Today we think about the Today we think about the Holocaust.Holocaust.

Millions of Jews and others Millions of Jews and others were put to death by the Nazi were put to death by the Nazi

regime in Germany and Poland. regime in Germany and Poland. Many died in gas chambers in Many died in gas chambers in

concentration camps like concentration camps like Auschwitz.Auschwitz.

TheThe Nazis in Germany wanted Nazis in Germany wanted everyone in Europe to be the everyone in Europe to be the

same.same.

• Some were disabled Some were disabled

• Some had difficulty Some had difficulty walking or learning walking or learning

• Some had different Some had different ideas from the Nazisideas from the Nazis

• Others had a different Others had a different religious backgroundreligious background

The Jewish People One large group were Jewish One large group were Jewish

people who were labelled with a people who were labelled with a yellow star so that everyoneyellow star so that everyoneknew who they were.knew who they were. Those who Those who were different in any way were were different in any way were sentsentto prison and tortured or put to to prison and tortured or put to death.death.

We can also label people as We can also label people as different. different.

fromfrom

Those who are fromThose who are from

oror

or areor are

or haveor have

Just look at Just look at snowflakes. They are snowflakes. They are all different, but all different, but they are all they are all snowflakes.snowflakes. We are all We are all

different but we different but we are all human are all human beings. beings. Our differences Our differences are GOODare GOOD

What does the Church What does the Church teach?teach?

God the Creator made and God the Creator made and loves all people whoever they loves all people whoever they are, whatever they believe are, whatever they believe and whatever they look like.and whatever they look like.

Pope Benedict has asked us:

• to love othersto love others• respect all respect all

human human beingsbeings

WHAT CAN WE DO?WHAT CAN WE DO?• Get to know someone different

from myself• Try to be kind to all • Include others in our games• Stand up for someone who is

being picked on just because he or she is different

Examples to followExamples to followHere are some examples of people

who have treated those who are different with kindness:

• Mother Teresa of Calcutta• Jean Vanier• Dorothy Day• Frank FoleyFind out what you can about them.

A PRAYER TO SAYA PRAYER TO SAYThank you that you have made me .Thank you that you have made me .Thank you that I am unique; that even Thank you that I am unique; that even

my fingerprints are different;my fingerprints are different;Thank you for the things I am good at Thank you for the things I am good at

and enjoy doing.and enjoy doing.Thank you for my family; for those who Thank you for my family; for those who

made me as I am;made me as I am;Thank you that I am like my friends, Thank you that I am like my friends,

but different.but different.Thank you that I live in a country where Thank you that I live in a country where

we are allowed to be who we are.we are allowed to be who we are.Help us to work together to make this Help us to work together to make this

lastlast.

Today we remember

We are all different but we We are all different but we are all human beings. are all human beings.

Our differences are GOODOur differences are GOOD

REMEMBER REMEMBER TODAYTODAY