The Sacraments are introduced in the Atrium as the children are ready to ponder them. Thus, in Level I (3-6 year olds) Eucharist and Baptism have many materials which allow for sensorial experiences of the elements of these Sacraments. In Level II (6-9 year olds) Reconciliation is introduced as the children begin to prepare to receive this Sacrament. In Level III (9-12 year olds) a broader encounter with the Sacraments is provided through the material called "The Holy Bible and the Sacraments." The seven Sacraments are introduced as a whole, starting with the way in which they are placed on the Plan of God timeline around the star and cross that mark when Jesus lived on the earth. Since His death and resurrection, the Holy Bible and the Sacraments are the means through which we continue to encounter Him and experience His presence. After introducing the Sacraments in this way the Level III children take time to discuss each Sacrament and ask questions and conduct research to provide definitions for each. Sharing our findings provides a place for further questions and answers about each of these beautiful ways in through we continue to encounter the Risen Christ today. This week in the Atrium the Level I (Children's House) children were asked which materials helped them to listen for the voice of the Good Shepherd. They responded...
- The Baptism Area - Gathering Crosses and Crucifixes - The Gestures Altar - The Model Altar - The Good Shepherd - The Prayer Table Every year some of the Level III (3rd-6th grade) children read and ponder how particular prophets were called to their vocation as spokesmen for the Lord. This year the interest of the 3rd grade children led to four weeks of pondering these "calls" and brought the 4th graders into the study as well. Three girls planned a whole project on the prophets. They talked for an extra half hour after the forty-five minute Scripture study about Malachi as the last Old Testament prophet as well as whether or not there were prophets in the New Testament, finally deciding that the Apostles were prophets because they had listened to Jesus and then they had gone out to tell others about Him. Remembering Jesus' instruction to His friends to "Go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," they began to talk about their own Baptism and their own call to speak Jesus' message. One boy had his own idea to extend the work. Having written and illustrated a verse from each of the four prophets that were studied together, he began looking in other prophetic books to discover how each prophet was called to his role by God. While he was disappointed that many prophets did not record the way in which they first heard God's call, he did find several additional passages (with a bit of help) that allowed him to add a few more prophets to his collection.
In the Atrium, as in the Church as a whole, the Easter season is a time of particular focus on Baptism. We celebrated Easter late in the spring last year, and it has become clear to me that the children felt the "crunch" of time! This fall children at each Level have been returning to the Baptism area and enjoying, more deeply, the beautiful gifts of this sacrament. In the words of the children... - I was speaking about Baptism with several children in the Level I (CH) Atrium when a younger child, age 4, approached, holding a crucifix, saying, "This is God and He put the fire in us." She then walked away and returned to her work. - When presenting the first moment of Baptism to the Level I (CH) children last spring each child was sitting with a lit candle near him as a reminder of the light received at his Baptism. One child said, "It's like the path of light for the people who walked in darkness." - After lighting the Paschal Candle and Individual Baptismal Candle for a child who had set up the Baptism area on his own, the five-year-old began to speak about his grandma who had died and was now with Jesus. - A Level III (E2) child asked what title she could use when writing the Prayer for the Invocation of the Holy Spirit over the Waters of Baptism. "Invocation" or "Epiclesis" was suggested. She returned later to show she had chosen to title this prayer, "The Great Prayer." Amen!! During the Easter Season, one of the favorite works in the Level I Atrium is the Baptism area. Drawing the Easter Candle and decorating around it is a popular extension as well. Having just celebrated the Liturgy of the Light, the Atrium's most solemn celebration of the year, where the one Risen Light of Christ spreads to many as each child receives a candle lit from the Paschal Candle, the youngest children are led to an encounter with the moment they themselves were first invited into the family of God. Receiving the Sacrament of Baptism marks the moment when the Risen Life and Light of Jesus is placed deep within each individual, shown by being clothed in a white garment in order to depict on the outside the new Light filling the soul on the inside. The experience of light casting out darkness is illustrated in a particularly beautiful way through the handing out of individual candles which are then enjoyed by those receiving them. Often they return to the Baptism Area throughout the year in order to have more extended time of pondering this beautiful gift. Extensions such as a Baptism collage and drawing and decorating their own Easter Candle also help them to continuing enjoying their Baptism. This year the youngest children sang many songs of joy as they sat with their candles which reminded them of the gift of the Light! In the words of the children... - "Thank you, Jesus!" (Four-year-old girl) - "It's so bright!" (Five-year-old girl) - "It's like a pathway of light to the Light of Jesus!" (Six-year-old boy) - "You can keep the garment clean by being nice. If you had no marks on it when you die that would be so beautiful!" (Six-year-old boy) - After the Paschal candle and Baptismal candle had been lit, a five-year-old boy began talking about his grandma, who had died: "My grandma is with Jesus in heaven and one day I will see her there because we both have Jesus' light in us." As the children grow, the work of the Baptism area grows with them. The water, Word, and oils are introduced as well as the gestures (actions/movements of the priest). Upon entering the Level II or Lower Elementary Atrium, all of these gifts are placed in the order in which they are received through the Rite of Baptism and the children, after laying out the cards representing these moments in order, use them to recall the Rite in groups of two or three at a time, reading shortened versions of the prayers of the priest. Some children even choose to write and illustrate their own Baptism Missal! While the Level II Rite of Baptism work only lifts up the most essential moments of the Sacrament, the Level III or Upper Elementary material is composed of each and every prayer of the Rite of Baptism. This series of Baptism presentations is just one example of how the Atrium helps the children move from the most essential elements of our faith to the beautiful, expanded whole so that they might broaden their experience and understanding as they grow!
The Upper Elementary children (E2 / Level III) spent two hours preparing to lead the Liturgy of the Light celebration for the entire school. They read through their assigned readings, they walked through the movements, they practiced both together, and then even had five minutes to spare before the Atrium began to fill with children. Beginning with the Dressing of the Easter Candle, moving through the Exultet and readings from Scripture including Matthew's account of the Resurrection, and into a renewal of the Baptismal Promises, the children were truly led in prayer, song, and silence. Each child was called by name and received a candle lit from the Paschal / Easter Candle. From one light came many lights. After Children's House, Lower Elementary, and Adolescents had left the Atrium, the Upper Elementary children took some time to reflect. The original "ending" to our prayer showed the Good Shepherd surrounded by the individual candles of the children. However, some felt it would be better to have the Easter Candle behind the Good Shepherd. In the end, though, they decided that just the Paschal Candle surrounded by the children's candles was best because it was the clearest sign of the Good Shepherd surrounded by His sheep, the Light surrounded by His light. God is truly so good! One sign of His great, great goodness was the blessing of First Sacraments and entry into the Sheepfold for several Way of the Shepherd children! Congratulations to all those who were welcomed into the Catholic Church this Easter. We are so grateful to have you with us!! The second grade children at The Way of the Shepherd this year hail from three local Catholic parishes and attend their home parish for all sacramental preparation formation. In the Atrium they are also moving forward on their journey toward receiving Reconciliation and Eucharist, and spend much of their year getting ready for these great gifts! In December three second graders received their First Reconciliation, this past Saturday five second graders (as well as two older children who are entering the Catholic Church through RCIA at Easter!) celebrated this sacrament for the first time, and this coming weekend the final five second graders will have their Baptismal garment washed clean in the sacrament of Reconciliation.
Part of preparing for Reconciliation includes looking more closely at the Sacrament of Baptism and the great gift of being welcomed into the sheepfold of Christ through receiving His light! From the beginning of the year the second graders have been working with the Rite of Baptism material (an extension of the Baptism work they have been doing since the age of three in the Atrium). They lay out the pictures of the nine most essential moments of the Rite and then match these to cards describing the gestures of the priest and the words that he prays. After setting them all out they are invited to pray through the Rite of Baptism with a friend. The Rite of Reconciliation work is similar in that it includes picture, text, label, and gesture cards that are ordered by the children. While this is not the only way the children prepare for Reconciliation in the Atrium, it is one of the last and most immediate steps preceding their reception of this great sacrament! - "The Great Shepherd." (3 year old referring to the Good Shepherd work.)
- "I have a song to sing. It's called, 'My Shepherd takes care of His sheep.'" (4 year old.) - "You can't have 'Alleluia' without Mary." (4 year old, drawing Mary on an Alleluia prayer card.) - "I have a gift I can give to Jesus. My heart. My holy heart." (4 year old at prayer.) - "His light will never be extinguished. Even in heaven His Risen Light won't go out." (4 year old, after the candles at the Cenacle / Last Supper had been lit.) - "Thank you, Jesus, for the beautiful light." (3 year old enjoying the Easter Candle and Baptism candle lit at the Baptism area.) |
Carolyn Kohlhaas
CGS Catechist and Formation Leader (Levels I, II, and III) Categories
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March 2024
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