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FROM OUR EDITORS—November 6, 2022 – 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

FROM OUR EDITORS—November 6, 2022 – 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Para la versión en español, haga clic aquí.

This week, the Catholic Church in the United States celebrates National Vocations Awareness Week in an effort to promote vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and religious life. The word vocation comes from the Latin word vocare, which means “to call.” All of us who have received the Sacrament of Baptism are called to follow Jesus in a unique way, this includes those who are called to priesthood, diaconate, or religious life. They are particularly called to a life of service in the Church.

Once a bishop from Chile asked Pope Francis, “What would you say to a young person who feels a vocation to the priesthood or religious life?” The Pope’s answer was simple, “That he allows himself to be gazed at by Jesus. Jesus is the one who calls, not the priest, nor the bishop or the Pope. It is Jesus who gazes at him with love, who shows him the people, who shows him the needs of the people of God and says, ‘if you wish, come help.’”

Let us pray for the young people in our communities, that they allow themselves to be looked at by Jesus and respond with love and generosity to the Lord’s invitation to serve the Church. 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:
     Sunday Gospel Cartoon Reading and Lesson
     Holy Heroes
     Gospel Reading and Reflection for Kids

Seeds
Lesson Theme: God made everything.
For this lesson you will need scissors, crayons, tape, a utility knife or another sharp utensil, a Church Year calendar, and a story coloring page (one per child).

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus talks to the Sadducees about life after death. He tells them that God is God of the living, not of the dead. Since Seeds children might be too young to grasp the concept of life after death, this lesson emphasizes that God created everything that lives and that he loves everyone. We suggest that you have one or two aides for the cutting and folding activity on page 4. If this is not possible, it is a good idea to cut in advance following the heavy black line using a sharp knife or box cutter.

Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Lesson Planning Ideas for Grandparents
Extending Activities
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
     Kid-Sized Lessons on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole
     Gospel Reflection and Saint of the Week

Promise
Lesson Theme: Jesus promises us an eternal home.
For this lesson, gather crayons, drawing paper, scissors, game markers, a Church Year calendar, and copies of the story coloring page (one per child) in advance.

Sunday’s Gospel brings out differences in beliefs among Jewish groups about the resurrection of the dead. Jesus tells the Sadducees, who don’t believe in resurrection, that God is the God of the living—to God, all his children are alive. The lesson theme is based on Jesus’ promise to prepare a place in Heaven for his followers. Discussing what happens to us after we die may be a sensitive topic for any children who have lost loved ones. Acknowledge their feelings of sadness. The page 4 prayer activity will give the children an opportunity to explore and express their feelings about deceased loved ones through prayer, sharing, and drawing. While our losses are real and difficult, our faith offers us the hope of Heaven!

Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Lesson Planning Ideas for Grandparents
Extending Activities
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
     Kid-Sized Lessons on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole
     Gospel Reflection and Saint of the Week

Good News
Lesson Theme: Jesus teaches about Heaven.
For this lesson, you will need pencils, drawing paper, crayons, scissors, lengths of string or yarn, glue sticks, and a Church Year calendar. You may wish to enlist the help of aide(s) for the cutting and gluing activity. We suggest that you make one set of the prayer flags in advance.

Sunday’s Gospel brings out differences in beliefs among Jewish groups about the resurrection of the dead. Jesus tells the Sadducees, who don’t believe in resurrection, that God is the God of the living—to God, all his children are alive. The lesson theme is based on Jesus’ promise to prepare a place in Heaven for his followers. Discussing what happens to us after we die may be a sensitive topic for any children who have lost loved ones. Acknowledge their feelings of sadness. There will be opportunity to express and explore these feelings as you discuss the story “What Is Heaven Like?” While our losses are real and difficult, our faith offers us the hope of Heaven!

Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Lesson Planning Ideas for Grandparents
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Video
     The Ten Commandments

Venture
Lesson Theme: How does faith help fear?
This Sunday’s Gospel is perhaps the most challenging Gospel in this unit; begin to break it down by working through a few fun riddles (answers to puzzles, games, questions are listed in the Teaching Guide. The Gospel theme is about death and resurrection; the story this week focuses on the good work done by a class of students; this is a way to introduce discussion of the Works of Mercy (burying the dead). By the end of the lesson the children should be able to discuss: What does the Catholic Church teach about resurrection? Why is resurrection a central part of our faith?

Venture students will cover all the sacraments this year. This game/activity provides an overview of how these sacraments will be part of their lives.

This is the last lesson in this unit. Unit assessments are available at gospelweeklies.com. They can be used as an individual assessment, or you may choose to create a trivia game to assess the students’ knowledge. Plan ahead: Advent begins in the third lesson of Unit 2. Think now about Advent service projects.

Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Lesson Planning Ideas for Grandparents
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
     Bury the Dead: Mercy in the City
     Pharisees and Sadducees
     St. Leo the Great

Visions
Lesson Theme: God is God of the living.
Direct the young people to read the question on the cover and their peers’ responses. Ask volunteers to share their own responses to the question. You may wish to prepare for the play by gathering simple props and costume pieces; they aren’t necessary but may enhance the storytelling for the young people. Assign the puzzle on page 8 as a take-home activity but ask the students to return it so you can see how they have retained the Gospel stories from Unit 1.

Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Lesson Planning Ideas for Grandparents
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
     Bishop Barron on the Resurrection of Jesus
     We Are Bread for the World

Image credit: yaalan/stock.adobe.com

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Our Editors


David Dziena
Publisher

David Dziena is the Publisher of Pflaum Publishing Group. He has also served as Executive Editor and […]

Joan McKamey
Project Editor

Joan McKamey, project editor, joined the Gospel Weeklies editorial team in September 2016. […]

Erika De Urquidi
Bilingual Editor

Erika De Urquidi, bilingual editor, joined Bayard, Inc. in July 2018. During her 15 years as a professional translator […]