Sixth Sunday of Easter-May 17, 2020
Fifth Sunday of Easter-May 10, 2020
This Sunday we learn that we belong to God and to one another:
Resources for families:
Family reflection questions on the Sunday scriptures (Click here to read this Sunday's scriptures.)
Gospel Weeklies
Our K-5 Faith Formation program uses Gospel Weeklies. The publisher has made all of their resources available during this time, so you can access age appropriate materials from preschool through middle school below.
You can find the videos about this Sunday's Gospel here.
The guest login information is:
username: pgw
password: temporary
You can download the accompanying worksheets:
Seeds for preschool
Promise for grades K-1
Good News for grades 2-3
Venture for grades 4-6
Visions for grades 7-8
- In the Acts of the Apostles, the early Jewish followers of Jesus joined together with the Hellenists (non-Jewish followers), thus expanding the Christian community in Jerusalem.
- The Psalm reminds us to place our trust in the Lord.
- In the second reading from the First Letter of Peter, we are challenged to let ourselves become and be recognized as a child of God.
- In the Gospel from John we hear Jesus speak of himself as "the way, the truth and the life." We are God's children--united through Jesus--and with one another.
Resources for families:
Family reflection questions on the Sunday scriptures (Click here to read this Sunday's scriptures.)
- Think of a time when you felt welcomed into a group of friends. How did that feel and how could you be welcoming to others?
- In the second reading from the First Letter of Peter, we learn that we are to let ourselves "be built into a spiritual home." What does that mean to you?
Gospel Weeklies
Our K-5 Faith Formation program uses Gospel Weeklies. The publisher has made all of their resources available during this time, so you can access age appropriate materials from preschool through middle school below.
You can find the videos about this Sunday's Gospel here.
The guest login information is:
username: pgw
password: temporary
You can download the accompanying worksheets:
Seeds for preschool
Promise for grades K-1
Good News for grades 2-3
Venture for grades 4-6
Visions for grades 7-8
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Fourth Sunday of Easter-May 3, 2020
A story of inspiration:
Did you know that the Catholic Kids Homilies (video above) is produced by a young musician? See Isabella D’Angelo's story here.
This Sunday we learn that it is not always easy to be followers of Jesus:
Resources for families:
Family reflection questions on the Sunday scriptures (Click here to read this Sunday's scriptures.)
Gospel Weeklies
Our K-5 Faith Formation program uses Gospel Weeklies. The publisher has made all of their resources available during this time, so you can access age appropriate materials from preschool through middle school below.
You can find the videos about this Sunday's Gospel here.
The guest login information is:
username: pgw
password: temporary
You can download the accompanying worksheets:
Did you know that the Catholic Kids Homilies (video above) is produced by a young musician? See Isabella D’Angelo's story here.
This Sunday we learn that it is not always easy to be followers of Jesus:
- In the Acts of the Apostles, Peter challenges us to repent for our sins and to be better Christian followers.
- The Psalm reminds us that our Lord God is always there for us in good times and in bad.
- In the second reading from the First Letter of Peter, we learn that Jesus is our example of living a faith-filled life.
- In the Gospel from John we learn that Jesus is our shepherd and will give us eternal life. "Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture (John 10: 9)."
Resources for families:
Family reflection questions on the Sunday scriptures (Click here to read this Sunday's scriptures.)
- Think of a time when it was difficult to do the right thing. What were the circumstances and how did you handle it?
- Have you ever had a hard time admitting to someone that you are Catholic? How did you feel at the time?
- Who is a role model for you in your faith?
Gospel Weeklies
Our K-5 Faith Formation program uses Gospel Weeklies. The publisher has made all of their resources available during this time, so you can access age appropriate materials from preschool through middle school below.
You can find the videos about this Sunday's Gospel here.
The guest login information is:
username: pgw
password: temporary
You can download the accompanying worksheets:
- Seeds for preschool
- Promise for grades K-1
- Good News for grades 2-3
- Venture for grades 4-6
- Visions for grades 7-8
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Third Sunday of Easter-April 26, 2020
This Sunday we hear passages from scripture that help define what it means to be a Christian:
Resources for families:
Family reflection questions on the Sunday scriptures (Click here to read this Sunday's scriptures.)
Gospel Weeklies
Our K-5 Faith Formation program uses Gospel Weeklies. The publisher has made all of their resources available during this time, so you can access age appropriate materials from preschool through middle school below.
You can find the videos about this Sunday's Gospel here.
The guest login information is:
username: pgw
password: temporary
You can download the accompanying worksheets:
- The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles tells of when Peter stands up and speaks about the apostles' role as witnesses to Jesus' death and resurrection and his saving love.
- Our Psalm reminds us that Jesus will show us the path of life and how we are to follow him.
- The second reading from the First Letter of Peter calls us to remember how our actions reveal the kind of people we are and demonstrate that we belong to the community of believers.
- The Gospel from Luke is about two unsuspecting apostles encountering Jesus on the road to Emmaus after his death and resurrection. These two apostles, who were demoralized after the events in Jerusalem, recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread and are eager to rejoin their friends in Jerusalem to share the Good News that Jesus is alive. This Gospel also shows that Jesus never leaves us alone even during dark times--he searches for us and makes himself known.
Resources for families:
Family reflection questions on the Sunday scriptures (Click here to read this Sunday's scriptures.)
- How do we recognize Jesus in our midst today?
- Who has helped you remember that Jesus loves you?
- How do our actions show we are followers of Jesus?
Gospel Weeklies
Our K-5 Faith Formation program uses Gospel Weeklies. The publisher has made all of their resources available during this time, so you can access age appropriate materials from preschool through middle school below.
You can find the videos about this Sunday's Gospel here.
The guest login information is:
username: pgw
password: temporary
You can download the accompanying worksheets:
- Seeds for preschool
- Promise for grades K-1
- Good News for grades 2-3
- Venture for grades 4-6
- Visions for grades 7-8
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Divine Mercy Sunday-April 19, 2020
This Sunday is known as Divine Mercy Sunday. When St. John Paul II canonized St. Faustina, a Polish nun who received a series of revelations from God during the 1930's, he also declared the Sunday after Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday. God's messages to St. Faustina revealed that God wanted us to remember his mercy--that we are to ask for mercy, to show mercy and to trust in God.
Today's Gospel from John tells the story of Doubting Thomas and his refusal to believe that Jesus rose from the dead until he was able to touch Jesus' wounds himself. Jesus reminds us in this Gospel that we too are blessed and worthy of his mercy, "Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." St. John Paul II spoke in a homily on a second Sunday of Easter, "Let us relive this moment with great spiritual intensity. Today the Lord also shows us his glorious wounds and his heart, an inexhaustible source of light and truth, of love and forgiveness."
Resources for families:
Scriptures for Sunday, April 19
Divine Mercy Chaplet
The Chaplet is a series of prayers organized similarly as the Rosary. The following link explains how to recite the Chaplet:
https://www.thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/pray-the-chaplet
A Catholic Kids video about the Second Sunday of Easter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqyJRkj6jek
Gospel Weeklies
Our K-5 Faith Formation program uses Gospel Weeklies. You can find the videos about this Sunday's Gospel here.
The guest login information is:
username: pgw
password: temporary
You can download the accompanying worksheets:
Today's Gospel from John tells the story of Doubting Thomas and his refusal to believe that Jesus rose from the dead until he was able to touch Jesus' wounds himself. Jesus reminds us in this Gospel that we too are blessed and worthy of his mercy, "Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." St. John Paul II spoke in a homily on a second Sunday of Easter, "Let us relive this moment with great spiritual intensity. Today the Lord also shows us his glorious wounds and his heart, an inexhaustible source of light and truth, of love and forgiveness."
Resources for families:
Scriptures for Sunday, April 19
- How can I better ask for and show mercy in my daily life?
- What doubts do I have that keep me from fully trusting in God?
Divine Mercy Chaplet
The Chaplet is a series of prayers organized similarly as the Rosary. The following link explains how to recite the Chaplet:
https://www.thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/pray-the-chaplet
A Catholic Kids video about the Second Sunday of Easter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqyJRkj6jek
Gospel Weeklies
Our K-5 Faith Formation program uses Gospel Weeklies. You can find the videos about this Sunday's Gospel here.
The guest login information is:
username: pgw
password: temporary
You can download the accompanying worksheets:
- Seeds for preschool
- Promise for grades K-1
- Good News for grades 2-3
- Venture for grades 4-5
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Holy Week
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A special thanks to Elizabeth Vogt from St. Theresa's in Palatine for compiling these activities for families to do during Holy Week and for allowing us to share them with you. These ideas are meant to help make Holy Week a special time of prayer and reflection. Please do not feel you need to do all of the suggested activities. Choose the ones that work best for your family.
Palm Sunday
Today we celebrate Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The word, Hosanna, appears in the story when Jesus enters into Jerusalem. Watch the video above to find out what the word means.
Palm Sunday Mass is at 10 a.m. Click here for live streaming.
Ideas to do:
- Wear red.
- On your kitchen table or prayer area, place a red cloth, crucifix, and lighted candle, and any green branch from your yard as a centering point of prayer. Proclaim Matthew 21:1-11.
- Make a palm at home out of paper. Use construction paper, cardstock or whatever you have - cut a palm branch free form or use this template
- Looking for a sweet treat? What about Palm (ice cream) Sundaes - green ice cream (vanilla with green food coloring, mint, pistachio, or green sherbert), mint leaves, and a cherry on top Click Here for more details.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week
Ideas to do:
- On the table place a purple cloth, a candle, and the Bible open to Psalm 51: Have mercy on us Lord, for we have sinned against You.
- Clean the house as a prayerful preparation for Easter.
- Color Easter Eggs, which are a symbol of new life.
- Paint a stained glass window at home using painters tape, washable paint, and a drop of Dawn dish soap? Click Here for directions.
- Not sure you want to paint a window? How about a paper stained glass window? All you need is tissue paper, wax paper, school glue, scissors, and construction paper Click Here for directions.
Holy Thursday
Today we celebrate Jesus giving the Eucharist to the disciples, the Real Presence, and the institution of Holy Orders. Today begins the Sacred Triduum, one long liturgical celebration over three days. Our Holy Thursday Mass will be live streamed beginning at 5 p.m. Click here to live stream.
Maundy Thursday is a common name for Holy Thursday. Watch the video above on the Meaning of Maundy Thursday.
Ideas to Do:
- Light two candles and place a white or gold cloth on the table. If you have one, place an image of the Last Supper on your table as well. Proclaim 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 and John 13:1-15. Read Psalm 116: Our blessing cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.
- Bake bread or unleavened bread.
- Celebrate a meal as a family. Wash the feet of family members as an expression of love reconciliation, and service.
- Discuss how we remember others who need to go away (trip, move, no longer with us). How do we remember them? We have photos, videos, share stories, and may have items to help us remember them. Jesus wanted to give His friends and us something to remember Him by as well - Himself! Receiving Jesus in the Eucharist is the Real Presence!
Good Friday
Today we enter the solemn time of Jesus' Passion. Jesus makes the ultimate sacrifice of Himself for us:
We adore you O Christ and we praise You. Because by Your holy cross You have redeemed the world.
How is Jesus' death on the cross a sacrifice like no other?
Ideas to Do:
- In the liturgy, the altar is bare. For your prayer space, no cloth or candles, just a simple cross. Proclaim John 18:1-19:42.
- Fast
- Participate in the Stations of the Cross at 12 noon. Click here for live streaming.
- Participate in the Passion of the Lord at 3 p.m. Click here for live streaming.
- Read the Passion Narrative from one of the Gospels.
- Consider having a Passion symbolic lunch for the kids. See here for details.
- Do extra good deeds and sacrifices.
- Forgive someone who has hurt you.
- Process and venerate a cross at home and talk about the crucifixion.
- Say the Our Father at bedtime in remembrance of God's gift for all Salvation.
Holy Saturday
The Easter Vigil begins with the symbol of fire. The fire represents that Jesus is the light of the world. Jesus Brings light to darkness and new life.
What are other symbols of the resurrection?
- Jesus rising to new life is transformative and life-changing. What does this mean?
Ideas to Do:
- Take a walk around the neighborhood and look for signs of new life in springtime.
- Make Easter Story Cookies? Click here for directions.
Easter Sunday
Alleluia! Jesus has Risen! Sing the Gloria!
Easter Sunday Mass Livestream at 10:00am. Click here for the live streaming.
Lessons for Sunday, March 29
Our K-5 Faith Formation program uses Gospel Weeklies. You can find the videos about this Sunday's Gospel here. The guest login information is:
username: pgw
password: temporary
You can download the accompanying worksheets:
username: pgw
password: temporary
You can download the accompanying worksheets:
- Promise for grades K-1
- Good News for grades 2-3
- Venture for grades 4-5
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Other Lenten Resources
Vidoes about Lent from BustedHalo.com:
Videos for Sunday, March 22
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March 22 is the 4th Sunday of Lent, which is called Laetare Sunday. Click on the video to learn about its significance. You can also find videos about this Sunday's Gospel through Gospel Weeklies. The guest login information is: pgw (username) temporary (password) |
Blessed: Counting Our Blessings
Our First Communion students have been watching the Blessed: First Communion Series. Here is a video that is appropriate for all. May we always remember the blessings God gives us even when times are difficult!