Children working in the Atrium 

The boy on the left is doing the "City of Jerusalem" puzzle.  They have to first read the path Jesus took the night of the Last Supper up until his Crucifixion and put the buildings down in that order.  Then they can continue with the walls and the pools.  On the right this child is doing the Preparation of the Chalice.  In Level II they read the words of the priest as they do this work and they take it very seriously.  On the bottom left, my aide who is also a Level I catechist reads the Bible story of the Good Samaritan to a boy who was absent and wanted to know this story.  The girl on the right is working with a puzzle on The Act of Contrition prayer.  Children who have learning problems have great success with these puzzles.

The girl (left) above works with "the Cenacle and the Last Supper" as well as preparing the cruets. 

The boy on the top right is doing the felt work for the Paschal Candle that we did in class that night.  

The boys on the bottom right are working on the "Presentation in the Temple."  I thought it was so nice that the boy reading offered to read the Bible story to the other boy because he was absent and wanted to know it.  You can see that they both are very attentive. 

Meditations of the Lord's Passion

After doing the Bible story of The Last Supper, The Tomb, The City of Jerusalem, and the Reenactment of the Last Supper, we were

ready to do the Meditations of the Lord's Passion.  I always prepare the small tables with the Scripture Booklets of the Passion.  There are eight of them as I now include "The Empty Tomb."  When there are 14 students in the atrium, they pair up and each child reads half the Bible story.  Since we have such small classes this year, my aide and I both help with the reading especially for those who do not wish to read.

 

 I've downloaded photos of the actual buildings where Jesus was taken after he was arrested in the Garden of Olives.  This way the children not only have the buildings from The City of Jerusalem model but also the photos of the City model as Jerusalem was back then.  I've placed palms at the head of the table for the Entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  There is a wooden statue of Jesus carrying the Cross and a Crown of Thorns on the table.  The Scripture booklets also contain the pictures.  A candle is lit when each person reads.  Half the children wanted to wear the head garment from the Reenactment of the Last Supper as it made them feel as though they were there in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus.  A couple of them kept it on the entire class.

I light the candles as they read and help read when they need assistance.  Otherwise they do very well reading.  I've also made the words easier in the Scripture when I noticed children had trouble with certain words.  This has helped a lot as we have children who have English as a second language.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After we finished the Resurrection from the Tomb in the meditations, I decided that this year we celebrate the Resurrection by doing the Liturgy of the Light.      Combining these two presentations worked nicely and

I may do it this way from now on.

We had so little time this year due to starting our year so late. It also ended on a joyful note, otherwise the Meditations themselves are very somber and sad in of themselves.

Liturgy of the Light 

   As each child took turns reading the words of the blessing for the Paschal Candle, they dressed the candle with the symbols as each part has a significant meaning: 

"Christ Yesterday and Today

The Beginning and the End

The Alpha        The Omega

All Time Belongs to Him

And all the Ages

To Him Be Glory and Power

Through Every Age and Forever."

"By His Holy

And Glorious Wounds

May Christ Our Lord

Guard Us and Keep Us. Amen"

 

To begin I read a formal Proclamation of Jesus' rising from the Tomb.  We then processed around the room with the lit Paschal Candle as I sing three times, "Christ be the Light."  The children respond, "Thanks be to God."  Because we are in tight quarters, I didn't light the children's candles until we returned to our seats. We used the felt board to dress the Candle and used the words of this blessing.  The Paschal Candle was blessed by our Pastor for us and so we light all the individual candles of the children with the blessed candle.  We then renewed our Baptismal Vows which I read to them and they responded.  As we had finished the Meditation Scriptures, there was no need to read from the Bible. Then we sang "This Little Light of Mine."  Also, at the end of the class we sang with the CD player, "Christ Be Our Light" and "We are the Light of the World."

The True Vine

 Reenactment of the Last Supper

This year we began class with "The True Vine" and discussed the meaning of the Vine and Branches and the Vine Grower at our prayer table.

We then got our head costumes on as I explained about the Last Supper and who was present.  I explained that there were only three parts of Jesus, Peter and John and that the rest of the parts were narrations read by the other Apostiles.   We only have six students this year due to Covid.  Normally there are 12 to 15 children.  So everyone had three narrations to read.  

For our wine and bread we use Strawberry Lemonade and either Peta bread or Tortillas.  So I lay the small sized tortillas out on a silver plated tray that will be passed around.  Everyone takes one to eat.  They also pass around the Chalice and pretend to drink from it.  However, I tell them that I will be passing out the strawberry lemonade to drink after we finish the play.  It becomes a celebration of the event.  They always like more tortillas to eat and take home as well.   After we light the candles and commemorate Christ's rising from the dead, we say together, "He is Risen, Alleluia!"  The children then sit together to have their drink.

The Last Supper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I then called them over to the City of Jerusalem which I presented to them afterward while also showing them the Level I City which they enjoy as well.  It is color coded for the Level I.  But the children know they have to read the step by step journey Jesus took the night of the Last Supper all the way to Golgotha.  They read while placing the buildings on the map of the Cenacle, Garden of Olives, Caiapha's Palace, the Tower of Antonio where Pilot lived, Herod's Palace, then back to Pilot and finally to Golgotha and the tomb.  Afterward the walls of the city gets put back onto the map.                                                                        

    The Flight into Egypt

City of Jerusalem map puzzle

 

 

 

Studying Scripture

It surprises and pleases me that after all this activity, the children want to settle down in deep quiet meditation on personal materials that they chose on their own.

 Some children enjoy expressing themselves with drawing or writing out their prayers.  The girl on the right (bottom) writes very carefully "The Our Father."  Below this boy draws a beautiful picture of Jesus.

    Drawing Jesus

Baptism 

Just before First Reconciliation I presented Baptism and the Steps to Baptism as I wanted them to know that what they were about to receive was their second Sacrament, and that Baptism was their first.  I had already given a tour of the church and showed them the Baptismal Font which we discussed.  So I showed them the Baptism materials we have in the atrium and how to use them.  I also presented all Seven Sacraments to them. 

For this lesson I named the materials used and talked about how they are used in Baptism:  The White Dress (the symbol of purity), the Baptismal font, the Shell, which is associated with St. James the Greater on his trip to Spain when he baptized the people.  (Thank you, Ryall, for commenting and giving me this important information about the shell.); the Paschal Candle, the Holy Bible, the Chrism oil for goodness and the Oil of Catechumens for courage. These oils the priest uses to anoint the baby or person to be baptized.  There are also the candles given to the parents for their baby and to each of the Godparents.  

In the atrium, the children take turns baptizing each other.  One child uses his/her fist to pretend that's their head as a baby, while the other plays the part of the priest.  They enjoy this activity and take it very seriously and take turns baptizing.

Next we do the Rite of Baptism.   I lay out the fold out cards on the floor and we discuss what is happening in each drawing.

The first three panels show the blessing of the priest, the Bible read over the family and the anointing with the Oil of Catechumens for courage.

The second three panels show the priest bringing down the Holy Spirit over the water, then the Baptism of the baby while the priest also holds his hand over the baby's head calling down the Holy Spirit, as in the Epiclesis in Mass.  Finally, the anointing of the baby's head with Oil of Chrism for goodness.   

 The last three panels show the symbolic gesture of the white garment which is placed over the child.  The second is the lighting of the Paschal Candle which is for the life of Christ and His Church for 2000 years. Finally, the final blessing on the parents and godparents.                                                                                                                   

 First Reconciliation

First Confession went well yesterday with only one child not knowing their Act of Contrition possibly due to a learning disability but he can read.  I spoke to the priest beforehand.  He's our new young priest and assured me he would walk him through it.  I have no doubt it was a wonderful experience for both.  We have posted in the Confessionals their Act of Contrition, a version our pastor wants the children to learn.  I usually begin teaching it the very first day in August with sign language (I invented) when we start classes.  However, this year we got such a late start in January after the six Zoom classes online, that they really haven't had that much time.  However, I'm pleased with the progress.  My Thursday class, on the other hand, will be ready as everyone knows their prayers.  I did something different these last two years while also teaching the Level I (3 to 6 age group).  I gave them each a prayer book I made with the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Angel of God (before bed) and prayer before meals.  I told their parents if they learned any one of these prayers they would get a religious prize that they would select from a basket.  I have two baskets: one has holy cards, stickers, small notebooks, date books, magnets. The second basket contains religious necklaces, rosaries, scapulars, etc.  (Friends donate these religious items to me and I receive some in the mail.)  It really provided the incentive to learn and the parents actually appreciated it as well.  So this class tonight had been my Level I and they are certainly ready.  

I asked the children after their Confessions how they felt and what was it like for them?  One child said it was better than "one million stars in the sky!" It was so beautiful and poetic just the way he said it.  I wish I could have had a recording.

 I did the Last Supper and The Tomb with them after our First Confession.  We started a half hour early: 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. so the children had lots of time to do their work.  I took a few photos of them working:

This boy is working with the Chasubles, Stoles, and Cinctures.  We've been working with the Stoles when we do Baptism and the Washing of the Hands.  They knew the Priest would be wearing a stole on for their First Confession, so this boy observed this today I'm sure and wanted to add it to the Priestly garments.

This boy is working with a model of our Church, St. Andrew the Apostle.  It was a model that was used before our new church was built. I had taken some of the materials and scripture books to our pastor when the program was new to the parish to show him how wonderful this Montessori program was for the children.  When our pastor gave it to me, I knew at once it was a positive gesture that he approved this program for our parish.  As I always do a tour of the church during our first class every year, I bring this material down off a tall cabinet where it's kept.  I made two little altars and small pews for the children to set up.  They always ask for it during the year as this boy did. 

Preparing for First Reconciliation:

     In the last three weeks I have been preparing the children for the Sacrament of First Reconciliation by using the large cards (shown above).  With pictures it shows the 5 steps to prepare ourselves for this sacrament and the meaning of each step.  I place the cards on the rug so they can see them as we can discuss any questions they might have.  The second time I present them, I will let them choose the topics that go with the drawings.  These are standard materials for the Catechesis of the

Good Shepherd program.

   This year due to Covid and our very late start in the year, we began with six sessions of Zoom, and since we were beginning Advent, we started with the Nativity Narratives and in doing so skipped the parable which is the cornerstone of our CGS program - The Good Shepherd and The Lost Sheep.  These parables are necessary before presenting Reconciliation.  So last week I presented these first, then the Steps.  Finally, we went to the church to practice Confession.  Tonight we will have our third and last practice as next week will be the children's First Reconciliation. 

 My Prayer Journal and Prayer Puzzles

This is something that came to be at the end of the year.  All of the children had been working on their Missals and a few especially loved doing the work.  They asked me if they could make another book.  We had been discussing prayer and how to pray for the sick, etc.  So I got the idea of a Prayer Journal.  They loved it.  It meant I had to go home and cut out beautiful pictures from Christmas, birthday, and all occasion cards and put them in the box you see to your left.  There are only 5 pages in the journal but they could add pages if they wished.  I told them that they had to talk to Jesus as in a letter to him.  The picture they would glue on the left and perhaps this would give them an idea what they would write to Jesus.  Lined paper is pasted on the right only.  Then when they are finished I tie yard through the holes and tie the pages together just like we do with the Missals to take home.  This material is kept in the bookcase behind the starfish.

Under this old desk I keep the prayer puzzles which really help the children learn their prayers.   So when they come early which most do, they know I will test them on their prayers and while waiting they should be doing these puzzles to learn the prayers.  They really help.  A catechist friend made a couple of them for me and I really don't know if they are CGS material.  However, they work well and they help the children learn their prayers.  So I made one for each prayer we learn in Level II.

     After I retired from classroom teaching I took 5 computer courses at Cochise College.  Never did I dream how much they would help me with CGS.  I've made all the Scripture booklets for our atriums and prophecies, prayer cards, prayer books, Maxim booklets, Ten Commandment booklets.  It's been so helpful.  I had a mother one year tell me she was disappointed that we didn't prepare the children for Reconciliation using the Ten Commandments.   I told her that we use the Maxims and showed her what they were.  However, she wasn't convinced one bit.  So after that I thought, "Well, how much extra time would it be to introduce the Ten Commandments to the children in one of the class meetings?"  From that time on I've done so.  In the Maxim Booklet and the Ten Commandment booklet, I have written in small print at the bottom of each page an "Examination of Conscience" for each Maxim or Commandment.  These booklets go home with the children to prepare them for Reconciliation.