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This Sunday’s Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 23, one of my favorites. As I read it today, these words take a particularly deep meaning in my heart. Now that most of us are facing unprecedented hardships like being self-quarantined, the illness of a loved one, the death of a special person due to the pandemic the world is facing, uncertainty about how we will provide for our family, we must remember these words: the Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.
I encourage you to read this psalm often during these difficult times. May it fill you with peace and comfort.
Here are some notes to help you prepare for this week’s lesson:
Seeds
Lesson Theme: Jesus is our shepherd.
Parents can find and download the Seeds student lesson and Teaching Guide for this week here. Note that parents will need to enter the parish or school customer number. Check your communication from your child’s catechist, teacher, or religion administrator.
Find a story coloring page for “The Animals That Got Hungry in the Rain” here.
In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus talks about being our shepherd. A shepherd’s job is to care for his sheep and keep them safe. Seeds helps the children see how their caring for pets, plants, and perhaps siblings are forms of shepherding. It is a good idea to have an aide to help with the cutting activity.
Promise
Lesson Theme: Jesus is our Good Shepherd.
Parents can find and download the Promise student lesson and Teaching Guide for this week here. Note that parents will need to enter the parish or school customer number. Check your communication from your child’s catechist, teacher, or religion administrator.
Find a story coloring page for “Homework, the Classroom Rabbit” here.
For the What the Church Believes and Teaches part of the lesson, you may wish to share the story of Noah’s Ark from a children’s picture book or children’s Bible. Note that we encourage you to emphasize how God took care of Noah and his family. Steer the children away from focusing on the destruction of the flood. Be especially sensitive if any of the children have experienced the damaging effects of a flood.
Good News
Lesson Theme: We follow our Good Shepherd.
Parents can find and download the Good News student lesson and Teaching Guide for this week here. Note that parents will need to enter the parish or school customer number. Check your communication from your child’s catechist, teacher, or religion administrator.
In the lead up to the story “The Lost Hamster,” include children who don’t have a pet by asking what kind of pet they would like to have and the kind of care it would need.
Venture
Lesson Theme: Jesus gives us life to the full.
Parents can find and download the Venture student lesson and Teaching Guide for this week here. Note that parents will need to enter the parish or school customer number. Check your communication from your child’s catechist, teacher, or religion administrator.
May is Mary’s month and it will be Mother’s Day next week. The children will have empathy for the kids in the story on pages 2–3 who don’t see an incarcerated parent as they serve their sentences. Make sure to read the sidebar so the children can understand how they can participate in programs to help others; regardless of the program, there’s almost always a way that children can contribute their time and talents.
Visions
Lesson Theme: Jesus leads us as a shepherd.
Parents can find and download the Visions student lesson and Teaching Guide for this week here. Note that parents will need to enter the parish or school customer number. Check your communication from your child’s catechist, teacher, or religion administrator.
Note that the Catholic Faith Word in this lesson is tied to the article about Blessed Stan Rother. He is a modern-day martyr, and the Catholic Faith Word is martyr.
The Our Catholic Faith feature focuses on the popularity of Psalm 23. This gives an opportunity for your students to share a favorite Bible passage of their own. Be prepared with your own favorite to share with them.
DON’T FORGET to check out our Unit 4 Overview Webinars. You can find them in English and in Spanish here.
Image credit: Kris L/Shutterstock.com
