BOOK 2 YEAR 4

YOU ARE MY FAMILY – SECOND YEAR

3RD Term Lesson Notes

The Transfiguration Lesson 1

The Assumption Lesson 2

At Mass we remember Jesus’ love for us Lesson 3

At Mass we give thanks Lesson 4

At Mass we celebrate the forgiveness of God the Father

Lesson 5

At Mass we share the bread of life Lesson 6

(Here we recommend a Commentary Mass before 1st Holy Communion)

Go in peace to love like Jesus Lesson 7

All Saints Day Lesson 8

Advent Lesson 9

Christmas Story Lesson 10

(This is a supplement for any age)

The lessons do not have to be taught in this order. They should be adapted to the
Liturgical Year.

We find out what God is saying to us:

a) Through our own experience

b) Through the life experience of others
c) Through Bible experience
THE TRANSFIGURATION LESSON 1

1. AIM
To tell the children the story of the Transfiguration emphasizing the joy we
shall have in the presence of Jesus.

2. MATERIAL NEEDED
Pictures of places where the children think it is wonderful to be e.g. seaside,
funfairs, parties.
On a card the text …… LORD, IT IS WONDERFUL TO BE HERE.
Bibles, Candles, Flowers.

3. WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO US TODAY THROUGH OUR OWN LIFE EXPERIENCE,

THROUGH LIFE EXPERIENCE OF OTHERS AND THROUGH BIBLICAL
EXPERIENCE?

a. If the children could choose the most wonderful place to be … where

would it be? Who would be there? Who should you take with you? Ask
the children what is the most wonderful thing that ever happened to them
….
b. Who is the most wonderful person they know …
c. Today we hear about a wonderful experience Jesus shared with three of
his friends.
Children stand. Light candles.

A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL ADAPTED FROM MATTHEW, MARK

AND LUKE.
* GLORY TO YOU LORD

Jesus took Peter and James and John with him up a high mountain where
they could be alone. Jesus began to pray, and as he prayed his face
changed and his clothes became as brilliant as lightening. Then Peter,
James and John saw two men talking with Jesus. They were Moses and
Elijah. Then Peter spoke … “Rabbi, it is wonderful to be here; let us make
three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”.

Peter, James and John were very frightened when they heard the voice
from the cloud and they fell down on their faces in fear. But Jesus came
up and touched them. He said … “Stand up. Do not be afraid”. When
they got up and looked around they did not see anyone … only Jesus.

THIS IS THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD

 *PRAISE TO YOU LORD JESUS CHRIST

Question the children about the people, events, and conversation in the
Gospel. We give a special name to this event in Jesus’ life, which we
remember today.
- We call it the Transfiguration.

4. HOW SHALL WE RESPOND TO GOD’S INVITATION TO LOVE TODAY?

Suggest something you can do to bring joy to your house today.

Sing: “Give me joy in my heart.”
THE ASSUMPTION LESSON 2

1. AIM
To teach the children about the Assumption.
To help them love and honour Mary.

2. MATERIALS NEEDED
Have a few pictures of mothers with children.
Picture of the Assumption or any picture of Our Lady or a statue of Our Lady.
On a card … MY SOUL GLORIFIES THE LORD, or MY SOUL GIVE PRAISE TO
THE LORD, or BLESSED IS SHE WHO BELIEVED, or GOD HAS DONE GREAT
THINGS FOR ME
Bible, Candle, Flowers.

3. WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO US TODAY THROUGH OUR OWN LIFE EXPERIENCE,

THROUGH THE LIFE EXPERIENCES OF OTHERS AND THROUGH BIBLICAL
EXPERIENCE?

a. Ask the children to talk about their own mothers and all the good things
they do. What are some of the things they like to hear their mothers say?
b. Gather the children around an altar made with the above: Let them share
what they know about Our Lady – stories, prayers, etc. let the children
sing a favourite hymn of Our Lady.
c. Today is a special day – it is the feast of the Assumption of Our Lady.
Today we remember that through the power of Jesus Our Lady joined him
in glory in heaven. We pray that one day we will join Jesus and Mary in
heaven and give glory to God.

Today we have a beautiful story about Mary and something very

wonderful that she said.

Children stand. Light the candles.

A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL ADAPTED FROM ST LUKE

* GLORY TO YOU LORD

A few days after the Angel Gabriel had asked Mary to be the mother of
God’s son, Mary set out to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Elizabeth was going
to have a baby very soon. She lived in a village in the hill country of
Judea. Mary went into the house of Elizabeth and Zachariah. She called
out a greeting to Elizabeth. As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s voice she
was filled with the Holy Spirit and the baby she was expecting jumped for
joy. “Mary”, she said, “You are most blessed of all women and blessed is
 the baby you will have. Why should I have this great honour, to be visited
by the mother of my Lord? Because you believed that God would keep
the promise he made you, he has given you a wonderful blessing”. Mary
said “God has done great things for me and holy is his name”. Mary
stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then went back home.

THIS IS THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD

*PRAISE TO YOU LORD JESUS CHRIST

What were the wonderful words Mary said? “God has done great things for
me and holy is his name”.

What great things did God do for Mary? Sing a version of the Magnificant if
the children know one or play one on cassette.

God has done great things for us too. What has God done for us? What do
we most like about ourselves. Children make up a litany of thinks.

Mary said “My soul gives glory to God. God has done great things to me”.
Children can say by turn: My singing … smiling … etc. gives glory to God.
God has done great things for me. Children can mention in the litany what
they like most about themselves.

How can we use our whole selves to give praise to God? How can we use our
bodies to pray.

If known, use the story of the clown who did not know any prayers but who
knew how to make people laugh and how to do acrobatics – so he did them
for God. Or the little drummer boy in the carol who played his drum for
Jesus.

Children can think of other examples of people who used their whole selves
to give glory to God.

Mary said YES to God and she lived her whole life for him. Mary is now in
heaven giving glory to God who has done great things for her. One day we
 hope to be with Our Lady praising God for the great things he has done for
us.

CLASS ACTIVITY

Give children cut-out of a person; children colour the cut-out to represent

themselves. Stick the cut-out on to a card and let the children write or draw what
they most want to thank God for about themselves.

Collect the work onto a display board with the words.

GOD HAS DONE GREAT THINGS FOR ME.

After Mass the children should be encouraged to collect their own and to take it
home.

Other suggestions:

Children draw a picture of Mary visiting Elizabeth, or draw a picture of Our Lady in
heaven, or make an Assumption collage (see entrance Antiphon for the Mass). At
the Offertory children process into church with their display.

4. HOW SHALL WE RESPOND TO GOD’S INVITATION TO LOVE TODAY?

Colour the picture and write the words of Mary “GOD HAS DONE GREAT
THINGS FOR ME”.

Mary is taken to heaven. Jesus takes His Blessed Mother up to heaven with
her body and soul. I will ask Mary to always keep my body and soul pure and
holy for Jesus. Love your mother as Jesus loved his mother. Show in
practical way.
AT MASS WE REMEMBER JESUS’ LOVE FOR US LESSON 3

1. AIM

To help the children to realize that at Mass:

- the Lord Jesus is present in a very special way.
- the Lord Jesus is present with all his love for the Father and for us.
- we join our love with the love of the Lord Jesus.

2. MATERIALS NEEDED

A picture of a priest holding a host.

3. WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO US TODAY THROUGH OUR OWN LIFE EXPERIENCE,

THROUGH THE LIFE EXPERIENCE OF OTHERS AND THROUGH BIBLICAL
EXPERIENCES?

a & b) Ask the children to talk about the people who love them, e.g.
Mommy, Daddy, families, friends, etc.
How do we know that theses people love us?
They show their love (e.g. they hug us; they tell us that they love us
etc).
They take care of us.
They give us things.
They spend a lot of time with us.
They give us hugs.
They give us presents, etc..
c) Help the children to remember the people whom Jesus loved. Ask
them to retell some of the stories about these people.

Talk to the children about the love which Jesus had for his friends; his
promise to be with his friends when they followed his example at the
Last Supper, his love for all people even when he was dying on the
cross.

Revise the lessons, which emphasise the love of Jesus for the Father.
Talk about how Jesus loves the Father and dies on the cross.

Talk to the children about the love Jesus had for the Father. He often
wanted to be alone with the Father. He liked to tell everyone about
the Father. He did what the Father wanted him to do.

Jesus loved the Father. He had great trust in the Father.

At Mass the Lord Jesus is with us in a very special way. He gives his
love to the Father and he gives his love to us. Jesus said: “Do this in
memory of me”. Therefore the priest does the same thing, which Jesus
did at the Last Supper and uses the same words that Jesus used. He
takes bread, blesses it, breaks it, and shares it. He says: “Take this, all
of you, and eat it; this is my body which will be given up for you”. He
takes the chalice of wine. He blesses it and says: “Take this all of you
and drink. This is my blood which will be given up for you”.

We know that the bread and wine are the body and the blood of
the Lord Jesus.
We remember Jesus’ great love for others.

Help the children to remember the people whom Jesus loved. Ask
them to retell some of the stories about these people, e.g. Mary,
Martha and Lazarus, the daughter of Jairus; Bartimaeus, etc.

Talk to the children about the love which Jesus had for his friends; his
promise to be with his friends when they followed his example at the
Last Supper his love for all people even when he was dying on the
cross.

Try to find a picture of a priest holding up the host at Mass.

 At Mass the Lord Jesus is with us in a very special way. He gives his
love to the Father and gives his love to us. Jesus said; “Do this in
memory of me”. Therefore the priest does the same things, which
Jesus did at the Last Supper and uses the same words at Jesus used.
He takes bread, blesses it, breaks it and shares it.

He says: “Take this, all of you, and eat it: this is my body, which
will be given up for you”. He takes the chalice of wine. He
blesses it and says: “Take this, all of you, and drink. This is my
blood which will be given up for you”.

We know that the bread and the wine are the body of the Lord Jesus.
We remember Jesus’ great love for others.
We remember Jesus’ great love for the Father.
We remember that he died for us.
We remember that he is alive and with us.

That is why we say:

CHRIST HAS DIED

CHRIST IS RISEN
CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN

4. HOW SHALL WE RESPOND TO GOD’S INVITATION TO LOVE TODAY?

Remind the children that this year they will be receiving Jesus in Holy
Communion.
Help them to write these prayers into their books and to learn them.
Prayer before communion

Lord Jesus, come to me.

Lord Jesus, give me your love.
Lord Jesus, come to me and give me yourself.

Lord Jesus, friend of children, come to me.

Lord Jesus, you are my Lord and my God.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
AT MASS WE GIVE THANKS
LESSON 4

1. AIM

To help the children to appreciate that at mass we thank God our Father for
all his gifts, especially for his son Jesus.

2. MATERIALS NEEDED: Flash Card.

3. WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO US TODAY THROUGH OUR OWN LIFE EXPERIENCE,

THROUGH THE LIFE EXPERIENCES OF OTHERS AND THROUGH BIBLICAL
EXPERIENCE?

a & b) Ask the children to think of times when they give thanks. As
them to mention different ways of saying thanks. Encourage them to
share times when they have said thank you to someone.

c) God our Father loves us very much. We love God Our Father and give
him thanks. Ask them to think of times when they give thanks to God
our Father, morning prayer, night prayer, etc.. above all we give
thanks to God our Father at Mass.

The priest says to us at Mass, “The Lord be with you”. It is Jesus

himself who is with us at Mass. He wants to be with us, talk to us and
bless us.

At the Last Supper Jesus gave thanks and praise to his heavenly
Father. At Mass he gives thanks and praise to his heavenly Father with
us. Therefore we call the Last Supper and Mass a thanksgiving, meal
or Eucharist.

Put up a flash card, Eucharist means thanksgiving. We thank and

praise our heavenly Father with Jesus. We honour him with Jesus.

If time allows let them draw the family meal of God’s children.

4. HOW SHALL WE RESPOND TO GOD’S INVITATION TO LOVE TODAY?

If the church is near, take the children to church and let them stand in a
semi-circle round the altar.
Should this not be possible, arrange the classroom for a short celebration.
After a few moments of silence begin:

Leader : Lord Jesus, you have invited us

We believe in you.
All : We believe in you.
Leader : Lord Jesus, the priest will say in your name, Take and
eat,
this is my Body.
Take and drink. This is my Blood.
All : We believe in you.
Leader : Lord Jesus, we do this in memory of you.

When we meet at Mass, we know that the Lord Jesus is really there with us.
We are glad that the Lord Jesus is with us. Every Mass is a celebration.
Encourage the children to talk about ways in which we show the Mass is a
celebration, e.g..
- we dress up in nice clothes;
- we are glad when we meet our friends;
- the church is bright with light and candles and flowers;
- there is music;
- the people sing;
- the church bells ring;
- the priest wears special clothes called vestments, etc…

The Pascal candle is lit. This is a sign that we believe that the Lord Jesus is
with us at Mass.

ACTIVITIES

a) Ask the children to draw pictures of different celebrations.

b) Ask them to draw pictures of people coming to Mass.

When we come to mass we see the altar with flowers and candles. We see
the people gathered together.

HOME ACTIVITY
See attached sheet. Draw in Column One what you read in Column Two.
 COLUMN ONE COLUMN TWO
Candles
Reminds us of Jesus, light of the World

Altar
Table of the Lord
Table which we gather round to
celebrate
The sacred Meal

Host
The bread that becomes the Body and
Blood of Jesus

Chalice
Holds the wine, to become the body
and blood of Jesus.
Reminds us that Christ died for us.

AT MASS WE CELEBRATE THE FORGIVENESS OF GOD OUR FATHER

LESSON 5 part 1

1. AIM
 To help the children to see the Eucharist as a time when we celebrate the
love and forgiveness of God our Father.

2. MATERIALS NEEDED

The Confiteor – Pictures of this part of the Mass.

3. WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO US TODAY THROUGH OUR OWN LIFE EXPERIENCE,

THROUGH THE LIFE EXPERIENCE OF OTHERS AND THROUGH BIBLICAL
EXPERIENCE?

a & b) Help the children to reflect on the fact that there are times when
we do not show love to our friends. We need forgiveness when we do
not show love. Help the children to see that we do many things which
hurt the people around us. Ask the children to think of ways in which
we can show people that we are sorry and that we want to make it up
again, e.g.
 we say sorry
 we shake hands


c) Retell the story of Jesus and Matthew; and Jesus and Zaccheus. Talk
together about the way in which Jesus treated sinners. He showed
them the love and forgiveness of God our Father.

At Mass the Lord Jesus is with us. He brings us the love and
forgiveness of God our Father, as he did to the people who were with
him when he was on earth. At Mass we say “sorry” to God our Father
and we ask him to forgive us.

We do this when we say the Confiteor

Revise the Confiteor

I confess to almighty God,

And to you, my bothers and sisters,
That I have sinned through my own fault,
In my thoughts and in my words,
In what I have done,
And in what I have failed to do.
And I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin,
All the angels and saints,
 And you, my brothers and sisters,
To pray for me to the Lord our God.

We also ask God our Father to forgive us when we say:

“Lord, have mercy”.

We know that God our Father forgives us at Mass. Our families and friends
forgive us too. We show each other forgiveness when we give each other
the sign of peace.

The priest says: “Let us offer each other the sign of peace”
We shake hands with each other or hug the people nearest to us.
We say to each other: “Peace be with you”
We are at peace with each other before we share the bread of life.

4. HOW SHALL WE RESPOND TO GOD’S INVITATION TO LOVE TODAY?

Write out a Morning and Evening prayer and say them every day. Ask your
parents to join you.
AT MASS WE REMEMBER JESUS’ LOVE FOR US LESSON 5
part 2

BACKGROUND TO THE LESSON: REVISION LESSON

When Jesus lived on earth, he always did what God our Father
wanted him to do.
He could say to God our Father, “I have glorified you on earth
and finished the work that you gave me to do….. I have given
them the teaching you gave to me …. So that the love with which
you loved me may be in them” (Jn 12:4, 8,26). He always
obeyed the Father.

At the Last Supper Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it
to his disciples saying. “Take this, all of you, and eat it: this is my body which will
be given up for you”. Then he took wine and said, “This is my blood”.

On the cross, Jesus offered to his Father his whole life, his love, his dedication, his
obedience, his suffering and death. At Mass the Lord Jesus, who died for us and
rose to new life, is present through the bread and wine. The bread and wine
become his body and blood at the consecration. The bread and wine becomes
Jesus himself. At Mass the Lord Jesus is present with his love for us. He continues
to offer himself – his life, his love, his obedience unto death – to the Father, as he
did at the Last Supper and on the cross.

At Mass we remember with love and gratitude the death and resurrection of Jesus.

At Mass we offer Jesus’ love, obedience and death to the Father. At Mass we offer
ourselves, our acts of love, our efforts to be generous, our suffering – to the Father
with Jesus.

1. AIM

To help the children to realize that at Mass:

- the Lord Jesus is present in a very special way.
- the Lord Jesus is present with all his love for the Father and for us.
- we join our love with the love of the Lord Jesus.

2. MATERIALS NEEDED

3. WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO US TODAY THROUGH OUR OWN LIFE EXPERIENCE,

THROUGH THE LIFE EXPERIENCES OF OTHERS AND THROUGH BIBLICAL
EXPERIENCES?

a & b) Ask the children to talk about people who love the, e.g. Mommy,
Daddy, family, friends etc…
How do we know that these people love us?
They show their love (e.g. they hug us; they tell us that they love us
etc).
They take care of us.
 They give us things (e.g. my sister gives me her comics)
They spend a lot of time with us.
They give us hugs.
They give us presents, etc..

c) Revise the lessons, which emphasise Jesus’s love for this friends,
especially the following lesson:
Jesus and his friends
Jesus shows love
Jesus has a meal with his friends
Jesus dies on the cross.
AT MASS WE SHARE THE BREAD OF LIFE LESSON 6

1. AIM

To help the children to realize that:

- the Eucharist bread is no ordinary bread, but the bread of life.
- the bread of life is the Lord Jesus.
- when we eat the bread of life, the Lord Jesus himself comes to us and we
grow in friendship with him and with one another.

2. MATERIALS NEEDED

Picture of the Feeding of the five Thousand.

3. WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO US TODAY THROUGH OUR OWN LIFE EXPERIENCE,

THROUGH THE LIFE EXPERIENCE OF OTHERS AND THROUGH BIBLICAL
EXPERIENCES?

a. Talk together about bread and about sharing meals.

b. Revise the lesson: Friends eat together. Food helps us to grow. Shared
meals help us to grow in friendship. The Lord Jesus helps people to grow
in love and friendship. He knows that we need help to grow in friendship
with God and with each other.

He promised that he would give us the bread of life. This would help us to
grow in love and friendship. The bread of life is the Lord Jesus himself.

c. The Loaves and the fish

One day Jesus was talking to a large crowd of people. They had come a
long way to hear him and now they were hungry. Jesus felt sorry for them
“We can’t send them home hungry”, he said, “Has anyone got some food
to feed all these people”?

“I have five loaves and two fish”, said a little boy in the crowd. No one
else had any food at all. “That will never be enough”, thought the
apostles. “How can five loaves and two fish feed all these people”?

But Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God Our Father, and gave them
to the people. Then he did the same with the fish. The apostles handed
the food to the people and everyone had as much as they wanted. No
one was hungry anymore. The next day the people came back to Jesus,
looking for more bread. This time Jesus told them that he would give
them more important bread. He would give them bread, which would
help them to love and to live like him. He would give them himself. This
is what he said:

“ I am the bread of life.

He who comes to me will never be hungry.
He who believes in me will never be thirsty.
Anyone who eats this bread will live forever.
And the bread that I shall give you is my flesh, for the life of the
world”.

At Mass we eat the bread of life when we receive Holy Communion. When
we eat the brad of life, the Lord Jesus comes to us and we grow in
friendship with him. Encourage the children to talk about the Eucharist,
e.g. “I eat the bread of life and the Lord Jesus helps me to show his love to
others”. “When I go to Holy Communion with other people we receive the
bread of life and we grow in friendship with one another”, etc…

Help the children to recall what these words mean. Encourage the
children to think of other words of Jesus, e.g..
- “Forgive one another”
- “You are my friends” etc…

Everytime we go to Mass, we are reminded of the life and love of

Jesus. At the end of Mass the priest says: “Go in peace to love
and serve the Lord”. These words remind us that we must try to
live as Jesus asked us.

Help the children to recall some of the incidents, which show us the way in
which Jesus lived, e.g.
Jesus and the children; Bartimaeus; the daughter of Jairus; Zaccheus; Jesus
prays to the Father, etc..

You could ask the children to act out or mime these stories. They could
draw pictures of these stories. They could write the story they like best
into their workbooks.
4. HOW SHALL WE RESPOND TO GOD’S INVITATION TO LOVE TODAY?

Help the children to think of concrete situations in their own lives where they
can try to live as Jesus asked them.

Ask the children to act or mime these situations. Help them write about
these situations in their workbooks, under the heading “Love one another as
I have loved you” e.g.

- I can do the dishes when I am asked.

- I can pull weeds in the garden.
- I can say thank you to people who help me, etc…

Cut out pictures from magazines illustrating such situations. These pictures
can be used to make a wall chart with the title: “Love one another as I have
loved”. Bring them next week.

Write out:

PRAYER AT THE END OF MASS

And now the Mass is ended,

It’s time that I began
To work and pray and live each day
Helping each and everyone.

All
Sign of the cross
GO IN PEACE TO LOVE LIKE JESUS LESSON 7

1. AIM

To help the children to appreciate that we go from the Eucharist to live and
love as Jesus did.

2. MATERIALS NEEDED

3. WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO US TODAY THROUGH OUR OWN LIFE EXPERIENCE,

THROUGH THE LIFE EXPERIENCES OF OTHERS AND THROUGH BIBLICAL
EXPERIENCES?

Presentation of the message:

a & b) Gerald was with his parents and his sister at Sunday Mass. He
was not feeling very happy. There had been a row in the family that
morning. Gerald had been nasty to his younger sister, Monique. He
had also refused to help his father to feed the animals.

Mass began. The priest welcomed the people. He invited them to be

sorry for their sins. After a few moments of silence the community
prayed together:

“I confess to almighty God,

And to you, my brothers and sisters,
That I have sinned through my own fault
In my thoughts and in my words,
In what I have done and in what I have failed to do;
And I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin,
All the angels and saints,
And you my brothers and sisters,
To pray for me to the Lord our God”

Gerald remembered how selfish he had been at home in the morning.

Mass went on. After the prayer, “Lamb of God, you take away the sins
of the world: grant us peace, the priest greeted the people and said,
“The peace of the Lord be with you always”. The people answered,
“And also with you”. Then the priest invited the parish community to
offer each the sign of peace.

Gerald was standing between his father and sister. His father looked
at Gerald and shook hands with him. “God love you, my son” he said.
“Thank you, dad,” Gerald replied. Then turned to his sister. He shook
hands with her and said, “I am sorry, Monique”. Monique looked at
Gerald and smiled. He was very happy, because he knew that his
father and sister had forgiven him. At Communion he had a lot to say
to Jesus. He asked Jesus for help to be kinder to his sister and more
helpful at home.
 Mass was coming to an end. The priest looked at the people and said,
“Go in peace to love and serve the Lord”. “Thanks be to God”, the
whole community answered. The Priest blessed the people saying,
“May almighty God bless you, the Father and the Son and the Holy
Spirit.” All
answered, “Amen”.

Discuss the story with the children.

c) When Jesus said: “Love one another as I have loved you”, he was
asking us to live as he had lived.

We remember Jesus’ great love for the Father.

We remember the Last Supper.
We remember that he died for us.
We remember that God our Father raised him to new life.
We remember that he is alive and with us.

That is why we say:

Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.

We know that Jesus is with us.

We know that he is present giving his love to the Father.
We know that he is present giving his love to us.
We know that he is still asking us to live in a special way to show love
to everyone.

CLASS ACTIVITY

Encourage the children to talk about Jesus and to draw pictures, which
show the love Jesus had for his friends, and to draw the things that
they see on the altar. Lay the altar ready for Mass.

4. HOW SHALL WE RESPOND TO GOD’S INVITATION TO LOVE TODAY?

Colour in the picture and add the words of Jesus.

Jesus gave himself to his apostles at the Last Supper.

Before Jesus went to die,

He had supper with his apostles.
At this supper he took bread and blessed it.
He then broke it and shared it with these special friends of his saying. Do
this in memory of me.
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES: LESSON 7

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

HOME ACTIVITY

Ask the children to write a few sentences about the Mass and to draw the things
that they see on the altar at Mass.

To learn to pray before communion.

Encourage the children to talk about the reasons for our happiness at these
gatherings, e.g.
- nobody feels left out;
- people are together;
- they share;
- they enjoy being together with people they love, etc…

- Jesus liked meeting his friends.

- Jesus with Martha, Mary and Lazarus;
- Jesus with the apostles;
- Jesus with the children.

THE APOSTLES COME TOGETHER

The last supper was a very special occasion for Jesus and the apostles. Jesus knew
that his enemies were going to put him to death. He knew that he would not have
any more meals with his friends. He wanted them to remember all the things he
had said to them, all the things they had done together. He wanted them to know
that although he had to leave them, he would still be with them in a new way.

After the resurrection the apostles and the other friends of Jesus knew that what
he had told them was true. They knew that the Lord Jesus was still with them.
They wanted to go on living as he had asked them to.

So they met often. They talked about Jesus. They told stories about the things
they had done together when Jesus was with them. They did what he had asked
them to do at the last supper. They took wine, blessed it and shared it. As they
did this they told the story of the Last Supper. They said the words Jesus said:
“This is my body which will be given up for you. This is my blood which will be
shed for you”.
HOME/CLASS ACTIVITY

Describe the various ways of saying “I am sorry” without using those words.
Note: Discuss other ways of saying “I am sorry” other than the ones here. Ask the
children for suggestions.

CLASS ACTIVITY

Bring in altar breads.

Explain that this is just ordinary bread at the moment.
Let the children look and taste.

Practice with the children how they will receive communion.

To be learned:

Who comes to us in Holy Communion?

The Lord Jesus comes to us in Holy Communion.

Why does the Lord Jesus come to us in Hold Communion?

The Lord Jesus comes to us in Hold Communion to help us to love God our
Father and to love one another.

PRAYERS DURING COMMUNION

 Avocation Jesus, come to me Lord Jesus, give me your love. Jesus, come to
me and give me yourself.

 Be near me, Lord Jesus I ask you to stay. Close by me forever and love me, I
pray. Bless all of us children in your loving care and bring us to heaven to
live with you there.

 Lord, Jesus friend of children come to me. Lord Jesus, you are my Lord and
My God. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

 Lord Jesus, I love and adore you. You are a special friend to me. Welcome,
Lord Jesus, oh welcome.

 Thank you, Lord Jesus, oh thank you for giving yourself to me. Make me
strong to show your love whenever I may be.

 I am ready now, Lord Jesus, to show how much I care. I am ready now to
give your love at home and everywhere.

Let the children choose one of the prayers to write down in their workbooks. They
could take it home to decorate the page and learn the prayer.
 ALL SAINTS DAY
LESSON 8

1. AIM

To introduce the children to the lives of the saints.

To encourage them through the example of these people to live lives of love
for God and others.

2. MATERIALS NEEDED

3. WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO US TODAY THROUGH OUR OWN LIFE EXPERIENCE,

THROUGH THE LIFE EXPERIENCES OF OTHERS AND THROUGH BIBLICAL
EXPERIENCE?

a & b) Question the children

Do you know what a saint is?

Do you know the names of any saints?
Why do you think we call them saints?

c) See if you can find out before the lesson, the story of the patron saint
of your parish. Tell the children the story. If it is not possible to find
out about the parish’s saint; use the following story:

SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI

Francis Bernadone was born in the little town of Assisi. Today he is

know as Francis of Assisi. Francis was the son of a wealthy cloth
merchant. As he grew older he also grew to love God and to love
people around him. The people told this story about St. Francis
.
One cold winter’s night Francis was riding home from a party on his
horse. He wore a new, warm, velvet cloak. As he rode along he saw a
poor man standing in the street.

“The poor man must be freezing”, thought Francis “His cloak is too
thin. He needs more
clothes. I have more clothes than I could ever wear. I’ll give him my
cloak”.

Francis got down from his horse. He walked towards the poor man.
“Kind sir”, he said, “will you swop cloaks with me”? The man was
surprised. “Yes of course”, he said, “but why would a gentleman like
you want my raggedy cloak”? “You look so cold” said Francis, “and I
have many cloaks. You take this one, then you’ll be worm too,” the
man was very grateful.

“Thank you so much, and may God bless you”, he said. Soon after that
night, Francis decided that he wanted to spend the rest of his life
 telling people about God’s love. He gave away all his money and his
fine clothes. He dressed in a plain grey robe.

Francis loved the beauty of this world. He loved the sun and the moon
and the wind. He called them his brothers and sisters. He loved the
trees and the plants that grew in the earth. He loved the animals and
birds. They knew he loved them and they trusted him. Francis talked
to them and they seemed to understand.

Ask questions taken from the story.

4. HOW SHALL WE RESPOND TO GOD’S INVITATION TO LOVE TODAY?

By writing all the things we can do to prepare for the coming of Jesus.
ADVENT LESSON 9

Do this at least two weeks before Advent starts.

1. AIM

To help the children understand the meaning of Advent.

3. WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO US TODAY THROUGH OUR OWN LIFE EXPERIENCE,

THROUGH THE LIFE EXPERIENCES OF OTHERS AND THROUGH BIBLICAL
EXPERIENCE?

a & b) Talk to the children about waiting and the excitement of waiting
e.g. waiting for birthdays; parties; holidays; Christmas.

c) Because Christmas is so special, we prepare for it in different ways.

Can you think of some of the ways?

One of the ways is to make an Advent wreath.

During Advent you can make an Advent wreath. Firstly you will need a
circle of wire – and old clothes hanger is ideal. Weave some evergreen
leaves around this and then lie a purple ribbon around the circle of the
leaves. Finally, place three purple candles and one red or rose
coloured candle on the wreath. THE CIRCLE of evergreen leaves
stands for God who is without a beginning and without an end.

THE PURPLE RIBBON CANDLES stands for the penance and sorrow for
sin.

THE RED OR ROSE COLOURED CANDLE stands for the joy of living in
God’s way of love.

One candle is lit on the first Sunday of advent. The two candles are lit
on the second Sunday and so on until finally the four candles are lit on
the Sunday before Christmas. During the first week of Advent you can
light one candle at prayer time in the classroom, light two candles the
second week and so on. On the third Sunday and during the third
week the red or rose coloured candle is lit.
 Advent is a time when we prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ at
Christmas. It is a time when we make a special effort to turn aside
from the way of sin and selfishness and begin to live in the way of love.

4. HOW SHALL WE RESPOND TO GOD’S INVITATION TO LOVE TODAY?

Draw a picture of the Advent wreath and colour it in.

OR
Put children into groups and ask them to discuss different ways in which we
can get ready for Christmas – making our heart ready to receive Jesus. Give
them ten minutes for this then ask one person in each group to tell the class
the group’s ideas.

Finish with a prayer service, singing an Advent hymn.

CHRISTMAS STORY LESSON
10

1. AIM

a. To discover that Mary and Joseph were real people like the families the
children experience themselves.
b. To learn about their journey.
c. To know that Jesus was born in a stable and laid in a manager.

2. MATERIALS NEEDED

Have figures for the telling of the story, e.g. using flannel graph or simple
poster; tell the story of Jesus’s birth.

a & b) Ask how many of the children have a baby at home. Discuss the
type of care the children provide.

c) We all like babies and today we are going to hear about a very special
mummy, daddy and their baby boy. The daddy was called Joseph (Put
figure onto poster). One day Mary heard a voice speaking to her while
she was doing her daily work. She looked around and saw an
unexpected visitor (figure placed beside her), an angel called Gabriel!
Of course she was very surprised, but he told her not to be afraid as he
had wonderful news for her. She was to have a very special baby,
called Jesus. God had chosen her to be the mother of his very own
son.

A strange thing happened to Joseph too. One night he was sleeping

soundly in his bed when he had a really exciting dream. He dreamt
that an angel (figure beside Joseph) was beside him maybe it was the
same angel called Gabriel who spoke to Mary. Anyway, this angel said
to him that Mary was to have a baby boy called Jesus, and he would
grow up to be very strong and good and help people, because as well
as being Mary’s son, he was God’s son. Together they started to
prepare for their baby just as your mums and dads prepare for you.

Then suddenly, just before their baby was to be born, Joseph and Mary
heard frightening news. The Roman Emperor, a kind of very important
King, had sent an order that every single person had to have their
name put on a big list of all the people in the land and this had to be
done, not in the place where they lived, but in the place where they
were born.

Joseph and Mary would have to leave Nazareth (point to it) and go a
long, long, long journey to Bethlehem (point to it) where Joseph had
been born many years before.

They had to get ready in a hurry. Mary gathered up some baby clothes
as well as some clothes for Joseph and herself, just in case the baby
came when they were away from their home. Joseph was busy too,
getting a donkey for Mary to ride on and tying bags of food to its
harness, so that they would not get hungry on the journey. Off they
started (donkey on poster) and it was a long slow journey. They kept
being passed by other people (groups on poster) but at last they got to
Bethlehem. (point to it).

Oh! How tired they were! But soon they would have a warm bed.
Joseph went to an inn (point to it) but discovered it was full up with all
the people who had got there first. He tried another – full up, and
another – full up. What could they do? Then at another inn that was
full up they could have a nice warm bed in the stable beside the
animals (show). He put clean straw on the floor and cleaned out the
manger where the animals ate, just in case Mary’s baby would be born
that night.

Joseph and Mary were so happy to lie down after that journey. Now
they were warm and safe. Sure enough, in that quiet, still, starry
night, their son Jesus was born into the world. Mary and Joseph
wrapped him in the clothes they had brought and laid him in the
manger to sleep (show on poster). They thought he was the most
beautiful baby ever born.

We learn a lot about Jesus in Church and Sunday school but let’s just
remember now that he was born a baby just like us and our brothers
and sisters. He would need lots of kisses and cuddles the same as us.
He would need food and warm clothes and like all babies he would
smile and giggle and waggle his fingers and touch his toes.
CLASS ACTIVITY

Mary gives birth to God’s Son.

Jesus is born.

Joseph went from Nazareth to Bethlehem, she gave birth to her first-born son
and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because
there was no room for them in the place where travellers stayed.

Read Luke 2: 1 – 20

HOMEWORK ACTIVITY

Ask the children to draw their own picture of Mary and Joseph traveling to
Bethlehem.