A Discerning Believer
Called to be a discerning believer formed in the Catholic Faith community who celebrates the signs and sacred mystery of God's presence through word, sacrament, prayer, forgiveness, reflection and moral living.
A DISCERNING BELIEVER FORMED IN THE CATHOLIC FAITH COMMUNITY WHO:
(a) Illustrates a basic understanding of the saving story of our Christian faith.
(b) Participates in the sacramental life of the church and demonstrates an understanding of the centrality of the Eucharist to our Catholic story.
(c) Actively reflects on God's Word as communicated through the Hebrew and Christian scriptures.
(d) Develops attitudes and values founded on Catholic social teaching and acts to promote social responsibility, human solidarity and the common good.
(e) Speaks the language of life…"recognizing that life is an unearned gift and that a person entrusted with life does not own it but that one is called to protect and cherish it." (Witnesses to Faith)
(f) Seeks intimacy with God and celebrates communion with God, others and creation through prayer and worship.
(g) Understands that one's purpose or call in life comes from God and strives to discern and live out this call throughout life's journey.
(h) Respects the faith traditions, world religions and the life-journeys of all people of good will.
(i) Integrates faith with life.
(j) Recognizes that "sin, human weakness, conflict and forgiveness are part of the human journey" and that the cross, the ultimate sign of forgiveness is at the heart of redemption. (Witnesses to Faith)
This signs and symbols activity shows students how to be a discerning believer formed in the faith community by reflecting on symbols and what they have come to mean to us as humans and in our faith. It is interesting to reflect on how different gestures of signs can vary depending on where you live or what you believe in.
A DISCERNING BELIEVER FORMED IN THE CATHOLIC FAITH COMMUNITY WHO:
(a) Illustrates a basic understanding of the saving story of our Christian faith.
(b) Participates in the sacramental life of the church and demonstrates an understanding of the centrality of the Eucharist to our Catholic story.
(c) Actively reflects on God's Word as communicated through the Hebrew and Christian scriptures.
(d) Develops attitudes and values founded on Catholic social teaching and acts to promote social responsibility, human solidarity and the common good.
(e) Speaks the language of life…"recognizing that life is an unearned gift and that a person entrusted with life does not own it but that one is called to protect and cherish it." (Witnesses to Faith)
(f) Seeks intimacy with God and celebrates communion with God, others and creation through prayer and worship.
(g) Understands that one's purpose or call in life comes from God and strives to discern and live out this call throughout life's journey.
(h) Respects the faith traditions, world religions and the life-journeys of all people of good will.
(i) Integrates faith with life.
(j) Recognizes that "sin, human weakness, conflict and forgiveness are part of the human journey" and that the cross, the ultimate sign of forgiveness is at the heart of redemption. (Witnesses to Faith)
This signs and symbols activity shows students how to be a discerning believer formed in the faith community by reflecting on symbols and what they have come to mean to us as humans and in our faith. It is interesting to reflect on how different gestures of signs can vary depending on where you live or what you believe in.
Sign /Symbol
Object Action Person |
Universal
Cross Salute Doctor |
Conventional culturally specific
H sign for Hospital Hands together in prayer Priest |
Personal
Hospital bracelet from Child’s birth Kiss on the forehead Teacher |
Humans are symbol-making and symbol using beings, and, because of this, we are able to form community. When a group of people want to communicate their sense of the sacred, symbols are especially evident; symbol and sacrament are inseparable. The sacraments are best described as symbolic actions that mediate the presence of God. (Lavin, p. 107, 2009) Symbols in our lives are associated with objects, actions, and people that mean something to us.
The chart above illustrates that a symbol does what it symbolizes. (Lavin, 2009) For example, the cross is a symbol of faith universally, as the salute is a universal action for support and respect. Moreover, a doctor is a universal person for care. There are culturally specific symbols such as the H sign which represents a Hospital, hands together in prayer and a priest who, in his role, represents Christ present in the sacraments we receive. There are also personal symbols that we grow to recognize as our own and take meaning from them such as keepsakes and actions such as a kiss on the forehead. All of these signs and symbols are not just linked to our reality, they constitute our reality. (Lavin, 2009)
This spiritual moments activity shows students how to be a discerning believer formed in the faith community by asking the students to reflect on how their sacramental journey has shaped who they are as people. They are able to reflect on personal choices, growth, and achievements and how the sacraments that they have been involved in them have influenced those choices, growth, and achievements.
The chart above illustrates that a symbol does what it symbolizes. (Lavin, 2009) For example, the cross is a symbol of faith universally, as the salute is a universal action for support and respect. Moreover, a doctor is a universal person for care. There are culturally specific symbols such as the H sign which represents a Hospital, hands together in prayer and a priest who, in his role, represents Christ present in the sacraments we receive. There are also personal symbols that we grow to recognize as our own and take meaning from them such as keepsakes and actions such as a kiss on the forehead. All of these signs and symbols are not just linked to our reality, they constitute our reality. (Lavin, 2009)
This spiritual moments activity shows students how to be a discerning believer formed in the faith community by asking the students to reflect on how their sacramental journey has shaped who they are as people. They are able to reflect on personal choices, growth, and achievements and how the sacraments that they have been involved in them have influenced those choices, growth, and achievements.
Our Spiritual Journey As a family, we have had many opportunities where we have felt in touch with God. For my representation I chose to depict the significant spiritual moments in the life of my family. The hearts represent my spiritual life personally and subsequently with my growing family. The connecting hearts represent my family and the words inside represent our spiritual journeys both individually and as a family. The moments that I have written down in the hearts defined who I am, who we are as a family and illustrate our connections to God. The sacraments that my husband and I have taken part in individually lead to our marriage, which is the foundational part of our family’s growth in spirit.
In the Classroom In the classroom, I would ask my students to participate in a similar activity except instead of being the central hearts, they would be a smaller heart and their parents would be the central hearts. They may wish to represent their spiritual journey as a family or individually. They may also may choose to use an alterenate symbol other than a heart that they feel is suitable to them; perhaps a tree or the sun with its rays. I would ask the students to reflect on the moments in their own lives when they felt closest to God, such as receiving their sacraments. I would also give them examples of other times they might have felt close to God such as the birth of a brother or sister or the death of a grandparent, and encourage them to list those times as well. This activity is a great opportunity to allow the students to reflect on the significance of their spiritual journey.
This prayer service activity shows students how to be a discerning believer formed in the faith community by showing them how powerful prayer can be. Gathering in prayer or song can help form a sense of community and bring about positive changes in the school and the community.
In the Classroom In the classroom, I would ask my students to participate in a similar activity except instead of being the central hearts, they would be a smaller heart and their parents would be the central hearts. They may wish to represent their spiritual journey as a family or individually. They may also may choose to use an alterenate symbol other than a heart that they feel is suitable to them; perhaps a tree or the sun with its rays. I would ask the students to reflect on the moments in their own lives when they felt closest to God, such as receiving their sacraments. I would also give them examples of other times they might have felt close to God such as the birth of a brother or sister or the death of a grandparent, and encourage them to list those times as well. This activity is a great opportunity to allow the students to reflect on the significance of their spiritual journey.
This prayer service activity shows students how to be a discerning believer formed in the faith community by showing them how powerful prayer can be. Gathering in prayer or song can help form a sense of community and bring about positive changes in the school and the community.
Prayer Service
Presider: Teacher
Title: Beginning of the Year Prayer Service
Liturgical Season: Ordinary Time
Intended Audience: Elementary students
Context: A time to reflect on a new school year to set goals and recognize our gifts and talents
1. Introductory Rite
Leader: Let us pray...
Faithful companion, in this new school year
I pray:
To live deeply, with purpose,
To live freely, with detachment,
To live wisely, with humility,
To live justly, with compassion,
To live lovingly, with fidelity,
To live mindfully, with awareness, To live gratefully, with generosity, To live fully, with enthusiasm.
Help me to hold this vision
And to daily renew it in my heart, Becoming ever more one with you, “My truest Self”.
All: Amen -J. Rupp
2. Music
Leader: Please join in singing “Children of the Light”
3. Scripture
Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 43:16-19
Leader: Let us listen to the words from the book from the prophet Isaiah.
Thus, says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings out chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are
extinguished, quenched like a wick; Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of the old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
The word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God.
4. Other Readings, Litanies, Rituals
Leader: O God, may we bless this new school year, and the learning ahead and ask for a willing spirit.
All: Bless what we are about to begin, O God.
Open our eyes to discover.
Open our ears to listen.
Open our hearts to care.
Guide us to make our best efforts.
Encourage us.
Bless all who will help us.
Bless those who will teach us.
Bless those who will serve us.
Bless those who will guide us.
Bless those who will encourage us.
Bless especially our parents, grandparents, families and friends.
Leader: With the new school year ahead, we are grateful for the opportunity to take another step in the direction of who we are becoming.
Leader: Let us Pray
All: Jesus, lift our spirits to welcome a new school year. Let us anticipate and not dread. Let us learn and challenge and trust. With your grace, we are building tomorrow’s world with what we learn today. Lord, we thank you for this new school year, for all the ways we will learn and grow. We ask you to fill us with the wisdom and joy of your Spirit. May everything we do be a sign of your Holy Spirit’s presence among us. We make this prayer to you through Christ our Lord. Amen
5. Symbols (postures, objects, gestures, other actions)
Leader: We will now read out the petitions you have prepared.
(Students take turns reading out their petitions relating to the new school year
Let us pray for a successful start to the new school year. We pray to the Lord...
LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER Let us pray that we remember that Jesus is with us in times of trial. We pray to the Lord...
LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER Let us pray so that we reflect Jesus’ light, and that we see his light in our classmates and in our teachers. We pray to the Lord...
LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER Let us pray that I always try my best this new school year. We pray to the Lord...
LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER 6. Concluding Rite
Leader: Let us pray… (pause). Lord God, support us times of trial, give us the strength to face the days ahead with confidence and hope, secure in the knowledge that you want the best for us, and help us to prepare for all the trails of life to come, in Jesus name,
All: Amen.
Works Used
“A Blessing for the New School Year”
http://www.pflaum.com/prayerservice/blessing.htm
http://www.ycdsb.ca
Title: Beginning of the Year Prayer Service
Liturgical Season: Ordinary Time
Intended Audience: Elementary students
Context: A time to reflect on a new school year to set goals and recognize our gifts and talents
1. Introductory Rite
Leader: Let us pray...
Faithful companion, in this new school year
I pray:
To live deeply, with purpose,
To live freely, with detachment,
To live wisely, with humility,
To live justly, with compassion,
To live lovingly, with fidelity,
To live mindfully, with awareness, To live gratefully, with generosity, To live fully, with enthusiasm.
Help me to hold this vision
And to daily renew it in my heart, Becoming ever more one with you, “My truest Self”.
All: Amen -J. Rupp
2. Music
Leader: Please join in singing “Children of the Light”
3. Scripture
Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 43:16-19
Leader: Let us listen to the words from the book from the prophet Isaiah.
Thus, says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings out chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are
extinguished, quenched like a wick; Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of the old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
The word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God.
4. Other Readings, Litanies, Rituals
Leader: O God, may we bless this new school year, and the learning ahead and ask for a willing spirit.
All: Bless what we are about to begin, O God.
Open our eyes to discover.
Open our ears to listen.
Open our hearts to care.
Guide us to make our best efforts.
Encourage us.
Bless all who will help us.
Bless those who will teach us.
Bless those who will serve us.
Bless those who will guide us.
Bless those who will encourage us.
Bless especially our parents, grandparents, families and friends.
Leader: With the new school year ahead, we are grateful for the opportunity to take another step in the direction of who we are becoming.
Leader: Let us Pray
All: Jesus, lift our spirits to welcome a new school year. Let us anticipate and not dread. Let us learn and challenge and trust. With your grace, we are building tomorrow’s world with what we learn today. Lord, we thank you for this new school year, for all the ways we will learn and grow. We ask you to fill us with the wisdom and joy of your Spirit. May everything we do be a sign of your Holy Spirit’s presence among us. We make this prayer to you through Christ our Lord. Amen
5. Symbols (postures, objects, gestures, other actions)
Leader: We will now read out the petitions you have prepared.
(Students take turns reading out their petitions relating to the new school year
Let us pray for a successful start to the new school year. We pray to the Lord...
LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER Let us pray that we remember that Jesus is with us in times of trial. We pray to the Lord...
LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER Let us pray so that we reflect Jesus’ light, and that we see his light in our classmates and in our teachers. We pray to the Lord...
LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER Let us pray that I always try my best this new school year. We pray to the Lord...
LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER 6. Concluding Rite
Leader: Let us pray… (pause). Lord God, support us times of trial, give us the strength to face the days ahead with confidence and hope, secure in the knowledge that you want the best for us, and help us to prepare for all the trails of life to come, in Jesus name,
All: Amen.
Works Used
“A Blessing for the New School Year”
http://www.pflaum.com/prayerservice/blessing.htm
http://www.ycdsb.ca