Session Overview for Catechists
Slides * Catechist Guide
- Track A: Monday 10/4/2021, 6:45-8:30 p.m.
- Track B: Tuesday 10/5 to Wednesday 10/6 in Religion class
Gathering Icebreaker (5 min.)
Volunteers may share homework responses to journal questions, especially from pages vii and viii (Roman numerals 7 and 8).
Opening Prayer (5 min.)
Act of Faith – textbook p. 108
Belief, Faith and Trust (10 min)
Beliefs are based in evidence, in things that are convincing to us, either by logic or by observation. By learning more about the teachings of the Catholic Church, we come to question them, accept them and believe them.
Trust is a decision made based on belief. If I believe that someone is my friend, I may decide to trust her. But I can also choose not to trust. I may believe that elastic and latex are strong materials, but not trust them enough to bungee-jump off a bridge. There are people who believe in God but do not choose to trust either God’s wisdom or God’s goodness. There is a mutual element to trust that is not present in belief: good, healthy relationships require both individuals to trust each other.
However, we can understand faith as a gift from God. Through the grace we receive in the sacrament of Baptism, our parents pass along the gift of their faith to us. Faith is based on a change of attitude, a change of heart, not on observable facts. While your beliefs may or may not influence your actions, true faith in your soul changes the actions you take and the way you are. It is a different outlook on the world. Our faith is what leads us to trust in God.
Video Conversation-Starter: “Jesus and Laura”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhnRvb-M-P4
Breakout Session: Trust in God (25 min)
Briefly discuss the video in small groups.
-
- How do you define “faith”? What does it take in order to have faith?
- What, besides fear, might get in the way of faith? How can someone overcome fear or those other obstacles in order to have greater faith?
Scripture: Trust in God
Use the question sheet for your table to give answers about your table’s assigned photo, Scripture passage and the key person involved in it. The Scripture passage will be formatted like a reading at Mass, which facilitates proclaiming the Scripture passage out loud.
MATERIALS: copies of reading * question sheets specific to each group * one photo to look at
-
- BLACK Table (Ms. Regina Rizzo): Luke 12:22-34, Jesus challenges his listeners to depend on God alone | Questions | Photo
- BLUE Table (Mrs. Stella Peters): John 11:17-27, Martha after the death of her brother Lazarus | Questions | Photo
- GREEN Table (Ms. Rachel Hohner): Genesis 12:1-9, Abraham is called by God | Questions | Photo
- ORANGE Table (Mr. Scott Michaels): Matthew 1:18-25, Joseph responds to Mary’s pregnancy | Questions | Photo
- PURPLE Table (Mrs. Roine Dryer-Michaels): Mark 5:25-34, a woman afflicted with hemorrhages seeks Jesus | Questions | Photo
- RED Table (Mrs. Monica Hohner): Exodus 17:1-6, Moses seeks water for the Israelites | Questions | Photo
Alternate Materials:
- YELLOW: Matthew 8:5-13, a centurion asks Jesus to heal his servant | Questions | Photo
- BROWN: Matthew 8:23-27, the disciples as the storm rocked their boat | Questions | Photo
- PINK: Philippians 4:6-9, Paul encourages the community to bring their needs to the Lord | Questions | Photo
Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus & Instructions for Breakout (10 min)
Going deeper on the video with “Jesus and Laura.”
Breakout Session: Reading the Church (25 min)
MATERIALS: general questions about images * 3 photos for each group * hint sheet in envelope
Hint sheet grids go here
Rite of Enrollment Practice (5 min)
Prayer Ritual (5 min)
“We Walk By Faith” (Marty Haugen)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZViw5EKgSs
Candidates sing along or bring up their beige Commitment Forms during the song.
Closing & Dismissal (5 min)
HOMEWORK
- Do pages 22, 23, 24 and 25 in your journal
- Come to Rite of Enrollment at the 9 a.m. Mass on Sunday, October 17.
- Arrive at church at 8:45 a.m., check in with the catechists in the carpeted gathering space, get a handout and then sit with your family toward the front.
- At the end of his Homily, Msgr. Jim will invite you to stand at your places. Be sure to speak loudly and from the heart!
- If you cannot attend, please let Ms. Hohner know so she can make other arrangements to get your Bible blessed and into your hands.
- Bring your Bibles and other materials to next class sessions after Rite of Enrollment:
- Track A (Religious Ed): Monday, October 18, from 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Track B (Q of A Elementary School): split between Tuesday, October 19 AND Wednesday, October 20 during 8th Grade Religion Classes
Note for later on:
- Service Hours can be done now, submission form open soon; due finally in early February
- Plan for you, your Sponsor(s) and Parent(s) to all attend the Zoom class session on Monday, November 8, 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. (ending early!)
- Let Ms. Hohner know about conflicts with your attendance at Holy Fire which will be in early November. See your track’s schedule for details.
- Confirmation Name essay due at end of November, details & help coming in early November during the Saintapalooza lesson
- Letter to the Pastor due in early January, to be assigned as classwork in December during the Anointed lesson