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This Sunday the Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. This feast was instituted in 1925 in response to the growing secularism among people around the world. In Mexico, my home country, the measures taken by the government to impose anticlerical articles to the Constitution led to the Guerra Cristera, a civil war that brought many deaths between 1926 and 1929. Faithful Catholics throughout the country crying, “¡Viva Cristo Rey!” (Live, Christ the King!) fought the government and its efforts to deny basic rights to the Church and suppress any popular religious celebrations. Priests were persecuted and murdered during these times. My own great-grandmother helped a few priests escape the firing squad by smuggling them out of danger zones hidden in food sacks.
On November 23, we also celebrate the Memorial of Blessed Miguel Pro, a Mexican Jesuit priest and martyr who faithfully ministered to the underground Church during the Guerra Cristera and was wrongfully accused of the attempted murder of Mexico’s president. Father Pro’s last words as he faced the firing squad were “¡Viva Cristo Rey!” You can learn more about Blessed Miguel Pro by clicking here.
Lord and King of the Universe, grant us the strength to defend our beliefs as we journey through this increasingly secular world. 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 many online resources.
Video of Sunday’s Gospel (John 18:33b–37)
Use this video as you discuss today’s Gospel. Please preview all videos you plan to share with your class:
Holy Heroes
Gospel Readings for Kids
Seeds
Lesson Theme: Jesus is our leader.
For this lesson, the children will create a mobile to take home. You will need crayons, scissors, a hole punch, tape, various lengths of string (4 per child), and coat hangers (one per child). We suggest that you have an aide to assist with this project and that you assemble your own mobile in advance so the children can see the finished product while working on their own mobiles.
During the doctrine segment of this lesson, the children will learn the Blessing Before Meals prayer. They will draw a picture of their family and something they are thankful for on a sheet of paper that has the words “Blessing Before Meals” on it. Find a template for the Blessing Before Meals here.
Note that a new Church Year begins on Sunday, November 28. Now is the time to order a new Church Year calendar to use in your classroom or home. Find one here.
Teaching Guide
Find a coloring page to accompany “My Friend and Me” here.
Parent Teaching Pages
Extending Activities
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
Weekly Gospel Videos and Coloring Pages
Bible Bag Gospel Lesson with Mrs. Cole
Jesus Is Our King Song
Promise
Lesson Theme: Jesus is our leader.
In addition to crayons, pencils, and a Church Year calendar, you will need scissors and tape for this lesson. If you’ve been downloading the story coloring pages, please note that there is one for the story in this lesson. We suggest that you separate pages 1–2 from 3–4 and make one table prayer in advance. Since families in the US will celebrate Thanksgiving this week, you may suggest that the children include this prayer in their meal prayer on Thanksgiving.
A more accurate objective for the activities in the Share Experiences segment of the lesson (page TG2-10) is that the children will recognize characteristics of good leaders.
Note that a new Church Year begins on Sunday, November 28. Now is the time to order a new Church Year calendar to use in your classroom or home. Find one here.
Teaching Guide
Find a coloring page to accompany “Who Is a Leader in Cozy Town?” here.
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
Weekly Gospel Videos and Coloring Pages
Bible Bag Gospel Lesson with Mrs. Cole
Jesus Is Our King Song
Good News
Lesson Theme: Jesus is our leader and king.
In addition to pencils, crayons, and a Church Year calendar, you will need scrap paper, dice, and game markers for this lesson.
When discussing Christ as the Catholic Faith Word, you may wish to add that the Hebrew word with the same meaning as Christ is Messiah. Christ is the Latin term. If this is the second year that your class is using Good News, they would have covered Messiah as a Catholic Faith Word in December 2020. The children may also be interested to know that Jesus would have been known as Jesus (more likely Yeshua, comparable to Joshua) bar Joseph, meaning “Jesus, son of Joseph.” You might compare this way of naming someone according to their father’s name with last names such as Johnson, Jackson, Jefferson, Emerson, Dawson, Anderson, Harrison, Patterson, etc.
Note that a new Church Year begins on Sunday, November 28. Now is the time to order a new Church Year calendar to use in your classroom or home. Find one here.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Venture
Lesson Theme: Jesus calls us to be part of his kingdom.
Note the change in liturgical color on the cover (the bottom band is gold). This marks a special celebration in the Church, the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. What makes someone a good leader? How do these qualities match our descriptions of Jesus? Note the QR code on page 3 in the article about Saint Jeanne Jugan. Encourage the children to link to the video that answers why Catholics pray to saints—and share it with their families. Remember that you will need dice and game markers to play The Kingdom Game. Remember that you will need materials for your Advent wreath next week!
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
The Kingdom of God
St. Jeanne Jugan
Visions
Lesson Theme: Jesus is our king.
Note the change in liturgical color on the cover (the bottom band is gold). This marks a special celebration in the Church, the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Ask the young people: What makes someone a good leader? Do all leaders have the same qualities? What kind of leadership do they see in their own families? This week’s story is about bullying; be sensitive to the fact that many of your students have experienced being bullied. Note that Advent begins next week; make sure to have the materials to create an Advent wreath to be used in your prayer rituals during these weeks.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
The Kingdom of God
Why Jesus
What Can We Do About Bullying?
Image credit: USCCB
