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Resources for Catholic Educators

Lesson Plans
Religious Education
Teaching Tools

Religious Art
Christian Clip Art
Scripture Clip Art

Christology
Saints
Angels
Famous Catholics

Bible
Church Documents
Reference Tools
Theology

Sacraments
Liturgy
Prayer
Liturgical Seasons

Moral Issues
Social Justice
Beatitudes
Commandments

Articles
Science & Faith
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Browse by Topics

A B C D E F G H I J K L M
N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Going Out into the World

YOUNG CATHOLICS

The readings for the Ascension of the Lord Year C encourage us to be witnesses for Jesus Christ, just as the early Christians were. In the first reading the ascension of Jesus is recounted and the Apostles are told they will receive the Holy Spirit. In the second reading we hear that Jesus Christ rules heaven and earth. In the alternate second reading we learn that Jesus Christ died for all people. And in the gospel, after Jesus ascends to heaven, the disciples can be found in the temple praising God.

MAIN THEMES

Evangelism
Going out to the world
Getting out of our comfort zones

FEATURED RESOURCES

SOURCE: Young Catholics: Catholic Youth Ministry, Vacation Bible School (VBS), Catholic Religious Ed, Catechist, Parish School of Religion (PSR), CCD, and Catholic Family Resources

Today’s Symbol is a Cross with a Globe

Catholic CHILDREN’S LITURGY

SOURCE: Catholic Children’s Liturgy Program Plans (Used worldwide since 2000)

PDF Handouts for Children

Society of Christian Doctrine (SDC)

S.D.C. is a Catholic Society in the United Kingdom that works in the field of Catechesis and the spreading of the Word of God in different ways. Its website provides catechists and teachers with free resources that can be used in different situations to help passing on the faith to others.

Click on image to view full page

Catholic Kids Bulletin

SOURCE: The Kids’ Bulletin: A fun way for Catholic kids to learn about the Faith every week.

SUNDAY WORDSEARCH

SOURCE: Diocese of Salford Office for Liturgy

Liturgical Activities

THE LITURGY CENTRE

SOURCE: the Liturgy Centre, Catholic Diocese of Auckland. Click to download PDF

Family Activities

OUR SUNDAY VISITOR

In the Gospel reading Jesus prayed that he would live in us. Write the question, “How does Jesus live in you?” on top of a blank sheet of paper. Pass it around and have each family member write a one word answer to the question. Post the paper on the refrigerator as a reminder of how Jesus lives in your family.
As a family, talk about times when you knew that God was with you in a special way. Ask family members to tell about a difficult time in their life and how their faith sustained them.
Jesus prayed for us. As a family, talk about the prayers that you pray. Ask each family member to recall the first prayer he or she was taught. How does prayer help you feel one with God?
In Acts we heard the story of Stephen, the first martyr of the Church. As a family, discuss what it is like to be a Catholic. Is it difficult to be Catholic in your town? Why or why not? What gives you strength to practice your faith?

SOURCE: Our Sunday Visitor: Lifelong Catechesis

Countdown to Pentecost

Word Sunday

Jesus told his followers they were witnesses to great events. They saw him die. And they saw him risen to new life.

They would also see the Good News spread throughout the world. Words of change and forgiveness to all people.

There was a difference between the two set of events. The death and resurrection were out of the followers’ hands. That was God’s work. But spreading the Good News was in their hands. They could participate in God’s will. With the power of the Spirit, they could tell others about God’s love.

Jesus calls us to be witnesses of the Good News, just like the followers. We are to spread God’s love. Sometimes in word. Sometimes in action. To help your family reflect on their commission as Christians, create a week (or 10 day calendar) that counts down the time from Ascension (Sunday or Thursday) and Pentecost. Each day, have your family members record things they have said or done to spread God’s love. This is a great way to prepare for the celebration of the Spirit, God’s presence that gives us the power to share his love.

SOURCE: Word-Sunday.com All materials found in word-sunday.com are the property of Larry Broding (©1999-2021). Viewers may copy any material found in these pages for their personal use or for use in any non-profit ministry. Materials may not be sold or used for personal financial gain.

OBJECT LESSONS

LOYOLA
PRESS

LOYOLA PRESS

The Ascension of the Lord

Making the Connection

1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣

Grades 1-3

Disciples throughout the centuries have followed Jesus’ instruction to preach his Gospel to all nations. We can lead younger children to understand that their own knowledge of Jesus’ life and teachings is a result of the disciples’ faithful commitment to continue Jesus’ missio.

Making the Connection

4️⃣5️⃣6️⃣

Grades 4-6

The Ascension of Jesus marks the definitive entrance of Jesus’ humanity into God’s presence, where he sits at God’s right hand. From there he will come to judge us all at the end of time.

Making the Connection

7️⃣8️⃣

Grades 7 and 8

The Ascension of Jesus marks the definitive entrance of Jesus’ humanity into God’s presence, where he sits at God’s right hand. From there he will come to judge us all at the end of time.

Family Connection

Any family that has tried to sit down to a family dinner or packed the car for a trip has heard children argue at least once about who should sit where. To sit next to someone, especially if that person is important, is to have a place of honor. Jesus has this place of honor, seated now at the right hand of the Father (as we say in the Nicene Creed and the Apostles’ Creed), but there’s more to this metaphor than where Jesus sits in relation to God. To be in the place of honor is also to be in a place of power. Knowing people in powerful places can be very helpful. Children remind us of this each time we are called upon to referee a conflict. Jesus, honored now at God’s right hand, is a powerful ally for us.

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Lectionary Resources

Catechist Background and Preparation
Primary Session
Intermediate Session
Junior High School

Catholic Doctrine

Jesus Ascended into Heaven

PRIMARY SESSION – Scripture tells us that Jesus would return to God. He would leave his human form and not live on earth any more. This is part of God’s plan for us to be with God, too. Like Jesus, we will also be raised up to live with God. We say these words in the Nicene Creed, our profession of faith: “He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.” In the meantime, we believe that Jesus is still with us, providing strength for our journey. In the same way he promised to be with the disciples, he is with us as well. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit so that the disciples would not be alone in their mission to carry Jesus’ message into the world. We also receive the Holy Spirit and always have Jesus with us as we follow him.

CATHOLIC KIDS MEDIA – Ascension, Year C. (2019)

CATHOLIC KIDS BULLETIN

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Teacher and mom, THERESA, creates Kids’ Bulletins, a resource for Catholic kids about the readings for Sunday’s Mass every week. More resources.

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Word-Sunday

I Told You So!

Children’s Readings

Opening Question: Have you ever had to wait for a friend to play? For the coming of your birthday? Was it hard or easy? Why?

Petra was a good student and a good helper at school. But it was now late May and she was waiting for school to end. All she could think about was the beach, vacation, and time to sleep in. Summer time was going to be great!

Petra’s friend, Danielle was in year round school and she was just coming back on track. After six weeks off from school, she was anxious to get back to class.

READ THE STORY

We wait for things to happen. Like Petra and Danielle, early Christians waited for Jesus to come and judge everyone. The apostles even asked Jesus: “When will you come again?” Jesus said that decision was up to God the Father. But Jesus did promise to send us a helper: the Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit gives us the courage to be ourselves and to tell everyone we believe in God. God’s Spirit helps us understanding ourselves and others. God’s Spirit gives us the wisdom to make good decisions and to give good advice. The Holy Spirit is the power helps us become better people. And the Holy Spirit is with us.

Bridging Question: Has anyone ever said “I told you so!”? What happened?

“I told you it was going to happen!” Jackie exclaimed. Some of her friends were amazed, others were irritated, others wondered how she knew. Her team won just like she said it would. Jackie’s team, the team everyone thought would lose the championship, won convincingly.

READ THE STORY

In the same way, Jesus told his followers how it would happen. He would suffer and die. Then, God would raise him from the dead. Because Jesus rose from the dead, people would be free from all the evil and sin that caused death. People would be forgiven of their evil and sin. This was God’s game plan for everyone.

“I told you how it was going to happen!” Jesus told his followers. “You have seen it happen,” he continued. “Now it is your turn to tell others. With God help you can do it!” God’s help was the Spirit.

If I told you could do something really hard, would you believe me? Jesus’ followers saw the impossible happen with the resurrection of Jesus. If they can do it, so can you. Remember, Jesus told you that you could.

Closing Question: How can you listen to God, when he tells you “I told you that you could do it?”

SOURCE: Word-Sunday.com; Used with permission.

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Interdenominational

Use your own judgment when including and adapting these lessons in your children’s ministry.

MINISTRY=TO-CHILDREN (5:39) – Kristen shares her teaching example for the children’s message on Jesus’s Ascension. (Luke 24:44-53; Acts 1:1-11)

SERMONS 4 KIDS – GOSPEL

Up, Up and Away!

OBJECT: Hand each child a helium balloon, tying the string loosely to their wrist. Challenge them to hold their balloon down in their lap until they are given the cue “up, up and away.” Remind them of the importance of holding tightly to the balloon and listening for their cue to release their balloon.

EXCERPT: I’m sure you know that when filled with helium, a balloon floats in the air. And it’s also quite enjoyable when it does float away from you. It’s fun to stand and watch as the balloon floats higher and higher into the heavens until it totally disappears. The only way to experience that is to be willing to let it go.

In today’s Bible lesson in the book of Acts, we learn that when Jesus was ready to return to heaven, He took His disciples aside to make sure that they understood everything that had happened to Him. He explained why it was important for Him to be crucified and to be raised from the dead to fulfill what the Scriptures had said about Him. He also told them that he was going to return to His Father in heaven and that the Holy Spirit would come to be with them.

SOURCE: SERMONS 4 Kids – All Rights Reserved; Click on title to read entire sermon.

SERMON WRITER

The Church’s Job

By Dr. Carol J Miller

Objects: a wall mirror

EXCERPT:

When Jesus came to live on earth, he told people about God. Many people who heard what Jesus said began to follow him. They wanted to know more about God. Jesus put all these people into a big group. Nobody was left just by themselves. He called the people in that group “disciples.” A disciple is someone who learns important things from one teacher. Jesus was the teacher; the people who followed Jesus were what? Disciples!

Today there are thousands and thousands and thousands of these groups of people who love and follow Jesus. These groups are all over the world. Can anyone tell me what these groups are called [respect all answers]. You are in one of these groups right now. That’s right. They are called churches.

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SERMON WRITER

Peace I Leave with You

By Lois Parker Edstrom

Objects: None

EXCERPT: I’m going to ask you to help with today’s lesson. Here is the idea: sometimes certain things must happen before another thing can occur. Here are some examples to get you started.

Do you like to bake? Then you know you must first place the cake batter in the oven and let it bake before you can put frosting on the cake.

You need to sleep before you can wake up in the morning.

If you like to eat popcorn you must first open the hard kernels of corn by popping them over heat.

Let’s hear your ideas of something that needs to happen before another thing can occur.

The story of Jesus dying on the cross is that kind of story–– certain things had to happen before Jesus returned to be with God. It is a difficult story that has a happy ending.

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Dollar Store Children Sermon

DOLLAR STORE CHILDREN’S SERMONS (7:18) -This video is presented by John Stevens, a Lutheran (ELCA) pastor.

TEXT: John 17:20-26

Dollar Store Item: Rope

The Take Away: We are one with God because of Jesus and Grace. We can forget this.

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rfour.org – GOSPEL

The Prodigal Son

By Nathanael Vissia

Objects suggested: Print out the picture at end of this .pdf or use fake money from Monopoly

Lesson is divided into FOUR PARTS: Ask, Tell, Share the Good News, and Closing Prayer

1ASK:

[ Hold up picture / fake dollar bill ] I have a question for you – can you tell me what this is? (a dollar bill)
That’s right – and what does a dollar bill do? (it buys things)
So if I bought something for a dollar – we’d say, “it’s worth a dollar,” right? (right)

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1TELL:

I wanted us to talk about wasting money because in some ways that’s what today’s scripture story is about.
In the story that we heard Jesus tell in the scripture passage that was read today, there is a child, a son, who asks for a lot of his father’s money.
The father gives the child the money. The son then leaves home and wastes all of the money – just like I ripped up the dollar a few moments ago.

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1SHARE THE GOOD NEWS:

One of the reasons Jesus tells this story is because we often think like the son does.
We often think that things are just as important to God as we are.
We think God won’t be friends with us if we ripped up some of the things that that God gave us.

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1CLOSING PRAYER:

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SOURCE: RFOUR.ORG– This material is the copyrighted property of rfour.org and Nathanael Vissia. It is also free. Please use, improve and share this material. But you may not sell it or require any personal information for it.

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SERMON WRITER – 2nd Reading

New Beginnings

By Lois Parker Edstrom

Objects: Pictures of a snake shedding its skin

EXCERPT: Some of you may not like the idea of snakes, but let’s see if we can learn something from their behavior. Did you know that a snake sheds its skin? Some of you may have actually seen an old skin that a snake has left behind. It is usually all in one piece, in the shape of a snake, and looks dried out.

Snakes shed their skin because they need more room to grow and they may do this once a year or several times a year. It is similar to when you outgrow your clothes and need to get larger ones that fit better.

The snake starts a rip in its skin by rubbing against something rough and then it slips out of its skin in the way you pull off your stockings. Beneath the old skin is a beautiful new skin that will allow the snake to grow.