May 10, 2022; class # 27 (John 10:27-30)
Good Shepherd Sunday: "My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish."

CLICK HERE for this lesson at YouTube.

Let’s begin with the Sign of the Cross:

Liturgical calendar:
Sunday (two days ago) was the 4th Sunday of the Church’s season of Easter. Father Giese wore a white chasuble on Sunday.

(Click on the picture to hear the reading from the Gospel, John 10:27-30.)

GOSPEL:
At Mass this weekend, the gospel reading was from the Gospel of John. The reading reminds us that Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Let's read from your special children's bulletin:

TEXTBOOK:
This week we’ll do Lesson # 8. “How do we become members of the Church?" It begins on page 77.

FEATURED SAINT:
Baptism is important. Baptism unites us with Jesus. All people who have been baptized are part of the Body of Christ. Our saint this week is Saint Peter Claver. He was a priest, and he baptized over 300,000 people. He was born almost 450 years ago in the country of Spain, across the Atlantic Ocean. After he began working to become a priest, he crossed the ocean and arrived in South America, in a place that now is part of the country of Columbia. He arrived in a city that was the biggest slave market in the western half of the world. Every month, 1,000 captured and enslaved people arrived in the city where Peter Claver was. He dedicated himself to helping those people. When the slave ships would arrive, Peter Claver would go onto the ships and give food to the people. he would give them medicine, help the sick and dying, tell them about God, and offer to baptize them. He spent 33 years doing that. He served thousands of enslaved people. They would arrive month after month. He could not stop slavery, but he would follow the people to where they were sent. He would encourage them to live as Christians, even though they were being held as slaves. And he would beg the people enslaving them to treat the people humanely. For his entire life, Peter Claver fought for the slave trade to be stopped. He could not end slavery, but he baptized over 300,000 people. Sadly, slavery continued in the nation of Columbia until the year 1851, when it was legally abolished.

FIRST COMMUNION:
This past weekend was 1st Communion weekend for 2nd graders at de Chantal. Now, they may receive Communion whenever they are able. Next year, in 2nd grade, you will be preparing to make your 1st Communion. It is a long process. You'll have more to learn. A year from now, you will be able to make your 1st Communion. Let's watch some of the children at their 1st Communion. You'll see some children whom you know:
9:30 a.m. group
11:00 a.m. group

[Note: The voice you hear is that of Mrs. Stephanie (Goenner) Conticchio, who has been singing at de Chantal for over 35 years. On most Sundays, she can be heard at the 10 a.m. Mass at de Chantal.]

SNACK: Remember our prayer before meals?
Bless us, O Lord, and these gifts that we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

[graham crackers and juice]

COLORING:

You can draw a picture and imagine how your First Communion will be next year.

MAKE "My Mass Book" BOOKLETS:
Textbook, between pages 243 and 246.
NOTE to parents: Please save your child's booklet. Your child can take the booklet to Mass, to follow along, week after week, and become familiar with the rhythm of the Mass.

CLOSING PRAYERS:
Time to say goodbye. There are three prayers that we hope you will have memorized by the end of 1st grade: The Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Glory Be. Read the words as you say them, and remember to listen to others and try to say the words when other people are saying them. Also, you need to know what to do with your hands when you pray the Our Father at Mass: Hold your hands together in prayer. Fold your hands together, or hold your hands flat against each other, but hold your hands in prayer. Do not hold hands with someone else, and do not hold your hands with your arms extended. [Give printed sheets.]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Saint Michael the Archangel, please defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke the devil, we humbly pray. And do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the Power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits, who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

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