The Church

A Community of Believers

Objectives:

To demonstrate that there are lots of reasons to be proud to be Catholic.
To teach candidates that the Church is part of God's plan for humanity.
To help candidates recognize that the Church can play a powerful role in their lives, and that they play a unique and vital role in the mission of the Church.

Prayer

They remained faithful to the teaching of the apostles, to the brotherhood, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers. And everyone was filled with awe; the apostles worked many signs and miracles. And all who shared the faith owned everything in common; they sold their goods and possessions and distributed the proceeds among themselves according to what each one needed. Each day, with one heart, they regularly went to the Temple but met in their houses for the breaking of bread; they shared their food gladly and generously; they praised God and were looked up to by everyone. Day by day the Lord added to their community those destined to be saved. (Acts 2:42:47)

Lord Jesus, you prayed that your people would be one; forgive us Lord and take away the pride and arrogance which divides your Church. Break down the walls which separate us; unite us with your bonds of love and accomplish your will. I pray that by the power of your Spirit your healing would work in the body of your Church and through me, to bring about the purpose of your will. Amen.

Engage - Watch & Discuss

Go through Part A. Invite your child to talk about groups, clubs or other organizations they belong to. Elicit the fact that we all have a need to 'BELONG' and that different groups or clubs have different aims and targets.
Explain that at Baptism we all became members of the Church. Ask your child what they already know about the Catholic Church. Invite them to jot down brief phrases in the thought bubble in part B and share their ideas.
Explain that the Catholic Church is one community founded by Jesus. (You may need to refer to other Christian Churches and briefly explain why they are Christian but not part of the Roman Catholic Church.)
Follow through the rest of Part B. Lead the discussion on the different levels within the Church.

a. Parish: Talk about the name of the Parish, parish priest and other basic facts that you and your child should be aware of as parishioners.
b. Diocese: Explain how a diocese is a ‘collection’ of parishes in one area led by a Bishop. Talk about the name of the Diocese and maybe other neighboring ones. Show picture of bishop/bishops. Ask your child if they know who our bishop is who is our auxiliary bishop and that either one will could be the one who will preside over their Confirmation ceremony.
c. Universal Church: Show a picture of the Holy Father/Pope and ask if candidates are aware of who he is. Explain that as the successor of St Peter he is the Head of the Church on Earth and although he lives at the Vatican City he is the leader of all Catholics throughout the world.

Discuss:

What is one ideas in this short film you found most helpful?

Discussion Questions:

When you think of church, what comes to mind?
If you could ask a group of early Christians one question, what would it be?
Why is it difficult to practice agape love?

Read the article below:

St. John Paul II Forgives His Shooter

How hard to you think it was for St. John Paul II to forgive his shooter?
Whom do you need to forgive?
Whom do you need to ask forgiveness from?

Discussion Questions:

If Jesus wanted the Church to be one, why do you think there are so many different churches today?
How many popes have there been during your lifetime? Who were they? What do you remember about them?
What do you think was Jesus' main message?

Discussion Questions:

What makes you proudest to be Catholic?
In what ways has the Church disappointed you?
We all make mistakes, and we all sin against God. Do your own failings help you to understand why there have been scandals at different times in the history of the Church?

Discussion Questions:

What do you think is the best reason to be Catholic?
What did you learn in this session that really made you stop and think?
How did the top ten reasons to be Catholic change the way you view Catholicism?

Move on to Part C and explain that as members of the Church we are expected to be active and always seek to contribute and help out in the various ministries in the Church. Confirmed Christians need to understand that they need to be willing to be of service to others within the Church.
Invite your child to talk about groups, societies and organizations in their parish or diocese. Talk about the different aims of the various groups and discuss how one can get involved and help out. E.g.: Choir, Readers, Servers, Children’s Liturgy, etc.

Journal with Jesus

Have your child open their folder to their journal page and take a few moments to answer the questions

paragraphs 751-752

For Further Reflection

From THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

The word ‘Church’ (Latin ecclesia, from the Greek ek-kalein, ‘to call out’) means a convocation of an assembly. It designates the assemblies of the people, usually for religious purposes.

In Christian usage the word ‘Church’ designates the liturgical assembly, but also the local community or the whole universal community of believers. These three meanings are inseparable. She exists in local communities and is made real as a liturgical, above all a Eucharistic, assembly. She draws her life from the word and Body of Christ and so herself becomes Christ’s Body.

Closing Prayer

Me in the Church. What can I do? How should I behave within my community?

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; Where there is sadness, joy. Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

St. Francis of Assisi

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