in the Our Father.

Task: Listen to the music today even although it is in a language you do not understand.

Wednesday Wellbeing

This really is a beautiful prayer. Worth repeating.

Take five minutes in a quiet place and listen to the video above. Pray along with the video. It is a quiet prayer that Mother Teresa of Calcutta used to pray.

Part of the prayer uses the idea that Jesus would shine through us.  "Shine through us and be so in us that every soul we come in contact with may feel your presence in our soul.  Let them look up and see no longer us, but only you Jesus."

In school this year we were challenged to walk the distance to Lourdes and raise money this way for SCIAF.

Jesus and his disciples walked everywhere. Every year they would go up to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover.  It was at this time that Jesus was arrested and walked with his cross to the mountain called Mount Calvary.  It's over 3.5 thousand miles from where we live to Calvary so we decided that was too far for us in a short period of time. However, it is about 1100 miles to Lourdes. If you go for a walk, run or a cycle why not measure the distance and let us know.  

Task: Go out for a walk, run or cycle and measure the distance.  Add the distance and a photo of proof to your classroom or to the form below.  Maybe you could even help us with sponsorship to raise money for our Sciaf's emergency appeal for Ukraine.

Friday: The Way of the Cross

Today we revisit our 8 Scriptural Stations of the Cross.  Follow the link to find 8 prayers along with the story of Holy Thursday and Good Friday.

As we explained before, all of our churches have 14 images that depict 14 stages on Jesus' journey to Calvary where he is crucified.  This activity is called the Scriptural Way of the Cross as it only follows the parts of the story found in 2 chapters of Luke's Gospel and a small section of Matthew's Gospel.

Task: Follow the link below where you can read and pray the stations.  You might like to do this with someone else in your house. 
Afterwards, go for a walk and upload your map in the form above.

Saturday Charity

Giving "Real Gifts."  One interesting and fun way of giving to charity is by buying what SCIAF call "real gifts." What they do is they tell you how much it costs to buy important things for people they work with.  These might be farm animals, some sort of practical supplies or bigger projects such as water pumps for a village.

One of my personal favourites is the option to twin your toilet. This means you give a charity the money to build a toilet and they send you a picture to remind you. Your toilet is now "twinned" with one in another country somewhere where it makes a huge difference to people's lives!

Task: Check out these sites and list a few things that you can buy.  What is the cheapest gift and the most expensive? How much is it to buy a goat?  Can you find any other charities who do this?

I've rearranged the order today. This would be considered more of a creative task than a motivational one.  

The tradition of waving palms and branches is a sign if kingship and royal victory in the Bible.  So when the people wave palms for the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem. They are welcoming him as a kind of new king.  

Task: you may have been able to get a palm leaf from the church as you normally do o.  Use paper to create your own, then follow the instructions in the video to make it into a cross.

Perhaps someday soon we will get to visit these places where Jesus himself walked.  This young band visited Galilee a few years back and performed their song "Oceans"

The song talks about walking on water with Jesus like he did in the Gospel with St. Peter.

I've used the song a few times this year in our videos as I think some of the words are quite inspirational.  What do you think?  

Task: read through the words and listen to the song.

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown
Where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours. You are mine.

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed
And You won't start now

So I will call ...

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior

Wednesday Wellbeing

Task: In this beautiful season of new life why don't we go back out and find some inspiration for photos using light, life and water.  Upload your files here.  

The photos that you enter will be used for a competition. No doubt there will be Easter Egg prizes involved.

Just click "Fill out form" to add your files although it will ask you to sign in.  Use your RE Google Classroom if you have any difficulty.

One of the most striking images of the Easter Triduum is the washing of the feet at Holy Thursday Mass.  The service is called the  "Mass of the Lord's Supper" as we read about the Last Supper when Jesus took the ancient Jewish prayers of the Passover and applied them to himself.  "This is my body..." he said as he raised the bread.

In John's gospel, the story begins by saying, "having loved those who were his in this world, Jesus loved them to the end."  He then washes their feet as if to teach us how far we should go to show love for others.

What he does next for us is he lays down his life...

This is the most solemn day of the year.  Good Friday is the day we remember the death of Jesus and all the meaning that has for us.  

With the Stations of the Cross and kissing the cross, it's clear that we think a lot about the Cross today. We think about how a symbol of death has become a sign of hope for us.  It shows the true extent of God's love for us.  This is what John really means when he says "he loved them to the end."  Jesus is willing to suffer and die for every one of us and as he does, he even prays for us. "Forgive them." He says. "They don't understand what they are doing."

Let's pray that we can understand more of his love for us today.  

A special prayer for today:

My Lord, today all is silent.  You have given Your precious life for the salvation of the world.  You died a horrific death, poured out all Mercy from Your wounded Heart, and now You rest in peace in the tomb as the soldiers keep vigil.

As I too keep vigil, awaiting the celebration of Your Resurrection, fill me with hope.  Help me to look forward to the hope of Resurrection & the new life You won for the world.  May Your rest transform the brokenness of my own soul, my need, my weaknesses and my sin.  You are glorious and I trust in Your power to do all things and I entrust my life to You.  Jesus, I trust in You.