For the past three weeks or so, children from the parish where I am currently assigned have been preparing for the Sacrament of First Eucharist (also known as First Communion). As in former years, and in other places where I have formerly been privileged to work with wonderful catechists and children alike, these children and their families were provided with a book which is meant to guide the work of preparation, which we trust is being completed at home by the children in question, with the assistance of their parents.
In addition to this at-home activity, the weekly meetings provide an opportunity for us to deepen the children's understanding of the Eucharist. Since we are face to face for these encounters, we are given a rare opportunity to do some interactive teaching, so two weeks ago, we spent the better part of 90 minutes guiding the children and their parents through a teaching Mass. We weren't really celebrating Eucharist, but we were going through the actions, involving the children in as many aspects as we could, and taking time to explain and teach about the various actions and responses, so that all those present would have an opportunity to understand at a level perhaps that they have never been able to before.
Last week, children and their parents were able to experience a Seder meal, the ritual meal which is observed in Jewish households even today on the first two days of Passover. As with the teaching Mass, this was meant as an experiential opportunity for our children to learn about the roots of the Eucharistic meal that we share at the Lord's table every week.
This week's encounter, which took place last night, was yet another opportunity for active learning. This time, our lesson focused on reaching out. At the end of each Eucharistic celebration, the community is sent into the world with the exhortation: Go in peace, to love and serve the Lord. We love and serve the Lord by being attentive to his pepole, and recognizing that in his people, Christ is present to all of us.
Children were asked to prepare tags which were used to identify pacakages which were prepared for some of the street people in our city. This provided an opportunity for the youngsters to work with their parents to prepare some artistic works and to write notes which would tell the recipients that the contents of these packages had been assembled as an act of love for them (even if the children who packed them will probably never know the recipients of their acts).
There are people in every city who live on the streets, rarely by choice. These unseen citizens often have to battle many demons and seldom have access to even the smallest luxuries. Children who were gathered with us last night packed ziplock bags with various items all of which will be helpful to their recipients, and all of which are often taken for granted by those of us who are among the privileged.
Once they were packed, these little gifts were prepared for delivery. In the coming days, they will make their way to their intended recipients courtesy of other helping hands who will make sure that these little signs of love are received by those who need them most.
Artwork and creativity are simple gifts. It's amazing to see how children can pick up crayons and markers; given a free hand and licence to write or design the cards as they wish, some wonderful messages of love come to be.
Would that children of all ages might have an opportunity such as this, to learn about the many faces who seek, and the many opportunities that are found right in front of our faces, opportunities to go in the peace of Christ into a world that so needs to know that He is alive, watching over us all and caring for us through the hands, eyes and ears of his servants .... that's us.
In addition to this at-home activity, the weekly meetings provide an opportunity for us to deepen the children's understanding of the Eucharist. Since we are face to face for these encounters, we are given a rare opportunity to do some interactive teaching, so two weeks ago, we spent the better part of 90 minutes guiding the children and their parents through a teaching Mass. We weren't really celebrating Eucharist, but we were going through the actions, involving the children in as many aspects as we could, and taking time to explain and teach about the various actions and responses, so that all those present would have an opportunity to understand at a level perhaps that they have never been able to before.
Last week, children and their parents were able to experience a Seder meal, the ritual meal which is observed in Jewish households even today on the first two days of Passover. As with the teaching Mass, this was meant as an experiential opportunity for our children to learn about the roots of the Eucharistic meal that we share at the Lord's table every week.
This week's encounter, which took place last night, was yet another opportunity for active learning. This time, our lesson focused on reaching out. At the end of each Eucharistic celebration, the community is sent into the world with the exhortation: Go in peace, to love and serve the Lord. We love and serve the Lord by being attentive to his pepole, and recognizing that in his people, Christ is present to all of us.
Children were asked to prepare tags which were used to identify pacakages which were prepared for some of the street people in our city. This provided an opportunity for the youngsters to work with their parents to prepare some artistic works and to write notes which would tell the recipients that the contents of these packages had been assembled as an act of love for them (even if the children who packed them will probably never know the recipients of their acts).
There are people in every city who live on the streets, rarely by choice. These unseen citizens often have to battle many demons and seldom have access to even the smallest luxuries. Children who were gathered with us last night packed ziplock bags with various items all of which will be helpful to their recipients, and all of which are often taken for granted by those of us who are among the privileged.
Once they were packed, these little gifts were prepared for delivery. In the coming days, they will make their way to their intended recipients courtesy of other helping hands who will make sure that these little signs of love are received by those who need them most.
Artwork and creativity are simple gifts. It's amazing to see how children can pick up crayons and markers; given a free hand and licence to write or design the cards as they wish, some wonderful messages of love come to be.
Would that children of all ages might have an opportunity such as this, to learn about the many faces who seek, and the many opportunities that are found right in front of our faces, opportunities to go in the peace of Christ into a world that so needs to know that He is alive, watching over us all and caring for us through the hands, eyes and ears of his servants .... that's us.
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