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This Sunday is called Laetare Sunday. Laetare (like Gaudete in Advent) means “rejoice” in Latin. It is a day of joy during a penitential season. Priests may wear rose-colored vestments. We rejoice that Easter is drawing near!
This week, we honor both of Jesus’ earthly parents. The Solemnity of Saint Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is celebrated on Monday, March 20. (This feast is usually observed on March 19, which falls on a Sunday this year, so the observance has been shifted to March 20.) On Saturday, March 25, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord and remember Mary’s yes to God’s invitation to become the mother of his Son.
Let us pray for parents: O Almighty God, you gave us the commandment to honor our father and mother. In your loving kindness, hear our prayer for all parents. Give them long lives and keep them well in body and spirit. Bless their labors; keep them always in your care. Bless them generously for their loving care of each other and their children. Grant that through your grace, we may always be their support and comfort. We pray that after our life together on earth, we may together experience the joy of praising you forever. Amen.
Every week in the GROW newsletter, you will find helpful tips for teaching your Gospel Weeklies lesson, a reflection on the Sunday Gospel, and links to online resources.
Videos of Sunday’s Gospel
Use these videos as you discuss today’s Gospel. Please preview all videos you plan to share with your class:
Holy Heroes
Gospel Reading and Reflection for Kids
Sunday Gospel Cartoon Reading and Lesson
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
Jesus Heals the Blind Man
Lent
10 Fun Things You Might Not Know About Lent
Lent in 60 Seconds. With LEGO!
Lent: Catholic Central
Lent in 3 Minutes
Cardinal Timothy Dolan: What Is Lent?
What Is Lent?
Faith, Fun, and Celebration: Lent Episode (featuring John Burland)
Songs to Journey with Jesus During Lent, Featuring Miss Heidi and John Burland
The Stations of the Cross with Bishop Barron (Show one or two stations at a time.)
Stations of the Cross
Seeds
Lesson Theme: Jesus heals a blind man.
For this lesson you will need crayons, drawing paper, a puppet, a Bible, copies of the story coloring page (one per child), and a Church Year calendar.
This issue of Seeds helps children appreciate the gift of sight. It helps them understand the joy of the blind man when Jesus gives him sight. We suggest having a puppet for the Gospel Warm-Up activity. If you don’t have a puppet, you could use a stuffed animal for this purpose. Don’t forget to send home the “Special blessing drawing” the children will create during class, so they can share it with their families.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
Extending Activities
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
Bible Bag: Kid-Sized Lessons on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole
Gospel Reflection and Saint of the Week with Miss Heidi
Promise
Lesson Theme: Jesus invites us to see and believe.
For this lesson, you will need a picture book, a children’s Bible, scissors, crayons, copies of the story coloring page (one per child), and a Church Year calendar. You will also need blindfolds (one per child) for the “I can’t see” activity. While inexpensive ones are available for purchase, simple blindfolds can be made from bandanas, fabric, or paper. Find some helpful ideas here. You may wish to have the help of an aide or aides to assist with the blindfolds and cutting. We suggest that you separate pages 1–2 from 3–4 in advance.
Since this lesson contains a focus on the gift of sight, be sensitive and make appropriate adjustments to the lesson if you have a child or children in your class who have significant vision impairments. This lesson may present an opportunity for the visually challenged child(ren) to share about living with limited or no vision.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
Extending Activities
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
Bible Bag: Kid-Sized Lessons on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole
Gospel Reflection and Saint of the Week with Miss Heidi
Good News
Lesson Theme: We believe in Jesus.
For this lesson, you will need pencils, scissors, glue or tape, paper strips or craft sticks (six per child), copies of the Apostles’ Creed with some key words missing (one per child), index cards with portions of the Apostles’ Creed written on them, and a Church Year calendar. You may want to enlist the help of an aide for the assembly of the Gospel Puppets. This activity involves cutting out the Gospel characters and gluing or taping them on craft sticks or strips of paper (for finger puppets).
Throughout this Good News year, you’ve been teaching the children portions of the Apostles’ Creed. In the What the Church Believes and Teaches doctrinal section (gold box) of the lesson, you will help the children link these portions into one credal statement. In advance of your class session, prepare index cards that each contain a statement from the Apostles’ Creed. Another item to prepare in advance is a handout that contains the Apostles’ Creed with blank lines for some of the key words. You might include a word bank of the missing words on the paper or write these words on the board.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Video
“Yes, Lord, I Believe” by John Burland
Venture
Lesson Theme: We believe in Jesus.
Ask the children to note what’s different on this week’s lesson cover. (Hint: What color is the bar at the bottom?) It’s pinkish-rose, not violet-purple. It’s Laetare Sunday. Laetare is Latin for “rejoice.” It is a day of celebration in anticipation of the end of Lent and Easter. This Sunday’s Gospel Reading is the story of the man born blind. It’s a story of belief. Give the children ample time with the cover activity, a survey of things in which we may place our belief. Make sure to have your student Bibles available for the David activity on page 5.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Video
The Creed
Visions
Lesson Theme: Conversion means seeing in a new way.
Ask the young people to note what’s different on this week’s lesson cover. (Hint: What color is the bar at the bottom?) It’s pinkish-rose, not violet-purple. It’s Laetare Sunday. Laetare is Latin for “rejoice.” It is a day of celebration in anticipation of the end of Lent and Easter. This Sunday’s Gospel Reading is the story of the man born blind. It’s a story of belief. Make sure to have a Bible for each student to complete the Old Testament study about King David. Encourage the young people to share their activity about the Apostles’ Creed with their families. This is a public sharing of our beliefs as Christians.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
Louie can’t see much, but his vision will become a reality this Sunday.
The Creed
Image credit: Corinne SIMON/CIRIC (#291328)
