As you conclude classes this year, make sure your children know that summer break isn’t time off from God! In fact, summer is a great opportunity to slow down and strengthen their relationships with God through better prayer practice. The Gospel Weeklies offer a number of ways to support children’s prayer time this summer.
- If you send a year-end note to your families, include a mention of the prayers listed in the What the Church Believes and Teaches Catechism handbooks that should be sent home with the children. All levels include the prayers of the Church, including the Lord’s Prayer, Hail Mary, and prayers for meal time. The older levels include the Nicene Creed, the order and mysteries of the Rosary, and an Act of Contrition.
- One of the most important things you can share with children about prayer is that it can happen anywhere and at anytime. Seeds children can color and display these prayer activity sheets—one a thank-you prayer for spring, the other a bedtime prayer—to serve as regular reminders. Both are available to download and print in Spanish and English.
- Promise children will participate more fully during Mass if they feel confident and familiar with the prayers and actions, including making the Sign of the Cross. You might also send home this Hail Mary review activity sheet.
- Many children of Good News age receive rosaries as gifts when they celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation and First Communion. Point out the Rosary in their Catechism handbooks (pages 48–49) and encourage them to pray this prayer over the summer months.
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