Finding God Family Catechesis Leader Guide SAMPLE

FAMILY CATECHESIS

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Leader Guide

Finding God Family Catechesis Leader Guide is an expression of the work of Loyola Press, a ministry of the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits.

Cover illustration: Rafael LĂłpez/theispot.com Cover and interior design: Loyola Press Acknowledgments continue on page 209.

Copyright Š 2018 Loyola Press, Chicago, Illinois.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior permission of the publisher.

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CONTENTS

Program Overview

OV-4

Welcome. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OV-4 Typical Program Model. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OV-5 What You Need. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OV-6 Slide Show Themes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OV-8 Family Catechesis Meeting Structure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OV-10

Inside the Program

OV-11

How to Use This Leader Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OV-11 Additional Online Support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OV-15

The Effective Leader

OV-16

A Catechetical Leader’s Role.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OV-16 Prepare a Welcoming Environment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OV-17 Technical Considerations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OV-18 The At-Home Edition and Interactive Session Reviews. . . . . . . . . . . . . . OV-18 Tips for Successful Meetings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OV-19 Widen Your Welcome.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OV-20 Long-Range Planning.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OV-21 The First Meeting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OV-24

Informative Slide Show Presentations

i-1

Introduction to Finding God Family Catechesis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i-1 Online Resources for Finding God Family Catechesis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i-9 1

Unit 1: God, Our Creator and Father... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Unit 2: Jesus, Our Lord and Savior. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Unit 3: The Church, Our Community in the Spirit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Unit 4: Sacraments, Our Way of Life.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Unit 5: Morality, Our Lived Faith. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 The Year in Our Church: Advent and Christmas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 The Year in Our Church: Lent, Holy Week, and Easter.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177

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Unit and Seasonal Slide Show Presentations

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Acknowledgments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209

www.findinggod.com/family

OV-3

Finding God Family Catechesis Leader Guide

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Family-centered catechetical programs are opportunities for parents to catechize their children directly, for spouses to catechize each other and for children to catechize one another and their parents.

National Directory for Catechesis, p. 259

Finding God Family Catechesis Developed by Joe Paprocki The Finding God Family Catechesis program was developed by best-selling author, catechetical leader, and religious educator Joe Paprocki, D.Min. He is the author of more than two dozen best-selling books on faith formation and catechist training.

Welcome!

Thank you for choosing the Finding God Family Catechesis program.

As a catechetical leader, you are aware that catechesis is a lifelong journey for the whole parish. This practical, flexible, simple, and readyto-implement program provides you with the tools and support you need to put a comprehensive family catechesis program into effect.

Finding God Family Catechesis The Finding God Family Catechesis program is a complete faith formation curriculum that gives busy families the flexibility they need and the deeper relationship with God they desire.

A Flexible Approach

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Guided by a parish catechetical leader, parents and their children regularly come together with other families to take part in group meetings that serve as springboards to each unit’s content.

Through these meetings, parents become more confident, comfortable, and able to share the truth and beauty of the Catholic faith with their children.

In their homes, families explore the unit theme at their own pace supported by the engaging print and digital materials the Finding God Family Catechesis Program offers.

At Home

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Strengthening the Parish Community and the Domestic Church

In the Parish

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OV-4

Finding God Family Catechesis Leader Guide

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Typical Program Model

IN THE PARISH:

AT HOME:

Families gather all together with the leader and experience a slide show presentation on the unit theme.

Parents stay with the leader for the continuation of the presentation and for catechetical preparation.

While this takes place, children go with catechists to complete the first session.

Parents catechize their children at home using parent-friendly materials. They return for another group meeting in approximately one month to prepare for the next unit.

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See page OV-10 for a detailed explanation.

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At-Home Catechesis that Includes Professional Guidance!

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OV-5

Finding God Family Catechesis Leader Guide

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

What You Need The Finding God Family Catechesis Program materials are conveniently accessed through the Internet after digital purchase—no bulky binders, no misplaced DVDs, and no worry!

For Leaders and Directors High-quality, complete slide show presentations give a positive visual impact to your group meetings and ensure successful presentations to diverse groups. Each slide show presentation includes embedded media clips and presentation notes so you can capture and maintain participants’ attention and engagement.

Welcome!

Whom Can I Turn To?

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Jesus: Fully Human, Fully Divine

Family Catechesis Slide Show Presentations: Used to open each unit/theme; viewed by families and parents only Digitally delivered

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Our Response to God’s Gifts

FAMILY CATECHESIS

FAMILY CATECHESIS

Family Catechesis Director Guide: Program set-up and management Digitally delivered

Family Catechesis Leader Guide: Presentation guide for unit/theme slide shows with helpful tips and full scripting Digitally delivered

LEADER G U I D E

DIRECTOR

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G U I D E

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OV-6

Finding God Family Catechesis Leader Guide

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

For Parents and Children USCCB-Approved Content for Solid Learning Grade Grade Grade

11 1

Unit 1 Unit Unit11

God, Our Creator God, Our God, OurCreator Creator and Father and andFather Father Begin Say:Begin The title of this book is Finding God. Ask: Who is God? (our Father and Creator) Where doofwe find him?

Discuss with find Say:Begin The title this book is Finding God. your Ask:child Who where is God?you (oureach Father and

GodCreator) in your everyday life.find Tell him? your Discuss child that you findchild Godwhere in himyou or her and with your find Say: Where The titledoofwe this book is Finding God. Ask: Who is God? (oureach Father and in your love for him or her.life.

Read the title.

Say: Let’s begin GodCreator) in your everyday Tellaloud yourDiscuss childunit that you findchild Godwhere in himthis or book her and Where do we find him? with your you each find together by talking asRead our Father and Creator.

God created everything in your forabout him orGod her.life. the unit book Godlove in your everyday Tellaloud your child thattitle. youSay: find Let’s God begin in himthis or her and thattogether is. His creation shows his love for us. bylove talking our Father andunit Creator. everything in your forabout him orGod her.asRead aloud the title.God Say:created Let’s begin this book thattogether is. His creation shows his love us. Father and Creator. God created everything by talking about God for as our

Introduce Saint that is. Histhe creation shows his love for us.

Saint HaveIntroduce your child turnthe to page 1. Read aloud the saint’s name and the sentence below it.

Introduce Saint Have your child turnthe to page 1. Read aloud the saint’s name and the sentence

it. your child turn to pageof1.Saint ReadFrancis aloud the saint’sAsk: name andelse thedo sentence Turnbelow to Have page 2. Discuss the picture of Assisi.

What it. 2. Discuss you Turn see below intothe picture? (animals) kind clothing is Saint Francis wearing? page the What picture of of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Ask: What else do (a brown robe) Is his clothing fancy?What (No.) Do you think Saint Francis was awearing? rich youTurn see intothe picture? (animals) kind of clothing is Saint Francis page 2. Discuss the picture of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Ask: What else do man? (a (No.) brown Is picture? his clothing fancy?What (No.) kind Do you think Saint Francis was wearing? a rich you seerobe) in the (animals) of clothing is Saint Francis (No.) (a brown robe)Ask: Is his How clothing fancy?

Sainttalking Francisto was Readman? aloud the page. would you (No.) feel ifDo youyou sawthink a person a a rich man?

(No.) wildRead animal such as apage. wolf?Ask: (Possible nervous, How to a aloud the How answers: would youscared, feel if you saw a curious) person talking did the reactsuch to Saint Francis?

(It was calm andscared, gentle.)nervous, Say: Saint FrancisHow wildwolf animal as page. a wolf?

(Possible answers: curious) Read aloud the Ask: How would you feel if you saw a person talking to a loved everything God created.

He loved(Itthe animals as if gentle.) they were his brothers did the wolf react to Saint Francis? was calm and Say: Saint FrancisHow wild animal such as a wolf?

(Possible answers: scared, nervous, curious) andloved sisters.everything He treatedGod them kindly.He Weloved are going to learnashow Godwere makes created. animals they his Saint brothers did the wolf react to Saint Francis?

(Itthe was calm andifgentle.)

Say: Francis everything and He how prayerthem helpskindly. us show our forto alllearn creation. andloved sisters. treated Weloved arelove going God makes everything God created.

He the animals ashow if they were his brothers and how prayerthem helpskindly. us show creation. andchild sisters.

He treated Weour arelove going toalllearn how God Witheverything your add Francis’s feast day, October 4, tofor your calendar.

Planmakes an everything prayer helps usSaint show our love for all event together to and celebrate the love that Francis had forcreation. animals. Plan an With your child addhow Francis’s feast day, October 4, to your calendar.

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event together to celebrate the love Francis had forcalendar. animals. Plan an With your child add Francis’s feastthat day,Saint October 4, to your event together to celebrate the love that Saint Francis had for animals.

At-home edition At-home edition At-home edition

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At-Home Editions: Used at home for the vast majority of the year, these step-by-step instructions help parents lead their children through the Children’s Books.

Grades K–8, downloadable printable PDFs accessible at www.findinggod.com/family

Children’s Books: Grades K–8, Printed Digital Reviews: • Interactive Session Reviews assessment tool with results-sharing option that allows parents to generate progress reports • Fishers of Faith Unit Review Game Accessible at www.findinggod.com/family

Grade

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For Catechists

Parish Catechist Guides: Grades K–8, Printed

Finding God Website: www.findinggod.com

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Scripture Stories and Guided Reflections CDs

Art Print Easels and Posters: Grades K–8, Printed

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Used While Parents Prepare with Leader

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OV-7

Finding God Family Catechesis Leader Guide

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Slide Show Themes The Finding God Family Catechesis program is designed to be taught in a four-year cycle based on a spiral curriculum. Enduring topics are the touchstone of the program and are explored in new and exciting ways each year. The themes for each year align with the Finding God themes. There is a slide show for every theme for a total of 28 unique presentations.

Four-Year Cycle

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This chart outlines the unit themes for each year in the Finding God Family Catechesis four-year cycle.

In addition, two informative slide shows are provided to get the program started.

UNIT THEMES

YEAR 1

Unit 1: God

Discovering What You Want Out of Life: God’s Invitation and Our Response

Unit 2: Jesus

YEAR 3

YEAR 4

In Search of the Truth: God Reveals Himself to Us (Revelation/ Scripture)

Finding Your Source of Energy: The Relational God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Communion/Trinity)

Filling the Empty Space Within: Prayer and Spirituality

Who Can I Trust?

Jesus: Divine and Human

Getting Rid of Stinking Thinking: Jesus’ Teachings

A Power Greater Than Yourself: Jesus’ Miracles

Where Is God When It Hurts? The Paschal Mystery

Unit 3: The Church

Does My Faith Make a Difference?

Catholic Identity

No One Is an Island: Church—One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic

A Purpose-Driven Life: The Mission of the Church

Who’s Got Your Back: Mary and the Saints

Unit 4: Sacraments

What Sustains Me? The Mass and Eucharist

Leading a Heroic Life: Sacraments of Initiation

Finding Healing When Life Hurts: Sacraments of Healing

How to Give Your Life to Others: Sacraments at the Service of Communion

Unit 5: Morality

Stop Trying to Fix Yourself: Grace and Sin

How Do I Know Right from Wrong?

Conscience and the Commandments

Developing Good Habits: Virtues and Beatitudes

Hope for a Damaged World: Charity and Justice

The Year in Our Church: Advent and Christmas

Who Can You Count On? God’s Promise/ Covenant

There Has Got to Be Another Way: The Coming of the Kingdom

The World the Way It Should Be: Prophets/Social Justice

Where Can I Find God? The Incarnation

The Year in Our Church: Lent, Holy Week, and Easter

Getting Your Priorities Straight: Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving

The Key to Happiness: Selfless Love, The Passion of Jesus

How Do I Change Bad Habits: Conversion and Repentance

Finding Hope in the Midst of Despair: The Triduum

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YEAR 2

OV-8

Finding God Family Catechesis Leader Guide

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

More about the Slide Show Presentations High-quality, complete slide show presentations across four years of instruction give a positive visual impact to your group meetings and ensure successful presentations to diverse groups.

Each slide show presentation includes embedded media clips and presentation notes so you can capture and maintain participants’ attention and engagement.

Five Unit-Theme Slide Show Presentations per Year (20 Presentations across 4 Years) Each presentation engages parents and their children through group prayer, a sharing activity, Scripture readings, and media links.

UNIT

God, Our Creator and Father

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YEAR 1

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Welcome!

1G od

Our Response to God’s Gifts

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2 J esus

God’s Invitation and Our Response

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3T he Church

Discovering What You Want Out of Life

Our Response to God’s Gifts

4S acraments 5M orality

Two Seasonal Slide Show Presentations per Year (8 Presentations across 4 Years)

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The Year in Our Church Advent and Christmas

YEAR 1

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Your program can stay in tune with seasons of the liturgical year with these slide show presentations.

Our Response to God’s Gifts

The Year in Our Church

Lent, Holy Week, and Easter

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1A dvent and Christmas

YEAR 1

2L ent, Holy Week, and Easter

Finding God Family Catechesis

YEAR 1

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Introduction

Finding God Family Catechesis

Our Response to God’s Gifts

YEAR 1

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Online Resources

Our Response to God’s Gifts

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Two slide show presentations will help get your program up and running in no time!

1 Introduction Use this slide show presentation to orient yourself and parents to this easy-to-use, adaptable program.

2O nline Resources Use this slide show presentation to explain to families how to access and use the web resources.

OV-9

Finding God Family Catechesis Leader Guide

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Two Informative Slide Show Presentations

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Our Response to God’s Gifts

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Family Catechesis Meeting Structure

PARENTS + CHILDREN

Parents and their children begin the meeting together in community with other families. After a 15-minute Welcome section, children meet with their grade-level catechists and are guided through the first session of the unit. Parents continue learning the unit theme to prepare to guide their children through the remaining sessions of the unit at home.

Welcome 15 minutes

• Group prayer • Scripture • Group prayer • Brief sharing activity to preview the unit theme Children leave to their respective grade-level meeting spaces.

Connect 30 minutes

• Parent-focused exploration of the PARENTS ONLY

unit theme

• Small-group sharing activities and discussion

• Scripture • Media clip Close 15 minutes

• Wrap-up • Closing prayer • Information about the next meeting

Parents complete their meeting 15 minutes before the end of the grade-level session. This allows time for questions, conversations between parents, and time for parents to pick up their children from their respective grade-level classes.

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After the Meeting

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Finding God Family Catechesis Leader Guide

INSIDE THE PROGRAM

How to Use This Leader Guide This resource provides step-by-step instruction for conducting the program’s slide show presentations. Each unit begins with a catechist preparation page that sets the stage.

Catechist Preparation Page

UNIT 1

Unit Theme: God wants us to know him

and reveals himself to us.

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Before you prepare for the group meeting, pause to quiet your mind. Take three deep breaths and remember that God the Father is with us at all times. Bring the love of his presence to your meeting.

Our Response to God’s Gifts

Bible passages included in the slide show presentation

Scripture • Jeremiah 29:10–14 • Luke 4:21 • John 15:15

Matthew 6:9 “This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”

Question: Do the words I use in prayer reflect a more intimate or a distant relationship with God?

Catholic Social Teaching in Unit 1 Option for the Poor and Vulnerable: In our world, many people are wealthy, while others are extremely poor. As Catholics, we are called to pay special attention to the needs of those who are poor. We can follow Jesus’ example by making a specific effort to defend and promote the dignity of those who are poor and vulnerable and meet their immediate needs.

Outcomes • Discuss God’s invitation to be in relationship with us.

• Explain that God is present at all times.

• Discuss the terms covenant, Emmanuel, and sacramental.

Materials • Bible • Grade 4 Art Print 2: The Creation • Grade 3 poster: Sign of the Cross • CD 2, Track 4 (instrumental)

Window on the Catechism The themes in this unit are described in CCC 44–47.

Catholic social teaching theme emphasized in the unit

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Practical and achievable objectives

Handy navigation cue on each page

God, Our Creator and Father

YEAR 1

Invitation for the leader to pray, read Scripture, and reflect

UNIT

3-Minute Retreat

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Concise summary of the unit’s central faith concept

Consistent format

God, Our Creator and Father

Finding God Family Catechesis Leader Guide

Paragraphs of the Catechism of the Catholic Church covered

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Complete list of resources needed to present the meeting

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OV-11

Finding God Family Catechesis Leader Guide

INSIDE THE PROGRAM

Prayer Simple instructions for how to pray with the group Scripture Options for reading and understanding God’s Word

The slides and accompanying scripting are designed to engage both children and their parents. Reduced images of each slide help synchronize the visual and spoken elements of the presentation.

Special features appear in sidebars.

Welcome (15 minutes) Signals the beginning of the Welcome section

Welcome!

FYI Additional information and context

Discovering What You Want Out of Life God’s Invitation and Our Response

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Sharing Suggestions for sparking meaningful discussion

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Time Estimate of how much time it will take to cover a given section of the meeting

Conduct Slide Show Presentation

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Icons Call Out Special Features

Visual element and essential text

Our Response to God’s Gifts

Media Hints for accessing and playing media clips Tip Ways to enhance the meeting

Time The Welcome section will be about 15 minutes.

Tip

Say: Welcome! Today we will focus on Unit 1: God, Our Creator and Father. During this meeting, we will learn that God continually reveals himself to us and is constantly inviting us into a relationship with him.

Plan in advance a quick icebreaker to facilitate introductions.

CST Catholic social teaching option pertaining to slide content

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Welcome families, and introduce yourself and the grade-level catechists. Invite the participants to introduce themselves to those around them. Before beginning the meeting, address any scheduling or parish-specific information.

Clear instructional support Distinct, audiencespecific scripting

We will stay together for the first part of today's meeting; then the children will go with their catechists to complete Session 1 of Unit 1.

Sessions 2–5 will be completed at home as a family. We'll gather again next month to begin the next unit.

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Finding God Family Catechesis Leader Guide

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Related information

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OV-12

Finding God Family Catechesis Leader Guide

INSIDE THE PROGRAM

Connect (30 minutes)

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A variety of parent-focused activities engage participants in the content and in fellowship with one another. Parents’ understanding of essential faith concepts is bolstered, and they come away from the meeting more confident about passing on the treasure of the Catholic faith when teaching at home and in everyday life.

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Signals the beginning of the Connect section

Our Response to God’s Gifts

Say: Let’s get started talking about God’s invitation and how we are to respond.

Tip If time allows, add a personal story to connect with the group.

How Do We Respond to God’s Invitation?

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There are moments in our lives when everything seems crystal clear and it all feels right.

Everything seems to fit. Everything belongs. Our health is good. Our relationships are going well.

Our finances are in order. Basically, we have little to complain about. During times like these, it’s not hard to imagine that God is at work in the world and in our lives.

Time The Connect section will be about 30 minutes.

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Once children have exited the room, make sure you have everyone's attention before proceeding.

Our Response to God’s Gifts

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Finding God Family Catechesis Leader Guide

Media As an option, type the URL into your browser to play the video.

Say: Let’s take a moment to watch this brief video from John Beckett's 30-Day Next Steps, in which he explains how we are called to respond to God's invitation.

Click anywhere on the slide to play the video (2:00):

URL for embedded media link

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After the video, continue by reading the lines below.

Say: God’s invitation is a cause for celebration, a cause for great joy! The greatest favor we can ever do for ourselves and for our children is to respond to God’s invitation with an open heart, welcoming him into our lives. Faith is our response to this invitation.

Of course, it would help if we knew how to recognize God’s invitation so that we can respond with faith.

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Scripting for a parent-only audience

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OV-13

Finding God Family Catechesis Leader Guide

INSIDE THE PROGRAM

The meeting concludes with a wrap-up, closing prayer, and opportunity for you to provide participants with information about the next meeting, parish events, or other housekeeping issues.

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Close (15 minutes)

God is inviting us and our children into a deeper relationship with him.

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It is up to us and our children to respond to his invitation.

Our Response to God’s Gifts

Signals the beginning of the Close section

Time The Close section will be about 15 minutes.

Concise summary of the unit theme

Say: During this unit your children will learn that God is inviting them to enter into a relationship with him. They will be learning about how God has and is revealing himself to us through his creation, his marvelous deeds throughout salvation history, and his Son, Jesus Christ. Your children will be invited to respond by entering into a deeper relationship with God, assured that God has a plan for us.

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Grade

At-home edition Grade

1

After the monthly group meeting, parents are better prepared to guide their children through the unit in the Children’s Book. The Finding God At-Home Edition provides grade-specific, step-by-step instructions to support them. The At-Home Edition PDFs can be viewed online or printed.

1

Grade SeSSion 1

1

Our Response to God’s Gifts

At-home edition have a St. Vincent de Paul Society of volunteers who help those in need. Ask: Why

SeSSion 1

Unit 1

Our Response to God’s Gifts

do you think the organization is called the St. Vincent de Paul Society? (It helps people in need, as Saint Vincent de Paul did.) ▶▶ Read aloud the directions and have your child complete the activity. Together find clothes in your closet that you could donate to a St. Vincent de Paul center or a similar organization in your area.

Engage: 3child use watercolor paints, crayons, markers, or colored pencils to make ▶▶ Page With your get-well cards future walk use. Help child write Well Soon! onCollect the cards and sign ▶▶ Invite your child to takefor a nature with your you around yourGet neighborhood. his or her artwork.

When a family member neighbor Say: becomes ill, have small treasures from God’s creation—leaves, rocks, or dandelions.

God made allyour child cardmuch to show he orus. she cares. things tochoose show usahow he loves ▶▶ Read aloud the session title and the text in the blue box. Discuss your child’s answer.

Ask: What’s happening this picture? (The happy girl is holding a flower that God Reflect: Pagesin 6–7 made.)

Say: In this session we’re going to learn that God is good to all of us! ▶▶ Together look at page 6. Say: We will learn a prayer that reminds us that we belong to ▶▶ Display your nature-walk treasures and talk about all the beautiful things God has God. It’s called the Sign of the Cross. made.▶▶Pray aloud the prayer together.

Face your child as you demonstrate the gestures for the Sign of the Cross. Then turn Begin your back 4–5 and use exaggerated movements, making sure your child can see where Explore: Pages you’re your hands.

Read aloud first(our paragraph on page 6. Pray the Sign of Say: The title thisplacing bookofisyour Finding God. Ask: Who isthe God? Father and ▶▶ Look out of a window home with your child.

Together draw pictures of things thedo Cross together.

Read aloud paragraph.

Pause to allow your child to talk Creator) Where we God find him?

Discuss with the yoursecond child where you each find that you see that has created. to God silently.

God in your everyday Tellout yourthe child that you words, find God inand himCreator. or her and ▶▶ Read aloud page 4.life.

Point vocabulary God Ask: Who is ▶▶ Read aloudher. the heading and verse page Ask:begin Why do you think God said, “It is very in your love forishim aloud the unit on title.

Say:7.Let’s God? (God theor CreatorRead because he makes everything.)

What dothis youbook see in each good?” (All that comes from God good.) What are some of your favorite things that together by talking Godchild, as our Father andisCreator. created picture? (a tree,about a happy flowers) Discuss how God we want to everything remember to thank God has made? thatGod is. Hisincreation shows his love we for us. our hearts whenever see something he made for us. ▶▶ Read aloud the next paragraph and have your child complete the activity. ▶▶ Read aloud the title and first paragraph on page 5. Point out the photo. Ask: Why ▶▶ Read aloud Reading God’s Word. Ask: How can we let God know we’re grateful for all he Introduce therecycling?

Saint (They want to take care of God’s world.) Read aloud the are these children has made? (by thanking him in our prayers, by taking care of the earth) twochild paragraphs.

Ask:1.What Amen mean?name (We pray to show we really Havelast your turn to page Readdoes aloud the saint’s andAmen the sentence mean the words we pray.)

Say: A saint is a person who shows love for God in a special below it.

Respond: Pagehis8love for God by caring for God’s creatures. way.

Saint Francis showed Turn to page 2. Discuss the picture of Saint of Assisi.

Ask: What else do home. ▶▶ Discuss to take care of God’s creations. a recycling plan your ▶▶ ways Ask your child to read aloud theFrancis FaithMake Summary.

Review thefor Words I Learned in this you see in thesession. picture?Read (animals) of clothing is SaintAsk Francis aloudWhat Wayskind of Being Like Jesus. yourwearing? child to suggest another way to Art Exploration: Page 213 (a brown robe) Is his clothing fancy?

(No.) Do you think Saint Francis was a rich show that he or she loves God’s world. ▶▶ Find man?

(No.) in magazine, a book, a picture of Saint deSign Paulofhelping ▶▶ aRead aloud in the prayeror asonline your child follows along.Vincent Pray the the Cross together. people are sick.the With My Family suggestions. Invite your child to choose one or more ▶▶ who Read aloud Read aloud thedo page. would you feel if youyour sawchild a person talking to a actions of ▶▶ Ask: What you Ask: seetoday. inHow this picture?

Encourage to describe the to complete wildSaint animal such as wolf?

(Possible answers: scared, nervous, curious) How Vincent dea Paul. did wolf react to Saint (It was calmwho andwere gentle.)

Saint Francis ▶▶ the Say: Saint Vincent de Francis?

Paul helped people poorSay: and in need.

This is how he loved everything Godlove. created. He loved the animals as if they were his brothers showed God his and sisters.your He treated them We are going to learn how God makes ▶▶ Have child turn to kindly. page 213.

Read aloud the introduction and discuss the everything and how prayer helps us show our love for all creation. question.

God Makes Everything

God, Our Creator and Father

▶▶ Read aloud the heading and the first paragraph. Talk about different organizations With your child add Francis’s feast day, October 4, to your calendar. Plan an that help people in need,the such Habitat Humanity.

Explain that some parishes event together to celebrate loveasthat Saintfor Francis had for animals.

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OV-14

Finding God Family Catechesis Leader Guide

INSIDE THE PROGRAM

Additional Online Support Loyola Press provides a wealth of online resources to support and enhance the Finding God Family Catechesis program.

FindingGod.com • Activity Finder • Reproducible blackline masters • Seasonal resources • Study guides • Family resources in English and Spanish Loyolapress.com • 3-Minute Retreats online: Available in English and Spanish for your computer, smartphone, or tablet

• Sunday Connection: Useful background and activities to explain the upcoming Sunday’s Scripture readings

• Family, Faith, and Fun: Fun activities to help parents see family life as an opportunity to recognize the grace of God

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• Saint Resources: Activities, biographies, reflections, and stories • Our Catholic Faith Resources: Articles, activities, and facts about Catholic life IgnatianSpirituality.com • What Is Ignatian Spirituality? Relevant articles and information about Saint Ignatius of Loyola and his teachings

• Ignatian Prayer: A variety of prayers developed or inspired by Saint Ignatius

• Making Good Decisions: Information on discernment, spiritual direction, and life vocations ©

• Ignatian Voices: Articles and biographies about those inspired by Ignatian spirituality

• Ignatian Community: Connections to Jesuit and Ignatian organizations and communities Note: Be sure children are closely supervised by adults when on the internet.

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OV-15

Finding God Family Catechesis Leader Guide

THE EFFECTIVE LEADER

A Catechetical Leader’s Role As a catechetical leader, you are responding to the call to share the gift of faith with others, even as you deepen your own faith. Know that this Leader Guide, together with the slide show presentations, media clips, and online resources, was designed to accompany you every step of the way with abundant resources, practical tips, and ample support.

Fundamental Characteristics of Your Role As we yearn for the knowledge and skills that help us gently nurture others to experience their faith, we ground our efforts in these fundamentals:

• a well-developed understanding of Catholic Tradition, culture, doctrine, and Scripture

• honest and respectful relationships with children, their families, and catechists

• effective organizational and communication skills

• valuing child safety as evidenced by meeting all diocesan and parish requirements, including training, such as Virtus®, and seeing that the catechists with whom you work do likewise

Qualities of an Effective Catechetical Leader As a catechetical leader, you share your personal faith and humanity. The ability to share authentically requires certain qualities that include

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• a desire to grow in your faith and relationship with God. • an awareness of God’s grace and the desire to respond to that grace.

• a commitment to the Church’s liturgical and sacramental life and moral teachings.

• a strength of character built on patience, responsibility, confidence, and creativity.

• an understanding of the needs and concerns of the catechists, families, and children whom you serve.

• a generosity of spirit, respect for diversity, and a habit of hospitality

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and inclusion.

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OV-16

Finding God Family Catechesis Leader Guide

THE EFFECTIVE LEADER

Prepare a Welcoming Environment

Prayer Center

When Jesus planned a special meal with his Apostles during Passover, he sent Peter and John ahead of him, saying, “Go and make preparations for us.” (Luke 22:8) In the same way, preparing the physical space for faith formation is important. Although you may not be able to choose your meeting space, you can take steps to make it welcoming.

No matter your environment, give families a sense of belonging where they can be comfortable learning and sharing. The best way to support and encourage any group is to have a welcoming spirit. Greet parents and children at the door as they arrive.

• Arrive 20–30 minutes early to prepare the space and to center yourself. If you are rushed and frantic, the participants will feel the same; likewise, if you are calm and relaxed, they will feel the same.

• Arrange the chairs so that each has an unobstructed line of sight to the screen on which the slide show presentation will be projected.

• Place handouts, name tags, or other materials on a table near the entry. Using preprinted name tags will make it easy for you to see at a glance who is not present. Consider affixing the name tags to meeting materials so they can be retrieved by the participants later.

Arrange a focal point with symbols that express the presence of the Word of God and communicate a sense of the sacred. Set up a prayer center with these supplies:

• small table, prominently placed

• cloth table cover, changed to reflect the liturgical season

• Bible • small plant or flowers • one or more of the following: bowl of holy water, crucifix, religious image, or statue

• battery-operated candle

• Set up the unit theme-related art print listed in the Materials list for each unit. It can provide a discussion piece or simply lend itself to the ambience. from month to month. Parents and children will find comfort in returning to a familiar space.

• Consider providing light snacks and drinks, such as coffee and

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water, but be aware of any food allergies.

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• If possible, make all aspects of your environment consistent

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Finding God Family Catechesis Leader Guide