“This is my Body, which will be given up for you.”
“Jesus makes himself a gift…He gives himself to us in the Eucharist. He shares in our journey. In Communion he gives us strength; he really helps us. He comes to us. Does a piece of bread make us so strong? Is it bread? It is not really bread. It is the Body of Jesus. Jesus comes into our hearts.”
“Pope Francis want me to love Jesus present in the Eucharist!”
Source: Lessons from Pope Francis for Children Page 15
For Families to Share Together:
Pray the Rosary with your children. Use the Rosary crucifix to cross yourselves:
Recently, I saw a portion of “How to Pray the Rosary” of EWTN. The small part that I saw was so helpful. The speaker, Dr. Edward Sri, stated that there was a “hinge” between the first portion of “Hail Mary” and “Holy Mary” and that the hinge is the name “Jesus.” He suggested that we give the name of Jesus special attention and that we could reflect on one of the Mysteries, when we say His name. I have been using this technique and it makes a huge difference in giving this prayer the depth and reverence it deserves. Try saying the name, “Jesus” with a special emphasis or intonation, that indicates He is God.
How to Pray the Rosary Source: Catholic Child’s Prayer Book By Rev. Thomas J. Donaghy St. Joseph Junior Books, Page 15 “We begin the Rosary with the sign of the Cross (for this is the way that we begin all of our prayers.)
After this, we pray the Apostles’ Creed. This is a very ancient prayer that proclaims the important truths of our faith.
After the Apostle’s Creed, we pray one Our Father, three Hail Marys and one Glory Be.
Now we come to the most important reason we pray the Rosary: to meditate on the Mysteries of our Faith. We proclaim each of the five Mysteries, followed by one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.
Remember, the reason for praying the Rosary is not to tally how many prayers we can say. It is to meditate on God’s love as shown in the lives of Jesus and Mary. This is why we hold the Rosary while we pray, so that we can keep track of the number of prayers we have said.”
Learn the five Luminous Mysteries, “Mysteries of Light: THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD, THE WEDDING OF CANA, THE PROCLAMATION OF THE KINGDOM, THE TRANSFIGURATION, and THE INSTITUTION OF THE EUCHARIST.”
The Apostles’ Creed from Catholic Online
Happening This Week
November 20, 2017 Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne (August 29, 1769 – November 18, 1852) France Then the United States Source: FranciscanMedia.org
“In a short time Rose was a superior and supervisor of the novitiate and a school. But since hearing tales of missionary work in Louisiana as a little girl, her ambition was to go to America and work among the Indians. At 49, she thought this would be her work. With four nuns, she spent 11 weeks at sea en route to New Orleans, and seven weeks more on the Mississippi to St. Louis. She then met one of the many disappointments of her life. The bishop had no place for them to live and work among Native Americans. Instead, he sent her to what she sadly called “the remotest village in the U.S.,” St. Charles, Missouri. With characteristic drive and courage, she founded the first free school for girls west of the Mississippi.”
November 21, 2017 Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Source: FranciscanMedia.org
“This feast celebrates Mary’s presentation in the Temple by her parents Anna and Joachim. While it is not mentioned in Scripture, there is early evidence that this event was celebrated in both the Eastern and Western Churches.”
“Though it cannot be proven historically, Mary’s presentation has an important theological purpose. It continues the impact of the feasts of the Immaculate Conception and of the birth of Mary. It emphasizes that the holiness conferred on Mary from the beginning of her life on earth continued through her early childhood and beyond.”
November 26, 2017 The Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe Source: MagnifiKid! November 26, 2017 Vol. 14 * Part 12* Section 6
“Today we conclude the liturgical year with the Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. This celebration reminds us the Jesus has conquered death and evil. He reigns over the entire universe forever. He calls us to share in his kingship by defeating sin and evil in our own lives. Next Sunday marks the beginning of Advent, a special time to repent of sin and prepare our hearts for the newborn king.” Page 4
We Learn Through Storytelling
This Thursday, November 23, 2017, we celebrate Thanksgiving. Family and friends gather together to express thanks and gratitude for the bounty in our lives. The turkey is the traditional fare, but many families from other cultures add some new and different flavors to the Thanksgiving table. We are all united in this special American feast.
When we gather together at church to celebrate the Mass, we are having a “Thanksgiving Feast,” as well, as “The Mass Is a Eucharist.”
“The word Eucharist means thanksgiving, to say thank you. At Mass, the Church gives thanks to God for the wonderful gift he gave us by sending his Son Jesus. According to the feast days, this thank you also recalls other gifts from God (for example, sending the Holy Spirit on Pentecost or the glory of Mary on the feast of the Assumption, August 15.) Certain prayers of the Mass express our joy throughout the year. Our Father is happy to see his children gathered together at Mass through the love of Jesus. Would you to like to thank him? If so, go to Mass wholeheartedly.” Source: A Missal For Children Page 7 Magnificat * Ignatius
As Catholics, we are able to celebrate the Eucharist, our spiritual Thanksgiving, every day through the daily Mass. The entire Catholic church throughout the world comes together through the celebration of the Eucharist, united, to give thanks to Jesus Christ.
We Learn Through Reading
We Celebrate Through Song
To Hear the Tune:
“Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow” The Doxology
We Learn Through Writing
Perhaps this Thanksgiving, the children can write a “Thank You” to God for the things that make them feel grateful.
We Celebrate Through Art
Family Thanksgiving “Gratitude Wreaths”
This craft uses a cardboard cake platter,or uncoated white paper plates, and gold metallic nontoxic children’s tempera paint. Have the children cut out “leaf” shapes from construction paper to write words that are a part of being thankful, then glue onto the plates which have been painted gold earlier. The plates can be painted with fingers, brushes, or sponges. Add Thanksgiving or fall stickers. Punch a hole at top and use yarn or ribbon to hang the wreath.
A Traditional Young Kids’ Thanksgiving Art Project–The Handprint Turkey
The children paint their hands and make a handprint of a turkey on a paper plate or piece of white paper. Use washable paints–they may need to make brown by mixing colors–then use a finger or small brush to add legs, feet, and face and beak. They can use markers to write their names or add “Happy Thanksgiving.” The date would be nice too. The paint cleans up easily off hands and anything else. Have paper towels handy.
