“Nothing exists that does not owe its existence to God the Creator.”
Source: Catechism of the Catholic Church, “The Visible World” 338
“With their whole beings the angels are servants and messengers of God. Because they ‘always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven’ they are the ‘mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word'”.189
Source: Catechism of the Catholic Church, “The Angels” 329
For Parents to Teach to Their Children
Welcome to the new school year 2018-2019 for the Sunday SchoolUpdates.com enrichment resource for families with children preparing for their First Holy Communion. Every week for the next school year, you will find readings, prayers, songs, as well as writing and art projects to help your children know and understand their Catholic faith. New posts will come each Wednesday through mid-June. Thank you! Connie Goldin
We Praise and Thank God
We Are Blessed
For a Great Start to the New School Year:
The Priestly Blessing of a Home
From the Rituale Romanum (1964)
Priest: “Our help is in the name of the Lord.”
Response: “Who made heaven and earth.”
Priest: “The Lord be with you.”
Response: “And with your spirit.”
Let us pray.
“God the Father almighty, we fervently implore you for the sake of this home and its occupants and possessions, that you may bless and sanctify them, enriching them by your kindness in every way possible. Pour out on them, Lord, heavenly dew in good measure, as well as an abundance of earthly needs. Mercifully listen to their prayers, and grant that their desires be fulfilled. At out lowly coming be pleased to bless and sanctify this home, as you once were pleased to bless the home of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Within these walls let your angels of light preside and stand watch over those who live her; through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.”
We Learn About God
“I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH”
God is a pure spirit. We cannot see or touch God. But we know He is present:
“In no way is God in man’s image. He is neither man nor woman. God is pure spirit in which there is no place for the difference between the sexes. But the respective “perfections” of man and woman reflect something of the infinite perfection of God: those of a mother and those of a father and husband.” 241
Source: Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition, scborromeo.org
Important Prayers for This Week
“The Our Father”
“Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on
earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we
forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Amen.”
Source: Catholic.org
“The Glory Be to the Father”
“GLORY BE to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen”
“The Guardian Angel Prayer”
“ANGEL OF GOD,
My Guardian dear,
To whom His love
Entrusts me here,
Ever this day,
Be at my side,
To light and guard,
To rule and guide. Amen.”
Source: The New Saint Joseph First Communion Catechism Page 4
Excerpt for Children from First Communion Catechism, Pages 7-8
“God Made Us”
“Who made you?”
“God made me.”
“God made me out of nothing.
He made me because he loves me.
He gave me to my mother and father.
They take care of me.
They take God’s place.
I belong to God because He made me.”
“Did God make all things?”
“Yes, God made all things.
“God made the earth and sky.
God also made the sun.
God made the moon and the stars.
God made the night and day.
God made rain and snow.
God made hills and mountains.
God made oceans and rivers.
God made trees and flowers.
God made all animals, big and little.
God made the fishes in the water.
God made the birds in the sky.
God made the Angels.
Angels are spirits.
They have no bodies.
They know much more than we do.
They have great power.
The angel who helps me is my ‘Guardian Angel’
He is with me all the time.
He keeps me from all danger.
He helps me to think of God.”
What Our Church Says About Angels:
Dear Parents, Please simplify this information about angels, talking about the highlighted words.
Source: Catechism of the Catholic Church
“The existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls ‘angels’ is a truth of faith.”
“As purely spiritual creatures angels have intelligence and will: they are personal and immortal creatures, surpassing in perfection all visible creatures, as the splendor of their glory bears witness.”190
“Christ is the center of the angelic world. They are his angels: ‘When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him… ‘”191
“They belong to him because they were created through and for him: ‘for in him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities – all things were created through him and for him.'”192
More about Angels
“Make friends with the angels, who though invisible are always with you. Often invoke them, constantly praise them, and make good use of their help and assistance in all your temporal and spiritual affairs.”
— St. Francis de Sales
Source: CatholicCompany.com “Your Morning Offering” 9/12/2018
Writing Project
On the back of the watercolor paper your child will be using, invite him or her to write “The Guardian Angel Prayer” in colored pencil. Younger children may prefer writing something simple like, “I love my angel.” Older children may choose to list the nine choirs of angels written below. Then, have the child flip the paper over and paint their impression of an angel. Please tell them, “Don’t worry about perfection. Just enjoy the experience.”
“The Nine Choirs of Angels”–Listed in Order of Highest to Lowest Station
“Seraphim
Cherubim
Thrones
Dominions
Virtues
Powers
Archangels
Principalities
Angels”
Source: Catholic.org
Our Art Project–Guardian Angel Painting
Help your children to imagine “pure spirit.” God and his angels are pure spirits but we can envision them in watercolor paintings, which helps us be abstract and explore using beautiful colors and light. I always think of angels as “Light.”
The watercolor above was inspired by a gifted artist, Cornelia Lauwaert. It seems to start with a big circle, which I drew on with a white watercolor pastel. I made other diagonal marks and more circular forms with the crayon. A white crayon will work well, too. The idea is for the marks to resist the watercolor and make a pretty effect. I used liquid watercolors for this painting. The nice thing about painting an angel is that they have no body or face, so the beginning artist ( like me!) doesn’t have to struggle with those difficult features. Using liquid watercolors is a wonderful experience. You can dilute the paint and mix different colors. Tell your children there are no errors. You can blot the paint up and paint over the “error” with ease. I love taking my time and using paper towels when I have too much paint on the paper. I highly recommend doing this project with your children. Regular dry-cake watercolors will work beautifully, too.
Sample Painting for Younger Children
Our Materials
Suggested Homework Activities
Read “The Story of Creation” from The Book of Genesis with your child from a Catholic children’s Bible or from your family Bible. Here is the link to “The Creation Story” on the USCCB.org.
For enrichment literature and art ideas on “The Creation Story” check out our post on SundaySchoolUpdates.com.