This year allows one of the few opportunities to celebrate Pentecost in the Atrium after having celebrated it as a Church community and the children certainly enjoyed this opportunity to celebrate! The L1 children each chose one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, asking God to stir up that gift within them. The L2 and L3 children did the same, but only after looking at the many ways the Holy Spirit's presence, actions, and gifts are seen and experienced through multiple materials in the Atrium. May the Holy Spirit fill and guide each of them and each of us as we head into the summer months!! In accordance with a tradition which had begun by at least Medieval times, the children have taken time during this past week in the Atrium to write and decorate an Alleluia card. Some of the younger children remembered this event from last year, but for many this was a new experience. We spoke about what "Alleluia" means ("Praise the Lord!) and talked about Lent as a time of quiet and listening as we prepare for Easter, a time to "set aside" and "save up" our Alleluias for that greatest of all feasts! While the 2nd graders were few in number this year, they were not lacking in creativity nor in depth when it came to their representations of those materials and truths which have helped them in their preparations for their First Communion. Enjoy!!
In our continued celebrating of the Easter Season, the WOS 2nd graders had the gift of gathering for a day of retreat last Friday. Taking time away to enjoy the many gifts of the Atrium which have assisted their journey towards First Reconciliation and First Communion was a great treat for all involved. The 2nd graders were joined by their 3rd grade prayer partners for a simple yet beautiful lunch in the middle of the day. The 3rd years have been praying for their 2nd year prayer partners in a particular way since the beginning of Lent. On the morning of the retreat they took time to choose a Scripture verse for their prayer partner and decorate a name card for them which the 2nd graders received at the Agape meal when they first found out who their prayer partners was as they were served by them during during the meal. Here are the Scriptures chosen by the 3rd years: - "For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life" (John 3:16). - "He said to them, 'Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Behold, the place where they laid him'" (Mark 16:6). - "While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it and giving it to his disciples, said, 'Take and eat; this is my body'" (Matthew 26:26). - "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me" (John 14:1). - "Jesus answered, 'I say to you not seven times but seventy-seven times'" (Matthew 19:22). - "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they began to speak in different tongues" (Acts 2:4a). Alleluia! He is Risen! This week we had the gift of celebrating the Risen Light of Jesus through the Liturgy of the Light. For the first time we enjoyed this beautiful celebration outside in order to provide space sufficient for all of our elementary children and adolescents to gather. While the symbolism of the light overcoming the darkness was not as clear, the sacrifice was well worth it in order to have so many of us together to celebrate the great solemnity of Easter. Truly, God is so very good!
Synthesis of the Prophecies with 1st-3rd graders:
Every year as we approach Lent the children in the Atrium take time celebrate the beautiful gift of "Alleluia," our anthem of praise. All of the children have had time in the past week to enjoy and ponder this beautiful word as they decorated Alleluia cards which they then "buried" in anticipation of Lent, a season of quiet and listening. The bin of their "Alleluias" will remain under the prayer table until the great celebration of the Liturgy of the Light at Easter when we will again "Praise the Lord" with our "Alleluias!" In the Level III Atrium we began our day with the Scripture from Psalm 118:27a, "The Lord is God and has enlightened us." What does it mean to say, "The Lord is God!" What does "enlightened" mean? After discussing the meaning of this passage the children were invited to bring a material that has helped them know that the Lord is God or that has helped them to grow in His Light. The older the children were, the more materials they wanted to bring...!! |
Carolyn Kohlhaas
CGS Catechist and Formation Leader (Levels I, II, and III) Categories
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