Family Guide Eucharist English

GOD’S GIF T EUCHARIST

NOURISH YOUR FAITH

TOM McGRATH

TOGETHER

P R E P A R I N G AT H O M E F O R F I R S T E U C H A R I S T

Easy-to-use online resources UNDERSTANDING YOUR CHILD’S

www.loyolapress.com/retreat With this free 3-Minute Retreat, experience soothing music, a daily Scripture verse, and reflective thoughts and questions to prepare your heart and mind for the busy day ahead.

SPIRITUAL DE V ELOPMENT

www.loyolapress.com Practical articles. Fun activities. Helpful answers.

At www.loyolapress.com, you’ll find a variety of relevant resources to help your family engage in a deeper friendship with God. From stories about the saints to facts about the sacraments, from traditional prayers to contemporary Catholic topics, you’ll find it all at one convenient site!

Catholic

FACTS ACTIVITIES TO HELP

TEACH

THE CATHOLIC ISBN-10: 0-8294-2669-8 ISBN-13: 978-0-8294-2669-4

3441 N. Ashland Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60657 (800) 621-1008 www.loyolapress.com

FAITH

FAMILY STORIES

plus

Tips for Living the Lessons

SESSION 1

Belonging

“

I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Jeremiah 31:33

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Belonging

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FOR THE GROWNUPS

LIFE LESSON

When I was

in college, I went off to study in Europe. I was young and disenchanted with life in my family. I fancied that by traveling the world, I might answer that aching question inside: “Where do I belong?”

Before I left, an elderly

him. He invited me into his

traveled thousands of miles

aunt urged me to visit

home as if he’d been waiting

from home just to discover

relatives in Ireland. When I

years for just this moment.

how much I had always

did, I was overcome by the

I stepped into his modest

belonged. ■

warm welcome I received. I’d

house, and as my eyes grew

—Tom McGrath, author of Raising

roamed big cities and small

accustomed to the dim light,

Faith-Filled Kids, Loyola Press

towns and rural pathways

I was stunned. There, on

for months, always amazed

every wall, were photos of my

but not feeling a heart

relatives—cousins, aunts,

connection. Then I met my

uncles, grandparents. I saw

great-uncle Paddy.

my parents’ wedding photo

Paddy lived in a tiny town

and, next to it, my own First

Pray for Your Family

where my grandmother

Holy Communion photo. I had

was born, in a small stone

been barely aware of this

cottage with a dirt floor and

man, yet he’d known me all

only a hearth for warmth and

my life. As we sat together,

to welcome one another,

cooking. His face beamed as

eating and drinking and

with all our foibles, into

I walked up the road to meet

telling stories, I realized I had

God, give us the grace

the life of our family.

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FOR THE GROWNUPS

YOUR CHILD’S SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT: Including others You play a major role in preparing your child to value the Eucharist throughout his or her life. This series of articles will focus on specific ways you can weave spiritual lessons into the ordinary opportunities of daily life to better appreciate the meaning of the Eucharist.

Jesus had an overriding desire “that all may be one.” Accounts of his public life are filled with instances in which he overcame barriers that kept certain people—the sick, the unclean, the different, the stranger—on the outskirts of society. His greatest gift to us, the gift of himself in the Eucharist, is an outward expression of his inner desire for our union with God and with one another. One way to prepare our children to celebrate the Eucharist is to help them overcome the temptation to separate people into “us” and “them” and instead cultivate a willingness to recognize our common humanity. You can help.

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Encourage your child to treat all children with compassion, particularly those who are “on the outs” with the accepted crowd.

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When encountering people outside your normal circle of friends and family, make a habit of focusing on the similarities you share even as you appreciate the differences.

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Don’t allow derogatory language when talking about others in your home. Speak of others with the respect due to them as beloved children of God.

Catholic Fact Baptism is the priceless gift of God’s saving grace. Born with original sin, even infants have need of this new birth as a child of God. Church Tradition has included infant Baptism since the second century.

One Family’s Story Over the years my children have been conduits of God’s presence for me. They are both typical teenage boys in many respects. But they have clearly been touched

by God. Several years ago, my now 19-year-old came home with a note requesting a parent-teacher conference. I went with some trepidation. To my surprise, his teacher wanted to praise my son and to let me know what a difference he had made in the life of another student, a mentally challenged boy named John. This young person was mainstreamed into the public school and experienced many challenges fitting in with the other students. My son A.J. recognized the problem and had taken it upon himself to befriend John and include him in his group of friends. John blossomed, gained self-confidence, and surpassed everyone’s expectations. I was amazed, proud, and humbled by my child’s gift of self to someone in need. I knew he had a friend named John. I had no inkling, however, that John had special needs. After the meeting I spoke with A.J. about John. He told me that just because John had a hard time and was different did not mean that he should be tormented or ignored. I saw in my child not only a lesson for me in recognizing my own (sometimes hidden) prejudices, but the gift of God’s grace shining forth from an adolescent boy.

—Mary Ellen McBee, Fort Worth, TX Read more family stories at www.loyolapress.com/godsgift.

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GROWNUPS AND KIDS

Read Aloud, Learn Together

1

STEP

3-Minute Family Retreat

camp. Picture yourself there.

You’re probably not quite sure how things work or who everyone is.

What you will learn together Baptism celebrates that we belong to God’s family. The Eucharist is the meal we share that reminds us of who we are and where we belong. Together with your child, work your way through the four-step process that follows to learn that God eagerly invites us all to the table of the Lord.

Pause for a moment.

Gather in a comfortable place.

Ask all present to stand and take three slow, deep breaths.

When all are ready, invite them to have a seat and close their eyes. Slowly read aloud the following meditation: Think about a time when you were the new kid, maybe at school or on a team or at

2

STEP

Now remember the first moment when you finally stopped feeling like the new kid. How did you know you belonged? Did you get the hang of a routine? Did someone make a joke to help you relax? Did the teacher or coach say hi? Did you make a friend?

Belonging is a great feeling.

We all belong in different ways: as students at our school, or as residents of our neighborhood, or as members of our family. We also belong to God’s family. Let’s open our eyes and learn about belonging.

Let’s imagine . . .

. . . we are all plants in a garden. There are all different kinds of plants in this garden.

Some are big, bright flowers.

Some are delicious tomatoes.

Some are even scratchy, prickly shrubs. What kind of plant are you? Why? Discuss this for a minute.

No matter what kind of plants we might be, we are all a part of this garden. Someone planted each one of us here, and each of us is important for a beautiful garden. Even the prickly shrubs.

It just wouldn’t be the same without each of us. We belong.

Jesus’ disciples were the first people to belong to the Church. Let’s read about how God sent the Holy Spirit to those disciples to help them plant the seeds of our faith.

Turn to pages 2–3 in your child’s book and read aloud the Scripture story “The Coming of the Holy Spirit.”

This passage from Acts of the Apostles 2:1–4,32–41 describes Pentecost. Next, discuss the following questions and, if your child has not already done so already, complete the sticker activity:

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What happened while the disciples and Mary were praying together? (A wind blew and flames like fire appeared over their heads.

The Holy Spirit came.)

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What did Peter tell the people outside? (He said Jesus is risen from the dead and ascended into heaven. He said Jesus sent the Holy Spirit.)

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Picture yourself in the room for a minute. How would you feel and what would you do when the wind blew and the flames appeared?

Together Eucharist

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STEP

Let’s dig in

So how do you know that you belong? There are many ways.

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You might have a membership card. Gyms, museums, and video stores often give their members cards.

You might have a uniform.

Sports teams and Scout groups wear uniforms.

Schools sometimes have uniforms. Camps often have camp T-shirts.

You might have chores!

When we belong to a family, we are usually expected to do some chores to help out our family.

4

STEP

You might know a password or special handshake for a club or group.

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You might be on a list— at school, at church, or at daycare.

You know you belong when people know your name.

When we go somewhere and the people there greet us by name, we know we belong.

Whatever else you might belong to, you always belong to God’s family. Let’s learn more about belonging to God’s Church and to Jesus.

The Sacrament of Baptism can be celebrated in different ways. Often, Catholics are baptized when they are babies.

But older children and grownups can be baptized too, if they have not been baptized before.

Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist are signs we belong to the Catholic Church, so we celebrate these events. Let’s talk about the ways our own family celebrates.

Turn to page 4 in your child’s book and read aloud “Belonging to the Church.”

Continue with “Belonging to Jesus” on page 6. These sections introduce the Trinity and the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.

Each term is explained in your family guide glossary.

After you read these pages, continue the lesson:

Spend some time sharing your memories of your child’s Baptism or any family celebrations of Baptism, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion. When you are ready, engage in your family prayer ritual.

Let’s pray

Belonging to God’s family is something to celebrate. Let’s thank and praise him for his welcome at Baptism and for the chance to share his life in the Eucharist.

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Turn to pages 8–9 in your child’s book. Choose one person to be the prayer leader. Or you may read aloud Psalm 100 and use your own words to praise and thank God. Close by praying the Glory Be to the Father.

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Ideas for Living the Lesson Complete as many of the following activities as you and your child desire.

Membership Card YOU WILL NEED index cards markers, crayons, or colored pencils

DO Children often delight in the trappings of adulthood, including membership cards. They seem so official!

With your child, make a card signifying his or her membership in God’s family. The text might read: “This certifies that (name) is an official member of God’s family.”

Your child can decorate the card with stickers or draw hearts, crosses—anything he or she chooses.

Your child may wish to make “God’s family” membership cards for each person in your family. You also might work together to create a set of membership cards specific to your own family, including siblings, grandparents, cousins, and others.

Let your child help shape this conversation about belonging. Just be sure the result is inclusive. These family membership cards can serve as tokens of love for and acceptance of one another.

Who Belongs at Our Table?

DO Take out a large sheet of paper and in the center draw your kitchen or dining room table as seen from above. First, you and your child (and any other family member participating) can draw yourselves in your usual places at the table. Then add other people who sometimes join you at your table (on holidays or special occasions, for example) or who have joined you in the past but may no longer be with you. Continue to add people in your life who you feel belong at your table.

Take a look at this “God’s eye” view of your table and realize that God is always present when you are there together. Jesus told us, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

(Matthew 18:20) Display this new artwork where you have your family meals.

We Are One DO A better understanding of different cultures, places, abilities, and experiences can foster sensitivity and acceptance in children. Learning about autism, for instance, can prepare your child to encounter and engage with one who has this condition, looking beyond the difference to see the person as a whole. Different as we all are, each of us has an important role in the Body of Christ, a role of great value.

Expose your child to a variety of differences by exploring the many wonderful children’s books designed to encourage inclusion. Go together to your local library and let your child’s curiosity be your initial guide. Ask the librarian to guide you to books that feature a different setting than yours—rural, urban, or suburban, for instance. Many books describe how children of different abilities and disabilities learn to get along. Others introduce children to a range of cultures and tell how family life is different and the same. Helping your child learn to recognize Jesus in each person he or she meets is a skill that will serve your child for a lifetime.

Together Eucharist

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GOD’S GIF T EUCHARIST

NOURISH YOUR FAITH

TOM McGRATH

TOGETHER

P R E P A R I N G AT H O M E F O R F I R S T E U C H A R I S T

Easy-to-use online resources UNDERSTANDING YOUR CHILD’S

www.loyolapress.com/retreat With this free 3-Minute Retreat, experience soothing music, a daily Scripture verse, and reflective thoughts and questions to prepare your heart and mind for the busy day ahead.

SPIRITUAL DE V ELOPMENT

www.loyolapress.com Practical articles. Fun activities. Helpful answers.

At www.loyolapress.com, you’ll find a variety of relevant resources to help your family engage in a deeper friendship with God. From stories about the saints to facts about the sacraments, from traditional prayers to contemporary Catholic topics, you’ll find it all at one convenient site!

Catholic

FACTS ACTIVITIES TO HELP

TEACH

THE CATHOLIC ISBN-10: 0-8294-2669-8 ISBN-13: 978-0-8294-2669-4

3441 N. Ashland Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60657 (800) 621-1008 www.loyolapress.com

FAITH

FAMILY STORIES

plus

Tips for Living the Lessons