BLUE & GREEN Breakout Group

FRUITS TO DISCUSS:
Joy * Kindness * Faithfulness * Generosity

JOY
which lasts through any trials​

How do you express joy in the Lord?

Saint Teresa of Avila: Teresa once wrote, “God, deliver me from sullen saints!” She believed that great joy of the heart is visible in all who truly serve God. She even joked with God. Once when she was crossing the street, a passing cart splashed mud on her white robes. Teresa looked up to heaven with a smile and said, “Lord, if this is how you treat your friends, it is no wonder you have so few.”

GivesMeHope.com: “Today, I learned that my ten-year-old brother has cancer. After I cried for a while, he looked at me and said, ‘Why are you crying? It’s just another test from God. And we will surely pass with flying colors.’ My little brother’s optimism gives me hope.”

KINDNESS
Selfless acts of compassion​

What random acts of kindness have you done or had done for you today?

Saint John Bosco: John Bosco had many dreams as a young man. In one dream, John was cursed by a crowd of homeless children, and he fought back against them. Jesus appeared in the dream and told John to win his battle with kindness instead of fighting. The dream children changed to wild animals, and Jesus asked John to trust that if he followed what he had said, the wild animals would turn into gentle lambs. Changed by the dream, John learned to juggle and perform magic tricks. He used these performances to get the attention of street children, who did not trust easily because of being abandoned. John’s life’s work was to show these children that God cared about them.

GivesMeHope.com: “When I was in seventh grade, all of my supposed friends blew off my birthday party when they had said they would come. Only one person showed up. My older sister had some of her guy friends over, and when they saw how sad I was, they canceled their plans to hang out with me on my birthday. Teenage boys who care about their friend’s little sister give me hope.”

FAITHFULNESS
loyalty in your commitments to God & to others​

Who in your life do you want to be faithful to?

Saint Thomas More: Thomas was a scholar, lawyer, and family man. His wisdom and knowledge helped him become Lord Chancellor of England – second in power only to the king. Thomas disagreed with King Henry’s plan to divorce his wife, who had only borne him a daughter, and marry another woman. Because the Pope would not approve the divorce, Henry then declared himself the head of the Church of England. Thomas refused to swear an oath recognizing the change and resigned as chancellor. Thomas More was imprisoned and beheaded for refusing to put the king’s will before God’s.

GivesMeHope.com: “I am a 25-year-old single mother to my wonderful six-year-old son. One day my son wanted M&Ms. I told him Mommy couldn’t afford them, to which a lady started saying my son deserved better. My son stood up and said, ‘My mommy is the best mommy. As long as I’ve got her I don’t need a Daddy, or even M&Ms.’ My son gives me hope.”

GENEROSITY
willingness to give, even at a cost to your own​ needs or wants

What do you think motivates us to be generous to others?

Saint Nicholas of Myra: Nicholas was a bishop in what is now the country of Turkey. He knew a family with three daughters, who were so poor they were going to sell the daughters in order to buy food. To save the girls from this fate, one night Nicholas crept to their house and threw three bags of gold through the open window. Saint Nicholas is the model for Santa Claus because of these generous gifts left secretly in the night.

GivesMeHope.com: “Yesterday I was downtown shopping and saw a skinny homeless man. He asked me to buy him a bag of chips. I bought him two slices of pizza and two waters and told him he could save the other for dinner. He thanked me and I went into a store. When I came out, I saw he had shared it with a homeless woman. Selflessness in any situation gives me hope.”

Prayer Parts

Choose how to pray for one of the Fruits of the Spirit, maybe using some of these parts and filling in what you want God to do to help you grow in this Fruit of the Spirit.

“YOU”	“WHO”	“DO”	“THROUGH”
Lord of all creation,	who made us and all that we love,	____________________	We ask this through Jesus our Lord and Savior.  Amen.
Heavenly Father,	who watches over us each day,	____________________	We pray and ask your mercy in Jesus’ name.  Amen.
Jesus our brother,	who loves us and feeds us like a Good Shepherd,	____________________	Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.
Holy Spirit,	who is with us always and in every difficulty,	____________________	In the name of Jesus.  Amen.
etc.	etc.	etc.	etc.       Amen.

 

BLACK & RED Breakout Group

Fruits to discuss:
Peace * Patience * Self-Control * Modesty

PEACE
serenity due to deep trust in God​

Who are the peacemakers of today?

Saint Francis of Assisi: One story about Francis describes how he was asked to help a town called Gubbio where a wolf was attacking the townspeople. Francis walked up to the wolf, holding out his hand, and made a deal with the wolf. It was agreed that if the townspeople would leave food out for the wolf, the wolf would stop attacking them. Francis saw all the creatures of the world as his brothers and sisters.

GivesMeHope.com: “Today, I filled my school with post-its saying, ‘Smile,’ ‘Be happy,’ and ‘You’re beautiful.’ I was really sad when some boys started pulling them down and ripping them up. Then a girl I have never even seen before ran up to them, saying, ‘No! Leave them up! They make a difference.’ Girls like her give me hope.”

PATIENCE
love which endures all setbacks

At what times in my life do I need patience the most?

Saint Monica: Monica’s son, Augustine, was brilliant but wasted his life with an obsessive love affair and heresies against God. She prayed every day that he would change his wicked ways and become a good Christian. When he was 32 years old, Augustine finally saw that what he had been doing was wrong. He was baptized, gave his money to the poor, and became a bishop less than 10 years later. Monica’s patient prayers paid off; now Saint Augustine is known as one of the most important Christian writers of the early Church.

GivesMeHope.com: “Last year, I got an Associate’s Degree from a community college. At graduation, almost every single person stood up and applauded as Lois walked to the stage. She was 90 years old and received, with honors, her high school diploma. Her perseverance inspires me and gives me hope.”

SELF-CONTROL
ability to stay in charge of your own emotions, desires, words and actions​

In what ways do you show self-control?

Saint Lawrence: Lawrence was the chief deacon of the Church. The Roman authorities knew that many donations were being given to the Church and entrusted to Lawrence, so they demanded that Lawrence give over these treasures. After three days, Lawrence showed them the “treasures of the Church” — an assembly of the poor, the sick, the elderly, and Christians who begged on the streets. Angry with him, the Roman authorities decided to roast Lawrence over a fire. It is said that instead of crying out in pain, Lawrence told his torturers: “Turn me over, I’m done on this side.”

GivesMeHope.com: “Today I was getting on the bus to go home from school. A boy and girl got to the door at the same time and everyone is always in a rush to get on the bus. The boy stepped out of the way so the girl could go first. Sixth grade boys who prove chivalry isn’t dead give me hope.”

MODESTY
moderation in the ways that you talk & act

What do you think is your biggest challenge in being modest?

Saint Therese of Lisieux: Therese is known as the Little Flower because she saw herself as very small in God’s great plan. She found her way to God in loving and trusting him and in finding joy in small, everyday things. Sick most of her life, Therese died when she was 24 years old. Her “Little Way” still inspires many Catholics to live simply and offer even the smallest act to God as a prayer.

GivesMeHope.com: “I just read a news story about a couple that lived in a modest home. The husband passed away in 2007 and the wife passed away recently. It was discovered upon her death that they were millionaires. They left 90% of their money to charities. Marlowe and Pat Kluter, your generosity gives me hope.”

Prayer Parts

Choose how to pray for one of the Fruits of the Spirit, maybe using some of these parts and filling in what you want God to do to help you grow in this Fruit of the Spirit.

“YOU”	“WHO”	“DO”	“THROUGH”
Lord of all creation,	who made us and all that we love,	____________________	We ask this through Jesus our Lord and Savior.  Amen.
Heavenly Father,	who watches over us each day,	____________________	We pray and ask your mercy in Jesus’ name.  Amen.
Jesus our brother,	who loves us and feeds us like a Good Shepherd,	____________________	Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.
Holy Spirit,	who is with us always and in every difficulty,	____________________	In the name of Jesus.  Amen.
etc.	etc.	etc.	etc.       Amen.

 

Session Summary for Catechists

Slides

Opening Prayer of St. Francis (video)

leader notes: Francis and Wolf of Gubbio

First Breakout (same for all tables): peaceable kingdom Qs / Isaiah 11:6-9

Video: Charity and Justice

Second Breakout: Social Concerns QUESTIONS, different for 6 tables

• PURPLE Table (Mrs. Roine Dryer-Michaels): Criminal Justice / Paul & Silas Imprisoned at Philippi / Kolbe House
• GREEN Table (Ms. Rachel Hohner): Living Wage / Workers in the Vineyard / Arise Chicago
• BLACK Table (Ms. Regina Rizzo): Migration / Flight into to Egypt / Pastoral Migratoria
• ORANGE Table (Mr. Scott Michaels): Poverty / Lazarus and the Rich Man / Catholic Campaign for Human Development
• RED Table (Mrs. Monica Hohner): Racial Economic Justice / Heirs of God / Open Wide the Doors
• BLUE Table (Mrs. Stella Peters): Violence / Cain & Abel / Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation

Closing Prayer to OL Guadalupe for Justice