Please register for PREP! Link for NEW families only. Returning families, please click on the email you received from Parish Giving to register.
"And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17
Recap from 10/18/21
1. Prayer : the importance of prayer and building your relationship with Jesus: if you don’t spend time with Jesus, you can’t be in relationship with him. Each day, pick a time when you are going to pray – talk and listen to God the Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit
PAL – Praise God (even if you don’t feel it in a moment; he’s your dad (Abba - Father), Ask God (whatever is on your heart-reveal deepest desire of your heart; makes us humble which helps us to trust him eg. Baseball game details from the son), Listen to God (He is always speaking – esp. in Bible and through the Church and through the Saints and movies and books; we have to practice listening;)
2. Read pages 8 and 9
a. Review all highlighted words
i. Blessed Trinity: the Three persons in one God: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit – center of our Catholic Faith. In the Power of the Spirit, Jesus shared God’s love and mercy and spread God’s justice and peace. “It is Christ who is seen, the visible image of the invisible God, but it is the Spirit who reveals him”.CCC 689
ii. Holy Spirit: is God, the third person of the Blessed Trinity. Holy Spirit was present at Creation as a “mighty wind sweeping over the waters” (Genesis 1:2) - wind and breath, led the Israelites out of Egypt as a cloud and fire in Exodus. He spoke through the prophets – Isaiah 11:2 “the spirit of the Lord shall rest up on him” when he described the coming of Jesus. He continues to work through the people of the Church; he nourishes and gives us life
iii. Sacrament: an effective sign given to us by Jesus Christ through which we share in God’s life. Every Sacrament is an encounter with Christ. It is a participation in God’s life
iv. Sacramental Grace: grace that we receive in the sacraments; it strengthens us against sin and helps us to live as Jesus’ disciples. SG is the gift of the Holy Spirit healing and transforming us to be more like Christ” (CCC,1129) We are cooperating in God’s plan of salvation when we receive the sacraments
v. Note: Through the Sacraments, we are united as one Body of Christ, reconciled to God the Father and “built up into one temple of the Holy Spirit.” (CCC, 776)
3. Homework: Read pages 10 to 13 and highlight with highlighter the definitions of the bolded words. (read pages 8 and and highlight bolded words if you were absent)
Looking forward to seeing you on Monday 10/25/21
Image of God by We are Messengers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yV0pu60Uqs
All About Paper : see email for attachment
What to expect this year:
a. We will start class with prayer and intentions and end class with a song.
b. We will learn about what we believe as a Catholic Christian by reviewing and learning the Apostles Creed.
c. We will review the Sacraments: especially learn all about Confirmation.
d. Help the students to pick a Sponsor
e. Help students to choose a Saint and they will do a Saint Project
f. Help students with Service Projects : the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy
Why did God make me?
“God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in the next.”
We can “know” God through The Bible ( stories in Scripture), our parents, our friends and family, Creation, etc
We can “love” God by loving others including family, friends, teachers, and even our enemies
We can “serve” God by serving others who are in need. We can give to the needy, pray for people, help our family and friends, reach out to someone who is lonely and may not have many friends, etc.
To be happy with Him in the next world – eternally live with God in peace by turning to Him each day and asking "God, what is your will for me today?"
5.Confession Review for October 11th - : Refer to Confession Sheet for guidance
a. Confession is a Sacrament of Healing: healing our souls so that we can be forgiven of our sins and receive grace to avoid sin in the future. We also receive grace to help us to forgive others
b. Examine your conscience and ask the Holy Spirit to help you tell the priest
c. Say the Act of Contrition
6. Homework: 1) Ask your parents why they chose your name for you 2) Bring in a picture from your Baptism and share who is your God Parent 3) Review Confession Sheet 4) On the back of your "All About Me Sheet" Write down 1 question about your Catholic faith that you have been wondering about and also write down something about yourself that would me to get to know you
November 1
We talked about All Saints Day and All Souls Day and the importance of praying for the souls in Purgatory.
All Souls Day – November 2nd : Purgatory ; we must pray for the souls in purgatory because they can no longer do it. Things we can do for those who die: ask the priest to say a Mass for them; go to Mass on our own and intentionally offer it for that person; pray for their soul; fast from something very specifically for that person; go to Confession ourselves do Penance for them.
Sometimes people do their purgatory here on earth before they pass away or at least part of it; once that person goes to heaven, they are considered a “saint” and therefore are praying for us and cheering us on to live as Jesus commanded and to “Love” God with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength and to love others as ourselves (even enemies)
Homework:
a. Watch video on The Eucharist – Catholic Central
b. Read in Chapter 2 and highlight definitions for highlighted words on pages 20 -23.
Next week – Jeopardy Game on all highlighted words –
Play For God is With Us – For King and Country
https://youtu.be/9HErRFLapu4
10/26/21
Yesterday's class was a lot of fun. We learned about the seasons of the church!! We discussed Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time, Lent and Easter. We discussed the different colors the Priests wear (vestments) and why.
The Bible story of the day was David and Goliath. Maria drew the characters on the board to illustrate the story.
Finally we started to work on the Hail Mary. We learned some moves to help memorize the prayer and then Maria made it into a word game.
After our review, we played Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum for a few minutes before dismissal. I think Vivian won that round.
The children have requested a copy of the prayers so I will print them out next week. Your children are full of questions. It's really cool to see their minds at work.
10/11/21
Good Day First Grade Families,
In class we went over chapters 3 & 4 in the book for those that were not in class. We learned about Zaacharias and how he was so short he needed to climb a tree to hear Jesus. We discussed where Jesus was born (Bethlehem though almost all said barn which is also true) and where he grew up in Nazareth. John the Baptist was brought up and how he was related to Jesus.
The Bible story of the day was Joshua and the battle of Jericho of which "we" sang the song.
SUNDAY, January 31st Recorded Zoom Call
SUNDAY, January 24th Recorded Zoom Call
Zoom Recording:
Sunday, January 10th is the celebration of Jesus’ Baptism by John the Baptist. Below is a great article explain the event!
https://catholicexchange.com/confirmation-our-lords-baptism
SAINT PROJECT due January 25, 2021. Each week a few students will be randomly chosen to present their saint to the class on ZOOM. Please email your saint report to us. It can be in whatever format you are comfortable with (essay, google slides, etc) as long as it contains the required information. The following websites are great resources to learn more about your saints: catholic.org, mycatholic.life, ewtn.com, catholicsaints.info, saintsresource.com. The following items should be included in the report
a. Saint Name
b. Birth date and Death Date
c. Feast Day
d. What he or she is the Patron Saint of
e. How did they become a Saint (a little bit about their life; why are they considered holy, why is he/she a Saint)
f. Why you chose that Saint
g. What would be a good symbol for your Saint(if there isn't already one)
h. A picture of your Saint
Watch video about Confirmation from Busted Halo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt32SyDWuW8
Why are we Confirmed? Just like a stool needs three legs to work properly, we as Catholic Christian need the three Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism (we are born anew), Holy Eucharist (we are fed with food of eternal life), and Confirmation (we are strengthened and sustained for the journey of life).
Pentecost took the apostles’ faith to the next level; the apostles became doers of the faith not just receivers
Confirmation: a personal Pentecost- we receive the tools to live our faith which are the gifts of the Hoy Spirit
o Courage: stand up for what is right
o Wisdom: allows us to see God in everything and to put him first
o Understanding: deeper insight into the truths of our faith
o Knowledge: Realize God’s purpose for our lives
o Right Judgment (Counsel): recognize between right and wrong and then to choose what is right
o Reverence (Piety): helps us to recognize our need for God
o Fear of the Lord (Wonder and Awe): recognize the glory of God and gives us the desire to do right by him
Jesus promised these gifts to us in John 14:26 (read Scripture)
Service is key: to always remember to live for others; be selfless
Sponsor: choose someone you can relate to and speak to about your faith and spiritual matters as well as day to day life
Saint name: your new name to signify a new phase in your life; like Abram and Sarai became Abraham and Sarah and Cephas became Peter (the apostle and first Pope)
o Choose a saint you can relate to and want to imitate
The Bishop performs the Sacrament – he sends us out to spread the Good News
Confirmation is not graduation
Confirmation is a beginning to truly living your faith
Confirmation is the completion of the grace we received at Baptism; it’s the beginning of bringing the Gospel to others and living Christianity with God’s grace
Homework: Research and complete your saint project. Really spend time getting to know your Saint. Each of you will present your Saint to the Class on Zoom. You will all present on February 1st! Please have a picture of your saint handy so we can see who you are speaking about. Please reach out via email if you have any questions about your report. God Bless You!
December 13th
Pray – Special Intentions – Hail Mary
Read the Opening Prayer on page 175 and dive into Lesson 19 – we can devote this class to Mary because without her there would be no Jesus!
Page 176- Saint Gianna Berreta Molla – Heroic Motherhood
What made St. Gianna like Mary?
She not only was dedicated to her faith but she also made it her mission to help the less fortunate in her work and devoted herself to her family.
During her canonization, it was the first time in history that a husband witnessed the canonization of his wife.
Recap Lesson 19 Segment 1 - The Blessed Mother and Communion of Saints
Mary is Queen of Heaven and Earth; the Angels and Saints, our Spiritual Mother
Do we worship Mary? NO. Pray literally means ASK. God wants us to pray for each other and we turn to the Blessed Mother, the Saints, and the departed to help us ASK God for what we need. Intercessory Power is always among us.
Unlike Eve, Mary believed and trusted in God
Give your YES to God as Mary did! God needs our YES so his plan for us can begin.
Saint Louis deMonfort
His devotion to the Blessed Mother was paramount
His life was an offering “to Jesus through Mary”
Read pages 178 and 179
Apparitions and Devotions - Watch Lesson 19 Segment 3
Devotions to the Blessed Mother - the Rosary; Marian Feast Days. A way of entrusting ourselves to Mary’s motherly care.
Apparitions - Our Lady of Fatima; Our Lady of Guadalupe; Our Lady of Lourdes. These take place when a heavenly being appears on Earth; usually private revelations.
Jesus is the reason for the season BUT without Mary saying YES to God none of this would be possible!
Watch the youtube video – The Greatest Show (The Nativity version)by For King and Country
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FVlSnAAECY
Advent : letter from Jesus; did you start your letter; set 15 minutes aside each day to talk to Jesus; it’s the 2nd week of Advent – keep preparing your heart for Jesus and do acts of kindness everyday
Catholic Central Videos on Advent and Christmas Symbols
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-L0EX7Mc-0 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbRlbBbEG-Q
1st Candle (purple) – Hope; we have hope know Christ will born to us and take on human flesh which enable him to walk with us in our everyday struggles and joys; many people around us might be losing hope but let’s try to be the light that reminds them that Jesus loves them and he will not leave us
2nd Candle (purple)- Peace ; let’s remember to Pray “Jesus, I Trust in You”
3rd Candle (pink)- Joy; watch the video again about “Joy” for King and Country to remind us to “choose joy” even when times are the toughest
4th Candle (purple)- Love; God is Love and He “chose” each of us to bring His love to others. We are His hands, feet and heart on earth for others.
Feast of the Immaculate Conception- December 8th; the day Mary was conceived in Saint Anne’s womb; she was conceived without original sin. Mary was born 9 months later on September 8th.
God “chose” Mary for a specific task and so He gave her the gift of being born without sin. Only a sinless, spotless woman could bear the Son of God. Mary had free will on whether or not to accept it. As we know, Mary accepted unconditionally when the Angel Gabriel came to her and said she would bear a son and his name would be “Yeshua” – Jesus- Emmanuel- which means “God is with us”. Mary responded and said ”Let it be done unto me according your word”.
“Mary Did You Know?” by Clay Aiken https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Uki0dkthzI
HOMEWORK: 1) Create Advent Wreath
2) Continue letter Jesus
3) Read Hero of the Week – Saint Louis DeMonfort on page 180in Chosen
4) Watch video on Lesson 19 Segment 1 – The Communion of Saints
RECORDED ZOOM CALL:
Review and Discuss Chosen Homework
Chosen Lesson 14 Video 3- What Happens at Confirmation?
Confirmation will give you the strength and courage to share and defend your faith
The Apostles were the first Bishops, that is why the Bishop is the minister of the Sacrament of Confirmation
Signs and Symbols of the Sacrament of Confirmation
Holy Oil-for cleansing and strengthening. Around Holy Week, the bishop consecrates the sacred Chrism during the Chrism Mass. This oil is used in a number of sacraments; Baptism, Confirmation, anointing bishops and priests in Holy Orders, anointing of the sick
The Laying on of Hands-preparing you for “battle”
The Prayer of the Bishop-the sign of blessing and gift of the Holy Spirit
You are sealed with the Holy Spirit. This seal (Character) marks us as Christ’s servant and commits you as forever called to fulfill the Church’s mission in all the circumstances of life. This mark protects us.
Confirmation can only be received once and can not be “undone”
Watch Fr. Mike Schmitz - Advent-More than a Chocolate Calendar
Advent is the season of Devout and Joyful preparation of the coming of Jesus
Devout means with firmness and with your whole heart (whole-heartedness)
JOY: this is different from happiness that we get from things or only when something good happens. JOY is happiness and peace that we have independent of our circumstances. JOY: comes from knowing that God knows my name and that He loves me beyond all comprehension. God “chose” me to be his and for his purposes.
J-Jesus
O-Others
Y-You
Advent: is a time to be joyful. We prepare for Jesus in three modes.
Prepare for Jesus’ coming on Christmas Day, i.e. his birth as baby into humanity (Isaiah 9:6-7 – Jesus’ birth was foretold by the prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament)
Prepare for Jesus’ 2nd coming – he promised us in the Gospels that he would return again and so we must prepare our hearts for him
Prepare for Jesus “in the meantime” – let Jesus into our daily lives by opening our heart to him. If Jesus showed up in your life today, would there be room for Him?
Build a relationship with Jesus by talking to him every day as your best friend. Would there be room for Jesus in your heart?
Pray more: simply say “Jesus, I Trust in You!
Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance
There is so much noise and many distractions around us that we have forgotten how to take time with Jesus. Talk to him: tell him your problems, ask him for advice, thank him for loving you, etc…
Try to say “no” to some of the things that pull us away from quiet time with Jesus: watch a little less tv, put your phone on airplane mode for a bit, don’t play video games as long, etc…
Do random acts of kindness so that others see Jesus in you; let your light shine as Jesus said “You are the light of the world”
Read the letter from Jesus to you: then each day spend some time to write a letter back to Jesus. You can write whatever is on your heart; it can be sad things, happy things, things that scare you, things you are thankful for, etc… Then you can place it in his manger on Christmas Eve. Jesus really wants you to be in relationship with you. He wants you to receive him in your heart and also in the Eucharist when you go to Mass. Try to attend Mass to worship God and show how much you love Jesus.
Dear Friend,
How are you? I just had to send a note to tell you how much I care about you. I saw you yesterday as you were talking with your friends. I waited all day hoping you would want to talk with me too. I gave you a sunset to close your day and a cool breeze to rest you -- and I waited. You never came. It hurt me -- but I still love you because I am your friend.
I saw you sleeping last night and longed to touch your brow so I spilled moonlight upon your face. Again I waited, wanting to rush down so we could talk. I have so many gifts for you! You awoke and rushed off to school. My tears were in the rain.
If you would only listen to me! I love you! I try to tell you in blue skies and in the quiet green grass. I whisper it in leaves on the trees and breathe it in colors of flowers, shout it to you in mountain streams, give the birds love songs to sing. I clothe you with warm sunshine and perfume the air with nature scents. My love for you is deeper than the ocean, and bigger than the biggest need in your heart!
Ask me! Talk with me! Please don't forget me. I have so much to share with you!
I won't hassle you any further. It is YOUR decision. I have chosen you and I will wait -- because I love you.
Your friend,
Jesus
RECORDED ZOOM:
I. KaHoot Quiz - Review Gifts of the Holy Spirit and St. Elizabeth of Hungary
II. Review and Discuss Chosen Homework
A. Lesson 13 Video Segment 3 - 12 Fruits of the Holy Spirit
St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians 5:22-23
The Fruit of the Spirit 22By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.
The Fruits are signs that the Holy Spirit is alive within us and helping us live the Catholic faith in our daily lives
They are the Holy Spirit's character traits
The Fruits needs time to grow, like actual fruit. We need to treat them like you would a garden, constantly tending, weeding, and watering it. The garden is our lives, the weeds are our sins.
The Fruits are observable behaviours of people who have allowed the Grace of the H.S. to be effective in them.
B. St. Paul the Apostle Review - read more about him at the following website:
https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=91
III. Watch Chosen Lesson 14 Segment 1-The Power of the Holy Spirit
Confirmation “gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross”-CCC 1303
Where do you see a spiritual battle going on in the world?
The apostles received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
Which Saint gave his life to help stop the gladiatorial games? Telemichus
RECORDED ZOOM CALL: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/u8b2bEUy_yzINh6KuVVY90_FmOgIUGfLNb5_RX8fBqQy2L6sZeZRHUOkgPGPPqW.GrRfM5VO0SdGqfBK
Review and Discuss Chosen Homework
Video Segment 2 - The Holy Spirit, our Guide and Map
H.S. is a guide and road map - God is our GPS
H.S. is the Divine Teacher (knowledge of the heart) helping us KNOW God
Principle Author of the Bible - Divine Inspiration
God breathes life into us and he breathes life into the Scripture
Call on the H.S. when you read the Gospel
H.S. is the soul of the Church
H.S. breathes and gives life to the Church
H.S. is our guardian and protection so we can trust that what the Church teaches is good and true
A body and soul makes us complete humans. As a Church, the Holy Spirit is the soul while we are the body.
Video Segment 3 - The Holy Spirit in Your Life
God calls each of us and invites us into a relationship with Him and the Holy Spirit allows us to say YES to God.
The H.S. strengthens us to live our life with courage and conviction; gives us comfort and strength; is the anchor and defender of our Faith
The H.S. is our lifeline to God
Love the Lord your God with all your mind, heart, soul, and strength
Saint Catherine of Siena : “Be who God meant for you to be and you will set the world on fire” - pray every day for the H.S.to guide you to God’s plan and purpose for you
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Review - More about her here https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=45
As a class watch Chosen Lesson 13 Video Segment 1 and 2 - Gifts of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is Love; just as God is Love
The Holy Spirit is the 3rd person of the Blessed Trinity. Sometimes known as the “hidden” Person of the Trinity. He completes Jesus’ work on earth in our lives, here and now.
The Holy Spirit is the Giver of Gifts - Can we open them?
Bishop will say “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit” –this is an indelible mark that stays on your soul forever. Your soul is immortal and will one day, after you die, be reunited with your body in all its glory as God meant you to be. Jesus looked different after he died and rose from the dead – remember the apostles and his closest friends did not recognize him right away.
There are seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude (Courage), Piety (Reverence) and Fear of the Lord (Wonder and Awe). Gifts are given initially at Baptism then strengthened at Confirmation. The first 4 Gifts are oriented toward our Intellect. The last 3 deal with our Will.
Wisdom:
Helps us to prioritize the What – God, Family, Friends, Things
Helps us to avoid evil that takes us away from God
Helps us to focus on the things we need to do to become the Saint we are called to be
Understanding:
Helps us to understand “how” to live in order to become a Saint
God reveals Himself to us so we learn to understand Him and live for Him
Knowledge:
Helps us to “know” that “We are Loved!” by God just as we are.
We are made for more than just the things of the material world- God knows us and loves us beyond all reason
Helps us to “know” we are loved and therefore empowers us to “be who we are called to be”
“Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire!” St. Catherine of Siena
Counsel (Right Judgement):
Helps us to make good decisions
You can help others by you using your gift of Counsel
You can foster this gift by knowing that Christ is present in the Church, by reading Scripture, talking to and surrounding yourself with good and Holy people, and reading about the Saints
Fortitude (Courage):
Be courageous Saints
You might still be afraid sometimes but you will have courage to do the right thing even when it is difficult
Stand up for Christ: Be like St. Paul and Blessed Carlo Acutis – all the Saints are cheering you on
4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He (God) who is in you than he (the devil) who is in the world. 1John 4:4
Piety ( Reverence):
Give to God what He is due
Go to Mass to Worship and Praise our Lord
We genuflect when we enter the Church because Jesus is present in the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle
Fear of the Lord (Wonder and Awe)
God is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omnipresent
God is already pleased with us and so He gives us these gifts - Live for God
Let us open the gifts and use them for His greater glory in all that we do
HOMEWORK: Watch Chosen Lesson 13 Video Segment 3 and Answer Questions
Read “Hero of the Week” - St. Paul the Apostle (pg 130)
ZOOM RECORDING:
This is the month of all Saints! Take this month and pray about what name you would like to choose for your Confirmation name. You will need to decide by December 6th and come to class prepared to share. The month of December we will take some time each class to help you with research for your Saint project.
Review and Discuss Chosen Homework - (We played a KaHoot Quiz in class)
Acts 2:1-4 - In this Bible verse of the Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is symbolized by powerful images; the WIND filling a house, FIRE coming down from heaven, People boldly running out to share the Word of God (not concerned with the persecution it could result in)
Symbols of the Holy Spirit
WATER - through the waters of Baptism we are given birth into the divine life of God.
FIRE - it gives light, energy and it purifies. The Holy Spirit is the light of God’s truth through Spiritual darkness.
WIND - you know it’s there; you can feel its presence but can't see it - like God. It can be a gentle breeze or a fierce gust of wind.
The (Nicene) Creed - “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the Prophets.” - The breath God breathed into the first man IS the Holy Spirit, therefore giving us and sustaining our life. The Holy Spirit inspired man to write the bible - the HS is the principal author. GOD is LOVE
Share Catholic Central Video on the Holy Spirit and Discuss https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUFdHxBXM44
We believe the Holy Spirit IS God - 3rd person of the Holy Trinity.
In the Bible, we see the Holy Spirit at the Conception of Jesus (Annunciation), the Baptism of Jesus - the H.S. descended upon Jesus as a Dove, the Pentecost - as tongues of fire descending upon the apostles, and the spirit of God hovering over the waters in Genesis.
H.S. Symbols - Wind, Fire, Water, a Dove, Light, the Laying of Hands
The HS inspired the writing of Scripture
Works in all 7 Sacraments (Baptism, Penance, Holy Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, Healing of the Sick) giving us gifts (Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Knowledge, Piety, Fortitude (Courage), Fear of the Lord (Awe and Wonder at God’s power and grace) starting with Baptism
The HS is our paraclete, protector and counselor
The HS brings people together and unifies the Church
We invite the HS when we need reconciliation and healing
We see the works of the HS in the fruits: Love, Joy, Patience, Peace, Kindness, Gentleness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Self-Control (Acts)
Symbols of the Holy Spirit Activity - Read each scripture verse and determine how the Holy Spirit is being represented in it.
Matthew 3:16 - As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.
Acts 2:3 - They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
Exodus 3:2 - There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.
Acts 2:2 - Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Matthew 3:11 - “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Exodus 16:10 - While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud.
I. Discuss Chosen Homework - Lesson 3, Video Segment 3 and Questions: A Kingdom on Earth
What was Jesus’ mission while on Earth? Aside from giving us salvation (lived, died, and rose), Jesus was here to Establish a Kingdom on Earth - The Church
The Church is both human and __DIVINE__. How? Jesus selected the 12 Apostles (Humans) and entrusted them with the mission of expanding the Church but He sent the Holy Spirit (Divine) to them to guide and strengthen them - Pentecost.
__SAINTS__ are men and women the Church recognizes for their heroic virtue. They are witnesses, intercessors, and examples of faith. These Saints said yes to God just as Mary and Jesus did.
God became man by sending his son Jesus- Jesus is the Word Incarnate
Jesus lived, died, suffered and rose from the dead to provide salvation for our souls
But he also came for another reason: to establish a Church on earth - God’s Kingdom
After Jesus rose from the dead, he came back to visit the apostles a few times
He ascended into Heaven 40 days after he rose - this is the Ascension
Before he ascended into heaven, he promised to send a helper, a paraclete, the Holy Spirit to strengthen the apostles to build and grow the Church he established
He chose 12 apostles: Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholemew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alpheaus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot (betrayed Jesus)
The Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles and Mary as they were gathered in the upper room (the Pentecost) - Holy Spirit came as of tongues of fire- Jesus said “You will receive power to be my witnesses- and to spread the good news to the ends of the earth”
After the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles, Peter went out and proclaimed the good news and that day three thousand people became followers of Jesus Christ
Peter and Paul went to Rome and the other apostles went to other places.
When we are confirmed, we are then called to share our love for Jesus and the Church
We can be witnesses of God’s love in our lives; we can share what we’ve learned about the faith and also how you have experienced God and Jesus
The Church belongs to the Lord: it has sinners and saints
Judge the Church by those who live up to what the Church represents; follow the saints and the heros
The Church always needs good and holy people to help the Church to grow and be reformed over time from the inside out
You have been CHOSEN to carry on the mission of the apostles to bring the kingdom of heaven on earth
II. Please review the Pentecost artwork and questions below.
III. Hero of the Week - St. Teresa of Avila
Patron of Headaches; People in need of Grace; Those Ridiculed for Piety
A Doctor of the Church
She wasn’t always a model of holiness. St. Teresa struggled with prayer and in her relationships with other people.
She looked for a quick way to sainthood and ran away to fight the Moors so she could be martyred.
Considered a “Living Martyr”
Wrote several books on Spiritual Life
https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=208 for more information on St. Teresa of Avila
What adjectives would you use to describe this painting?
Where do your eyes go when you look at it? Do you have a favorite part?
Of whom or what is the dove a traditional symbol?
What event is depicted in this painting?
What people do you see in the painting? The men? The woman seated in the center? The woman kneeling in the front?
Does the scene look energetic or still?
Read Acts 2:1-4
The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost
1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
How does this painting help you understand this Gospel passage?
We disussed Chosen Homework - Lesson 3, Video Segment 2 and Questions: Jesus’ Divine Rescue Mission
Unlike Eve who disobeyed God, ___Mary___ said “yes” to God’s plan. By her obedience, she became the “New Eve.”
How else were Mary and Eve different?
Jesus revealed to us the awesome truth that God is __Love__.
What does it mean to hear the phrase “God is Love”?
Lucifer (a fallen Angel) went to Eve to tempt her to not trust God - Even said “yes” to temptation and she said “No” to God
Gabriel (a good Angel) went to Mary - Mary said “Yes” to God - she chose to obey and trust God - this is the example we should always strive to imitate
Mother of the Son of God - Yeshua- translates to Jesus - the Lord Saves
Jesus is fully God and fully Human
Jesus came - he lived, he suffered, he died and he rose
Jesus obeyed God’s will also - he said “Father, not my will, but your will be done”
Jesus is the “New Adam” - he said yes to God and we must follow his example
God is goodness, beauty, truth… God is Love
Love is who God is - he can only love
We are made in his image and likeness and therefore our innermost identity is Love
Love doesn’t necessarily mean being “in love”
Love means giving yourself freely for the good of another - like a parent, a brother, a sister, a friend, a priest, a sister
Love is our identity because we are made in the image and likeness of God
Review Hero of the Week - St. Francis de Sales
St. Francis never believed he would go to heaven. Over time, and with lots of prayer, he came to realize that wasn't the case. St. Francis came to see "God is Love."
How can we feel, show, and share God’s love if we are not in church every Sunday? There are many ways to feel and share God’s love when we aren’t celebrating Mass. We see, feel, and show it in Creation, the good deeds of others, the tradition of the family. We also see it in our own life experiences; in those amazing times when we persevere through hard times. Finally, we feel it through daily prayer whether it is formal or informal.
St. Francis de Sales is a Doctor of the Church. What does that mean? This is a title given to certain Saints whose writings and teachings are instrumental in guiding the faithful in all periods of Church history.
More about St. Francis de Sales at the following site: https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=51
YOUR Name - We discussed the following
Why did your parents give you the name you have?
Why do we pick a Saint name? We want to look to those who were true witnesses of faith. Someone we are drawn to through their patronage, work, etc. What is the significance? It could be symbolic of a new or deeper stage in your faith. There are many examples in the Bible of those who changed their names after experiencing conversion. Abram-Abraham, Simon-Peter, Saul-Paul.
Do you have a name and/or Saint that you particularly love?
(Please use the arrow to the right to view the Lesson and Homework)
View Sophia SketchPad Confirmation Video (5:52) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu3MoT_egFI
Recap/Reflection Questions and Discuss
Your heart was made for God, and it’s like a muscle that must be stretched. The more you ______, the more you stretch it, making more and more room for God’s love to fill it.
God first filled your heart with the Holy Spirit at your ______. Now, at Confirmation, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are increased, and you’re given special strength to spread and defend the Faith.
The Holy Spirit is one of the 3 Persons of the __________, and one of His titles is the “_______.”
Ten days later, on the feast of _______, a strong wind blew, and the Apostles saw tongues of fire resting upon their heads.
A few weeks earlier, Peter had been so afraid that he________. Now he boldly proclaimed the truth.
And Jesus knows that sometimes what we need isn't simply more faith, but__________________.
The Apostles laid hands on the baptized Christians to confirm then 2000 years ago, and still today your Bishop - a successor of _________ - will lay his hands on you.
The bishop then says, “_____________” as he anoints you on the forehead with oil.
Confirmation is NOT simply recognition of your growth or advancement in the Faith, it is NOT about you claiming the Faith as your own. In fact, you do not do anything except___________ the grace of God and the strengthening of the Holy Spirit.
Just like the Apostles, we live in a world where every day is __________.
You can hear His call, and you can follow it down the path where countless saints have gone before you, boldly proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, resisting temptation, growing in virtue, and becoming what God is calling you to be: _____________.
In your own life you will come across people who are in need of conversion and repentance, just as the Apostles did. What are some ways you can charitably share the gospel, not just in your words, but in the way you live and act on a daily basis?
The gifts of the Holy Spirit enable you to receive God’s inspirations more effectively. You can accept these gifts and fully develop them by spending time with God in prayer and striving to live a good and virtuous life. Over time, you’ll find yourself responding to the promptings of the Holy Spirit more naturally as you become more and more like Christ. Why do you think it takes time?
Check out the below link! Carlo Acutis was beatified on October 10th by Pope Francis.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/who-was-carlo-acutis-a-cna-explainer-19684
Please only use one email address per family to set up the account and keep password handy so that your child can log in and have access to videos.
HOW TO REDEEM YOUR REGISTRATION CODE FROM YOUR LEADER
1. After creating an account and logging into Ascension Press at www.ascensionpress.com, go to the drop-down menu under MENU located in the top right corner
2. Click on JOIN A STUDY: The study is called SSPP 6th and 7th Grade Confirmation PREP
3. Click the blue REDEEM CODE button above the picture
4. Enter your 6-character registration code under "Registration code" and the other information. Your code is A5PEEB
5. Now click REDEEM CODE
The study will now appear on your Dashboard. You only need to redeem the code once and going forward the CHOSEN Program will be available on your dashboard.
*Please be sure to do this with your child this week. If you have any trouble, please contact me at: grade7a@sspeterandpaulrc.org
