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Welcome to the Pflaum Gospel Weeklies 2022–23 program year!
Today, as we begin a new program year, the Church celebrates Catechetical Sunday with the theme: “This is my body given for you” (see Luke 22:19). Many parishes will commission catechists at Masses this weekend. As we reflect on this year’s theme for Catechetical Sunday, we are reminded that the Eucharist is the “source and summit of the Christian life” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1324). Our belief that Christ is truly present—Body, Blood, soul, and divinity (see CCC, 1413)—in Holy Communion is a cornerstone of our Catholic faith and practice. The significance of the Real Presence is being emphasized all the more in this first year of the National Eucharistic Revival in the U.S.
You will continue to find a Eucharist Quote in every Gospel Weeklies lesson. Please share these quotes, reflections on each quote, and our other resources that promote the belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist through parish and school newsletters, bulletins, and social media.
May we and the children in our care grow in deeper appreciation of the magnificent gift of Christ’s Body, Blood, soul, and divinity, which is offered to us at every Mass!
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
The Parable of the Unjust Steward
Seeds
Lesson Theme: Jesus is with us.
Welcome to a new Seeds year! This is a good week for name tags, icebreakers, and setting class expectations. Please follow your parish or school guidelines for sanitizing, physical distancing, or sharing snacks. Communicate these expectations clearly to your students and families.
We suggest the use of a Church Year calendar for your classroom, so the children can learn more about the Liturgical Year as the weeks go by. To purchase a Church Year calendar, click here. Note that the new Church Year begins on the First Sunday of Advent (November 27), so order now. Check with your program director about a calendar with dates for September through November 2022.
In the Teaching Guide, we suggest songs that correlate to the Church Year and lesson themes from the Promise/Good News music CDs. Click here to purchase the Promise/Good News music CDs with songs by John Burland. Note that these songs are also available for download at giamusic.com/PGW.
Note that we suggest you create a prayer space in your classroom for Bible enthronement, Gospel proclamation, and Gathering and Closing Prayers. Find suggestions for setting up this space on page TG1-2 in your Teaching Guide. Check the Materials list on page TG1-4 for other supplies you’ll need.
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
Weekly Gospel Videos and Coloring Pages
Bible Bag Gospel Lesson with Mrs. Cole
Sign of the Cross Prayer
Promise
Lesson Theme: Jesus invites us to gather at Mass.
Welcome to a new Promise year! This is a good week for name tags, icebreakers, and setting class expectations. Please follow your parish or school guidelines for sanitizing, physical distancing, and sharing snacks. Communicate these expectations clearly to your students and families.
We suggest the use of a Church Year calendar for your classroom, so the children can learn more about the Liturgical Year as the weeks go by. To purchase a Church Year calendar, click here. Note that the new Church Year begins on the First Sunday of Advent (November 27), so order now. Check with your program director about a calendar with dates for September through November 2022.
In the Teaching Guide, we suggest songs that correlate to the Church Year and lesson themes from the Promise/Good News music CDs. Click here to purchase the Promise/Good News music CDs with songs by John Burland. Note that these songs are also available for download at giamusic.com/PGW.
Note that we suggest you create a prayer space in your classroom for Bible enthronement, Gospel proclamation, and Gathering and Closing Prayers. Find suggestions for setting up this space on page TG1-2 in your Teaching Guide. Check the Materials list on page TG1-4 for other supplies you’ll need.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Lesson Planning Ideas for Grandparents
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
Good News
Lesson Theme: Jesus teaches us.
Welcome to a new Good News year! This is a good week for name tags, icebreakers, and setting class expectations. Please follow your parish or school guidelines for sanitizing, physical distancing, and sharing snacks. Communicate these expectations clearly to your students and families.
We suggest the use of a Church Year calendar for your classroom, so the children can learn more about the Liturgical Year as the weeks go by. To purchase a Church Year calendar, click here. Note that the new Church Year begins on the First Sunday of Advent (November 27), so order now. Check with your program director about a calendar with dates for September through November 2022.
In the Teaching Guide, we suggest songs that correlate to the Church Year and lesson themes from the Promise/Good News music CDs. Click here to purchase the Promise/Good News music CDs with songs by John Burland. Note that these songs are also available for download at giamusic.com/PGW.
Note that we suggest you create a prayer space in your classroom for Bible enthronement, Gospel proclamation, and Gathering and Closing Prayers. Find suggestions for setting up this space on page TG1-2 in your Teaching Guide. Check the Materials list on page TG1-4 for other supplies you’ll need.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Lesson Planning Ideas for Grandparents
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Video
The Life of Pope Francis in Cartoon
Venture
Lesson Theme: The Church is a community.
This is the first lesson of the year. Plan to establish a regular routine—and space—for prayer. The Teaching Guide suggests gathering and closing prayers for each weekly class and the five-day pacing plan lists them for every day. If you do not have a regular classroom space, make sure to have a small box filled with a Bible, candle, lighter/matches, and small pieces of cloth in the liturgical colors for the year (felt squares work well for this purpose). The band at the bottom of the lesson cover indicates the liturgical color for that Sunday (e.g., this week is green for Ordinary Time).
One of the intro activities on page 7 can help you with classroom management. Collect the name cards after class. Before the next session, set out the cards where you would like the children to sit. You may use this tool to separate children who like to chat or don’t behave well together. It’s also a helpful way to pair a confident child with one who could use a friend.
Pope Francis wants us to hear from all Catholics. The Church is midway through a worldwide Synod. Share this explanation of a synod with Venture children and families.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Lesson Planning Ideas for Grandparents
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
The Life of Pope Francis in Cartoon
What Is the Church? An Explanation for Kids
Pope: Synod Is a Call to Seek God’s Direction
Visions
Lesson Theme: Jesus calls us to care for people who are poor.
This is the first lesson of the year. Plan to establish a regular routine—and space—for prayer. The Teaching Guide suggests gathering and closing prayers for each weekly class and the five-day pacing plan lists them for every day. If you do not have a regular classroom space, make sure to have a small box filled with a Bible, candle, lighter/matches, and small pieces of cloth in the liturgical colors for the year (felt squares work well for this purpose). The band at the bottom of the lesson cover indicates the liturgical color for that Sunday (e.g., this week is green for Ordinary Time).
Introduce the Gospel theme—we one cannot serve two masters—by determining how the young people spend their time in the cover activity. How we spend our time is a good indication of what we most value. Pope Francis reveals what is most important to him—the poor, the environment, all of God’s people (travels the world).
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Lesson Planning Ideas for Grandparents
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
The Life of Pope Francis in Cartoon
Pope Francis—The First Jesuit Pope of the Roman Catholic Church
What Are the Parts of the Mass?
Image credit: © USCCB.org
