that was not shared in the CGS training. Several years ago
I discovered that the Chart material listing the different parts of the
Mass were taken from the pages of the Missal for the children.
I first made this discovery when I numbered the parts of
the Mass on the chart because my eyes were having trouble tracking
it and I wanted the children to follow it with me while doing this
work. Then last year I noticed that the numbers on the chart
discussed each page in the Control Notebooks. The language was
very different on the chart, which is why I never noticed before.
Last year and this year I passed out the Control Notebooks to the
children and had them follow with me. Together we went through
the Mass, placing the Mass materials on the table. At the end of
this work, they practiced receiving the unconsecrated host in their
hands.
Now it makes it so easy to teach the Synthesis of the Mass.
If only I'd known this from the beginning. Not only that, it gives
the perfect introduction into creating the Missal and teaching them
the materials they will be using. The following week I then pass
out the laminated covers to their Missals to include their names
and date. They really enjoy this work.
You can see the Control Notebook
that the boy below is copying. It
contains graphic pictures of the parts
of the Mass. He is copying the words
of the Priest for the Epiclesis (calling
down the Holy Spirit).
You can scroll to an earlier posting
of the Synthesis of the Mass to see
the layout of materials used for the
children's work.
I have decided to paste in the lined paper for the children as that is
the greatest difficulty for them: "gluing them straight." This program
captures all five senses which children need to learn. For example,
the children copy and write seven prayers: Preparation of the Chalice,
Epiclesis, Elevation of Host and Chalice, Mystery of Faith, Doxology and
the Gesture of Peace, which helps learn these prayers concretely using
their sight and eye-hand coordination. This is their final work learning
the Liturgy of the Eucharist after practicing these gestures and prayers
all year.
