May 3, 2020 Fourth Sunday of EasterFourth Sunday of Easter

Today’s readings compare us to sheep that have returnedto the shepherd. Complete this dot-to-dot and color it!

Then write your name on the blank below.

Fourth Sunday of EasterToday’s readings compare us to sheep that have returned

to the shepherd. Complete this dot-to-dot and color it!Then write your name on the blank below.

So Jesus said again, “A

men, am

en, I say to you,

I am the gate for the sheep

.”

John 1

0:7

TWELVE APOSTLESToday’s first reading (Acts 2:14a, 36–41) begins, “Then Peter stood up with the Eleven . . .”

When we remember the apostles we usually think of twelve men, but for a while after Jesus died and rose again there were only eleven. Missing was Judas Iscariot, the one who had betrayed Jesus.

In the Acts of the Apostles, we read that a large group of the followers of Jesus gathered together to choose a replacement for Judas (Acts 1:13–21). The person chosen was a man named Matthias. He became one of the twelve known as apostles and we celebrate his feast day on May 14.

The names of the other apostles are listed here but the letters are jumbled. Unscramble the letters and write the correct name of that apostle on the line next to each name. The capital letter is a clue to the first letter of the name.

People in all times are always called to follow Jesus. Can you think of twelve people you know who follow Jesus and spread his word today? Write their names on the lines next to the correct spelling of the apostles’ names. Be sure to include your own.

© GIA Publications, Inc. • 800.442.1358 • Year A • Fourth Sunday of Easter • 05-03-20Scripture excerpts from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All rights reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

© World Library Publications • www.wlpmusic.com

Fourth Sunday of EasterPeter explained to the people that through Jesus,

they could receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2:38).This is true for everyone! What a generous God we serve!

Think of this as you write in the missing word on each packageso it says “Gift of the Holy Spirit!”

May 10, 2020 Fifth Sunday of EasterFifth Sunday of Easter

Jesus is like a living stone, one who is“chosen and precious in the sight of God” (1 Peter 2:4).

Enter the pile of rocks at the shovel. Then follow the letter trail and find the words,

writing them in order onto the empty stones at the bottom. They’ll tell us what we should do!

If you need help, read 1 Peter 2:5.

Fifth Sunday of EasterJesus is like a living stone, one who is

“chosen and precious in the sight of God” (1 Peter 2:4).Enter the pile of rocks at the shovel.

Then follow the letter trail and find the words, writing them in order onto the empty stones at the bottom.

They’ll tell us what we should do! If you need help, read 1 Peter 2:5.

John 14:6

M IS FOR . . .O sing a new song to the Lord, for he has worked wonders.

(Entrance Antiphon, Fifth Sunday of Easter)

Today is also Mother’s Day, a day when we thank God for the wonder of loving mothers, stepmothers, foster mothers, and grandmothers. In 1915, more than a hundred years ago, a man named Howard Johnson wrote a song titled “Mother.” For years people sang this song to describe their mothers and the wonderful things mothers did. Your parents might know the song, or you can search for it on the internet and listen to it.

Using each letter of the word mother, Mr. Johnson connected it with a description of what his mother meant to him. He started with M, which he said stood for the many things she gave him. Think of how you would use each letter in the word mother to describe something about your own mother, stepmother, foster mother, or grandmother, or one of the wonderful things she has done for you. When you are finished, share the list and a kiss.

M _________________________________O __________________________________T __________________________________H __________________________________E __________________________________R __________________________________

Take a moment today to think about Mary, our Blessed Mother, and the things she has done to set an example for us so that we might better follow her Son, Jesus. Before bed tonight you might gather with your family to pray the Hail Mary together. As part of your prayer, ask God to bless and protect all mothers, stepmothers, foster mothers, and grandmothers.

Excerpt from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.

MO THER

© GIA Publications, Inc. • 800.442.1358 • Year A • Fifth Sunday of Easter • 05-10-20Scripture excerpts from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All rights reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

© World Library Publications • www.wlpmusic.com

Fifth Sunday of EasterJesus said, “In my Father's house

there are many dwelling places” (John 14:2). Follow Jesus’ words to find your way through the maze!

May 17, 2020 Sixth Sunday of EasterSixth Sunday of Easter

God gave the apostle Philip the power to cure paralyzed and crippled people (see Acts 8:5–8).

Find the shapes at the bottom of the page.Then color the picture and color the shapes to match.

Sixth Sunday of EasterGod gave the apostle Philip the power to cure paralyzed

and crippled people (see Acts 8:5–8).Find the shapes at the bottom of the page.

Then color the picture and color the shapes to match.

[Peter and John] laid hads on them

and they received the Holy S

pirit.

A

cts 8:1

7

ISIDORE THE FARMEROn March 12, 1622, Pope Gregory XV canonized—that is, named as saints—five people.

Four were very well know religious who lived in the sixteenth century. Ignatius of Loyola was the founder of the Jesuit order of priests and Francis Xavier was one of the great Jesuit missionaries. Philip Neri was a famous priest who gave wise counsel to others, including St. Ignatius. Teresa of Ávila, a Carmelite nun, is one of the great theologians of the Church. The

fifth saint, whose name was Isidore, was very different from the other four. He was not a priest or religious, but a poor farmer who worked for a wealthy landowner. These five saints give us many different and rich examples of sainthood. Isidore especially teaches us that no matter who we are, we can live a life that is holy in God’s eyes.

Isidore lived in Spain in the early twelfth century. He was not well educated or well known. He was recognized as a saint for the simple everyday things

he did. He worked hard at farming. He prayed every day while he plowed and planted. He visited churches on his days off. Even though

he and his wife, María Torribia, had very little they shared what they had with those poorer than themselves. Both

were known for their extreme kindness to animals. Isidore died in the year 1130 on May 15, and we remember this humble saint on that day. He is the patron saint of the city of Madrid, of farmers, and of the United States National Rural Life Conference. You can find information about this organization on line.

We can learn much from St. Isidore. Like him, we can attend Mass frequently and pray often throughout the day. No matter what our work is, we can do it cheerfully, offering our entire day to God. We can treat the poor with dignity and show kindness to all God’s creatures. In honor of this farmer saint, do some work in your garden or plant some seeds in a container in your home. While you tend the plants as Isidore did, you can nurture your soul with prayer and good works. Be sure to include a prayer for the farmers who grow our food today.

© GIA Publications, Inc. • 800.442.1358 • Year A • Sixth Sunday of Easter • 05-17-20Scripture excerpts from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All rights reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

© World Library Publications • www.wlpmusic.com

Sixth Sunday of EasterPeter and John prayed for

the people of Samaria (see Acts 8:14–17).When they laid their hands on them,

the people were given the Holy Spirit.Look for seven hidden hands below. Color them purple.

May 24, 2020 The Ascension of the Lord

A cloud took him from their sight. Acts 1:9

CRIES OF GLADNESSThis is a day of great rejoicing! Jesus returns to God and we remember his promise: “I am

with you always” (Matthew 28:20b). This is very good news to remember when we are sad or have to make hard decisions.

In today’s psalm we sing:

All you peoples, clap your hands, shout to God with cries of gladness. (Psalm 47:2)

When people in the time of King David sang the psalms he wrote they played various instruments: trumpets, string and wind instruments, and tambourines. Imagine singing today’s psalm while singers and dancers tapped on tambourines. You don’t have to imagine; you can make your own tambourine and sing some of your favorite hymns today, rejoicing in the feast of the Ascension.

You will need two paper plates; corn kernels, peas, beans, or dry cereal; a stapler; ribbons; and colored pencils, markers, or crayons.

1. Decorate the bottom of both plates with colorful designs. Attach the ribbons with the stapler.

2. Lay one plate flat and put a handful of the dried ingredients on the plate. These will serve as the noise makers when your tambourine is done.

3. Cover the first plate with the second so that the insides of both plates are facing each other.

4. Staple around the edges close together so that none of the dried pieces can slip out.

5. Sing your favorite hymn while you tap and shake the tambourine—or tambourines! You can make one for everyone in your family.

© GIA Publications, Inc. • 800.442.1358 • Year A • The Ascension of the Lord • 05-24-20Scripture excerpts from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All rights reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

The Ascension of the LordThe apostles watched as Jesus was taken up to heavenin a cloud. Use the number code to color the picture.

© World Library Publications • www.wlpmusic.com

The Ascension of the LordThe apostles watched as Jesus was taken up to heavenin a cloud. Use the number code to color the picture.

© World Library Publications • www.wlpmusic.com

May 31, 2020 Pentecost

Acts 2:1–11

PEACE BE WITH YOUOn the Vigil of Pentecost (the day before Pentecost) we hear the story of the tower of Babel

from the book of Genesis (11:1–9). In the story all people spoke the same language. Some people wanted to show off their own greatness by building a huge tower. But God stopped them by giving everyone different languages. They couldn’t understand each other, and in the resulting confusion they couldn’t complete the tower. They learned a lesson in humility.

On the feast of Pentecost we see the apostles speaking to people from different nations with different languages, yet the Holy Spirit made sure everyone understood what the apostles were saying. The blessing of the Holy Spirit is to bring all people together in harmony, understanding, and peace. This can usually happen when people are trying to do good. When Jesus sent the Holy Spirit he said to the apostles, “Peace be with you.”

On this page are Jesus’ words—“Peace be with you”—in several different languages. Pick a few of them and write them on a poster. You may want to add any other languages you know or speak. Decorate the poster with symbols of the Holy Spirit: a dove, fire, wind, and the fiery colors of red, orange, and yellow. Place the poster near the door of your room or the door to your house. Let it remind you to bring peace wherever you go and to everyone you meet.French: Que la paix soit avec toi.

German: Friede sei mit dir.

Japanese: Heiwa wa anata to tomoni.

平和になる場合

Korean: Neoege pyeonghwaga hamkkehagil.

평화를 너희에게있을

Polish: Rokoj z toba.

Romanian: Pacea fie cu tine.

Spanish: La paz sea con usted.

Slovenian: Mir a vami.

Tagalog: Sumaiyo ang kapayapaan.

Italian: La pace sia con te.

Peace be with you!

© GIA Publications, Inc. • 800.442.1358 • Year A • Pentecost • 05-31-20Scripture excerpts from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All rights reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.