Liturgy and the Catholic Church

February 12



Last week we learned about the Liturgy of the Eucharist. We learned that that the Liturgy of the Eucharist is the second part of Mass. The most important part of the Liturgy of the Eucharist is the Eucharistic Blessing. When the priest says the Eucharistic Blessing, the bread and wine are transformed into Jesus' body and blood.

After reading the chapter, we wrote prayers for people in our lives.

Dear Lord, we ask for your prayers today:



L-Thank you for my blanket pasa. Thank you for my grama and grampa's pet dog Jake. Thank you for my mom.
M-Thank you Jesus for my cusins and the homeless and my four xstra Gramas and Grampas.
K-Thank you Jesus. Thank you for food. Thank you for are money. Thank you for are school. Thank you fanily. Thank you for are Love. Thank you.
M-Homeles people. My skateboards. My friends. My Master.

D-Pray for animals, homeless people, famils, friends.

M-Pray for Jesus Christ. I will pray that homeless people will soon have a home.

J-Homelis people. Def people. Blind people.

A-I pray for the poor and homelese. And I pray for the people that pick up the litter.
C-I pray for the poor. I pray for the people that pick up the litter. I pray for the people that are in the armey.

R-I pray for the poor. I pray for the army. I pray for my grandma that shy lives longer.
S-I pray for the poor. I pray for my bruther. I pray for the arnmet.

G-My God could you take away my sins. Will you forgive me what I have done wrong. God help all of the people who are indaerger. I want you to take care of the people.

S-Forgive our sins from today. Help my mom to come. Help my sister to feel better.
E-My Grama. My dog. My family. Peple on the street.

B-My frog died, good weather, my gramma, my great grandma, me.
M-I am praying for the army men and women to be safe. And I am praying for my moms paceints.

N-That freddy has a good time in heaven. for the homeless to have gomes. for the animals to have shelter. for the soliders in afganistahn for Lulu to have a good time in heaven.

A-My dads arm to heal. My mom to feel better. My sister to not get frustrated in homework. My other sister to have a good life. Poor people that need food sheleter. Animals for food, shelter and homes with good famlys.

B-Thank you god for food. Thank you god for clots. Thank you god for shelter. Pray for the need. And sick. Thank god for us to be safe.

O-Thank you for all of the food. Thank you for the shletr pray for the need and sick. Thank you for keeping us safe in the storm. Thank you for the clothes.
N-Thank you god for on food. Tank you god for shelter. Pray for heel Daddy sick.

M-Thank you for food. Thank you God for shelter. Thank you God for cloths. Pray for the need. Pray for people how are sick. Thank you for keeping us safe in the storm.

?-A-My dad, mom, thoms, mary, God, Tom, Bill, Samsam, my dog, miss sefunee.

?-Forgive my famly. People how are haveing babeis.

After we wrote our prayers, Ms. Rosi came to talk to us about Liturgy. We helped set up a table like the altar and we learned the imporance of all the people involved in Liturgy.

February 19

Fr. John came to talk to us about being a priest. We had LOTS of questions for him and he spent a lot of time answering our questions and explaining lots of things to us!

Q: Does it take a lot of practice to be a priest?

A: I practice all the time. I went to the seminary and learned what to do. The seminary is a school for people learning to be a priest.

Q: How do you become a priest?

A: When I was young I didn't think about being a priest. My dad had a mold shop and I thought about being a mold maker. I started working in the parish office to earn extra money. I got to know the priest by working in the office. I saw priests experience all important times in life such as funerals and weddings. After high school, I went to the seminary. Then attend Mundelein Seminary for four more years. It take 4 years of college and 4 years in seminary. I was ordained in 1991. I studied a lot! I felt like God called me.

Q: How old are you?

A: 45

Q: Did you go to church when you were little?

A: Every Sunday

Q: Do you have kids?

A: Priests cannot have kids because priests make a promise not to get married.

Q: Why can't you get married?

A: In the Bible, the apostles wives were not mentioned. Jesus talked about dedicating your life to God. Priests give up marriage to focus on the church.

Q: When you retire can you have kids?

A: If you stay a priest, you cannot ever get married or have kids.

Q: What was your first day of being a priest like?

A: Very long and tiring. It was my ordination day. I woke up early, went to Holy Name Cathedral, the ordination was 2.5 hours long. It went by fast for me. We had a really good party afterwards.

Q: Have you ever been to California?

A: Yes. My Grandparents used to live there. And I went on a sabbatical there.

Q: Do you like being a priest

A: Yes. I like celebrating the sacraments. But sometimes it is hard, like running a business.

Q: What's it like?

A: I wake up and exercise. Then I have morning Mass. I go work in the office, meet with people (like couples getting married). On Saturdays I have confession.

Q: How do you get baptised?

A: Water and oil are used. There are special words said. Babies get baptized. But sometimes adults do too.

Q: What are you doing on Presidents Day?

A: When is that?

Q: Do you have a dog?

A: I have been thinking about it. I had a pet parakeet when I was little. My mom was afraid of letting it fly around the house.

Q: Do you read a lot?

A: I love to read.

Q: What's your favorite book?

A: The Shining. I also love Harry Potter.

Q: What do you do for fun?

A: Golf!

Q: Is Holy Spirit the only church you go to?

A: I am the pastor at CHS. I will be for 6 years. Then I could renew for 6 more years. The most is 12. Before this I was at St. Gall's in Chicago for 10 years.

Q: When is your birthday?

A: November 2

Q: Did you have a different job before?

A: I had part-time jobs: bookstore, dad's shop, rectory

Q: Do you get money for being a priest?

A: Yes, I get a paycheck.

Q: Do you go on vacation?

A: I just went to Disney World a couple weeks ago with friends. I have been to Thailand to visit my sister.

Q: Where did you grow up?

A: On the North side of Chicago.

Q: What is your favorite movie?

A: Scary movies

Q: What is your favorite color?

A: Red

Q: What is your favorite animals?

A: I'll have to think about it.

Q: What is your favorite food?

A: Mexican and Italian. But not liver tacos. I had those once!

Q: What is your favorite season?

A: Fall

Q: Do you pray every night?

A: Yes. It is the best time because I have time to reflect on the day. I also have Mass in the morning.

Q: How many siblings do you have?

A: One sister and she and her husband live in Thailand with their son, my only nephew. I miss them.

Q: Where do you live?

A: In a church building. When you go to church, you see the church, the office, and the other building is where I live.

Q: When did you make your First Communion?

A: In 1972. I remember there were a lot of people. I was 7 years old.

Thanks for chatting with us Fr. John!

HW:

-Chapter 23 review

Notes:

-Don't forget that class next week will be at CHS. You will park and bring your child inside the worship space to find our class. Then please be back by 10:55 to pick up your child (park and meet us back in the same spot in the worship space). We will be doing the stations of the cross and taking a church tour.

-March 5 we will be "taste testing" the bread and the wine in class. If your child is unable to make it, please call the Religious Ed office to make an appointment for your child to try it.

-First Eucharist and First Communion books are due (completed) on April 2nd at our last class. Please make sure they have your child's name inside and bring them to the last class.

Second Grade Religious Ed Mass

Today we had the Mass that our class was in charge of helping at. We have spent the last couple of weeks planning who will do what and practicing and talking about our roles.

We:
-helped pass out song sheets
-greeted people
-read the announcements
-did the readings
-helped with the collection
-helped usher people to communion
-passed out bulletins

We worked hard!

The congregation was VERY impressed with all we did and SO many people stopped Ms. Stephanie afterwards to tell her how much they loved our class being part of Mass.

Check out the video of what we did today!



Our next class is next week, February 12. Don't forget to have the homework done.

First Communion and Reconciliation Books:
The completed books are due to class on April 2nd. If you are unable to bring them to class that day, you can turn them in on April 9th at the final Religious Ed Mass.

Liturgy of the Word

Today we reviewed Chapter 17, Liturgy of the Word.

We learned that the Liturgy of the Word is the first part of Mass when we listen to two readings, the Gospel and the Homily.

We learned that the first reading is usually from the Old Testament. The second reading is usually from the New Testament.

The Gospel is read from one of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John)

After that, the priest or deacon shares the Homily with us. That is the time that he helps us understand the readings and the Gospel.

We learned about how to listen to God's Word

After that, we used our Mass Books to practice running through the Mass. Ms. Stephanie pretended to be "Father Steven" and stood on a chair to pretend it was the altar. We practiced all of the responses we say at Mass.

We watched a movie about Mass. Then we went back to our room and wrote cards to the military Men and Woman who are currently serving overseas and will not be home with their families for Valentine's Day.

Homework:

Chapter 17 review

Other Notes:

A, B, and M will receive prizes at our next class for attending Mass the most times!

We are helping to participate in Mass on February 6th at 9:15. If you haven't let me know if you will be there, please let me know ASAP!

See you soon!

Reading The Creed together

Reconciliation

Sorry this post is a week late!

Last week we learned about Reconciliation. We reviewed Chapter 12 in our books.

After that, we split into groups to "write" a TV show based on forgiveness. We had to decide:
-Who is in the story
-What happened
-How does the person ask for forgiveness
-How do the people celebrate their reconciliation

Group 1
Who is in the story: God, Jesus and Mary
What happened: Mary had a baby and his name is Jesus
How does the person ask for forgiveness: God was mad because he had a lot to do
How do the people celebrate their reconciliation: God told that Mary should ask forgiveness

Group 2

Who is in the story: J and A

What happened: A stole J's Bon Jovi Tickets

How does the person ask for forgiveness: A goes up to J and asks to forgive me

How do the people celebrate their reconciliation: J forgives A. J and A go to D&B.

Group 3

Who is in the story: Brothers

What happened: He said bad words to someone

How does the person ask for forgiveness: Dear God I'm sorry for saiding bad words

How do the people celebrate their reconciliation: they were friends

Group 4
Who is in the story: K, A, D
What happened: A and K got hurt by D

How does the person ask for forgiveness: D says sorry

How do the people celebrate their reconciliation: By forgiving

Group 5

Who is in the story: C, B, S

What happened: C and B were playing tag and S wanted to play but they did not let her.

How does the person ask for forgiveness: "Sorry. Will you forgive us?" "yes"

How do the people celebrate their reconciliation: By playing with S

Group 6
Who is in the story: B, O, E and Mitchell

What happened: Mitchell hit O

How does the person ask for forgiveness: Mitchell said, "do you forgive me?"

How do the people celebrate their reconciliation: O says, "Of course because you are my brother."

Group 7

Who is in the story: M, N, J

What happened: N and J hurt M

How does the person ask for forgiveness:J and N asked for forgiveness

How do the people celebrate their reconciliation: Going to church together

Group 8

Who is in the story: M, M, L, R

What happened: L stole food from the market

How does the person ask for forgiveness: L said sorry and brought it back
How do the people celebrate their reconciliation: She brought it back.

After that, Ms. Michele the Director of Religious Ed came to talk to us about Reconciliation. She talked to us about what it means, what it will be like when we participate in a Reconciliation Mass, and we acted out participating in confession.

Chapters 11 and 16

This week in class we covered Chapters 11 and 16.

As always, we started off around our prayer table. We always begin with the sign of the cross and Ms. Stephanie leads us in prayer, thanking God for all that we have and asking prayers for those not as fortunate as we are.

After that we get a chance to ask for prayers for those in our lives who need prayer. This week we started all responding, "Lord hear our prayer" after each person's prayer request. We are learning the power of prayer and we are all getting much more comfortable adding to our prayers.

You are encouraged to continue this at home. Any time can be prayer time! Many families make meal times and bedtime special prayer times. It is important to always thank God for what we have in our lives as well as to think about what in our lives or others' lives needs extra help. In Matthew 18:20, the Bible says, "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." Anytime your family is gathered together, whether a family of 2 or 4, this is a great time for prayer.

Around our prayer table

In Chapter 11 we talked about our conscience. We talked about it being a little voice inside our heads that helps us decide between right and wrong. We also discussed times in our life that we heard that voice in our head and had to use it to help us make a choice.

We heard the parable of the Lost Sheep:
“Then Jesus told them this parable: ‘Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent’” (Luke 15:3-7).

We cut out pictures from the story and used them to retell the story in small groups. Then one person from each group stood up to share the story with the class.

At home: Have your child use those pictures to share with you the story of the lost sheep and ask him or her what that means about God forgiving us.

After that we all held hands as one of us did a reading.

Reminders:
We are about half way through the year. Absences are counted each week and no more than 4 absences are allowed out of out the 16 sessions.

Homework:
Chapter 11 Chapter Review (3 pages)
Chapter 16 Chapter Review (3 pages)
In my Parish drawing-draw a picture of something that happens inside the church that we talked about in these two chapters
*Chapter Reviews-There are 3 pages, but they go quickly. The first page is questions, the second is an activity, and the third is to share with family.

**First Communion Prep**
You should be half way through your preparation books. These are intended to be done as a family. The purple book is preparation for Reconciliation and the blue is reparation for First Eucharist. You can do the purple first and then the blue or switch back and forth between them. If you did the blue first, that is OK, but make sure the Reconciliation preparation is completed before the First Reconciliation Mass. Both of these books must be completed to receive these sacraments.

Christmas Eve Mass

This year our class was invited to participate in the Christmas Eve Mass as part of the Gospel. We had 10 kids from our class participate and a handful of siblings filled in the extra parts at the last minute.

Everyone did such a fabulous job and we had a great response from the congregation. People love to see the kids participating in the Mass.

A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to Luke.


In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustusthat the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment,when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.

And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

While they were there, the time came for her to have her child,and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger,because there was no room for them in the inn.

And the great new star that had been following the couple stopped and came to rest over the place where the child was born.

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock.The angel of the Lord appeared to thema nd the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them,

You have nothing to fear, I come to bring you good News.
You have nothing to fear, I bring tidings of great joy,
which shall be shared with by all people.
You have nothing to fear, You have nothing to fear.
This Day in the City of David a Child is born, a Savior, the Messiah and Lord.
Let this be a sign to you: the Babe will lie in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes

And suddenly there was with the angels a multitude of the heavenly hostpraising God and singing:

Glory to God in highest heaven, Glory to God in the Highest; And on earth, Peace to those whom he favors. You have nothing to fear; you have nothing to fear.
When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place,which the Lord has made known to us.”

So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph,and the infant lying in the manger.When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds.

And Mary kept all these things,reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.
Here is a video of their part in the Gospel (or click here to go right to YouTube):

Great Job!

December 4 and Advent Mass

At class on December 4th we spent most of the class talking about Christmas. We discussed that it was coming up on the 2nd week of advent, but we would be talking about Christmas in class because it was our last class before the new year.

As always, we began the class with a prayer around our prayer table.

After that, we did a reading of the nativity story (you can see it on the video below)...

and then we colored pieces to the Nativity scene and glued them on a paper. We drew in Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus and retold the story as we did so.

After that, we discussed all of the people that are involved in making all of the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses possible at church. Everything from decorations to music to the priest and the altar servers. Each child thought of someone they wanted to write a thank you note to to let them know their hard work is appreciated. Everyone took a lot of time and put a lot of thought into their notes. Ms. Stephanie delivered them to the church mailboxes right after class.

Homework:

-Spend time working on your Reconciliation Book

-Attend Mass on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day

Did you know?

Because Christmas falls on a Saturday this year, there will be regular weekend Masses on Sunday. Attending Mass on Christmas Eve/Day doesn't "count" for Sunday! If you come to 9:15 on December 26th, you will see Ms. Stephanie there!

On December 11th we had our advent Religious Ed Mass. It was a great opportunity to gather all of the Religious Ed families together to celebrate Mass. Our class sang a song for the congregation in celebration of Jesus coming to us on Christmas. This song reminded us and everyone that Jesus is the light of our world.



Don't Forget!

To register your child for A Night in Bethlehem on December 21st 5:30-8:30! Click on the link to print off a registration form.

*Tip you can click on the videos to see them in a larger size on YouTube.