“God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship him in Spirit and truth.”
Source: USCCB.org “John, chapter 4:24”
For Parents To Teach To Their Children
Note to Parents*
The photo of the Baptismal Font at the top of this post, is from The Christ Cathedral in Orange County, California. I took this photo on the weekend the Cathedral was opened, July, 2019.
Hello parents. This week, the reading from the Gospel is about the Samaritan woman drawing water at the well. Jesus comes to the well and tells the woman, “Give me a drink.” The woman replies, “How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” Jesus answers her saying, “If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink.’ you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” Here is an excellent explanation for children, on “Living Water” and Baptism by Lisa Reno, page 3, in MagnifiKid! March 15, 2020. The Third Sunday of Lent. Vol. 17. Part 4. Section 4:
“Living water for a completely new life”
Imagine Jesus with the Samaritan woman at the well. He speaks to her about a different kind of water–a “living water.” What is this water that Jesus promised? What is this water that comes directly from God and gives eternal life? You have already received this water! It is the water of grace and the Holy Spirit! On the day of your baptism, when the priest poured the water over you, God opened the way to eternal life for you. Ever since that day the living water of the Holy Spirit has been flowing like a fountain in your heart. You were born into a new family. Your life is no longer your own, but the new life of the risen Christ, the life of a child of God. This is a reason to celebrate! Along with all those preparing for Easter, begin a new life of joy! God is keeping his promises.”
Our Reading
Source: USCCB.org “John, chapter 4:5-42”
“Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar,
near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.
Jacob’s well was there.
Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well.
It was about noon.
A woman of Samaria came to draw water.
Jesus said to her,
‘Give me a drink.’
His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.
The Samaritan woman said to him,
‘How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?’
—For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.—
Jesus answered and said to her,
‘If you knew the gift of God
and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink, ‘
you would have asked him
and he would have given you living water.’
The woman said to him,
‘Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep;
where then can you get this living water?
Are you greater than our father Jacob,
who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself
with his children and his flocks?’
Jesus answered and said to her,
‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again;
but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst;
the water I shall give will become in him
a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’
The woman said to him,
‘Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty
or have to keep coming here to draw water.
“I can see that you are a prophet.
Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain;
but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.’
Jesus said to her,
‘Believe me, woman, the hour is coming
when you will worship the Father
neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
You people worship what you do not understand;
we worship what we understand,
because salvation is from the Jews.
But the hour is coming, and is now here,
when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth;
and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him.
God is Spirit, and those who worship him
must worship in Spirit and truth.’
The woman said to him,
‘I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Christ;
when he comes, he will tell us everything.’
Jesus said to her,
‘I am he, the one who is speaking with you.’
Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him.
When the Samaritans came to him,
they invited him to stay with them;
and he stayed there two days.
Many more began to believe in him because of his word,
and they said to the woman,
‘We no longer believe because of your word;
for we have heard for ourselves,
and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.’”
Preparing for First Holy Communion
This week covers the “Liturgy of the Eucharist,” including responses and gestures. Children need to be able to participate in the Mass, and preparation will get them ready for their First Holy Communion.
Children are expected to know the following:
“Grace Before Meals.”
“Bless us, O Lord! and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord.
Amen.”
Help your child practice the responses and gestures for the Gospel reading:
Sample:
Priest or Deacon: “A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke”
All: “Glory to you, O Lord.”
“Trace the Sign of the Cross on your forehead lips, and heart.”
Priest or Deacon: (After the reading)
“The Gospel of the Lord.”
All: “Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.” Sit Quietly.
Help your child learn:
“The Mystery of Faith”
Kneel
“We proclaim your Death, O Lord and profess your Resurrection until you come again.”
Stand
Next, comes, “The Lord’s Prayer”
“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.”
Gesture:
Teach your child to extend the arms up, palms open to begin the prayer. This is a gesture of praise.
The Great “Amen”
“At the end of the Eucharistic Prayer, the priest prays the prayer that begins,
“Through him, and with him, and in him..”
At end we answer, “Amen.”
“This is the Great Amen. When we pray the Great Amen, we say “yes” to God’s promises. We praise him for his gifts and saving actions.”
Source: Call to Celebrate Reconciliation & Eucharist Catechist Edition. Our Sunday Visitor Curriculum Division. Chapter 12, Pages 144- 145
Our Art Gallery
In Celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2024
“Legends about Patrick abound; but truth is best served by our seeing two solid qualities in him: He was humble and he was courageous. The determination to accept suffering and success with equal indifference guided the life of God’s instrument for winning most of Ireland for Christ.”
Excellent Video!– St. Patrick HD From Catholic Online
Saint Patrick’s Breastplate
“Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.”
Excerpt from ST. PATRICK’S BREASTPLATE on OurCatholicPrayers.com
An Irish Blessing
Graphic Art Design by Kim N. Buckley for SundaySchoolUpdates.com
Listen To The Irish Priests Sing “Irish Blessings”
From Saints and Angels:
“The word “saint” is given to a Christian person who has died and is worthy of great honor and respect. The name comes from the Latin word sanctus, meaning holy.” Page 4
Saint Patrick’s Day–Sunday, March 17, 2024
Saints and Angels:
We Learn About Saint Patrick
“Patrick, first known as Patricius, was born in Roman Great Britain. His father was a Roman citizen, and his grandfather was a Christian priest. Patrick was only a teenager when his life took a dramatic turn. He was captured by pirates, taken to Ireland, and sold as a slave. For six years he worked for an Irish chief, taking care of sheep and pigs. Lonely, unhappy and longing to escape, he prayed to God every day and night.” Page 37
“Saint Patrick is now the most popular Irish saint.” Page 37
Our Art Project–Painting “Icon” Style
Look in your church to see if you can find an Icon. Usually an icon is religious art, painted on wood that has been covered with gold leaf or paint. It is a religious tradition from the Eastern Church. In my church, there are two paintings, one of Mary and the other of Jesus, over two votive candle racks that are painted in Icon style. Here is a simple craft for creating an Icon, to help the children remember what it is. Your child or children can create the “Icon” by painting an uncoated white paper plate with gold metallic paint for kids–washable and nontoxic. Since we are coming upon Saint Patrick’s Day, rainbows, Celtic crosses, and shamrocks could included for a colorful “Icon.” I suggest pre-punching a hole in each plate and using a knotted string or ribbon to hang the Icon. All your children need to do, is be creative and have a nice, learning experience.
Suggested Homework Activities
Activities about Baptism from MagnifiKid! pages 2-3, 12:
“Thank God for your baptism”
(Note: You can forgo using the holy water in this time of the Corona virus. Simply make the gesture and say a prayer to thank God.)
“When you go to Mass this Sunday, make a slow and reverent sign of the cross with water from the holy water font as you enter the church. Let the water and gesture remind you of what it means to be baptized. Thank God for this new life.”
“Remember the day of your baptism.”
“This week, go in search of some memories of your baptism. You could find some photos, a DVD, your baptismal gown, or your baptismal candle. Ask your parents or grandparents to tell you what hey remember about that wonderful day.”
“Bringing it All Together”
“Make a nice sign of the cross and say this prayer to the Lord:
“Thank you, Lord, for my baptism, and for making me a child of God. Through you, I have received eternal life.“
“Pray Morning”
“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
“The Lord calls us; let us listen to him.”
“Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.”
“Praise to you, Lord, for giving me the Holy Spirit through baptism. Help me to express the joy of being baptized to everyone I meet.”
“WE ARE ALL CHILDREN OF GOD”
BLESSED FIRST RECONCILIATION
PAGE 38
Dynamic Catholic
“The ten Commandments
are a blessing from God
given to his people.
They help us become
the- best-version-
of ourselves, grow in virtue,
and live holy lives.
