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.

Rosary Puzzle

 The Rosary Puzzle was something I saw when I started as an aide in the atrium in 2004.  I made an assumption that somehow I missed seeing this material in my training.  Later when I was expected to start an atrium from scratch, it just seemed natural to have it.  I saw how well it worked for the children in the atrium.

This year due to Covid, we did a few Zoom classes up until December.  The Annunciation, The Visitation and The Adoration of the Shepherds were presented.  It always seems that this is the perfect time to begin the rosary with the very "first story" of Jesus life especially because the Rosary is really the story of the life of Jesus.  As we are talking about prayer after lighting each candle, it seems like the perfect time to introduce one Joyful Mystery each week and pray a decade after I read the Bible story to them and then discuss it with them.  I've put in their envelopes for pickup in our office a rosary for each child and a rosary coloring sheet as well as the two items you see below.   As an assignment at home I ask them to say just one decade of the rosary using the Joyful mystery we read after lighting the Advent Wreath each evening.  They could read the same story from the Bible.  It also gives them practice with the Our Father and Hail Mary.

I tell them it would be a good way to thank Mary for saying, "Yes," and thank Jesus for coming to us and being born.

My husband is very good in his workshop and has taught me to use the tools as well.  We used a drummel drill to make the little circular round depressions in the wood to fit the small wooden caps.  These are actually wooden covers to hide holes in wood after drilling and putting a screw in place.  You can buy them in any hardware store in a bag.  They come in different sizes and these are the smaller ones.  I do the painting and staining.

After reading what the CGS Group on Facebook had to say,  I read that some of the catechists had heard of a rosary puzzle but never saw one,  I added these photos for them and realized I hadn't posted them here in my blog.  So here it is.  Hope you like it.

Prayer Cards

Since we won't be meeting in the atrium due to the Corona Virus until April 14th, I've decided to make a few prayer cards for the prayer table and maybe work on some other materials.  I just happened to have bought wedding invitations a long time ago for this purpose but never used them.  They were 8-1/2 x 5-1/2 originally but I cut them down to 7-1/2 x 4-1/2.  They have a very pretty shiny silver design for a border.  I decided to color them.  I used "Apple Chancery" font as I'm not very good with calligraphy.  Then I laminated them.  Project complete.

Level I      First Week of Advent

The boy in the photo above, was drawn to the little altar today and he worked for a very long time doing this work.  The other two boys, were creating things as gifts for family and friends for Christmas.  I tell them that everything they make has to be about Jesus in the atrium.  

Last week I presented the two "Prophecies of Light and Names" and read The Annunciation.  Today we read The Visitation and learned how to fill the Cruets.  Usually the class can't wait to work with these materials but every class is different with a different personality.  Pernella, the girl in the forefront can write and so wants to write letters to Jesus to thank Him.  Her thoughts are beautiful.  I started a prayer journal for my Level II classes as they can read and write.  However, I've promised her that I'd bring in a prayer journal for her which I've made and have cut out religious art for them from cards.  They can choose any pictures they want for their prayer journal.   The class is small today as it's close to the holidays.  I have a family of three children and another with a brother and sister.  So when they are absent that is five children.   Today six are present but are out of view.