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Mother’s Day. The very mention of this annual spring celebration can’t help but bring a smile as we think of moms, stepmoms, grandmothers, mothers-in-law, godmothers, and all who share motherly love. It might also bring a tear or two as we recall the memories of dear mothers who are no longer with us, or those we have not seen in many months or even years. Wherever we are this Mother’s Day, we can be comforted and uplifted by the thought of the one beautiful Mother, standing by the Cross of her Son, accepting her role as mother of us all. How can we best honor our moms? By listening to the words of our heavenly Mother, who tells us, “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:5)
While this week’s Gospel Weeklies lessons are the last of our regular program year, we’ve developed an online Bonus Lesson for the week of Sunday May 16. The lesson and accompanying Teaching Guide is available for all levels in both Spanish and English. We also offer several Late Close lessons (in both Spanish and English) that can take your lessons well into summer. You can learn more about all of these extras here.
Every week in the GROW newsletter, you will find a helpful tip for teaching your Gospel Weeklies lesson, a reflection on the Sunday Gospel, and information about our online resources and seasonal activities. Here are tips for teaching the Gospel Weeklies lessons this week:
Seeds
Lesson Theme: Jesus’ followers love one another.
If you have a favorite image or statue of Mary, this is a wonderful time to share it with the children.
To make folding the cover image easier, you may wish to separate pages 1-2 from 3-4.
Find a coloring page to accompany “Charley Looks for a Gift” here.
Find an end-of-year certificate to give to the children here. Note that a parent may sign the certificate if a teacher or catechist is unable to do so.
Promise
Lesson Theme: Jesus’ rule is love.
Find an end-of-year certificate to give to the children here. Note that a parent may sign the certificate if a teacher or catechist is unable to do so.
As you discuss the picture of on page 3, ask the children how this is like—or unlike—the chores and tasks they do at home.
Even if this is not your last class of the year, you can still follow the suggestion in the Teaching Guide about reminding the children to keep coming to Mass this summer (in whatever way their families are comfortable participating). Encourage them to pray to the Holy Spirit whenever they need help.
Good News
Lesson Theme: Jesus calls us to love.
Find an end-of-the year certificate to give to the children here. Note that a parent may sign the certificate if a teacher or catechist is unable to do so.
For the “Who Can Play?” story images on pages 3-4, make sure the children understand what to do before you distribute scissors. They will be making the cuts before you read the story, and following your instructions for folding on the dotted lines as you read. You can find the accompanying story, and directions for making the folds, in the Teaching Guide on page TG4-34.
Even if this is not your last class of the year, you can still follow the suggestion in the Teaching Guide about reminding the children to keep coming to Mass this summer (in whatever way their families are comfortable participating). Encourage them to pray to the Holy Spirit whenever they need help.
Venture
Lesson Theme: Jesus gives us life to the full.
Even if this is not your last class of the year, we suggest you pray the Summer Prayer for the Spirit together on page 5. You will need a lighted candle, small pieces of paper, and holy water. (Use a suitable container for the holy water, with an opening that’s wide enough to allow the children to reach in and bless themselves. A shallow, clear bowl should work just fine.)
This is a good time to share Marian hymns with the children. Search the Internet or use a streaming service, if you have one, to find some of your favorites to share.
You may wish to invite your parish confirmation director and/or high school youth minister to speak to the children about all they can look forward to in confirmation preparation in the coming years.
Visions
Lesson Theme: Jesus commands us to love one another.
As students work on the cover activity regarding class prophecies, we suggest you monitor the process to ensure that comments and responses–whether silly or serious–remain positive, loving, and kind. Encourage the groups to share their prophecies with the class.
If you need a Fruits of the Holy Spirit refresher for the Sunday Gospel and Talk questions on page 4, you can find them listed on page 50 in the What the Church Believes and Teaches handbook.
Even if this is not your last class of the year, we suggest you take time to pray the Commitment Prayer Service together on page 8. To prepare, you will need holy water and a Bible. (Use a suitable container for the holy water, with an opening that’s wide enough to allow the young people to reach in and bless themselves. A shallow, clear bowl should work just fine.)
This is a good time to invite your parish confirmation director and/or high school youth minister to speak to the students about all the exciting opportunities ahead in confirmation preparation.
DON’T FORGET to check out our Unit 4 Overview Webinars. You can find them in English and in Spanish here.
Image credit: Minnikova Mariia/Shutterstock.com
