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This Sunday is Respect Life Sunday. It is celebrated yearly on the first Sunday of October, which is Respect Life Month. We take time this month to focus on respecting human life at every stage, ability, and condition. We must also consider ways to support and respect life every day of every month of every year.
Make use of leaders’ kits for Faith Formation, Catholic Education, and Youth Ministry from the Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities of the USCCB. Also check out these Action Guides (English and Spanish), which will help you take advantage of natural opportunities to integrate Respect Life themes in your ministry.
May God grant us the wisdom and courage to lovingly protect his gift of human life at every stage, in sickness and in health. 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.
Video of Sunday’s Gospel (Mark 10:2–16)
Use this video as you discuss today’s Gospel. Please preview all videos you plan to share with your class:
Holy Heroes: The 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Seeds
Lesson Theme: Jesus is our friend.
At the beginning of every Seeds lesson, we encourage you to invite a child to point to the current Sunday on a Church Year calendar. If you don’t have a calendar for 2022, you can order one here.
During this lesson, children will celebrate that they and their families are special to God. The Gospel Activity on page TG1-15 in the Teaching Guide suggests inviting the children to show ways Jesus welcomes the children, like shaking hands or hugging. Since social distancing is still encouraged, we suggest that you invite the children to pantomime these actions without touching one another.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
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
Promise
Lesson Theme: Jesus loves children and families.
Materials you’ll need are scissors, glue or tape, crayons, a crucifix, name strip chain from 9/26 class, extra paper strips, Church year calendar, and story coloring page (one per child). It will be helpful to have pages 1–2 separated from pages 3–4 before this class.
As you gather and prepare to share the story, take roll call by reading names from the chain you made in last week’s Promise class. Make sure to have some extra paper strips handy so you can add links for any new children. You might invite a child to place the chain on your prayer table.
As the children leave at the end of class, you may wish to make the Sign of the Cross on each of their foreheads to reinforce that they belong to Jesus’ family.
Teaching Guide
Find a coloring page to accompany “The Birthday Party” here.
Parent Teaching Pages
Extending Activities
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
Weekly Gospel Videos and Coloring Pages
Bible Bag Gospel Lesson with Mrs. Cole
The Sign of the Cross
Good News
Lesson Theme: The Church is the People of God.
This lesson begins with activities that reinforce the value of welcoming, including, and making time for others. Make a special effort to welcome each child by name as they enter the classroom. Make a positive comment or tell them you’re glad they came and are a part of your Good News class. You might wish to stand at the door to do so.
The Sacrament of Baptism is covered in this lesson. Encourage the children to find out more about their own Baptism and to bring that information to share with the class. Mark the children’s baptismal days on a class calendar and recognize them as their Baptism anniversaries occur. You’ll explore the Sacrament of Baptism in more depth in the lesson for the Baptism of the Lord on January 9, 2022.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
The Ten Commandments
Lesson on the Kingdom of God
Venture
Lesson Theme: God cares for us.
This week, Venture delves into the power of love in families and explores the Sacrament of Matrimony. We suggest bringing a copy of a marriage certificate and wedding photos to share with the children. As you share the Catholic Faith Word, fidelity, it might be a good time to explain adultery to the children. Be mindful that students come from all kinds of family situations. Emphasize that love is Jesus’ way of life and every Christian’s hardest work.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
St. Thomas More
Marriage – Sacraments of the Catholic Church
Sacrament of Matrimony
Visions
Lesson Theme: We are called to live in community.
In this Sunday’s Gospel, emphasize how Jesus welcomes young people. Remind them how loved and valuable they are! This lesson features the first Attitudes question of the year. You may wish to first pose the question and then direct the young people to read their peers’ responses.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
Marriage – Sacraments of the Catholic Church
Sacrament of Matrimony
Bishop Barron on the Sacrament of Marriage
Sacrament of Matrimony
Pope Marries Flight Attendants
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I remember my grandmother when she was alive when I see this picture. Thank you for keeping us updated about the date. God bless us all!