Connections Magazine Term 1 2024

2024

4-5 REGIONAL

TERM 1

COORDINATORS 8-9 SPIRITUALITY 12 PRINTABLES 15 RESOURCES

HIST CATEC Y SUNDA UARY 11 FEBR

VOL28 ISSUE 1 EVANGELISE + GATHER >< SEND >

Lent & Easter

CONFRATERNITY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE BROKEN BAY ALISON NEWELL CCD Diocesan Coordinator P: 8379 1637 E: alison.newell@bbcatholic.org.au MARICEL MALAPIRA Diocesan CCD Admin P: 8379 1638 E: maricel.malapira@bbcatholic.org.au

KRISTY KOMADINA North Shore Region P: 8379 1674 E: kristy.komadina@bbcatholic.org.au SUE-ANNE SHERWOOD North Shore Region P: 8379 1639 E: sueanne.sherwood@bbcatholic.org.au JOHN DONNELLY Northern Beaches Region P: 8379 1640 E: john.donnelly@bbcatholic.org.au MICHAEL TEBBUTT Central Coast Region P: 8379 1641 E: michael.tebbutt@bbcatholic.org.au ALICIA KLEIN Diocesan CCD Admin P: 8379 1642 E: alicia.klein@bbcatholic.org.au Registrations for CCD Training P: 8379 1643 E: registrations@bbcatholic.org.au WWJ Curriculum Resources P: 8379 1642 E: ccdresources@bbcatholic.org.au instagram.com/ccdbrokenbay facebook.com/ccdbrokenbay

Caritas Lenten Lessons Once again, our friends at Caritas have provided beautiful age-appropriate Project Compassion classroom resources for Lent.

CCD has adapted these resources for use in the SRE classroom. Please go to the CCD website at the following link to download these resources. If you require assistance to download, please speak with your Parish Catechist Coordinator or call Alicia on 8379 1642. https://www.bbcatholic.org.au/ evangelisation/ccd/resources Scroll down to Caritas Lenten Resources

Catechist Sunday This year Catechist Sunday will be held on Sunday 11 February. Catechists from across the diocese may be commissioned at parish Masses for the year ahead. Be sure to include all those who work in catechetical ministries in the parish, i.e., SRE catechists, Sacramental catechists, RCIA catechists, Children’s Liturgy of the Word catechists and Catholic school teachers.

Your Parish Catechist Coordinator will provide more details locally.

Easter This year Easter falls during Term 1. The school holidays begin two weeks after Easter, so for the last two weeks of the school term, which follow the Resurrection, place some holy water in your sacred space. Conclude your prayer time with “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia!!” and invite the students to bless themselves with the holy water.

FROM THE DIOCESAN COORDINATOR Happy New Year to all Catechists and Coordinators

I pray that you had a blessed Christmas with loved ones and have enjoyed a summer break from teaching. It’s been lovely to see families enjoying the summer sunshine and activities around the coastal part of our diocese where I live. It was lovely, also, to see large numbers of families attending Mass at Christmas to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

I believe I saw hot cross buns in the supermarkets on Boxing Day, which is a bit of stretch for me as I truly enjoy celebrating the entire season of Christmas, not just the day.

As much as I love them, I choose not to buy hot cross buns during Christmastide!!

The visit of the Magi led us into the Ordinary time of the liturgical year which brings with it an anticipation of the upcoming season of Lent, which this year begins in mid-February.

Lent, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, is a time during which “the Church unites herself … to the mystery of Jesus in the desert”. Jesus was “driven by the spirit into the desert” after his baptism in the Jordan, and he remained there for 40 days in solitude, without eating.

Lent provides meaningful learning opportunities for students of all ages. It is a time when we can encourage students to think beyond themselves and to consider the needs of others and the value of prayer. Be sure to pray with them every time you see them, as prayer is the greatest gift you might give, and which can stay with them for a lifetime.

The Lenten period is about more than giving up fast food or chocolate. As well as “giving up” something children and young people can also be encouraged to “do” something, such as acts of kindness. When you talk about the story of Lent and Easter with the students, focus on Jesus’ sacrifice (his self-giving) and encourage the students to give of themselves to others during this time.

Lent is the perfect time to introduce reflective prayer in your classrooms. You could ask the students to reflect on a Lenten promise that they will try to stick to during Lent.

Prompt them to reflect in silence on their behaviour and what they might try to do better self-improvement, helping others or being a good friend. Encourage them to choose just one Lenten promise so that they can truly focus on making a positive change. Get them to write or draw their promise on a piece of paper and place in a prayer box in your Lenten sacred space, which will act as a reminder of their promise across the weeks of Lent. A Project Compassion box is good for this.

When teaching children and young people about Lenten practices always ensure that your teaching is age appropriate. Baby steps to begin with can become more challenging as the students grow.

Call to Ministry As we begin a new year, I encourage you to consider how you might support your Parish Catechist Coordinator to invite people to join our Ministry of Special Religious Education. A call to ministry might come from God to people of any age, so I truly encourage you to think outside the square about who God might be calling to volunteer in our public schools to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to children and young people. These days working from home arrangements provide people with flexibility to take time off throughout the day, so don’t be put off inviting someone to teach a class because they work. University students are another wonderful resource, especially those who might be studying teaching and would like some classroom experience. If you have a seminarian in your parish, invite him to join the Ministry and take a class or two. If you have young adults from your parish who attended World Youth Day in 2023, they may be discerning what God is calling them to. Invite them to consider SRE. I’d like to throw out a Lenten challenge to each and every one of you. Please consider who you might “call to ministry” on God’s behalf this Lent, pray about it and put the invitation out there and ask them to discern God’s call. Be in touch with your Parish Catechist Coordinator if you receive a positive response and keep the prayers going as we need more workers for God’s vineyard.

My prayers are always with you as you go into the classrooms each week. The CCD team pray every day for catechists and their students and families. Let’s all flood heaven with prayers in 2024 that our Ministry will flourish, and children and young people will hear the Word of God and respond.

In wishing you every blessing for the year ahead, I take this opportunity to sincerely thank you for your Ministry.

Alison Newell

WELCOME to 2024! Isn’t it a joy getting ready to meet our students and to serve families this year again?

I came across these bible verses while I was thinking of and praying for you all - our lovely Catechists: And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:28). There you sit, right after the apostles and prophets. That warmed my heart. Go this year, in peace to love and serve the Lord.

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed (Proverbs 11:25). May your teaching refresh these precious little ones and may you prosper.

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it (Proverbs 22:6). We don’t often see the fruits of our work, but trust the Holy Spirit to do His good work once we leave the classroom.

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; (Romans 12:6-7). And if you were wondering whether you should be back here this year… ‘then teach’. Thank you for answering the call to use your gift.

All your children will be taught by the Lord and great will be their peace (Isaiah 54:13). It’s a joy being the face of God to our students. May your words, actions and your lessons be their peace.

New Year’s Day always seems awkward to celebrate. Doubly awkward, if we remember that for Catholics it is also the World Day of Peace. It is hard to be enthusiastic about New Year’s Day because of a conflict within ourselves. We imagine it as a day for new beginnings but our mind tells us that the world, and we ourselves as part of it, will continue mostly unchanged. Most of us have at some time made New Year resolutions to live a changed and better life, only to find that three or four weeks later we carry on living as before. New Years Day is a time to look back on the year gone, to accept where we stand at the beginning of the new year, and to attend to how we wish to live personally and as a society in the coming year.

The Christian approach to the New Year is to emphasise attending to the goodness of our world and of people in it, and to keep hope alive. The image of the New Year is that also of Christmas: a new born child, a symbol of innocence and hope. When we see a child we see our future. We look back at the world which we are leaving to our children, and forward to the world that we would want for them.

As Catechists we have the privilege of sharing the hope of the Christ-child with young people. We recognise a love that shaped our world and human beings, joins them in all their imperfectness, and hangs in with them to the extent of dying for them.

A resolution that we can surely keep is to be messengers of God’s love to our students this year. To help them to come to know God and to grow closer to Him!

Welcome to another year of teaching the faith to all young generations. We hope and pray that this year will be as meaningful and productive as what we had the previous year.

We are pretty sure you’re excited to meet your new set of students. Some might have the same students and what an opportunity to see them grow with you. For those who have a new group of students, a challenge will be memorizing their names. No rush, take it gently. You will get there as the term goes on. If this is your very first year of teaching, no need to worry… you made the right choice of saying yes to this wonderful and rewarding ministry.

We look forward to meeting you either virtually or face to face in one of the upcoming CCD training and events. When you receive those invitations, think about attending to have that opportunity to meet other catechists in other parishes. It will never be a waste of time learning new ideas and meeting people with the same vision as you. We’ve had a lot of good feedback about our face-to-face ongoing training sessions.

The wisdom of those seasoned catechists is remarkable.

As part of the CCD team, we are here to support you. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact our CCD Office.

We want to hear from you. Never think that your questions might be silly. There was never a silly question for us. Who knows your query might be an eye opener for us all.

Have a meaningful 2024 Lenten and Easter celebration!!!

At your service!

Have a wonderful term, everyone. God bless you.

Wishing you all the best for the new year as a Catechist!

Sue-Anne Sherwood

Kristy Komadina

NORTH SHORE

4

CONNECTIONS

NORTH SHORE

Maricel Malapira ADMINISTRATION

Have you ever heard the story about the fish not recognising it was in water? We can all be a bit oblivious to the environment in which we spend most of our time. As a regular visitor to the Northern Beaches I have noticed some changes in the past five years. Perhaps you have as well.

Did you know that it is often cheaper to rent than pay a mortgage in your area even though the median weekly income is above the average for Sydney, NSW and Australia? It would appear that families are moving out of the area and as a result most schools are reducing in numbers.

You may not be aware that the total population of the Northern Beaches region is falling steadily and that nearly eightly thousand people were born overseas (and I don’t mean on the south side of the harbour.) Where would you say they have come from?

Increasingly people are coming here from Asia, Africa and America. Currently 16% of people speak a language other than English in their home.

What do we suppose this means for us as Catechists? For a start almost 1 in 5 infants speak languages such as Portuguese, Spanish and Mandarin in addition to the traditional French and German. Their families experience of life, faith and church may be very different to that of other Australians, especially if they are refugees from poverty or places of conflict.

As the new school year begins, let’s take a fresh look at the students in our classes. Let’s take time to get to know them before we begin presenting lessons the same way we have in the past. Perhaps this year we can try to modify our presentations to suit the students who are in front of us.

John Donnelly NORTHERN BEACHES

Welcome to the new year of 2024. The year ahead will be a busy one with the new catechists finding their way around the classroom with the more experienced of us offering assistance wherever needed. It is a time for getting acquainted with the new students who attend our classes and catching up with students we may have taught in previous years.

Once again, thanks to both the new and the experienced catechists for giving of your time and your talents to bring the message of the Good News to the Catholic children in the state schools.

The highlight for me last year was the Advent Reflection morning that was facilitated by Virginia Ryan. She led us in a series of reflections on Mary’s Yes to God and our yes to God’s invitation to this ministry.

Another highlight for me in term 4 was to see some Central Coast catechists taking advantage of the Level 2 training to further their knowledge and understanding of the Church in the 21st Century. It is so important to understand where the Church is today and what it teaches so that we can teach with authority and confidence. We all know that the children can pick out the teacher who is not so confident.

As we wait for the SRE lessons to begin in the schools we attend, let’s reflect on our Yes to God’s invitation and ask the Holy Spirit to accompany us as we share the Good News with the children in our care.

Happy New Year and blessings for 2024!

What is your hope for the new year? I am looking forward to a year of happiness, good health and surrounding myself with positive things.

I also look forward to continuing to support you in my role here at the CCD, I am only a phone call or email away when you need help with registering for training and other events, or assistance with curriculum resources, or anything really!

This term we will be holding two CCD Ministry Induction (CCDMI) 8-week courses – a Monday daytime course commencing mid-February, and a Tuesday evening course commencing early March. I will be inviting our new catechists to register for this training and any other catechists who have one or more of these units to complete - I may have been in touch with you already!

Late last year we held a few Zoom sessions to train catechists who needed to refresh their Safeguarding Children/Child Protection training before the beginning of 2024. A big thank you to all the catechists who dedicated their time to complete this important and essential training.

Our Advent Reflection Days in Term 4 were well attended and a lot of fun. We loved being able to catch up with so many of you and host a delicious festive morning tea.

We are grateful to Virginia Ryan for presenting these sessions and helping us to prepare for Christmas.

Lastly, don’t forget to check the CCD Website for the latest WWJ Powerpoints; the Term 1 links have been added.

Wishing you all a wonderful Term 1 and blessings for the new year.

Michael Tebbutt CENTRAL COAST

Alicia Klein ADMINISTRATION

CONNECTIONS

5

CCD CCD Annual Annual Mass Mass 2023 2023

Each year we celebrate the Ministry of Special Religious Education and give thanks for the dedication of catechists and Parish Catechist Coordinators. Our Annual Mass and Presentation of Awards ceremony was held in Term 4, 2023 at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral at Waitara. We thank Fr Paul Durkin and priests of the Diocese of Broken Bay for concelebrating Eucharist with the CCD community from across the diocese.

Catechists gathered following Mass to enjoy each other’s company and continue the celebration with fellowship and food.

6

CONNECTIONS

Safeguarding Children in Our Schools In our ongoing effort to safeguard children, the Department of Education and SRE Providers work together to continually improve standards to mitigate risk to children in our public schools. The Diocese of Broken Bay and the NSW Department of Education requires that all non-employees who are permitted to teach Special Religious Education in its schools be appropriate and responsible persons.

As part of this effort, the Department has asked that all SRE catechists sign an updated declaration which states that they have not had a criminal conviction within the meaning of the Criminal Records Act 1991. You will recall that part of the CCD authorisation process is the signing of two forms, the A1 and A2 authorisation documents. The new requirement will be captured in an updated A2 form which every catechist will be asked to read carefully before they sign.

This will bring SRE catechists in line with public school staff, as well as other volunteers and contractors who go into the schools.

The new SRE teacher declaration is aimed at keeping children in our schools safe. It extends beyond the scope of the Working with Children Check and is similar to the old Prohibited Employment Declaration. It does not replace the WWCC, as it is an additional requirement.

CCD needs to receive the completed A2 teacher declaration form by October 2024 to ensure compliance with the new requirement.

If you have any questions regarding the new SRE teacher declaration, please don’t hesitate to contact Alison Newell on 02 8379 1637.

Your Parish Catechist Coordinator can provide you with a printed copy of the new declaration or it can be downloaded from New A2 SRE Teacher Declaration Form Please return the original signed form to your Parish Catechist Coordinator.You should retain a copy for your records.

Your Parish Office will also retain a copy and the original document will be stored safely at CCD, Pennant Hills.

With sincere thanks for your ongoing collaboration in keeping children safe.

Alison Newell

Let’s work together to keep children safe!!

WWCC

Working With Children Check Your WWCC needs to be renewed every five years.

When you receive your new expiry date, please provide it to your parish office for verification. You cannot teach SRE with an expired WWCC, or one that has not been verified by the parish.

Mandatory Reporting All Catechists and Catechist Helpers are mandatory reporters. When teaching SRE, if you suspect a child is at risk of significant harm you MUST 1. Report to the Principal of the school ASAP 2. Report to the Diocesan CCD Coordinator on 8379 1637 ASAP 3. Keep accurate records

CONNECTIONS

7

Lent: A Time of Preparing for New Life Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

John 12:24-26

As we know, Lent is the forty-day liturgical season of fasting, special prayer and almsgiving in preparation for Easter. The name “Lent” is from the Middle English “Lencten,” which means “to lengthen”. In the northern hemisphere, Lent falls in Spring when the days are getting longer and warmer. It is the time for new growth with the trees sprouting green buds of new growth and the flowering plants are pushing their heads up through the soil, getting ready to burst into flower, bringing colour and life to the countryside.

For us here in Australia, the opposite is happening. The days are getting cooler and shorter, and the leaves are falling from the trees and the flowering plants are done.

Traditionally, we see Lent as a time of giving up things, selfsacrifice and in general, it is a sombre time. We can be guilty of forgetting the reasons for self-sacrifice, prayer and fasting, and donating our treasures, time and talents.

Some of us could actually feel miserable and may be guilty of making others feel miserable as well.

Like the grain of wheat, we are doing all these good things to bring about new life as Christ did when he rose from the dead on that first Easter Sunday after making the supreme sacrifice of giving his life for everyone.

8

CONNECTIONS

I am proposing that this Lent we stop getting caught up in the negativity of going without and keep the goal of rising to new life front and centre as the reason we do these penances.

When we give of our time and talent through volunteering, we do so that others might share in the good fortune God has freely and liberally given us. As Paul wrote in the second letter to the Corinthians,

“Each one must give as he or she has decided in their heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

2 Cor 9:6 – 7

Fasting is a good way to acknowledge that there are poor people in the world rather than simply treat hunger as if it were something to endure until it is finally dinner time, after which we can tick it off as something we have done for Lent. Matthew wrote in his Gospel,

“And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Matthew 6:16 – 18

In Lent, we are encouraged to pray more but do you find this unrewarding, sapping your energy and leaving you feeling down. It may be because you are praying the way you were taught when you were young and you may not have grown in the way you converse with God. This spiritual dryness could be an invitation from God to come and be with God, to rest in God’s Spirit and be refreshed. Let God do the talking and you will be refreshed by God’s Word.

Take some time to pray the Word of God. If you are unsure, google “Praying the Scriptures”. You will be surprised at the number of sites from which you can choose that will guide you in becoming comfortable in reading and listening to the Word of God and enabling to hear God whispering to you in the quiet of your heart.

Sometimes we need to pray out loud. Quiet prayers are powerful but we can get lost in our own thoughts rather than in prayer. Praying out loud, and I mean really loud, helps to keep our focus. Praying scripture out loud is an excellent way to overcome spiritual dryness.

Do you keep a journal? I find that when I read what I have written in my journal during times of prayer, whether it be when I have focussed on a passage of God’s Word or when God has interrupted what I am doing by putting a thought in my head, God’s message to me becomes so much clearer.

Sometimes it is as though God is shouting it to me. God speaks to our hearts every day. We just have to train ourselves to be attentive.

By employing one or more of these styles of prayer, God will be in your heart and in your thoughts and your prayer will be washing you with new life.

Pope Francis, in his 2021 Lenten message wrote the following:

In our Lenten journey towards Easter, let us remember the One who “humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross” (Phil 2:8). During this season of conversion, let us renew our faith, draw from the “living water” of hope, and receive with open hearts the love of God, who makes us brothers and sisters in Christ. At the Easter vigil, we will renew our baptismal promises and experience rebirth as new men and women by the working of the Holy Spirit. This Lenten journey, like the entire pilgrimage of the Christian life, is even now illumined by the light of the resurrection, which inspires the thoughts, attitudes and decisions of the followers of Christ.

- Pope Francis, 2021 So let this Lent be one of anticipating the new life of Easter, not a time of being down in the mouth. May we carry out our Lenten practices with love and joy, knowing that we are travelling to the New Life that the Resurrection brings. Make this Lent a time of spiritual new life.

Michael Tebbutt CENTRAL COAST REGIONAL COORDINATOR

CONNECTIONS

9

Linking SRE with the Sacraments Across the world the ministry of Catechist is being recognised more and more. In the Australian Church, catechists are most commonly associated with the faith formation of children. In particular, preparation for the sacraments of initiation and in states such as New South Wales – Special Religious Education in Public Schools. Children’s liturgy of the Word is the third branch of Children’s Ministry.

In many parishes of this diocese, these roles of catechists are closely coordinated. Firstly, the people involved in these ministries are often the same. Some parishes have one coordinator for SRE and Sacraments which often leads to the same volunteers being recruited. Many parish coordinators have found that the yearly cycle of tasks for these two ministries also complement each other, which is very convenient.

Typically, the SRE ministry is busy at the beginning and end of the year, while the sacraments are often celebrated in the middle months.

One of the advantages of this type of coordination is the inclusion of students from Public Schools in parish based sacramental programs.

Especially important because every parish is responsible for the faith formation of all families living within its boundaries. These days all families are supported in their preparation for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, as it is a family centred process. Diocesan personnel and others assist parishes with resources and advice.

Networking is crucial to the success of any of these programs. At the same time bulletin advertising begins, invitations can go out to both Catholic and Public 10

CONNECTIONS

Schools families to attend information sessions. Ideally school based religious education lessons will complement the parish program.

Parishes may also keep a local database of families who have had children baptised in recent years.

Cross referencing dates of birth with dates of reception of sacraments can help target invitations from the parish to specific families for future programs and events.

Concern is expressed that some families are not part of the worshipping community and may be using the parish to gain enrolment in Catholic Schools. Whatever the motivation for families bringing children to prepare for a sacrament, the opportunity to catechise the whole family is undeniable. If good catechesis is coupled with a welcoming and inclusive community there is the chance of not only renewing their family’s faith life but also restoring their engagement in the parish community.

Interestingly many parishes are experiencing older candidates for baptism as well as family groups of two or three children presenting at one time. Catechists have learnt to differentiate faith facilitation for a variety of ages with great success. The quality of the instruction and the engagement of the candidates is always crucial to the effectiveness of

the program. Many favour a family centred approach which employs many strategies of family catechesis.

To cater for busy lifestyles, some parishes are inviting parents to do the instruction at home using user-friendly booklets and video packages such as the Flame of Faith series. https://flameoffaith.org.au/ Catechists then have the task of assessing the children’s preparedness and training them in the reception of the sacrament. What to wear, say, do and bring on the day. More commonly parishes run information sessions followed by four classes led by catechists and attended by a parent or carer and the child. Central to this approach is the sharing of family faith stories which ground Catholic teaching in the fertile soil of the child’s life experience.

John Donnelly NORTHERN BEACHES

Additional Classroom Resources To access any of the resources on this page, you will need to use the links via the digital version of Connections or you can find them at http://bit.ly/ccdterm12024 or contact your CCD Regional Coordinator for assistance.

Colouring pages

Printable Find-a-word

Holy Week Symbols Box

Class Prayer Chain

Palm Cross Video

Listening to the Voice of the Child It’s a brand new year! This means new, eager faces of students and starting again to: reiterate the school’s classroom rules, setting out your classroom expectations and establishing your own class routines and boundaries.

(See your CCDMI notes from Classroom Management or speak to your Co-ordinator and Catechist team).

Remember regular class teachers take the whole of term 1 to do this and we should follow suit.

The ‘Hello’ lessons in each of our manuals are important and are an opportunity to start to build trust with students.

The first lesson of the year is always short as we’re finding classrooms, introducing ourselves, labelling activity books and starting with our routines as set out above. An important part of this lesson is ‘hearing the voice of the child’. You can ask your students what they enjoyed about Scripture in previous years and what would they like to do more of: was it drawing, colouring, craft, singing, acting out stories, reading books, watching videos, praying, quiet time, group discussions, individual work etc and you will get an idea of your student’s learning preferences. The ‘Hello’ lessons in the curriculum consist of:

Kindy – introduces students to God and what to expect in their Scripture routines.You could ask them what activities they enjoyed doing in Pre-school and give them a few examples to choose from.

Stage 1 – We ask them about bible stories they know. You could ask them how they might enjoy hearing bible stories this year (puppets, printed pictures lined up in order held by students, printed pictures held by students walking around acting while you tell the story, cut out pictures on sticks or cardboard rolls that you hold while telling story or students hold while you tell the story, reading from children’s bible, using the Curriculum USB where stories are mostly narrated with pictures and words to follow, videos, dramatising the bible story, drawing a bible story while listening to it, singing) Stage 2 – We ask students about their experiences of SRE and about the colours and expressions on the faces of their friends they are drawing while walking with Jesus. You could ask if they like working in pairs, groups or individually, if they like retelling the bible stories with a friend, do they like answering questions verbally or in writing.

Stage 3 – The activity book asks ‘For me SRE is like…., One thing I like about SRE is ….., I remember an SRE class when we ….., Here’s hoping this year in SRE I will …..’

Secondary School – there isn’t a ‘Hello’ lesson, but you can ask them about their multiple learning intelligences and ask if they prefer learning verbally (speaking/writing), logicallymathematical (chronologically learning, history, if-then scenarios), Spatial-visually (images/videos/objects), kinesthetically (drama), musically (worship music), interpersonally (working in groups or individually), intrapersonally (analyse your feelings and thoughts and perhaps looking at the Units you’re covering this year for them to start thinking if they have any questions they’d like to start thinking of on those topics This year, my Stage 3 class identified that they’d like to have a few lessons outside and to learn different prayers.

We did both and I saw the students appreciated being heard.

12

CONNECTIONS

Listening to the Voice of the Child Another way to ‘listen to the voice of the child’ is to use the ‘Student/Class Unit Evaluation Form’ at the back of your manuals (K-10, Yr 11/12 can get form from Regional Coordinator). It asks ‘What did you like best about this unit?

How would you improve this unit? What did you learn from this unit? What will you do about what you have learnt? This is not something you have to do every Unit, but maybe once a term it would help you to get to know your class (send these to us too please to help with Curriculum review).

This all aligns with Bishop Anthony’s Safeguarding commitments from his ‘Rights of Children and Young People’ document in ROC #2 – ‘Children and Young People voice their thoughts when decisions are being made about them. The Spirit of Right Judgement’ – How we effect this in our Scripture classes is that our SRE teachers ensure children are given an opportunity for their voice to be heard through feedback, opinions during class and respect is given to the child’s view.

It’s also good idea to link SRE to the culture of safety already in the school and you can reiterate that Scripture Class is a safe place to explore faith, to ask questions and to express opinions.

It is important when actively listening to exist in the moment and experience the world as the child experiences it. Listen to them, but also look at them and try to see the world through their eyes. Focus on what they are focusing on.

Stop doing other things. Get down on their level, literally.

Hold eye contact. Just listen attentively. Don’t interrupt.

Make supportive statements, or even just sounds such as ‘Mm-hmm’.

Watch this space next term for an article on a few simple ways to promote the student voice in the classroom.

Sue-Anne Sherwood NORTH SHORE

Prayers in the Classroom

To have a relationship with God, you need to talk to Him! Prayer is the backbone of our faith and also forms an important part of every SRE lesson. All of our lessons incorporate an element of prayer. You will find the most common prayers at the front of the activity books.

You may like to pray one of our prayers for the school year which can be found on our CDD Broken Bay Website Resources Page to download and print. There’s a prayer suitable for each stage.

To include the voice of the child, you may like to invite the children to add their prayer intentions so that the whole class can pray for them.

CONNECTIONS

13

Easter Assembly Ideas!

In 2024 we have the blessing of an early Easter courtesy of the Paschal Full Moon and Gregorian Calendar which dates Easter Sunday on March 31. Given Term 1 has eleven weeks this year we will have two weeks of school after Easter. What a golden opportunity for us to focus upon the Resurrection. Imagine an Easter Assembly in the final week of the term called Jesus is Alive. Here are some ideas!

Gathering Song

Hosanna Rock – Yancy & Little Praise Party https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8ziKrwRyjc The little ones can learn the words and actions and perform them for the assembly. The subtle reference to Palm Sunday may be picked up.

Engagement Easter Words in Auslan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ve9QjwyyK5Q Invite audience to practice the signs before focusing on the last one – Jesus. Talk about the death of Jesus, being sensitive to the age of the students. Make the main point about the fact that death was not the end for Jesus. It may be helpful to have an image of the empty tomb and or the resurrection on the screen or as a prop on stage.

If time and space allows an activity could be played from https://www.biblebasedassemblies.com/tag/easter/

Central Song

Introduction

A warm welcome is given and the theme introduced. It is best not to assume too much knowledge of the Easter Story, so is wise to give an overview of what the students have been learning about the life and death of Jesus and explain that this assembly is about the amazing thing that happened next.

Opening Song

Oh Happy Day by Voices of Hope https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcT05I4DTfg This is a well known song and young students can follow the words in a call and response repetitive way which will assist in both rehearsing as well as performing. The audience could be easy encouraged to join in this familiar tune.

Jesus is Alive by Kids Ablaze https://www.youtube.com/wa tch?v=ve9QjwyyK5Q

Plenty of scope for words and movement in this joyful song.

Performers could put their hands to their mouths as if shouting then raise them above their heads while encouraging others to clap along. In the bridge there is an opportunity for the audience to repeat the lines eg; He’s not in the grave.

Message

The victory over death has been shared by God with all who know, love and follow Jesus. This is the greatest gift we can receive – life after death. Our job as Christians is to share the power of the Resurrection with others.

Closing Song

Jesus is Alive by CityAlight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgz6FU7ExJI The older students could create a simple dance routine or a series of frozen statues to illustrate the words of the song while leading the audience in singing the chorus.

Take one idea or take them all. We think it’s a fantastic opportunity to spark creativity and celebrate the Risen Jesus at the assembly!

14

|

CONNECTIONS

Training and Information CCD Ministry Induction for New Catechists and Those on Yellow Cards We are kicking off a new session of our CCD Ministry Induction training for all new catechists and assistant catechists. These sessions form a part of the compulsory initial training for every volunteer in our ministry and upon completion, you will receive a green ‘full’ authorisation card. You will need to complete this training in the first 12 months of becoming a catechist or classroom assistant.

The sessions begin in mid February and as you can see we have options on Zoom for both day and night time availability.

If you’re still on a yellow card this year, this means you haven’t completed all your CCDMI training.

Please contact our Registrations desk at registrations@bbcatholic.org.au or phone 8379 1643 to find out which units you have missed and get booked in to complete your training.

This training is fun and interactive and connects new catechists with others who are new to the ministry across the diocese.

CCD also offers additional spirituality days and creative workshops throughout the year so keep an eye out in your emails and in Connections magazine for more information.

See our flyer included with the hard copy edition of Connections

Digital Resources Have you used our digital resources yet? Our Walking With Jesus and Pathways of Discipleship lessons each have a dedicated Powerpoint presentation that can be accessed via our website https://www.bbcatholic.org.au/evangelisation/ccd/c urriculum/walking-with-jesus-powerpoint/walking-withjesus-powerpoints

The presentations are an additional tool that can be used to make your lesson preparation easier and more engaging for your students. Each of the presentations contain all the text, songs and videos that accompany the lessons.

If you need some assistance, please contact your parish coordinator who can help you to download them.

CONNECTIONS

15

DONT MISS OUT ON YOUR CHANCE TO APPLY FOR A

Service Award What are Service Awards?

Service awards are presented to catechists, assistants and other persons in the Diocese of Broken Bay to acknowledge the contribution s made to the Ministry of Special Religious Education.

Why Apply for a Service Award?

An application may mark a significant milestone in your involv ement in the SRE ministry. It marks not only individual achievement, but also that of the support of your family and friends and members of your local parish communities.

When do you receive the Award?

Five- and ten-year service awards are to be presented at your local Parish Masses in Term 4 each year. Fifteen-year, Papal Blessings (20 years) and the other awards for longer service are presented at the Dioce san Mass held at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral at Waitara (usually) in November each year.

How do I apply for a Service Award?

Go to the resources page on our website and download the form titled 2024 Service Award Application Form (also enclosed in hard copy with this edition) Fill out the form and get it signed and email or scan to: ccdadmin@bbcatholic.org.au or mail to: Maricel Malapira, CCD Diocesan Office PO Box 340 Pennant Hills NSW 1715 APPLICATIONS DUE: 31 MAY 2024