Stage 1 Module

A Community thatCelebrates God’s Love

A Community that Celebrates God’s Love Stage 1

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A Community that Celebrates God’s Love

Module Focus

This module will introduce children to the parish family as a means of celebrating God’s love with each other and with people beyond the parish community. Students will explore ways that the parish experiences God’s presence including through the celebration of Mass and the sacraments. They will be introduced to some of the ministries of the parish and how the parish reaches out to people in need.

OutcomesCD S1.3: Identifies and describes the place and purpose of Catholic worship

GRHD S1.1: Explores ways a relationship with God is experienced

PS S1.4a: Identifies Catholic symbols and signs, naming sacraments as sacred actions

Learn About Learn ToCD S1.3: The Church as a people who celebrate and proclaim Sacred Space Parish ministries The parish as church The parish’s physical environment

GRHD S1.1: God’s presence in others God’s love is expressed through Jesus Senses as an expression of God’s love for people

PS S1.4a: Some symbols and signs associated with the Catholic

tradition

CD S1.3: Recognise and name using correct terminology some sacred objects

and symbols Contribute to a liturgical celebration Respond appropriately to a liturgical setting Identify the physical elements of the parish and its ministries

GRHD S1.1: Identify how their senses enable them to experience and enjoy life Describe events that indicate God’s presence in others

PS S1.4a: Identify the signs and symbols particular to the sacraments of

Baptism/Confirmation/Penance

Discipleship Challenge Students are challenged to participate in school and parish worship Students are challenged to recognise God’s presence in the world Students are challenged to participate in the life of the Church

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Catholic Discipleship

As Catholic disciples, we are called to demonstrate our love of Jesus by living like him, thereby showing love in our lives and a desire to bring about justice for all, especially for those who are marginalised.

Our relationship with Jesus deepens as we come to know ourselves and Jesus better. Jesus invites each of us individually and uniquely to respond to his call. Our response also brings us into communion with all who respond. It brings us to the community of the disciples of Jesus, the Church.

Our parish community is a community of disciples working together to bring about the Kingdom of God in our world. We are nourished by Word and Eucharist and by the Sacraments to live our journeys of discipleship. Our parish community is where we celebrate Mass together and where we receive the Sacraments. It is also a community in which we commit to going beyond local needs to reach out to those who are suffering.

(Adapted from p.11 Broken Bay RE Curriculum, Bishop David Walker).

Prayer Focus

Our FatherThe Lord's Prayer comes to us from Jesus in response to the request of the disciples, ‘Lord, teach us to pray' (Lk 11: 1). Jesus indeed taught the disciples how to speak with God, showing them that as disciples they need to be nourished for their journey of discipleship by developing their relationship with God. This prayer encourages believers to ask God what it is disciples are asked to do. As such, this prayer has become a prayer for all Christians; it is at the centre of the Scriptures and is the quintessential prayer of the Church.

The prayer begins with a plural reference, ‘Our Father’, creating intimacy in addressing ‘Father’ and acknowledging the Father’s relationship to all humankind.

The Lord’s Prayer:

o is prayed in the context of how God (Father) is revealed to us through Jesus;

o reflects the nature of the relationship between God and humanity;

o points to a way of being or attitude of heart that is central to Christian faith;

o is a prayer that has a community context;

o reflects a community in which parental love plays a unique role; and

o indicates confidence and hope founded in Jesus Christ.

Our Father who art in Heaven

“Father” implies a close and personal relationship as in family. “Our” indicates community. We experience the “common parenthood” of God the Father with each other and with Jesus. “Heaven” speaks of the God of creation and re-creation. God is all around us.

Hallowed be thy name

We honour God. The word “name” is important because it implies intimacy and value.

Thy Kingdom come

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God’s kingdom is different to worldly kingdoms. It is a Kingdom of peace and justice which is active in the hearts of people.

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven

This is plea that our hearts will be open to God, and that people will live in God’s ways.

Give us this day our daily bread

“Daily bread” speaks of the many ways that God comes to us every day. God’s providence is a recurring theme in the scriptures e.g. manna in the desert, the last Supper, the loaves and the fishes, the Emmaus story. In the Gospel of John we hear how God provides for us by giving us Jesus, “I am the bread of life” (Jn 6:25-71).

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

This is a core value of being a disciple of Jesus. It asks us to consider the way we relate to others. There are many references in the scriptures as to how disciples should do this e.g. “Blessed are the merciful, they shall receive mercy” (Mt 5:7), “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Mt 5:44), “Judge not, that you not be judged’ (Mt 7:1-5). Again it focuses on the communal aspect of our lives i.e. we live in relationship with others.

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

This line brings the heart of Jesus to the temptations that come to us. As Jesus carried his cross, we are asked to carry our crosses every day. Through Jesus’ temptation in the desert we know that he is close to our hearts. There is always a cosmic conflict between good and evil. In the Kingdom of God, through Jesus there is triumph over evil.

(Adapted from Ministry for Teachers II, Bishop David Walker, p. 49)

Core ScriptureMk 10:13-16 Jesus blesses the little children

Mt 18:19-20 Where two or three gather I am there

Acts 2:46-47 Early Christian community

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Scriptures in ContextMk 10:13-16 Jesus blesses the little children People brought their children to Jesus to be touched and blessed. The disciples told the people not to bother Jesus. There may have been another reason for this than just giving Jesus space from the crowds who followed him. It is possible that because according of the ritual norms of the time, the small children with their mothers lived almost constantly in legal impurity. To touch them meant to become impure. If they touched Jesus, he would become impure. Some people of the time enforced these laws.

However, In Jesus’ way, he would not allow the ritual norm of purity or an over enthusiastic crowd get in the way of his response to people. Not only did Jesus touch and embrace the children, he added: “In truth I tell you, anyone who does not welcome the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it”.

What might this mean for us, especially as members of our parish community:

- That we should welcome God into our lives in the way that a child accepts the love of a parent.

- The idea of welcoming children stretches beyond to the ‘little ones’ in society. Jesus saw that many people were ‘little’ in his society e.g. because of illness, disability, poverty. As children are welcomed, so too should people who are ‘little’ in society.

- To welcome Jesus, we should identify with the ‘little ones’, and not think of ourselves as being better.

- The characteristics of children such as joy, wonder and inquisitiveness should be valued.

- Jesus blesses with gentle touch.

(Adapted from http://www.ocarm.org/en/content/lectio/lectio-divina-mark-1013-16 )

Mt 18:19-20 Where two or three gather I am there with themAs a Christian community today, we can take much from this line of scripture:

- Whilst we live out our own personal faith journeys, we are called to be in community- to share and celebrate and find ways to live out our mission of bringing about the Kingdom of God in our world, a Kingdom of mercy and live.

- Jesus is truly present to us in our lives. When we gather to celebrate Mass, to pray, to celebrate the sacraments, to share meals, to help each other and to work for justice, Jesus is with us.

- In community, we are called to be a sign of the Kingdom in our world.

Acts 2:44-47 Early Christian community

According to Luke in the Acts of the Apostles, there were three main features of Christianity:

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The followers constantly passed on the teaching of the apostles. In this teaching given to the newly baptised, the Scriptures were interpreted in light of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

The followers lived in communion with each other, sharing possessions and having all in common. The followers constantly broke bread, listened to the Scriptures and prayed together.

Their simple beginnings provided a wonderful example of community. They broke bread with their hands and hearts, remembering that the Jesus, the Lamb of God had broken bread and then had been broken himself for our salvation.

This Scripture connects two elements of our baptismal call to discipleship today. Firstly, it speaks of our call to care for those who are in need as a priority. Whilst we would probably not sell all our possessions and “give the money to whoever needs it” we are called to make it a priority to care for the poor and marginalised and not just to give our left overs to these people who are our brothers and sisters in the Kingdom of God. Pope Francis writes that the poor can give to us and we have much to learn from them:

“…This is why I want a Church which is poor and for the poor. They have much to teach us. Not only do they share in the sensus fidei, but in their difficulties they know the suffering Christ. We need to let ourselves be evangelized by them. The new evangelization is an invitation to acknowledge the saving power at work in their lives and to put them at the centre of the Church’s pilgrim way. We are called to find Christ in them, to lend our voice to their causes, but also to be their friends, to listen to them, to speak for them and to embrace the mysterious wisdom which God wishes to share with us through them.” Evangelii Gaudium, 198

We are nourished for our journey of discipleship by Word and Eucharist, by prayer and Sacrament. As we do at Mass in our parish community, the early Christians broke bread in memory of Jesus. We believe that Jesus’ true presence in Eucharist nourishes us for our journeys of discipleship.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

nn. 763-769 The church- instituted by Christ Jesus nn. 781-801 The church-people of God nn. 811-865 The church is one, holy, catholic and apostolic nn. 1548-1553 Ministerial priesthood nn. 1671 The sign of the cross nn. 2179 The Parish Background for the Teacher

Church

Many people think of buildings when describing church, but in fact church is about people, with church buildings being centres of celebration. An understanding of ‘church as people’ calls Christians to live out Jesus Christ’s mission in daily life.

Prior to the 1950s, mission was defined by the Church. The Church believed it had a mission to save souls, sending missionaries throughout the world to convert people to Christianity. However, with the coming of Vatican II, a renewed theology developed an understanding that mission in fact had a church and that the church is missionary by its very nature. The Church’s mission is to bring about the realisation of the Kingdom of God to the whole world in all its dimensions as a continuation of the mission of Jesus and the work of God. Vatican II recognised the Church as a pilgrim church, a Church on a missionary journey to carry on Jesus’ mission. “In a certain, but true sense the mission that God has given to Jesus to perform is not yet completed. Since history is still going on. The body of Christ is still growing and will continue to grow until the end of time” Peter Phan.

St Paul developed the image of church as the ‘body of Christ’. Church is in this way a physical presence of Jesus Christ in the world, as Jesus is no longer physically present to us. In community, we as church are called to carry on Jesus’ mission, nourished by his spiritual presence. Pope Francis said, “…in each of us new life of the Risen Christ places us next to each other, to help and support each other, thus making all us one body, built in the communion and love”. The Church should always be, according to Pope Francis “a profound communion of love.” http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/10/22/pope_at_audience_the_church,_the_body_of_christ_/1109146

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Living out our baptismal call to bring about the kingdom of God in the world is not easy. We are nourished in community for this journey of mission especially by Word and Eucharist at Mass. Through Eucharist we ‘receive what we become and become what we receive’, the Body of Christ.

Parish

Often, the Catholic Church is thought of as being highly centralised, when in fact local communities or parishes are at the heart of what it means to be Church. Parish communities draw on the light and life of Jesus Christ to be centres of missionary discipleship. In the community of the baptised in which all are welcome, the priest is firstly a member of the baptised, who is also in a special way a visible presentation of the person of Jesus Christ in his community. Everyone who is part of the community has a special place there and is called to make it a community that celebrates God’s love and mercy, and invites others to be part of this communion of love.

Pope Francis brings a fresh perspective to parish life. He wants parishes to be (EG #28) “environments of living communion and participation, and …completely mission-oriented.”

Pope Francis on Parish Life

Pope Francis has given some recommendations for how the people of parishes should act and especially how they should welcome people and not be judgemental.

"For this, I recommend one thing, to you, to help people," he continued. "The first pastoral commandment is closeness: being close to the people. Closeness…."Get close…Do not be afraid of closeness. Do not be afraid of caresses: caress the people, the sick, the lonely, even those who deserve the title of 'miserable:' caress them, as God has caressed us." https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/francis-first-commandment-parish-life-closeness-people

Pope Francis gives 5 tips for parishes:1. DON’T Be Like A Custom’s Office: The parish office should not close doors for people. .. Instead, Pope Francis prays that “all who

approach the Church find doors open to encounter Jesus’ love.2. DON’T Be Tarantulas : Pope Francis says that when people go to their parish, they should feel like they are entering their mother’s

home….Don’t be tarantulas, know how to open the door in the moment: welcome and tenderness.

3. DO Put Those Who Are “Distant” First: “ I have often heard grumbling about families who only come to their parish for baptisms, weddings and funerals. These people are often treated like a last priority but Pope Francis urges us to put those distant from the Church first. …Open the doors so Jesus can go out…! It is about a Church which ‘goes forth’: a Church which always goes forth.”

4. DO Get the Laity Involved : Pope Francis is pretty clear on this: that people need to be included and involved in their parishes.

5. DON’T Gossip or Cause Division Pope Francis recognises that we are all sinners, in our parish communities as in the rest of life, but he calls on us to try to resist division, especially that which is caused by gossip because gossip wounds.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/pursuedbytruth/2014/08/5-tips-for-parishes-from-pope-francis.html

Ministry of the Priests and Deacons

“The priesthood of the ordained priest and the priesthood exercised by the baptised are both directed towards and find their meaning in the one priesthood of Christ “(LG 10). The ministry of priesthood differs from that of the laity, since ordination is a sharing in the apostolic ministry and the one ordained represents Christ as head and shepherd of His Church.

'Through the ordained ministry, especially that of bishops and priests, the presence of Christ as head of the Church is made visible in the midst of the community of believers.' (CCC 1549) In the Catholic Church the Sacrament of Holy Orders is reserved for men. There are three degrees celebrated in the Rite of Ordination: bishop, priest and deacon. Other people choose to be consecrated to religious life (brothers and nuns), but are not ordained. Priests and deacons minister in their parishes under the guidance of their Bishop.

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BISHOP: The bishop is successor to the Apostles. Through the “laying on of hands” the bishop assumes the role of the Apostles. United with the Bishop of Rome (the Pope) the bishops exercise the same authority over the Church and role of service as did the first Apostles. Their authority comes from this expression of unity and purpose. The Bishop is shepherd to all the parishes in the Diocese.

PRIEST: The priest participates in the priesthood of the bishop. They work in collaboration with him and extend his ministry to the people in the bishop’s diocese. The priest carries out practical, administrative functions in the church as well exercising pastoral ministry. He is the ordinary minister of Baptism, the Eucharist, Penance and the Anointing of the Sick. On occasions, given the authority of the bishop, the priest may also confirm where the bishop is unable to do so. The priest also officiates at weddings, witnessing for the Church that the couple have exchanged vows in accord with the rite of Catholic marriage.

DEACON: The title deacon comes from the Greek word diakonia meaning "servant”. There are two types of deacons – permanent deacons and transitional deacons. A man may be a transitional deacon for a time period, usually between 6 and 12 months, just before he is ordained a priest.

A permanent deacon is a ministry of the Word and Service, assisting the bishop and priests; preaching, baptising, officiating at weddings and funerals and presiding over the Prayer of the People of God (cf CCC 1570). They can be married, but if their wife dies, they may not remarry. They must be 35 years of age or older.

The Parish where People Serve and Support Others The Vatican II Council described Jesus as the first or primordial sacrament, the sign and source of the encounter with God. Jesus entered the world as the human face of God, God’s love made present to us. However, as Jesus is no longer physically present in our world, the church takes on the role of bringing the presence of Jesus to the people in special ways. The church is therefore understood as being a sacrament (or visible presence) of the reality of the risen Christ.

Christians then exist in community as ‘sacrament’ of the risen Christ. This means that as communities, they signify the presence of the risen Christ and of his Spirit of saving love. This means too that actions of Christian communities are sacramental, although it is only liturgies of the Church which are explicitly called sacraments.

All baptised Christians are called to be the face of God in their world, to be disciples of Jesus. In the words of St Teresa of Avila,

Christ has no body but yours,No hands, no feet on earth but yours,Yours are the eyes with which he looksCompassion on this world,Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,Yours are the eyes, you are his body.Christ has no body now but yours,No hands, no feet on earth but yours,Yours are the eyes with which he lookscompassion on this world.Christ has no body now on earth but yours.http://www.journeywithjesus.net/PoemsAndPrayers/Teresa_Of_Avila_Christ_Has_No_Body.shtml

For the Catholic Church, the parish is a community of people within the local Church who gather under the pastoral care of a priest or parish administrator.

One of the major focuses of the life of the parish is liturgy, in particular the celebration of Sunday Eucharist. Our celebration in Eucharist nourishes us for our mission of discipleship we are to enact in the week to come and our understanding of the importance of such for our daily lives.

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Within parishes, many ministries exist through which parishioners live out their commitment as disciples of Jesus. Each parishioner is called to serve others within and beyond the parish. There are many ministries that are important to parish life and celebration e.g. acolytes, readers, altar servers, music ministry, sacramental leaders, youth leaders, leaders of childrens’ liturgy. As well, there are groups that take their call to discipleship beyond out into the parish community e.g. St Vincent De Paul groups, other social justice groups, Catechists, communion ministries to the sick and isolated etc. These ministries, which we are welcomed and encouraged to support, are called and challenged to 'make Christ present' to others.

Features of the Church

'Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them'. (Mt 18:19-20) The literal meaning of the Hebrew and Greek words, rendered in English as 'church' is assembly. The place where Christians gather to worship is also called church. It is architecturally symbolic, and so tells us much about the Christian community.

The focus of any church building is the sanctuary. The three essential furnishings in this space are the; Altar, the centrepiece of the church. 'It is the common table of the assembly, a symbol of the Lord, at which the presiding minister stands

and upon which are placed the bread and wine and their vessels and the book. It is holy and sacred to this assembly's action and sharing.'(Environment and Art in Catholic Worship n.71)

Ambo or lectern, a reading table reserved for reading and preaching. 'The ambo represents the dignity and uniqueness of the Word of God and of reflection upon that the Word' (Environment and Art in Catholic Worship n.74)

Presidential Chair, reserved for the presider. It reminds us that we gather for worship as a community, not as individuals.

Other features of the church include:-Body of the church where the assembly gathers to sing and pray-Baptistery/ Baptismal font, a pool or vessel that holds the water for baptism-Tabernacle, a fixed adorned and solid place in a church where the Blessed Sacrament is kept. The Blessed Sacrament is kept so that

it can be taken to the sick, for use outside Mass time, (e.g. during a communion service) and adoration-Cross, reminding us of Christ's saving death-Statues and icons, usually of Mary and the church's patron saint.-Stained glass windows, which not only beautify but use pictures to tell a story/focus on a biblical character or saint which has

particular significance for the parish Church.

Church Celebrations

The word celebrate has strong images of festivity and happy partying. Catholics use the word in its more original sense: to mark an important event with a solemn ritual. Hence Catholics celebrate a funeral as well as a wedding. 'The word "liturgy" originally meant a "public work" or a "service in the name of/on behalf of the people." In Christian tradition it means the participation of the People of God in "the work of God."'(CCC 1069) Liturgy encourages full participation of the assembly through the inclusion of signs, symbols, gestures, silence and words to communicate the presence of Christ. This module should be designed to provide opportunities for students to make links with their own celebrations and those of the church.

Student Context

Please program in order to meet the context of your class.

Developing the Partnership

Please make connections between the learning in this module and parents and the wider community.

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Curriculum LinksPlease link with other KLAs in your teaching of this module.

Planning a Quality Learning Sequence for your class

Quality religious education will be achieved only by deep thinking about where you are going and how you plan the learning journey to get there. Begin with the end in mind and then consider how you will build field to meet your goals. Remember that you cannot expect children to develop deep knowledge and understanding, unless you as teacher have deep knowledge and understanding yourself. According to the Quality Teaching Framework, quality teaching will occur when you ask yourself four questions: What do you want the students to learn? Why does the learning matter? What are you going to get the students to do (or produce)? How well do you expect them to do it?The suggested learning sequence has been planned through such a process. However, it cannot be written with the understanding of the student context of each class and relationship to other learning that is happening in the class. It is therefore necessary for you as teacher to plan your own unit, using this module as a support. Doing so is part of your role as an “activist professional” (a teacher who actively works to improve their professionalism).

Suggested Teaching, Learning and Assessment Experiences

These are suggested teaching and learning experiences. The essential part of teaching this module is that you, as teacher have deep knowledge and understanding of the subject matter. Reading in depth the “Background for the Teacher” and “Scripture in Context” will give you the basic understanding you need. It is essential to use the whole module to plan your own unit. You might like to change the questions to suit your class. Your unit should be written in acknowledgement of the student context of your class. The suggested learning experiences are meant to be adapted for this purpose. You should design learning experiences for the purpose of formative and summative assessment. When designing quality learning experiences and assessments, they must address the outcomes, learning intentions and success criteria based on the enduring understandings of the module.

Parish - a place of celebration

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Key Concepts

parish Church ministry community priest deacon

discipleship Eucharist Mass Sacraments celebrate altar

ambo tabernacle symbols prayer love diocese

What is important for Students to Know and Do

A parish is a local community within a diocese.

The features and symbols in the parish Church

The role of the priest and deacon

Some of the ministries of the parish

We celebrate together in our parishes. Sunday Mass is an important celebration of the parish

Most sacraments are celebrated in the parish

Participate in school and parish celebrations

Enduring Understandings

We celebrate God’s presence in our lives by our words and actions

Church is baptised people who together become a presence of Jesus Christ in our world.

All are welcome in a parish

Priests and deacons have special roles of ministry, but all members of parish are called to serve

We are nourished for our role as disciples of Jesus at Mass

Suggested Big Question

How Do We Celebrate God’s Love in our Parish?

Suggested Essential Questions

How do we celebrate love in our lives?What is parish?

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How does our parish celebrate God’s love?How can we celebrate God’s love in our parish?

Suggested Teaching, Learning and Assessment Experiences

These are suggested teaching and learning experiences. The essential part of teaching this module is that you, as teacher have deep knowledge and understanding of the subject matter. Reading in depth the “Background for the Teacher” and “Scripture in Context” will give you the basic understanding you need. It is essential to use the whole module to plan your own unit. You might like to change the questions to suit your class. Your unit should be written in acknowledgement of the student context of your class. The suggested learning experiences are meant to be adapted for this purpose. You should design learning experiences for the purpose of formative and summative assessment. When designing quality learning experiences and assessments, they must address the outcomes, learning intentions and success criteria based on the enduring understandings of the module.

How Do we Celebrate God’s love in our Parish? Introduce Big Question. Display. Highlight key words and discuss ~ celebrate, God’s love, parish. Use a Learning Map or Think, Puzzle, Explore to establish prior knowledge and directions for planning your learning sequence.

(Appendix 1)

How Do We Celebrate Love in our Lives? Complete a “See–Think-Wonder” routine about picture in Appendix 2 (What do you see? What do you think is going on? What

does it make you wonder? Making Thinking Visible Ritchhart, Church and Morrison). Discuss how we experience love in our lives. Record.

Examples kisses, hugs, laughing together, sharing hard times, helping each other listening to each other, saying sorry when we hurt each other, sharing special times etc.

o When we love people, we often celebrate together. Brainstorm ways that you celebrate love in your life. Discuss what children think it might be like for people who rarely get to celebrate e.g. refugees, homeless people, some elderly people who live alone.

Examples birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, sacramental celebrations, family parties, family dinners etc. o Think-pair-share things that help us to celebrate (these will later be related to celebrations in the parish). Record or mind

map these.

Examples special dress, food and drink, listening to music, singing, decorations, symbols, gifts, sharing stories together, hugs and kisses, shaking hands etc.

o Discuss how we have big celebrations and more ‘every day’ celebrations. Watch the You Tube video of special celebrations around the world and ask children to identify some of the signs of celebration that you have discussed.

“Celebrations around the World.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JxOUwwkgzg

Use a story to initiate thinking about how we experience love in our lives and how we celebrate love with our families in a more ‘everyday way’. “Let’s Eat” by Ana Zamorano is suitable.

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Let’s Eat by Ana Zamorano and Julie Vivas (a book that embraces the everyday love experienced through sharing food at the family table)

Teaching Point Let’s Eat! is about a little boy, Antonio, who is sent by his mother to fetch each person in the family to come and eat lunch. Every time he goes to get someone they say they have something else to do and can’t come. Mama thinks it is a real shame that every day at least one member of the family cannot come and eat. Mama is due to have a baby any day and feels that it is important that her family come home to eat and be together. At the end of the book Mama has her baby and the whole family gather together for lunch and help her make paella.

What is parish? Ask children what they think of when we say “church.” (It is likely that most children will talk about the church building. Ask them

what the church building would be like if there were no people to use it and to be together, to worship together and to work to make a difference in the world). Make a banner that says “CHURCH IS PEOPLE”. Using a paper doll pattern, invite children to make a church of people to surround this banner (Appendix 3) They should include themselves in this group.

Sing songs about being church e.g.

o John Burland: “ The Church”, “Building God’s Kingdom”, “Everybody Gather As One,” “ We come Together” , “Gather Together”, “ Serving Each Other”

o Andrew Chinn: “Together As One”, “Welcome”, “We are One”, “We are the Body of Christ.”

o Michael Mangan: “Called to give, Called to live,” “Celebrate, Let’s Celebrate”, “Come Gather, “Come together.”

Ask children what is the name of the church that is connected to the school. The people who come together to celebrate in the church and to go forth as disciples of Jesus are the parish. In many areas of the Diocese of Broken Bay now there are several church communities in one parish. Discuss the parish that is local to the school and church communities within the parish. Record questions/ puzzles about the parish.

Introduce Scripture that is central to being a parish (Mt 18:19-20). Add this line of Scripture under the banner “church is people”. Ask creative questions such as:

What do you think it means to come together to celebrate in Jesus’ name?

Why do you think that Jesus always was surrounded by people?

What do you think it would be like if Jesus visited our parish?

How do you think our parish and school are connected (even if they are on a different site)?

How do you think people in our parish should care for each other and for people who are in need?

Explore the local parish in several ways:

o If the Church and school are on the same site, visit the church, taking photos of features of the church building. If it is not possible to visit the church, teacher can go beforehand and take photos or a video to show the children or use photos or videos that have been taken at previous school masses.

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Examples The sign with the name of the parish, the foundation stone, sanctuary, tabernacle, altar, ambo, presidential chair, sacred vessels, cross, sacristy, stained glass windows, statues, icon of Mary, music area, library, pews.

Create a presentation of this tour either artistically OR by using Apps such as Pic Collage or Show bie OR make an i-movie or Photo Story. Invite children to add photos from their baptisms and other family sacramental celebrations such as weddings etc. In reviewing this examples reflect upon how the community celebrates God’s love together.

o Invite parish priest or deacon to talk about what it is like to have their special roles in the parish and how they help the community to celebrate God’s love (perhaps the priest or deacon can accompany the class on the church visit). Tell children that when people feel called to do something really valuable in life (like being a priest or deacon) it is called a vocation. Discuss what their vocation means to them and what they think it means to the parish community. Prepare class questions with children before to ask the priest or deacon. Encourage children to ask creative questions Here are some ideas to help~

Why did you become a priest or deacon?

How do you think you ‘care for’ the people of our parish?

How do you think people in the parish should help each other?

How does the parish help people in need?

What do you think is the best thing about our parish?

What do you think is the hardest thing/ biggest challenge?

Do you think that children important in our parish? How does the parish show that?

What are your hopes and dreams for the parish?

Ask priest or deacon to discuss how the parish celebrates daily and weekly? What special times are celebrated each year (e.g. Lent, Easter, Advent, Christmas)? How are sacraments celebrated? What celebrations happen at special times for families (e.g. weddings, funerals).

How does our Parish Celebrate God’s love? If possible attend a morning parish Mass, a daily celebration or a school Mass, a celebration for a special reason. Remind children

that we celebrate in some ways every day and we also have special celebrations for special occasions. Give students a list of things to observe:

o What Father wears and does

o What happens when the Scriptures are read? Where on the Sanctuary are they read? Who reads?

o When do we pray for ourselves and our world?

o What happens at the table?

o Who helps Father at Mass?

o What do we do at Mass?

After attending Mass, record childrens’ observations. Here are some videos from Together at One Altar that might support this learning showing the two main parts of the Mass, the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist (the other parts are the Introductory Rites and the Concluding Rites). These videos may also support schools which are unable to attend Mass as the church is too far from the school site.

Liturgy of the Word http://www.togetheratonealtar.catholic.edu.au/receive/dsp-content.cfm?loadref=45

Liturgy of the Eucharist http://www.togetheratonealtar.catholic.edu.au/receive/dsp-content.cfm?loadref=46

Note where the Lord’s Prayer is said at Mass. Say it in class every day, and encourage children to say it enthusiastically when they attend Mass.

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Teaching Point Introduce the idea that going to Mass helps us to live as disciples of Jesus. When we listen to the Scriptures, we learn how to live in Jesus’ way. We also believe that Eucharist is like “food for our journey”, helping us to be disciples of Jesus. Jesus always cared for people in need… explore how the parish does this.

Ask a parent to talk to the children about celebrations that their family has experienced in the parish e.g. weddings, funerals, baptism, confirmation. Children may have videos of such celebrations OR they can reflect on videos they have seen.

Revisit previous recording of how we celebrate in life and compare with ways the community celebrates God’s love especially through liturgy and prayer (special dress, food, listening to stories, music, movements, shaking hands etc).

Explore Core Scripture, Acts 2:41-42, 44-47, identifying ways that followers of Jesus after his death and resurrection lived in community and celebrated together. Children learn echo mime (Appendix 4) and rap (Appendix 5), then identify the key things that the people of the early church did. Divide children into groups to illustrate each action and then make into a collage.

Teaching Point In the days of the early church, there were no Christian church buildings. As most followers of Jesus were still Jewish, as well as following Jesus’ teachings, most still worshipped in the Jewish Temple. Here, they would have heard the stories of the Hebrew Scriptures that Jesus knew and loved so well. However, in following Jesus’ way, they also broke bread, and listened to the stories of Jesus together in homes. The apostles baptised many people.

Compare how the community celebrated God’s love in the days of the early church and in our parish today. Make a ‘similarities and differences’ chart.

Suggested Assessment CDS 1.3, PS S1.4a, GRHD S 1.1 (This is a multi-stepped assessment that may need to be done over several time periods)Imagine that you are bringing some of the people of the early church to our parish today. What would you show them and tell them?

1. Illustrate at least three symbols found in our parish church. Tell the people from the early church how these symbols help us to celebrate God’s love OR

Create imovies to show the visitors, explaining places, symbols etc. in the church and why they are important to our parish.

2. Choose a sacramental celebration that you have experienced or seen in our/ your parish such as Baptism, Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage (hopefully shared videos might help children who have not experienced the celebration of a Sacrament in a parish). Write and draw about this celebration for the visitors from the early church OR Write a diary entry about the day of this celebration OR make a movie strip about the celebration. Record your thinking about why these celebrations are important.

3. Write one thing that you can do to celebrate God’s love in your life as part of the parish Or create an ad/poster for your parish which shows you as part of the parish community.

How Can We Celebrate God’s Love in our Parish? Explore Scripture Mk 10:13-16, “Jesus and the Children.” A Scripture Storytelling script is available in Appendix 6.

Teaching Point Tell children that when Jesus spoke about calling the children, he not only meant children like them but also people who were ‘little’ in life. He was also talking about people who are lonely, poor, sick, have a disability, are refugees and so on. Our parish should care for you as children and also ‘the little ones’ of life.

Hot Seat characters, one to be Jesus, one to be a parent, one to be a disciple and one to be a child ( in Stage 1 , you will need to choose children who are confident to be in this situation). The children in the class can ask questions of the characters (e.g. to the disciple: “Why did you send the children away?”; to the parent: “ How did you feel went the disciples tried to send your children away? etc.)

Read children the letter from Pope Francis to Joao, (Pg 6 Dear Pope Francis) responding to his question “What do you feel when you look at children around you?” Discuss how Pope Francis is following Jesus’ way of loving children. See Appendix 7. Home School Connector: Children take this letter home and discuss it with their family/ carers. They talk to their parents/carers about how children are the “hope for the future of humanity.”

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Discuss ways that children can celebrate God’s love in the parish. Plan a liturgical celebration and invite members of the parish to participate.

Complete a thinking routine after this learning e.g. “I used to think, now I think” identifying changes and growth in thinking about our community that celebrates God’s love i.e. our parish. Say, “when we started learning about our parish, these are the things you thought ( look at record of thinking about parish and church). Has your thinking changed? What do you think now? ( Making Thinking Visible Ritchhart, Church and Morrison)

Appendix 1

Example of Learning Map

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1. What are we learning

about?

What do we already know?

2. What do we already know about this?

3. Why is it important to learn about

this?

4. What help might we need?

1. What do you think you know about this topic?2. What questions or puzzles do you have?3. How might you explore the puzzles we have around this topic?

TIP This strategy has similar goals to a KWL, but the language centres on thinking. It supports curiosity and gives students permission to have a go. Using large paper to record thinking is a great way to do this routine as it can be added to as the learning and thinking progresses.

(Ritchhart, R. Church M, and Morrison, K. Making Thinking Visivble : How to Promote Engagement, Understanding and Independence for All Learners ( 2011, San Francisco, Jossey-Bass)

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5. Who can help us?

6. How can this new

learning help us in our

lives?

Think-Puzzle-Explore

Appendix 2

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See-Think-Wonder

1. What do you see?

2. What do you think is going on?

3. What does it make you

wonder?Students are encourages to share their thinking throughout the process.

Appendix 3

Paper dolls downloaded from Tim’s printables, free download for educational use.http://www.timvandevall.com/templates/printable-paper-doll-templates/

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Appendix 4

Echo Mime Acts 2: 41-42, 44-47In the city and towns Sweep hands in front of you

Peter taught Nod head

The apostles baptised Move hands to represent pouring water

…three thousand people that day Show three fingers

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They listened to the apostles Put hand next to ears

They were like family Hold hands

They broke bread Move hands as if to break bread

…in their homes Make shape of house with hands

They prayed together Join hands

They shared everything Move hands in a sharing motion

They shared their food Move hands to mouth as if to eat

They gave to the poor Move hands in a motion of giving

They met in the Temple Nod to each other

…every day Show seven fingers

They praised God Join hands as in praying

and everyone liked them Smile and nod

Appendix 5

Early Church Rap Acts 2: 41-42, 44-47

Live a new life, it’s not too late,

join with us , it will be great.

Be baptised and you will see

You will join our family.

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Come and break bread, it’s what we do

We all will share with everyone too.

We will care for the poor we see,

They will know love from our family.

Come and praise God and listen to us

we’ll teach about Jesus and not in a rush.

We will listen and always pray

and grow as family every day.

Appendix 6:

JESUS AND THE CHILDREN (Mark 10:13–16)

Used with permission, Sydney RE Online

YOU WILL NEED:

3D figures for Jesus, 2 apostles, 4 children green cloth for grass

Children are seated in a semi-circle ready to listen to the story. Carry the materials carefully to the circle and place them beside you. Roll out the green cloth as you say…

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We all like to feel that we are welcome and that we belong. It is a good feeling to have. In the Bible there is a story about a time when Jesus welcomed and blessed little children.

Present Jesus figure, place him in the story space and say …This is Jesus. He is talking with some friends.

Move disciples to either side of Jesus.They are called his disciples. One day, some people brought their children to Jesus.

Put people and children figures on cloth and move towards Jesus. They wanted Jesus to meet their children and give them a blessing.

Move the children towards Jesus.Jesus’ disciples started to send them away, saying that he was too busy with the adults.

Move the disciples to block the children from Jesus.But Jesus saw what was happening and he was very upset with his disciples for wanting to send the children away.

Move Jesus and place him between the disciples and children say … “Let the children come to me,” he said, “and don’t stop them! Because God’s kingdom belongs to people who are just like them.”

Place children in a semi-circle around Jesus and say … Jesus told all the adults that they had to be more like little children – learning to trust God just like a child has to trust its mother or father. Then they would shine with God’s love.

Hold your right hand over each child’s head in the sign of blessing whilst you say… Jesus then welcomed all the children into his arms and hugged them. He placed his hands on their heads and gave them his blessing.The children knew that Jesus loved them because God’s love was shining in them.

Carefully pack story materials into storage box and put on shelf. Ensure that children are watching so they know how to pack the materials away and where to find them.

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Appendix 7:

Pope Francis’ letter to Joao

Dear Joao

You asked me what I feel when I look at children. I do see many children! I smile at them and hug them and throw kisses from the car, because my hands are free-even though you drew me with my hands on the wheel!

I’m happy when I see children. I always feel great tenderness and affection for the. But it’s more than that. Actually, when I look at a childlike you, I feel great hope rising in my heart because, for me, seeing a child is seeing the future. Yes, I feel great hope because every child is our hope for the future of humanity.

Franciscus

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Liturgy Outline

Liturgy Definition: “work of the people” (in this case - the children)

A liturgy to celebrate module learning usually has four parts of which these can contain all or some one of the suggestions.

Before you begin some other considerations!! Where will the liturgy be celebrated? Does not have to be celebrated in the church or the classroom. Outdoors is a possibility - weather permitting. Consider the placement of chairs and sacred space. Who to invite? (parents, staff, priest etc)

WE GATHER: Setting the scene Sacred Space (cloth, candle, Bible, icons etc) to be created in this part. Procession Hymn or songs of welcome Welcome and introduction to celebration Opening prayer

WE LISTEN: Stories From the Bible Outline of what has been learnt Multimedia presentations Dramatisation/ dialogue of story Hymns Liturgical Movement of story Stories of their life and families Related narratives (eg Dreamtime story)

WE RESPOND:Responding to the stories Hymn or songs Liturgical movement Prayers of Intercession Prayer Multimedia presentations Sharing work from module (eg artwork)

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Children’s

WE GO FORTH:Sending Forth Recessional hymn or songs Liturgical movement Prayer Thank you statement

Liturgy can be followed by offer of hospitality

Resources

Note: Resources below are not an exhaustive list. Choose resources to enhance the learning and teaching process of this module and record below

Teacher

Ritchhart, R. Church M, and Morrison, K. Making Thinking Visivble: How to Promote Engagement, Understanding and Independence for All Learners .2011, San Francisco, Jossey-Bass.

Benjamin, A. & Woods, L. 1990. Dictionary for young Catholics. Blackburn: Collins Dove. McBrien, R. 1995. Inside Catholicism. San Francisco: Collins Publishers. Rock, L. 1994. A first look at the church. England: Lion Publishing. White, D., O’Brien, K. and Todd, S. 2003. Into the Deep. Marayong: K.D. Publications

Literature

Blackburn, Carol. 1989. Waiting for Sunday. Gosford: Ashton Scholastic. Caswell, Helen. 1989. Our Big Family at Church. Cambridge: Lutterworth Press Zamorana, Ana. 1996. Let’s Eat. Scholastic. Sydney. Pope Francis. 2016. Dear Pope Francis. Chicago. Loyola Press

Music

John Burland: “ The Church”, “Building God’s Kingdom”, “Everybody Gather As One,” “ We come Together” , “Gather Together”, “ Serving Each Other”

Andrew Chinn: “Together As One”, “Welcome”, “We are One”, “We are the Body of Christ.”

Michael Mangan: “Called to give, Called to live,” “Celebrate, Let’s Celebrate”, “Come Gather”, “Come together.”

Internet

For children

“Celebrations around the World.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JxOUwwkgzg “Paper Dolls” http://www.timvandevall.com/templates/printable-paper-doll-templates/

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Liturgy of the Word http://www.togetheratonealtar.catholic.edu.au/receive/dsp-content.cfm?loadref=45 Liturgy of the Eucharist http://www.togetheratonealtar.catholic.edu.au/receive/dsp-content.cfm?loadref=46

For teachers

Mission and Religious Education (Lighthouse) http://missionandreligiouseducation.dbbcso.org

http://www.catholic.org.au/index.html This site links has the most comprehensive links to all Catholic groups and organisations in Australia. The site contains a search facility for locating Australian Catholic parishes that maintain a web presence. Hence the local parish may be accessible using this site or by obtaining the website address from the parish office.

http://www.catholicmission.org.au/ (CEC Catholic Enquiry Centre)

http://www.catholicdirectory.com.au.You can enter this site as a guest and obtain limited access to information about each Australian diocese.

http://www.kencollins.com/glossary/architecture.htm A detailed Glossary on the parts of the church. Also links to a simple plan of an Historic church building.

http://www.journeywithjesus.net/PoemsAndPrayers/Teresa_Of_Avila_Christ_Has_No_Body.shtml

StorytellingMake short art-inspired storieshttp://storybird.com/Capzles social storytellinghttp://www.capzles.com/General http://wallwisher.com/ http://www.wordle.net/ http://www.tagxedo.com/ http://www.ning.com/ http://www.wikispaces.com/

Useful Apps

3 Minute Retreat Sand Draw Lectio Divina Ignatian Examen

Superbook Bible App

The Holy Bible Bible for kids The Pope App

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Educreations PuppetPals Show Me Comic Maker

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