IMPORTANT DATES:
October 6: Student Confessions
October 7: All School Rosary at the Grotto
October 13: Prayers Quiz
October 14: Vocations Prayer Due
October 16: In the Beginning Project Due
Happy October!
We started our 7th Grade Religion Class with a spiritual survey, so I am familiar with where your student is in her or his knowledge of and formation in our Catholic faith. I am a "revert" to the Catholic Church, meaning I was baptized as an infant, went to Catholic grade school and college, but then fell away from living my faith in young adulthood like so many of my generation. I can't and don't stand in judgment of anyone who is doubting God, questioning the Truth of God or just not engaged in faith, because I've been there, for a long time. In my 40's, both Deacon Pat and I knew God was calling us back and with the help of a good and holy priest, we learned what we had missed in our earlier formation. We both fell in love with God for the first time, and haven't looked back. That is why I take 7th grade religion class so seriously. I know what it's like to live life without God. I also know that most studies are showing that 12-13 years old is the age when children make decisions about living or leaving their faith. I want give them whatever they need to make the best decision, to choose God.
7th grade is the year we study the New Testament. I supplement our regular religion curriculum with an Ascension Media video series called "Jesus: The Way, The Truth and The Life". The students and I watch each video 2 or 3 times, taking notes, discussing the ideas and answering the questions the videos bring up. Then they complete a final assessment, usually in the form of a project. I can say the questions your students are asking show me they are taking to heart the idea that Jesus is the Son of God who loves them more than they can know, and that they must take seriously the decision to believe and live out that belief.
We started the series by learning about the world that Jesus lived in during his lifetime. Many of the students commented that this is the first time they realized Jesus was an historical person, and that we have secular historical evidence that agrees on many of the details of his life. We are now studying the beginning of his life, from the Annunciation to his return to Nazareth. The students will be memorizing two prayers, the Shema, which is the prayer Jesus (and all pious Jews) would have prayed at least twice a day, and one of the New Testament Prayers from this period that are prayed every day in the Liturgy of the Hours. The quiz (written or oral) for these prayers will be October 13. The students will also be making a diorama or an illustrated book to show their understanding of this time period. That project will be due October 16.
The students also wrote prayers about the virtue of Humility, our October Virtue of the month. We discussed what humility is (trusting God, being grateful for all he gives us and thinking of others first) and what it is NOT (talking or thinking poorly of ourselves, humiliation, poor self esteem.) The students are reading their prayers to the school every morning during morning announcements.
One way to support your student (and yourself) in a life of faith is to pray together. If that feels awkward or weird, that's OK. Start by talking about how you pray (or why it's hard for you to do so.) Then pick a short time and a short prayer to start saying together. Make the commitment and don't worry about doing it well. I read a quote recently that said the only ineffective prayer is the one that isn't said. I'm praying for you too!
Our Google Classroom website has more details about the Prayer quiz and project as well as all the notes we take in class. Please email me to for the class code to join.