Let’s begin with the Sign of the Cross:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Come, Holy Spirit, and fill the hearts of your faithful. Light the fire of your love in them. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created, and you will renew the face of the earth. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

Before we start the lesson for this week, I want to explain two special days in the Church, days that happen every year: All Saints Day and All Souls Day. All Saints Day was yesterday; All Souls Day is today. On All Saints Day, we remember the people whom the church has named “saints” because of the wonderful things they did when they were here on earth. One of those people was Jane Frances de Chantal, whom we now know as “Saint Jane Frances de Chantal.” Our parish church is named after her. There are many, many saints, and you’ll hear stories about a few of them over this year and over the next years as you continue in your religious education. ... So, that’s about All Saints Day, which was yesterday. ... Today is All Souls Day, which is the day when we pray for and remember the souls of all the baptized Catholics who have died.

Do you remember what color chasuble the priest was wearing at Mass this weekend?
[Give them priest color sheets.]

Every Sunday at Mass, there are three readings from the Bible. The Bible is made up of many books, and each book has a name. The third reading at Mass is always from one of the four gospels in the Bible. The gospels are books that tell us what Jesus said and what Jesus did. Those books within the Bible are the book of Matthew, the book of Mark, the book of Luke, and the book of John — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The gospel reading on Sunday was the story about a man asking Jesus what is the most important of the commandments. Jesus told him “You shall love God with all your heart, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

This week we’re at lesson # 11 in your book. It starts on page 103. (“How do we know God loves us?”)
[Give children clover leaf bookmarks. Remind them that God is like the clover leaf — three parts making up one clover. There is one God — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.]

What do the words at the very top of the page say?
[Read from book. Ask questions every few sentences.]

We’ll have snack as we watch a Brother Francis video. Brother Francis tells about today’s lesson also.
First, we’ll say Grace before our snack:
Bless us, O Lord, and these gifts that we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Do you know what the word “bounty” means? It means “generosity,” or “something given in generosity.”

Brother Francis video #8: What Are The Two Great Commandments?

Review after video:
1) What are the two Great Commandments?
.......... You shall love God with all your heart. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
2) How many of the Ten Commandments deal with our relationship with God?
.......... Three:
.......... .......... (1) There is but one God.
.......... .......... (2) Do not use God’s name as a swear word.
.......... .......... (3) Keep holy the Lord’s day.
3) How many of the Ten Commandments deal with our relationship with others?
.......... All the rest — seven.
4) How can we love our neighbor as ourselves?
.......... Look at the back page of the children’s bulletin. Which pictures show someone loving his neighbor as himself?

coloring project:
We have a special coloring project this week. It’s sort of a little book, about the two Great Commandments.


Story time: Read chapter one from Catherine Bebe’s JOHN BOSCO AND SAINT DOMINIC SAVIO.

Closing prayers: Time to say good bye. :-)
We'll begin with the Our Father. Everyone:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil. 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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