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Engaging Faith

Practical Lesson Ideas and Activities for Catholic Educators
Archived - October 2019

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Tour of Sacred Places

Lead your students on a guided tour of several places in and around a church, chapel, and/or school that have sacred importance to the prayer life of your community. Examples The altar (and altar relic). Explain that the altar of a church should be located in a central space where it attracts the focus of prayer. Explain the traditional association between martyrs and saints and Catholic altars. For many years it was required that the relics of a saint or martyr be placed in the altar stone. If the altar at your church or chapel has a relic tell something about it and show where it is placed. A grotto or statue of the Blessed Mother. Tell its history and note its dedication plaque. Also, explain that older churches have side altars since more than one Mass were often celebrated at the same time. The statue of the church or school’s patron. Prepare a short biography of the person to share when the group has gathered near the statue. The bell tower. Recall the traditional ringing of the bells three times a day to announce the Angelus. Explain and share the Angelus prayer. If your school or church does have a bell tower, consider having the students climb into the loft. A news rack in the foyer of the church or school. Point out the various types of spiritual readings included and any other prayer cards. Also, show announcements for forming prayer groups like Scripture students and the like. The Blessed Sacrament. Pause and kneel with the group before the Blessed Sacrament. Point out the sanctuary lights, indicating Christ’s presence. Explain something of the history and practice of Benediction, a short ceremony from the fifteenth century in which the Eucharist, in the form of a large consecrated host, is venerated.

Pray the Rosary with Baseball Legend Vin Scully

With the World Series being played this month, take a bit of class time to share something of the life of Vin Scully, the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodger announcer for 67 years, from 1950 to 2016. Vin is noted for several great calls in World Series history, including: Don Larsen’s perfect game for the Yankees in the 1956 World Series, the only perfect game in World Series history. Kirk Gibson’s thrilling game 1 home run for the Dodgers over the Athletics in 1988. The Met’s come-from-behind win over the Red Sox in 1986. Vin is also a devout Catholic. After sharing something of Vin’s life, pray a decade of the Rosary led by Vin Scully who has recorded his recitation of the Rosary in connection with Immaculate Heart Radio.October is the month of the Rosary.

Emoji Good News

        Provide copies of the following material for each student. Directions: Pretend you are transmitting the Good News of Jesus’ Resurrection to a friend via electronic or social media. Use emojis to express emotions described by the people in the following passage. Then write two more sentences adding your personal message to your friend about Jesus’ resurrection. Use emojis in these new sentences too.   But at daybreak on the first day of the week they took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.        They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.        While they were puzzling over this, behold two men in dazzling garments appeared to them.        They were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground.        They said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?        He is not here, but he has been raised.        Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified, and rise on the third day.        And they remembered his words.        Then they returned from the tomb and announced all these things to the eleven and to all the others.                                                                                              −Luke 24:1-0