ECHO
A Monthly Resource for Teaching the Faith 3.22
"As lent is the time for greater love, listen to Jesus' thirst...'repent and believe' Jesus tells us. What are we to repent? Our indifference, our hardness of heart. What are we to believe? Jesus thirsts even now, in your heart and in the poor -- he knows your weakness. He wants only your love, wants only the chance to love you."
How can we help those we catechize to know that Jesus thirsts for a relationship with them? We need only to engage them! In this edition we focus on the Lenten season and engaging our students in an encounter with Christ!
Make Lent a Time of Encounter
1. Promote Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Mass. Help young people and their families better understand how to pray in Adoration and how to actively and consciously participate in the Mass to be present with Jesus.
2. Teach those you serve to bring God into their frustrations; they are not alone and they can be the face of God for others...even those who anger or annoy them. Whenever they are feeling frustrated with someone, teach them to pray one of our beloved traditional prayers such as the Our Father, Hail Mary or the Jesus Prayer: "Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have Mercy on Me, A Sinner". Invite them to breathe deeply as they say the prayer. Inviting God into those frustrations helps us to recognize that God walks beside us each day.
3. Is it 10:10? When looking at an analog clock with hands, the time 10:10 am or pm puts forth a similar pose to the way Jesus' hands were nailed to the cross. Each time they see 10:10 am or pm throughout the Lenten season, invite them to stop and thank God for reminding them of his presence and his love and acknowledge any blessings or needs.
4. During Lent, invite students to be present to others so that they might be the hands and feet of Christ in the World. Encourage youth and adults to put down their screens, look others in the eye and have meaningful, face to face conversations.
5. Each day, invite your students and families to pray a mini (or larger Examen) by conversing with God and reflecting on their days. The Examen invites us to see the movement of God throughout our day. Use these steps:
- acknowledge gratitude
- ask God to shed light on the day
- review joys, challenges, and the presence of God in that day
- respond to God and look toward tomorrow with a plan in light of your reflection
7. Invite families to make time for the sick, the poor, the lonely...live the Gospel and build the kingdom!
8. Encourage peacemaking in families, schools, workplaces and communities. How would Jesus respond to actions that divide us?
9. Create opportunities for students and families to take steps to fast from negativity, disrespect and hatred. Talk about the lessons Jesus shared and invite families to feast on love, compassion, and kindness.
10. Invite students to create images of Jesus.
Praying All Ways and ALWAYS!
- Outdoor Stations: https://catechismangel.com/2021/01/09/outdoor-stations-of-the-cross/
- Praying in Color: https://prayingincolor.com/stations-of-the-cross?fbclid=IwAR0NjbwOgsYgQcP0_YbLD0ocrX_PW7qvuWq3vLpcxqM3m4QG_tWJjM1aq0w
- Pop Up Stations from Bayard Publishing: https://bayardfaithresources.com/products/stations-of-the-cross-pop-up-calendar-children-stpc?variant=39672537088097
- Thinking about my Peers: https://www.stjameslititz.org/documents/2021/3/Stations-of-the-cross-for-children.pdf
- From His Holiness, Pope Francis: https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/documents/index_via-crucis_en.html
Family Connection
Keep Learning!
March Catechetical Highlights: Lent
40 Days of Lenten Prayer
For you or for your students! A great way to pray your way through Lent! https://oec.dor.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/40-Days-of-Lenten-Prayer.pdf
Triduum Walk Through
This active learning walkthrough connects the events of the Passion. Perfect for middle/high school students and families with those ages! https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1WdvrsvQJ5J4nBPYvl1IpodewpPBZrAfl
If you are reading a paper copy, you can access our google drive at https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1FdofDF6MAr9aT3vD7k7Cb0l0OnIp_u-P
The Office of Evangelization and Catechesis
Debtor in Possession
Email: leslie.barkin@dor.org
Website: oec.dor.org
Phone: (585)328-3210