IHM Catholic EdNotes Spring 2025

Vol ume5,I s s ueNo. 3

Tr u s ti nGo d.

Ho pei nGo ds t i l l .

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Dear Friends, Welcome to our Spring 2025 issue of the IHM Catholic EdNotes!

OUR CREATIVE CONTRIBUTORS Karen Creely Sister Joyce Bell IHM Sister Mary Sue Carwile IHM Sister Theresa Duffy IHM Sister Marie Gipprich IHM Sister Judith Kathleen Knowlton IHM Kim Lamb Sister Margaret Langer IHM Sister Patricia McCormack IHM Sister Edward William Quinn IHM Sister Eileen Reilly IHM Sister Christina Marie Roberts IHM Sister Amanda Marie Russell IHM Sister Patricia Scanlon IHM Sister Kathleen Monica Schipani Sister Monica Therese Sicilia IHM Sister Mary Anne Sweeney IHM

Our cover for this edition reminds us of the HOPE that the Passion of the Cross holds for each of us. As we enter into the liturgical season of Lent, our readings, traditions and actions remind us daily of this sacred time the Church reserves for us to become aware of the Hope that encircles the pain and suffering of our world, our country and our own lives. It is this Hope that bring peace in the midst of our struggles and pain.

Our IHM Sisters and our dedicated lay colleagues, as we journey together, we remind one another and those we encounter daily to "Trust in God! Hope in God Still." (Psalm 42). May Hope accompany you during this Lenten journey and may peace dwell in you hearts.

We hope to inspire and assist you with the sacred work of Catholic education through these engaging, informative and interesting features that can support your best practices, Pre-K through Grade 12, whether in a catechetical parish program or a Catholic school setting.

If you have any comments or suggestions, please contact us: ihmcatholicednotes@gmail.com

God bless you for your dedication to Catholic education!

The IHM Charism Connection Theresa Maxis IHM – Woman of Courage and Confidence in God’s Providence As we make our way through the day-to-day opportunities and challenges of life, Mother Theresa Maxis IHM can offer us insight into cultivating resilience! She is the co-founder of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. With grace and grit, she navigated obstacles and never gave up hope, responding to the call to mission with confidence in God’s Boundless Love!

Mother Theresa’s life prepared her for her role of pilgrim. Let’s consider the virtues of a pilgrim: • readiness to risk personal mistakes and failures, insecurities, and dangers in searching out God and God’s Will • caution in settling down into familiar and reassuring surroundings • awareness of others that prompts encouragement and love for those who share the pilgrimage • confidence in the Lord’s power in the future as well as in the past • determination to faithfully follow the vision, knowing the vision is not yet fully defined • ready to respond as the vision becomes clearer through life’s unfolding journey One example would be her sense of God’s call to mission for her, as well as the misunderstandings and difficulties she experienced in her life. Most obviously, her lifetime of constant travel and transplantation reveals the excitement, the insecurity, great pain as well as the fruitfulness of the pilgrim’s calling.

Born in 1810 in Baltimore, Theresa was the daughter of a Haitian refugee, Betsy Duchemin and Arthur Howard, a British military officer. Betsy’s grandfather, whose name was Maxis was an African American slave in Haiti. This became the surname that Theresa used. Theresa’s parents were not married and she never knew her father.

Theresa was raised as a Haitian American by her mother’s guardians, the Duchemin family, who provided education for her as they had for her mother. She attended a school established for Haitian refugee children in Baltimore. In 1829 the three women who conducted the school along with Theresa formed a new religious congregation. Their primary work was to teach children from Haitian and African descent. That congregation, the Oblate Sisters of Providence, still exists today and still considers Theresa a founding member.

From her early days Theresa was called to risk personal mistakes and failures, to live with insecurities, to have faith in God and confidence that the Lord was guiding her into an unknown future. Amid our own risks today, let us pray for the confidence and trust that Mother Theresa had in God’s Providential plan. You, too, have these virtues of life – readiness, caution, awareness, confidence, and determination! Respond to God’s graces and watch what happens! As pilgrims, along with Mother Theresa, we, too, “walk by faith and not by sight!”

On December 24, 2024, Pope Francis opened the Holy Door to begin a Jubilee Year for 2025. It is the tradition of the Church to celebrate such a year every 25 years, to give every generation a chance to experience a special time of grace in their lifetime.

“Jubilee,” the name given to a particular year, comes from the instrument used to mark its beginning. The instrument is called the yoble, the ram’s horn that was used to proclaim the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) for the Jewish people. In the bible, a Jubilee year was marked every 50 years to be marked as a time to re-establish a proper relationship with God, one another, and all creation. Pope Paul 11 ordained that a jubilee year be celebrated every 25 years.

The theme for this Jubilee year is “Pilgrims of Hope.” The logo above represents this theme, showing four stylized figures which represent all humankind coming from the four corners of the earth. The are shown as embracing one another in solidarity which should unite all people.

The figure in the front holds the cross. It is a sign of faith and hope. The rough waves under the figures indicates that our life journey is not always calm but often requires a greater call for hope. The significant thing about this logo is the cross itself. It is elongated and turns into an anchor, the symbol of hope. The cross seems to be dynamic, stretching out to all people so that no one is left alone.

Pope Francis, in his letter concerning the Jubilee year, states “We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us, and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision.” In these very difficult and unsure times, these words touch the hearts of all of us. They speak of the desire within each one to be open to God’s plan, knowing that God will be with us always on this journey. We are pilgrim people, which means we travel together toward a destination. No one walks this path alone. It is in the journey that we become one!

Call to Worship Good morning.

On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis opened the Holy Door at Saint Peter’s Basilica, in the Vatican, to officially begin the Jubilee Year of HOPE for 2025. At our School Mass today, we also celebrate the phenomenal grace of this Jubilee Year of HOPE. During this year, Pope Francis is calling us to remember the words of Saint Paul that “HOPE does not disappoint since the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” That is why our Holy Father has chosen “Pilgrims of HOPE” as the theme for this special year.

As pilgrims, we are all on a journey to our heavenly home.

Jesus has promised to not only welcome us to heaven at the end of our journey, but also to walk with us every step of the way: in sunshine and rain, in joy and in suffering.

With confidence and trust, we pray to our loving Lord to ANCHOR our souls in HOPE. may we also be SIGNS of HOPE to everyone we meet this year.

Jubilee Year Intercessions

Priest:

“HOPE does not disappoint.” With faith and trust, we place our needs and the needs of the world in the hands of our loving God.

Our response is: Lord, hear our prayer.

Reader:

“Those who HOPE in the Lord will renew their strength.”

For Pope Francis and all who shepherd the Church, that they may be signs of HOPE to all whom they serve, we pray…

“The Lord delights in those who fear Him, in those who put their HOPE in His unfailing love.”

For the leaders of our country and throughout the world, that they may govern with compassion and justice, ever striving for the HOPE of lasting peace everywhere, we pray…

“Rejoice in HOPE, be patient under trial, and persevere in prayer.”

For all who are suffering with sickness, sadness, or the effects of violence or natural disasters, that they may know the miracle of HOPE and the strength of a helping hand, we pray…

“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to give you a future and a HOPE.” For all of our benefactors, that they will be abundantly blessed for their generosity to our school and for their HOPE in the future of Catholic Education, we pray…

“But as for me, I watch in HOPE for the Lord.”

For those students who are preparing for First Penance or First Eucharist, that they will overflow with HOPE as they grow in their friendship with Jesus, we pray…

“Hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.”

For the Confirmation Class, that the graces of faith, HOPE, and charity will increase in their hearts, as they are embraced by the power of the Holy Spirit, we pray…

“God has caused us to be born again to a living HOPE through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

For all who have died, that they may experience the HOPE of the resurrection in heaven, we pray…

“May the God of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace in believing.”

For our faculty, staff, students, and their families, that we will all be true “Pilgrims of HOPE” each day during this Jubilee Year of HOPE, we pray…

Priest:

God of HOPE, thank You for answering our prayers.

Keep us anchored in HOPE as we journey together to heaven. This we ask through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Ash Wednesday 2025 Call to Prayer:

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.

Our Lenten journey this year takes place during the Jubilee Year of HOPE. The theme for Jubilee 2025 is “Pilgrims of HOPE.” As “pilgrims” Jesus invites us to journey with Him to Calvary by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, so that we will also experience the HOPE and JOY of Easter and one day – heaven.

We pray today that these 40 sacred days will be a Jubilee of HOPE, anchored in forgiveness and mercy; loving God and loving our neighbor with all our hearts.

Gathering Song:

Lift High the Cross: Verses 1 and 2

Opening Prayer:

Father in heaven, bless our Lenten journey with Jesus and GIVE US HEARTS OF HOPE. Help us to be more like Your Son. Inspire us by His love and guide us by His example to be true “Pilgrims of HOPE.” This we ask through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

First Reading:

Joel 2: 12-18 Return to the Lord with your whole heart

Sung Response:

Psalm 113 – Loving and Forgiving

Gospel Acclamation: Praise to You, Lord, Jesus Christ, King of Endless Glory

Gospel:

Matthew 6:1-6, 16 – 18 Pray – Fast- Give Alms in secret

Distribution of Ashes We will now receive “Ashes” which were the palms that were burned from Palm Sunday. They are a sign that we are entering into a season of penance. They remind us how precious time is and how we should use each day to grow closer to God.

“Pay it Forward” Outreach and Service Announcements for Each Grade Intercessions Prayer:

Father in heaven, bless our Lenten journey and all those who will journey with us in spirit and faith.

Response:

GIVE US HEARTS OF HOPE

For the leaders of our Church, our country, and our world, that they may lead their people with courage and compassion, let us pray to the Lord...

For all in need of healing, that they may find hope and strength in knowing that Jesus carries their cross with them, let us pray to the Lord…

For all of us here, that we may use this time of Lent to come to know Jesus better and to share His generous and forgiving love with others, as “Pilgrims of Hope,” let us pray to the Lord…

For all those whose journey on earth has ended, that they may know the Easter joy of heaven, let us pray to the Lord…

Prayer:

Loving Father, please accept our prayers and hopes for this Lenten season. May this holy time fill us with us with love and compassion that we may walk with Jesus to Calvary and rise with Him at Easter. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Closing Prayer:

Student’s Prayer for Lent There is a very special prayer that began in the Church with the desert Fathers and Mothers over 1600 years ago. It is called “The Jesus Prayer.” The Jesus Prayer is very short, but it is very powerful. It repeats the cry of the publican and the blind man in the Gospel. Let us pray the Jesus Prayer three times now and often all throughout Lent.

LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD, HAVE MERCY ON ME, A SINNER.

Closing Hymn:

Lift High the Cross: Verses 3 and 4

Tuesday Lenten Prayers 2025 First Week of Lent Sign of the Cross:

In the name of the Father…

Call to Prayer:

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. - Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

Introduction:

During these sacred days of Lent, we are asking Our Lord to GIVE US HEARTS OF HOPE - filled with KINDNESS, BROTHERHOOD, MERCY, HOPE, and LOVE. Each Tuesday, we will pray for the grace to live one specific virtue. We will also remember one holy person from the love story of Calvary, who witnessed to that virtue. We will ask him or her to intercede for us on our Lenten journey and for all who need our prayers.

This week, we think of Veronica and her Kindness.

At the Sixth Station, we see Veronica brave the angry crowd and wipe the tears and blood from Jesus’ face.

What a small deed of kindness! What a gigantic act of love for Jesus! “Nothing is small if it is done with great love.” We, too, are often asked to step out of the crowd and offer kindness to someone.

Intercessions:

The Response is: GIVE US HEARTS OF HOPE!

Help us when we are afraid to do the right thing when no one else does, we pray to the Lord…

Help us to intentionally do one kind deed today, we pray to the Lord…

Help us to be grateful for our parents, teachers, doctors, nurses, and essential workers who have “wiped the face” of so many in kindness, we pray to the Lord…

Pray Together:

“The Jesus Prayer” (3x)

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Sign of the Cross:

In the name…

Second Week of Lent Sign of the Cross:

In the name…

Call to Prayer:

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. - Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

Introduction:

This week, we think about Simon and his Brotherhood with and for Jesus. Jesus really needed Simon’s help and support and Simon was “there” for Him by helping Jesus carry His heavy cross.

Brothers help and support. Let us pick up our own cross and try to share the burden of someone else’s cross today.

Intercessions:

The Response is: GIVE US HEARTS OF HOPE! For the grace to carry our own cross cheerfully today, we pray to the Lord…

For the grace to help others to carry their cross today, we pray to the Lord…

For special graces for all those who are carrying very heavy crosses, especially the sick, the grieving, and those who are unemployed, we pray to the Lord…

Pray Together:

“The Jesus Prayer” (3x)

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Sign of the Cross:

In the name…

Third Week of Lent Sign of the Cross:

In the name…

Call to Prayer:

We adore You O Christ and we bless You. - Because by Your holy cross You have redeemed the world.

Introduction:

This week, we think about Peter and the virtue of Mercy. Mercy is the gift that Jesus gives to us and the gift we offer to each other through forgiveness.

Peter betrayed Jesus not just once, but three times.

He was sorry for what he had done for the rest of his life, but Peter was also grateful for the mercy and forgiveness of Jesus. This week, we pray to be truly sorry for our sins and to share mercy with one another.

Intercessions:

The Response is: GIVE US HEARTS OF HOPE! We are sorry for our sins of thought, word and deed, we pray to the Lord…

We are sorry for failing to forgive others, we pray to the Lord…

We are grateful for the grace of new beginnings, especially through the Sacrament of Penance, we pray to the Lord…

Pray Together:

“The Jesus Prayer” (3x)

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Sign of the Cross:

In the name…

Fourth Week of Lent Sign of the Cross:

In the name…

Call to Prayer:

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. - Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

Introduction:

This week, we think about Dismas, the Good Thief, and the virtue of Hope. Dismas knew that he was a sinner, but he also believed in his heart that Jesus would find a place in His Kingdom, even for Dismas, if he just asked. Because of his hope, Dismas entered the Kingdom of heaven that very day.

Intercessions:

The Response is: GIVE US HEARTS OF HOPE! For the grace to admit that we are sinners, we pray to the Lord…

For the virtue of Hope to believe in the promise of heaven, we pray to the Lord…

For the priceless blessing of seeing God face to face in heaven, we pray to the Lord…

Pray Together:

“The Jesus Prayer” (3x)

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God have mercy on me, a sinner.

Sign of the Cross:

In the name…

Fifth Week of Lent Sign of the Cross:

In the name…

Call to Prayer:

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. - Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

Introduction:

This week, we think of Mary and the virtue of Love. Mary teaches us that real love means sacrifice and the willingness to forgive. Mary’s heart was broken, but her strong love kept her standing by the Cross, forgiving all those who hurt or betrayed her Son, Jesus.

Intercessions:

The Response is: GIVE US HEARTS OF HOPE!

For the generosity we need to show our love by many little sacrifices today, we pray to the Lord…

For the grace of a forgiving heart, especially if we have been hurt by a friend or a family member, we pray to the Lord…

For all who are dying, that they will know that Mary is beside them with her love, to share their pain and to bring them to heaven, we pray to the Lord…

Pray Together:

“The Jesus Prayer” (3x)

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God have mercy on me, a sinner Sign of the Cross:

In the name…

Prayer around the Cross Items needed: • • • • • •

A cloth for Sacred Space Soft music A large Cardboard cross (This can be hung in the classroom for Lent) Children need a pen, coloring pencils or marker Cut out little cardboard crosses: one for each student.

The children need to learn the response: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you for by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Sacred Space: Place the purple cloth in the center. On it, place a large cardboard cross. The cross needs to be large enough for each student to glue their little cross with Jesus printed on it, or the older students may prefer the rectangular shape with their Lenten resolution written on to it.

Leader: During this holy season of Lent, we are on a journey of faith. Lent invites us to turn towards God and live as Jesus asked us to. God our Father, help us to look into our hearts and see if we are living as Jesus showed us.

Leader: You called us to be people of prayer.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Leader: You call us to be people of peace.

All: Christ, have mercy.

Leader: You call us to be people of love.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Opening Prayer: Leader: Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. We ask that you help us listen carefully to your words. Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

All: Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Leader: Lent is a six-week period when we focus on events in the life of Jesus.

During these six weeks we are invited to think about things that Jesus said and did.

During Lent we move together towards Good Friday, the day that Jesus died on the cross, and we think of Easter Sunday, when Jesus rose from the dead.

Reader 1: During Lent, with our eyes on Jesus, we try to spend more time at prayer, more time listening and talking to God.

Reader 2: During Lent, with our eyes on Jesus, we try to be more aware of the needs of others, and to share our time and our money with those who are less well off than we are; the homeless and the poor.

Reader 3: During Lent, with our eyes on Jesus, we try to grow stronger by learning to say “no” to our sins and our failings, and by sometimes even saying “no” to the things we enjoy – such as sweets, TV, money etc.

Scripture Reading: It was about noontime, but darkness (like that from an eclipse of the sun) had settled over the whole land. This lasted until mid-afternoon. Jesus, having been on the cross three hours, uttered a loud cry and said: “Father, into your hands I give you my spirit.” After he said this, he died. Upon seeing what had happened, a soldier gave glory to God and cried out: “Surely this was an innocent man.”

The Gospel of the Lord

All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Play soft music in the background.

Leader: Close your eyes for a few moments. Thank Jesus for loving you in such a special and generous way. Talk to Jesus about what is happening in your life. Use your inside voice.

Leader: Invite the older students to write a Lenten resolution and/or younger students to color the little cut out crosses with Jesus printed on them. They could use their favorite color to do so. Allow time to do the task. Invite each student to attach the written resolution or the colored cross to the large cross.

Intersperse attaching the resolutions or colored crosses by saying together…

All: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you for by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Reader 4: Jesus, please receive our good intentions (if writing Lenten resolution) OR Jesus, please receive our love and our thanks (if coloring the cross) Help us to be true to our love and promises through all of Lent. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you for by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Closing Prayer: Jesus, during this holy season of Lent, we ask you to be with us.

Help us to follow you always. May we be people of prayer, peace and love. Amen.

Hymn of choice or end in silence

Formative Parenting

Cultivating Character in Children A Ministry of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Immaculata, Pennsylvania

LENT

If you were charged a nd jailed for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? What a great question to consider during the sacred season of Lent! If your c hildren were a sked to give five examples of evidence that God is central to your family, what responses would they o ffer? What sacred space, time, and practices do you create for your family in order to pass o n a heritage of faith? Your role as primary evangelizer challenges you to give to your c hildren a sense of the sacred, knowledge of God, and formation in faith a nd morals that transcend the popular culture. We live in a culture that markets materialism, individualism, drugs, sex, and v iolence. We must c hoose to be countercultural by nurturing the spirit; fostering community; and practicing the moral virtues o f prudence, j ustice, temperance, a nd fortitude. You teach this, both formally and informally, as you create family spiritual heritage. This newsletter explores possibilities for c ultivating character within the context of the liturgical season o f L ent.

Through the liturgical seasons, the Church leads us to “re-­‐read and re-­‐live the great events o f salvation history in the ‘today’ o f her liturgy” (CCC #1095). D uring a season of 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday until Holy Thursday, we contemplate the passion, crucifixion, a nd death of Jesus. We face o ur o wn sinfulness a nd need for repentance. We imitate J esus, who went into the wilderness for 40 days to fast a nd pray before he began the public m inistry that led to his crucifixion. With violet/purple colors to focus us, we enter into a season of penance a s a preparation for the eventual commemoration of the Passion o f C hrist and the feast of the Resurrection.

Lent begins with the sobering imperatives of Ash Wednesday: “Remember that you are dust a nd to dust you will return” and “Repent and believe the Good News.” The Gospel of Ash Wednesday sets the direction for the season. J esus c hallenged his audience to a lmsgiving, prayer, and fasting, and gave the caution to “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them” (Mt. 6:1-­‐6, 16-­‐18). The Scripture readings for the successive days in L ent describe true fasting; c hange o f heart; carrying your cross; loving your enemies; being compassionate and forgiving; making j ustice your a im; a nd, in short, modeling o urselves o n J esus.

The last Sunday of Lent, P assion Sunday/Palm Sunday, is the doorway to Holy Week with the Triduum beginning at dusk o n Holy Thursday and ending on Easter Sunday. On Passion Sunday Jesus was hailed a s k ing; the people could not do enough for him. Five days later those same people y elled, “Crucify him!” Jesus remained consistent regardless of the environment or reception of people. That is but one of many lessons to learn from Palm Sunday (Jn. 12:12-­‐19). On Holy Thursday C hristians re-­‐ live the Last Supper. J esus’ conversation a t the supper was packed with significance since he knew it would be the last conversation before his death. Take time to read slowly the words he offered for the formation of your soul (John 13-­‐17). Apply the m essage to your present life. In quiet hours o f a doration at an Altar of Repose take the place of the Apostles who slept while Jesus suffered his a gony in the garden. Observe him before the illegal trial of the Sanhedrin. See through his eyes a nd feel what he felt a nd compare that to his responses (Jn. 18:1-­‐27). Make Good Friday reflective. Participate in the liturgy a nd veneration of the C ross. Witness J esus before Pilate (Jn. 18:28-­‐40) and accompany him to Calvary (Jn. 19:1-­‐37). Through every event watch a nd hear what was done to Jesus and learn from his response. Vigil with his mother as she holds his dead body and buries him, filled with sorrow but without bitterness (Jn. 19:38-­‐42). Finally, let yourself feel the emptiness o f Friday evening and Saturday, the void caused by the death o f J esus. Teach these lessons to your children. Enter into the Paschal mysteries together.

____________________________________________________________________________________ Dr. Patricia M. McCormack, IHM website: www.ParentTeacherSupport.org ©IHM Formative Support Services. All Rights Reserved.

PRAYER – Deepen your relationship w ith Jesus; speak and listen; develop a recollected spirit; and w alk with Jesus to his crucifixion and b urial.

• Participate in weekday Mass a nd discuss the Scriptures for the day.

• Read the Gospel of the day a t a family time. Discuss it or pause for a full m inute of silence.

• M editate o n the sorrowful mysteries o f the Rosary.

• Stop all activity, dim house lights, and play L enten music 15 minutes before bedtime.

• Pray the Stations of the Cross.

• Keep a child’s version o f the Stations of the Cross at the family prayer center or a t the center of the meal table.

Feature o ne Station a day by putting a picture o f it on a table easel where it can be seen easily. Teach your children to put themselves into the picture a nd to talk with Jesus a bout what is happening. For instance, the first Station: J esus is condemned to death. Be Pilate because sometimes you j udge others unjustly. Or be a n official or soldier who is present for the interrogation because sometimes you stand by a nd watch injustice. Or be the chief priest who handed J esus over a nd demanded his death because sometimes you are. Or ask Jesus to help you to know how to respond when you feel picked on, misjudged, or treated unfairly.

• Make the Good Friday hours of 12-­‐3 p.m. solemn.

Eliminate TV, stereo, Internet, etc. Create a m ini-­‐retreat experience for your c hildren. Participate in c hurch services if possible.

• Plan a veneration of the family crucifix.

FASTING – Make efforts to acquire “mastery over your instincts and freedom of heart” (CCC. #2043) through voluntary acts of self-­‐denial.

Ash Wednesday a nd Good Friday are days of fast a nd abstinence, a nd all Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence.

Fasting, limiting o neself to one full m eal a nd two light meals if necessary to maintain strength, o bliges a ll between the ages of 19 a nd 59 o n Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Abstinence, refraining from eating m eat, begins a t a ge 14 and includes a ll the Fridays of Lent, Ash Wednesday, a nd Good Friday.

Fasting can also be a spiritual exercise that has no a ge limit. Teach your c hildren an authentic sense of penance and encourage them to do acts of penance suitable to their a ge, i.e., deny themselves first place in a game; deny themselves a favorite TV show to make time for a prayer practice; or do a hidden act of kindness, uniting each

gesture with Jesus in his Passion a nd his m ission. As a family, expand your understanding of fasting to include holy deeds that cost your time a nd preferences for the good o f others. For example: • M editate o n Isaiah 58:6-­‐10. Apply its m essage to daily living: This, rather is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the o ppressed and the homeless; c lothing the naked when you see them, a nd not turning your back o n your o wn. . . remove from your midst oppression, false accusation a nd malicious speech, a nd satisfy the afflicted.

• Eliminate a life-­‐blocker attitude by exercising its companion v irtue. For instance, William Arthur Ward suggested this: Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.

Fast from anger; feast on patience.

Fast from pessimism; feast o n o ptimism.

Fast from complaining; feast on a ppreciation.

Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.

Fast from self-­‐concern; feast o n compassion for others.

Fast from discouragement; feast o n hope.

Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence.

ALMSGIVING – Share w ith others in need as an expression of love for God: “. . . giving alms to t he poor is one of the chief witnesses to fraternal charity; it is also a work of justice p leasing to God.” (CCC #2447) • Practice the spiritual works of m ercy. Help children to recognize compassion. Identify how J esus lived the spiritual works of m ercy during his Passion: warn the sinner, instruct the ignorant, pray for the living and dead, forgive all injuries, bear wrongs patiently, a nd counsel the doubtful.

• Expand your understanding of the corporal works of mercy to move beyond literal interpretation. These are the corporal works of mercy: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, visit the sick, shelter the homeless, v isit the imprisoned, bury the dead. For example, in a literal sense, “Feed the hungry” includes giving food to a person or to a food drive; helping in a food pantry/kitchen; or making a financial donation. It a lso includes viewing hunger a s a need for friendship, acceptance, validation, appreciation, etc.

____________________________________________________________________________________ Dr. Patricia M. McCormack, IHM website: www.ParentTeacherSupport.org ©IHM Formative Support Services. All Rights Reserved.

Dr. Patricia McCormack, IHM, a former Catholic schoolteacher and catechist, is a formation education consultant, an author of several books as well as the PARENT PARTNERSHIP HANDBOOK feature of Today’s Catholic Teacher, and director of IHM Formative Support for Parents and Teachers, Arlington, VA. She speaks and writes frequently on topics of child formation. Reach her at DrPatMcCormack@aol.com.

This article originally appeared in the (January/February 2004) issue of Today’s Catholic Teacher, © Peter Li, Inc. Reproduced with permission. All rights reserved. This article is protected by United States copyright and other intellectual property laws and may not be reproduced, rewritten, distributed, redisseminated, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast, directly or indirectly, in any medium without the prior written permission of Peter Li, Inc.

____________________________________________________________________________________ Dr. Patricia M. McCormack, IHM website: www.ParentTeacherSupport.org ©IHM Formative Support Services. All Rights Reserved.

Am I Being Effective?

YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY FEBRUARY 2025

Pilgrims of Hope amid the ever-changing affect of youth and young adults!

IN THIS ISSUE Cultivators of God’s Seeds A short reflection on the impact of perseverance in ministry How to Cultivate Deep Roots A few ideas to help your youth and young adults to deepen their relationship with God Let God Be God Allow the Litany of Humility to water your soul as you let God do His good work in the hearts of His children

Cultivators of God’s Seeds

By Sr. Amanda Marie Russell, IHM

This year I have an unusually difficult group of 8th grade students. As teachers and ministers we all remember that one group who pushed you to your limits! My interactions with these middleschoolers take every ounce of my energy. I find myself questioning if they are even taking anything away from what I have been teaching them. Are my efforts bearing fruit?

The greatest struggle has been their affect. I feel like they just come daily to my classroom in Religion and simply stare at me. I am bouncing off the walls sharing the Good News in engaging and personal ways and I get ‘nothing’. And then there are those moments of light when a student will share something in their journal or simply say in passing, “I really liked that story you shared today.” I may not be opening their hearts to profound transformation, but God is slowly working.

In this Jubilee Year of Hope, I have found myself drawn to the line in Pope Francis’ prayer, “may your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.” We have been told numerous times as ministers that God is the Sower and He makes the growth.

However, when we face the reality of little perceived growth, we can begin to question our effectiveness. Let us not be afraid of what we can see. Let us entrust the slow, quiet work of transformation to God as we seek to be tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel!

Am I Being Effective?

Let God Be God Praying the Litany of Humility

How to Cultivate Deep Roots A Few Tips

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Do not make assumptions about how God is working in each youth or young adult. Affirm the growth you see by paying attention to the little things.

Spend more time listening to what is going on in his or her heart than explaining what they should be doing to grow in their relationship with God. Guide them to make their lives more Eucharistic—bring them to Eucharistic Adoration and to Mass. Make a commitment to spending at least 10 minutes before the Blessed Sacrament yourself praying for the youth in your care.

Give your youth the opportunity to develop a safe space for journaling their thoughts. Take the time to respond to their questions and uncertainties.

Make room for quiet. Teach your youth and young adults forms of contemplative, meditative or centering prayer forms to be able to continue these experiences outside of your ministerial setting.

Check on them and help them to adjust their prayer as needed.

Foster a sense of real community through celebrations and service.

Connections are made over time and can never be forced. Keep inviting and welcome new ideas for bringing youth together!

I discovered this prayer when I was back in high school. I was consumed by a false sense of religious fervor. My youth minister called me out on my pride and invited me to pray this Litany.

Back then I felt its purpose was to humble my big ego. Now as I work with youth every day and have the privilege to see how God is moving in their hearts, I pray this Litany as a form of trust and surrender. These words remind me of my role as a cultivator of God’s seeds. May we never worry about our effectiveness. It is not ours to have anyways! Join me in praying this Litany of Humility that we may surrender our own control to let God complete the good work He has already begun in His beloved sons and daughters.

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.

From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, Jesus. (repeat after each line) From the desire of being loved, From the desire of being extolled, From the desire of being honored, From the desire of being praised, From the desire of being preferred to others, From the desire of being consulted, From the desire of being approved, From the fear of being humiliated, From the fear of being despised, From the fear of suffering rebukes, From the fear of being calumniated, From the fear of being forgotten, From the fear of being ridiculed, From the fear of being wronged, From the fear of being suspected, That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. (repeat after each line) That others may be esteemed more than I, That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease, That others may be chosen and I set aside, That others may be praised and I unnoticed, That others may be preferred to me in everything, That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should,

INCLUSION: IS IT A POSSIBILITY? Is inclusion a possibility for us?

That was the question that Mary and Brendan Corrigan faced as their youngest son, Michael at age 8 announced that he wanted to go to school like his brothers. Michael has Down Syndrome, so needless to say, the challenge that lay before these long time supporters of Catholic Education was a steep one. How could they make this happen for their fourth son, knowing that their other boys had been enrolled at Saint Joseph Catholic School in Downingtown, PA for several years.

Mary Corrigan, Michael’s mother had homeschooled her boys from their pre-school days. Mary always made it clear to her boys that they could go to their parish school whenever they wanted to do that.

Their oldest son Liam made that choice at grade 4. Then Tommy,

the next oldest son, asked to go to Saint Joe’s at grade 7, followed by James who made his choice at grade 5. At the end of grade 3, it seemed right for Michael to follow his brothers into Saint Joe’s School. As they thought about the enrollment process, the Corrigans wondered, is this a possibility for us?

Knowing that the Archdiocese of Philadelphia had been promoting inclusion through their efforts with the Rising Together Alliance whose mission is to provide children with disabilities the opportunity to receive a Catholic Education in their parish school with their siblings, the Corrigans approached Sister Lisa Golden, IHM, the principal at their parish school.

Michael was accepted as a fourth grade student but clearly this was going to be a learning experience for all. Mary, Michael's mother applied for a job as a teaching

assistant at the school with the hope that she would always be “not too far away” when needed.

She wanted to be there when situations with behaviors arose, when the staff might need some guidance with cues in discipline or simply as a resource for some educational tips. Michael’s mother admits that his grade four experience was a difficult year as everybody was learning, including herself. How much guidance was needed or appropriate? Once again, they wondered, was inclusion a possibility? The family decided that clearly this was something that needed to be given over to God in prayerful trust.

Mary Corrigan relates that God’s guidance is clearly evident to her now in Michael's fifth grade year.

Michael is up every morning, gets himself dressed and makes his own lunch. “He is ready to go 100%,” says Mom.

“Miss Shelsy has been an answer to our prayer; she has adjusted her lessons to fit Michael’s needs, has created worksheets that are appropriate and has been willing to learn about and understand Michael’s style of learning. We are aware that Michael may not be learning as much content as he learned in his homeschooling days, but he is learning from his peers lessons that are ever so important for his social growth.

Michael is learning how to interact with others, his sentence structure has grown strong and he is better able to follow directions.

Truly, his peers have made a difference in his life!”

It takes a team effort to make inclusion work. Another key player in this effort has been his personal aide, Mrs. Cherie Bratter. Making sure that Michael has what he

needs is not necessarily what other students his age may need or be able to do. Cherie has had to adapt to using strategies that are best for Michael. She works on learning all that she can. Recently, Cherie spent a whole Saturday attending a conference given by the Down Syndrome Association of Delaware in an effort to learn some of these new strategies for inclusion and behavior management. Cherie says “Working with Michael has been such a blessing. . . I have seen so much growth in him.”

The principal of Saint Joseph School, Sister Lisa Golden, IHM has this to say, “Michael brings so much joy to our school community with his infectious smile and warm greeting to everyone he meets. His enthusiasm is contagious, brightening hallways with his cheerful ‘Good Morning’ and high fives.”

Mary Corrigan says that she has had to often renew her commitment to put this inclusion effort into the hands of God. She too, has had to understand that Michael is a member of the school community and needs to learn a sense of independence as well as how to care for others. Mary is confident that Michael’s education will be as God wants it to be and that one day all her children will have graduated from Saint Joseph’s and Bishop Shanahan Catholic High School as well.

Mary loves having all her children in Catholic School. Is Inclusion for her family a possibility - it is definitely a possibility that is working its way into a reality one day at a time!

GPS for Success Recalculating Positive Social and Emotional Strategies which create healthy climate and learning in the classroom.

Why Reading is Important to a Child’s Development There is no question that literacy is an essential element to a child’s development and opens the door to a brighter future. It has been said that the more students read or are read to for fun on their own time and at home, the higher their reading scores, generally.

Reading and being read to has an impact that extends beyond just hearing stories.

Children who are read to at least three times a week by a family member are almost twice as likely to score in the top 25% in reading compared to children who are read to less than 3 times a week.

Language and literacy develop together as a baby grows from infant to toddler, to a school-aged child and older. This development happens in an expected order, through social interactions.

Babies’ and toddlers’ brains grow quickly, and the first three years are critical for language development. Handing a child an iPad or having them use a computer program to learn means they will miss important social interactions. And, once that opportunity passes, it’s hard to make up. The brain cells that would have been nurtured and developed start to fade away.

Building literacy and language skills help children be kindergarten ready, so they enter school with a love of books and ready to learn. This is important for school success because eventually they move from learning to read, to reading to learn. At that point, if children struggle with reading, they struggle with learning. This is also important for selfesteem.

Making reading a part of a child’s bedtime routine early on is beneficial. This helps make bedtime go more smoothly and can lead to a lifelong habit. Reading as you drift off to sleep rather than looking at a stimulating screen helps people of all ages sleep better!

Explore any books which capture a child’s fancy, making reading fun!

Don’t stop reading to your children when they get older. The books change, but parents/ teachers can still read to children and children to parents/teachers.

“Reading gives us somewhere to go when we have to stay where we are.”

Mason Cooly

Suggested Reading List For The Development of Fundamental Social and Emotional Skills Being a Good Friend • • • • •

The Not-So-Friendly Friend by Christina Furnival How to Be a Friend by Laurie Krasny Brown How to SPOT a Best Friend by Ben Birdsong Why Will No One Play with Me? by Caroline Macguire Will You Be My Friend? by Sam Mc Bratney

Being Responsible • • • • •

I Just Forgot by Mercer Mayer What If Everybody Did That? by Ellen Javerncik A Little SPOT of Responsibility by Diane Alber Fix it With Focus by Bryann Smith The Road to Sorry by Mandy Sweetwater

Cooperation • • • • •

Yoga Friends by Miriam Gates Red and Yellow Noisy Night by Josh Selig Colors vs. Shapes by Mike Boldt A House in the Woods by Inga Moore That Fruit is Mine by Anuska Allepuz

Cooperative Teamwork • • • • •

Teamwork Isn’t My Thing & I Don’t Like to Share by Julia Cook We’re Better Together by Eileen Spinelli We Are All Connected by Gabi Barica A Little SPOT of Teamwork by Diane Alber Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Land

Coping Skills • • • • •

How Big Are Your Worries Little Bear – Jayneen Sanders Ruby Finds a Worry by Tom Percival When Worry Takes Hold by Liz Haske When My Worries Get Too Big by Kari Dunn Buron Wilma Jean – The Worry Machine by Julia Cook

Empathy • • • • •

The Rabbit Listened by Cari Doerrfield I Am Human Book of Empathy by Susa Verde Hey, Little Ant by Phillip M. Hoose We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan Higgins Stand in My Shoes by Bob Sornson

Fairness • • • • •

The Big Umbrella by Amy June Bates Amazing Grade by Mary Hoffman Jamaica Tag-Along by Juanita Havill New Shoes by Lynn Meyer The Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone

Full Body Listening • • • • •

Crunch, The Shy Dinosaur by Cirocco Dunlap Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola Quiet Please, Owen McPhee! by Trudy Ludwig That Is Not a Good Idea! by Mo Willems The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld

Good Citizenship • • • • •

Good Citizenship – Kathryn Lucas What if Everybody Did That? by Coleen Madsen My Magical Choices by Becky Cummings What Can a Citizen Do? by Dave Eggers The Circles All Around Us by Brad Montague

Handling Peer Pressure • • • • •

Think For Myself by Kristy Hammill Standing Up to Peer Pressure by R. W. Alley Peer Pressure Gauge by Julia Cook What to Do When It’s Not Fair by Jacqueline Toner How Do Dinosaurs Learn to Be Kind? by Jane Yolen

Having a Positive Attitude • • • • •

The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright Attitude by Ace McCloud Bee Attitude by Bea Grace Curri The Little Engine That Could by Dan Santat Because Amelia Smiled by David Ezra Stei

Integrity • • • • •

Outside In by Deborah Underwood Just a Little Bit by Ann Tompert Because by Mo Willems The I In Integrity by Julia Cook What If Everybody Did That? by Ellen Javernick

Kindness • • • • •

Kindness Makes Us Strong by Sophie Beer I am Kind by Brad Meltzer How Kind! by Mary Murphy Counting Kindness by Hollis Kurman K for Kindness by Jodie Shipher

Perseverance • • • • •

I Choose to Try Again by Elizabeth Estrada A Little SPOT of Perseverance by Diane Alber The Things Lou Couldn’t Do by Ashley Spires Shh! We Have a Plan by Chris Haughton The Boy Who Never Gave Up by Anthony Curcio

Personal Best • • • • •

Unstoppable Me! by Dr, Wayne W. Dyeraxwell Fix It with Focus by Bryan Smith Serena Williams by Mary Nhin Bear’s Picture by Daniel Pinkwater Running is Totally for Me by Cassie Celestain

Resolving Conflicts • • • • •

Anton and the Battle by Ole Konnecke The Big Guy Took My Ball by Mo Williams Cheese Belongs to You! by Alexis Deacon The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt Draw the Line by Kathryn Otos

Respect • • • • •

That Rule Doesn't Apply to Me! by Julia Cook All Are Welcome Here by Alexandra Penfold The Way I Act by Steve Metzger “Bridge” by Ting Chian Tey A Little Respectful SPOT by Diane Alber

Self-Control • • • • •

It's Hard to Be a Verb by Julia Cook The Way I Act by Steve Metzger Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein My Mouth is a Volcano by Julia Cook A Little SPOT of Patience by Diane Alber

Teachers have 3 loves: love of learning, love of learners, and the love of bringing the first two loves together.

Scott Hayden

Name _________________________________________________

Showing Respect Write (Y) for Yes or (N) for No. _____ 1.

Talking when someone else is talking

_____ 2.

Keeping your hands to yourself

_____ 3.

Throwing things on the floor

_____ 4.

Following rules

_____ 5.

Taking good care of your things

_____ 6.

Not sharing

_____ 7.

Working together

_____ 8.

Not looking at someone when they speak to you

_____ 9.

Laughing at others

_____ 10.

Not letting someone play with you

(Discussing these actions can be teachable moments.)

Social Justice 4th Theme of Catholic Social Teaching: Option for the Poor and the Vulnerable

by Sister Joyce C. Bell, IHM, Coordinator of Social Justice This teaching comes directly from Sacred Scripture. In the Old Testament or Hebrew Scriptures there are many exhortations directed to the “poor and the vulnerable.” One passage from Exodus 22:20-26, says, “You shall not oppress the poor nor the vulnerable.

God will hear their cry.” In the New Testament or Christian Scriptures, Jesus tells us in the gospel of Matthew 25:34-40, “What you do for the least among you, you do for me.” We are called to treat the poor and most vulnerable among us with love, respect, and care. We are asked to find ways which give the poor a voice in shaping their own destiny. Our option for the poor and vulnerable is more than providing “handouts.” It is lending a “hand up” and becoming one with the poor in the process. Daily we must ask ourselves, “Who are the poor and the vulnerable among us?” Is it the immigrant? Is it a hungry child? Is it a parent working three jobs to keep a roof over her family’s head and food on the table? Can we hear their cries? How can we respond to them? To learn more about this teaching, watch this video: CST 101 Option for the Poor and the Vulnerable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3gxBjtOzNM

Seven Principles of Catholic Social Teaching Life and Dignity of the Human Person: All people are sacred and have inherent dignity, regardless of their circumstances.

Call to Family, Community, and Participation: People are both social and sacred, and they realize their dignity in community.

Rights and Responsibilities: People have a right to life, food, shelter, healthcare, education, and employment.

Option for the Poor and Vulnerable: Society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable members.

The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers: Work is a gift from God, and workers have a right to decent wages, safe working conditions, and the right to join unions.

Care for God's Creation: People are stewards of the earth and each other.

Solidarity: People should work together to achieve the common good, especially for the poor and vulnerable.

True worship is to work for justice and care for the poor and the oppressed.

Isaiah 58: 5-7

IHM ABC Notes

Spring 2025

CATHOLIC TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES FOR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Instruct the wise and they become wiser still. Proverbs 9: 9

Catholic Podcasts Apps for Ipad, Iphone, Ipod Lent 2025: Take Heart More times than there are days in a year, scripture tells us to not be afraid; to take heart. In these precarious times, it is more important than ever to allow God to encourage us—literally give us the heart we need—to overcome our self-doubts and the doubts we may have about our neighbor with the tenderness and mercy that is a gift of the Spirit.

Throughout Lent, writers from the Ignatian network will guide us as we allow our hearts to be made tender to bring more mercy into our broken world. Sign up at https:// ignatiansolidarity.net/lent-2025/.

Catholic Education Show The Catholic Education Show, is the ultimate resource for all things Catholic education hosted by Shawn Peterson, President of Catholic Education Partners, and Kimberly Begg, Editor of Catholic School Playbook and author of "Unbreakable: Saints Who Inspired Saints to Moral Courage."

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Listen to in-depth conversations with thought leaders and that go beyond the classroom, delving into cultural trends, current events, and developments within the Catholic Church. Listen on Apple Podcasts.

Daily Rosary Meditations Pray, learn, and grow your faith with the Daily Rosary community, all completely free! Join us every morning for Scripture, meditation, and a Rosary - all under 25 minutes.

What you get •Pray, learn, and grow your faith

with new Rosary meditations each day •Share faith with a community •Join a team of people that prays together and shares life •Meet and message other members like yourself •Create your own groups and invite friends and family •Free access to our daily Rosary podcast and other community

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•Receive alerts when new Rosary meditations are posted

The Daily Rosary Meditations podcast and other content is created by our co-founders: Dr. Mike Scherschligt and Dr. Troy Hinkel. Available for free on Apple or Google Play

Shared Wisdom Two heads are better than one. Please submit your favorite technology resources for Catholic religious education at krantzihm@yahoo.com.

Submissions will be included in upcoming issues. Many thanks to those who shared tools for this issue.

Grades 3 & 4 APRIL Fuzzy, wuzzy caterpillar Wakes up by and by Now you have two pretty wings You’re a butterfly!

MAY Help me, Mary, every day, to be like you in my own way.

In all my work and all my play, in what I do and what I say.

Grades 5 & 6 APRIL When I look around I know that God is here.

Flowers and birds and insects Tell me spring is near.

MAY Mary, my mother, be with me today, Be with me today Help me to be kind In what I do and say.

Grades 7 & 8 APRIL A positive attitude is a winning attitude.

Wherever there is a human being There is an opportunity for kindness.

MAY Give what you have to someone else. It may be better than you dare to think.

Henry W. Longfellow

Spring, 2025

Religion Bulletin Boards 2024-2025 Jesus, Hope for the World As we continue through this school year, we continue to focus on the virtue of Hope as a virtue to be understood better and to practice during this Year of Hope. During these final months of the school year we will emphasize Jesus and His teachings as a source of hope and prayer as a way to increase our practice of hope.

Every classroom should have a bulletin which reflects a religious theme. So many of our students look up to role models who do not reflect the values of a life rooted in the Gospels This provides us with an opportunity to focus on Jesus as a role model for students.

Focus on Hope During Lent As we begin the liturgical season of Lent, students can be reminded that Jesus showed—even during His Passion—great trust in His Father’s plan for a world built on faith, hope and love. Continually emphasize with the students that a person who trusts is a person of hope; a person of hope is also a person of prayer.

H ELPING O THERS P RAYING uall

VERY DAY

On your bulletin board, use the word HOPE as an acronym. As shown on the left. Create a list with the students of ways that they can go a little further than usual in building trust by helping others. Create a second list of intentions that they can pray for every day to make our world a place of hope. They can also contribute pictures of helping others and praying. Alternatively, the teacher can take pictures of students engaged in these activities to post on the bulletin board.

Saints for March - People of Hope We are all familiar with some of the saints whose feast days are celebrated during the month of March. However, even these saints share their feast days with many other saints—all of whom have been identified as saints because they trusted in God’s presence in their lives. On a bulletin board with a heading, “People of Hope,” images of the saints that most are familiar with and leave one blank space. place On the following web site you will find a pdf printout for each day with all the saints whose feasts are on that day. Each saint listed also has a hyperlink giving images and background information on the saint.*

St. Katharine

St. Patrick

St. Joseph

Today”s Saints

https://www.catholic.org/saints/f_day/mar.php

*Note: these materials are copyrighted, but free to use as handouts in schools and parish programs.

For older students: Many students in today’s classrooms have names not easily identified with a familiar saint. Such is the case with many of the saints identified on this website. Have the students research one of the less familiar saints and, using this as an example, complete the exercise on the attached worksheet.

For younger students: Explain to the students what the word ”hope” means. As a class activity, have the students page through their current readers to see if they can identify any of the illustrations that might show an example of hope.

People of Hope are People of Prayer Father, into Your Hands

I commend My Spirit

During Lent, use a bulletin board as a focus or learning and praying the Stations of the Cross There is a free set of stations located at the following website. https://catholicresources.education/pdf /stations-of-the-cross-crown-completeset-of-14-free-pdf/ Print these out or use another set and place them around header page and introduction on the bulletin board a picture of the crucifixion.

Use this as a starter—encourage the students to visually and mentally move through each station through the day.

Periodically share your reflections and let them share their thoughts as well.

So often Jesus exemplified His trust in His Father in the times He prayed, especially during the passion.

A bulletin board showing Jesus in prayer can be a reminder to students of the importance of prayer in our lives and a commitment to prayer during the Lenten and Easter seasons. Spend time reflecting on the scriptures of this season showing how many of the prayers of Jesus were prayers showing His trust in His Father.

Note how many of the prayers we say at Mass are addressed to the Father through Jesus. Have the students write their own Lenten prayers of trust to the Father through Jesus. Place their prayers around the board.

Giving Hope to Others

Design a bulletin board with prayers the students should know at their level. Work with older students to make sure that they understand The. pronunciation and meaning of each prayer. Conduct a prayer partner activity where the older students work with their younger prayer partners to help them to pronounce the words correctly for each of the prayers.

This will help the students to avoid mispronunciations resulting in phrases such as. “Hail Mary, full of grays.” And “May the souls of the faithful department get dressed in peas.”

During May we honor our Blessed Mother.

We also honor those men and women who gave service to protect the freedoms that we have in our country. Use a bulletin board to honor both. Teach the students that Mary is the patron of our country under the title of the Immaculate Conception. Place a flag or map of the country on the board as well as a picture of Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception. Invite the students to bring pictures of family members and friends who may be veterans.

Remember these and all veterans in prayer each day. Prayer cards below.

This Photo

*Dear Mother Mary,*

*Dear Mother Mary,*

*With love and devotion, we turn *With love and devotion, we turn to you in prayer for the soldiers to you in prayer for the soldiers and veterans who have bravely and veterans who have bravely served to protect our freedom. served to protect our freedom.

Please grant them strength in Please grant them strength in their moments of weakness, their moments of weakness, comfort in their times of sorrow, comfort in their times of sorrow, and peace in their hearts. Watch and peace in their hearts. Watch over them and their families, over them and their families, shielding them with your shielding them with your maternal care. May they find maternal care. May they find solace and healing in your solace and healing in your loving embrace. Amen.* loving embrace. Amen.*

*Dear Mother Mary,*

*Dear Mother Mary,*

*With love and devotion, we turn *With love and devotion, we turn to you in prayer for the soldiers to you in prayer for the soldiers and veterans who have bravely and veterans who have bravely served to protect our freedom. served to protect our freedom.

Please grant them strength in Please grant them strength in their moments of weakness, their moments of weakness, comfort in their times of sorrow, comfort in their times of sorrow, and peace in their hearts. Watch and peace in their hearts. Watch over them and their families, over them and their families, shielding them with your shielding them with your maternal care. May they find maternal care. May they find solace and healing in your solace and healing in your loving embrace. Amen.* loving embrace. Amen.*

*Dear Mother Mary,*

*Dear Mother Mary,*

*With love and devotion, we turn *With love and devotion, we turn to you in prayer for the soldiers to you in prayer for the soldiers and veterans who have bravely and veterans who have bravely served to protect our freedom. served to protect our freedom.

Please grant them strength in Please grant them strength in their moments of weakness, their moments of weakness, comfort in their times of sorrow, comfort in their times of sorrow, and peace in their hearts. Watch and peace in their hearts. Watch over them and their families, over them and their families, shielding them with your shielding them with your maternal care. May they find maternal care. May they find solace and healing in your solace and healing in your loving embrace. Amen.* loving embrace. Amen.*

*Dear Mother Mary,* *With love and devotion, we turn to you in prayer for the soldiers and veterans who have bravely served to protect our freedom.

Please grant them strength in their moments of weakness, comfort in their times of sorrow, and peace in their hearts. Watch over them and their families, shielding them with your maternal care. May they find solace and healing in your loving embrace. Amen.*

*Dear Mother Mary,* *With love and devotion, we turn to you in prayer for the soldiers and veterans who have bravely served to protect our freedom.

Please grant them strength in their moments of weakness, comfort in their times of sorrow, and peace in their hearts. Watch over them and their families, shielding them with your maternal care. May they find solace and healing in your loving embrace. Amen.*

*Dear Mother Mary,* *With love and devotion, we turn to you in prayer for the soldiers and veterans who have bravely served to protect our freedom.

Please grant them strength in their moments of weakness, comfort in their times of sorrow, and peace in their hearts. Watch over them and their families, shielding them with your maternal care. May they find solace and healing in your loving embrace. Amen.*

Choose a lesser known saint from the website and read the information provided.Tell how the saint was person of hope https://www.catholic.org/saints/f_day/mar.php/