The study of the Eucharist begins in the Atrium at the age of three with the presentation on the Model Altar which focuses on the names of the articles used at Mass. The preparation for the reception of Eucharist in 2nd grade forms, in some ways, the highlight of and focus of all work with the Eucharist in the Atrium. However, our understanding of the great Gift of Jesus hidden in the signs of bread and wine is never complete! The Upper Elementary children continue to "unpack" this beautiful mystery of our faith, expanding their focus from the most essential gestures and verbal prayers of the Mass to include each and every prayer through a multi-part presentation entitled "The Structure of the Mass." In this work the Mass is looked at as one great prayer made up of many beautiful prayers, like a pearl necklace made up of individual pearls. After looking at the Mass as a whole, the children begin to look more closely at one of the four sections of the Mass: The Liturgy of the Word, The Preparation of the Gifts, The Eucharistic Prayer, and The Rite of Communion. As they "master" the ordering of the prayers in each section they will begin to write their own Complete Missal, copying each prayer on its own page.
Each Atrium session ends with a few minutes at the prayer table, as we gather for Communal Prayer. In Children's House (Level I), this prayer is led by the adult, with many opportunities for the children to suggest songs and contribute their prayers of thanks and praise. In Elementary (Levels II and III), the children take on more of a role in leading prayer until they are able to plan and lead prayer for all of us completely on their own. Many children, as they begin to write, enjoy making prayer cards or booklets of prayer cards. In elementary, they continue this but also move into writing Scripture verses and Hebrew prayer cards (Alleluia, Amen, etc. in Hebrew characters). This past week, three 3rd grade children planned and lead prayer. They began by looking up "thanks" in a concordance and chose both a Psalm and Scripture reading for their prayer. Then they chose music and wrote prayers of thanks, instead of petitions, and practiced their readings and leadership roles in order to guide all of us in prayer. Here is their Thanksgiving Prayer...
Opening Song: "Thank you, Lord, for giving us Life." (Second verse: Joy) Psalm: 107:1-9. "Give thanks to the LORD for he is good, his mercy endures forever!" 1. Give thanks to the LORD for he is good, his mercy endures forever! 2. Let that be the prayer of the LORD's redeemed, those redeemed from the hand of the foe, 3. Those gathered from foreign lands, from east and west, from north and south. 4. Some had lost their way in a barren desert; found no path toward a city to live in. 5. They were hungry and thirsty; their life was ebbing away. 6. In their distress they cried to the LORD, who rescued them in their peril. 7. Guided them by a direct path so they reached a city to live in. 8. Let them thank the LORD for his mercy, such wondrous deeds for the children of Adam. 9. For he satisfied the thirsty, filled the hungry with good things. Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. "Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing, in all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." Prayers of Thanks: Response: "Amen." 1. Lord we thank you for Pope Francis and for keeping him and all the priests healthy. 2. Lord we thank you for the Atrium and a chance to learn about your love for us. 3. Lord we thank you for all the blessings you have given our families. 4. Lord we thank you for the whole universe and all your gifts of creation for us. Closing Song: "Give Thanks to the Lord, Always." (Tune: "Rejoice in the Lord, Always.") This year we began an expansion project which included adding a brand new Children's House environment. While the elementary children at North Campus are transported to the South Campus Atrium each week, we set up a Atrium just for our North Campus Children's House children so that they can experience time in the Atrium, the heart of our school, each week in the room right next to their Children's House. This group of children included only one with previous Atrium experience, in contrast to the other Children's Houses which tend to have sixty to eighty percent returning children. Mrs. Erling and I have found great joy in watching these children grow in focus, concentration, and prayer as they expand their work in the Atrium. Here are some photos of these children deeply engaged in the Atrium this past week! One of the first presentations for the new three year old in the Atrium is the Model Altar. This small material gives the child access to small representations of the articles that they see being used during Mass and in the church. This is a work that grows with the children. They begin by learning the names and placement of the most essential items used during Mass: altar, altar cloth, paten, chalice, candles, crucifix. When they have worked with this material for a time and can recall the names of these items, more can be added: Lectionary, ambo, Roman Missal, book stand, tabernacle, ciborium, sanctuary lamp. This material continues to grow with the children and once their memory for these gifts has solidified, they are also introduced to: credence table, cruets, lavabo basin and handtowel, corporal, burse, purificator, and pall. Once the child is beginning to read they are invited to label all of the items they have set out when working with the Model Altar. As the children move into elementary, they are invited to recall the names and placement of these items and are encouraged to continue their pondering of these materials through some additional extensions: the large altar collage and the altar nomenclature cards. With the collage the names are again emphasized and the child may even decide to write labels for each item. The nomenclature cards also allow practice with early reading and writing as the children match the label with the picture of the item and then compose a definition for it or attempt to match a pre-written definition to each picture. Often, the next step is for the children to make their own booklets as they "collect" and record the articles of the Mass that they know. Learning the names and uses of the items used at Mass comes with such a variety of activities that the children are sure to find one that is of interest and engages them in their learning! As wonderful as it is to see the children gaining access to a more full and active participation in the liturgy through their growth in knowledge, the first aim of any presentation in the Atrium is to lead them to prayer. This prayer comes first as silence or song or words of thanks to God who gives us such good gifts...and it grows, we hope, into awe and wonder at His presence in both our daily life and during our most sacred moments of celebration at liturgy.
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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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