What a beautiful day of time away for our 2nd grade children! Last Friday the 2nd graders spent the entire day in the Atrium - except for their beautiful Agape meal followed by a bit of time outside - and it was a day filled with many blessings. After spending time pondering the gifts which have helped them to prepare for this day as well as for their continued journey with the Good Shepherd, each child decorated a cross filled with these gifts. While they also spent time with materials and enjoying silence, their work on their crosses took the majority of their morning as they captured this moment in their life of faith in words and images. It was, as always, such an honor and privilege to witness the focus and concentration of these children as they took to this work with such great reverence. Five of our eight second graders will be preparing to receive the Eucharist for the very first time in the next few weeks. Please keep them in your prayers! As we enter the holiest days of the year may we never forget the great gifts we have received from the one who willingly laid down His life from the very moment of His conception. Jesus gave all of His time, His love, His attention, and His presence throughout His life including the night before He died when He spoke new words, words we continue to hear today: "This is my Body, given up for you...This is my Blood, poured out for you." The next day, on Mount Calvary, this same total gift of self was seen in a new way when He breathed His last. Jesus has died, but we also know that He is risen. As we wait in sure hope of the celebration of Easter in just a few days, may we also wait in sure hope of the coming of the Parousia, when God will be "all in all," and His presence will no longer be hidden in the signs of bread and wine but we will see Him "face to face."
As we continue to work our way through Lent, the children have returned again and again to the Liturgical Calendar which concretizes time and allows them to see visually and concretely where they are in the year.
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Carolyn Kohlhaas
CGS Catechist and Formation Leader (Levels I, II, and III) Categories
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April 2024
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