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2006 Back to School
Children Talking with God
A Liturgical Classroom Promotes Christian Values
Teaching Children To Love All God's Creatures
Gospel Talk With Children: Mark's Portrait of Jesus

Karen Berry, OSF

Music, art, poetry, stories and role-playing are essential tools teachers and catechists have to prepare children throughout the year for the feast days and Sundays. Creative liturgists and preachers, who draw attention to the symbols of the season and bring them to life in the decorations, the music and the sacred words, develop a liturgical readiness in children. Here are some suggestions for fall feasts to spark the creative talents of people who lead children in faith experiences.

The Feasts of the Angels
These feasts of the angels (Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael on September 29 and the Guardian Angels on October 2) occur around the Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth Sundays in Ordinary Time this year, where both Gospel readings refer to little children: "Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me"(Mark 9:37), and "Whoever causes one of these little ones to sin…"(Mark 9:42). Children can relate to angels as protectors. The text of Psalm 91:11–12, "God will put his angels in charge of you…" is a prayer that can build a child's confidence in God. Angels are also messengers of God. As children become familiar with the angel stories in the Bible and the kinds of messages angels brought, they can begin to imagine the ways their own guardian angels might bring them messages from God. Teach attentive listening as a form of prayer. Explore the artistic symbol of "wings" on God's messengers.

The Solemnity of All Saints and All Souls Day
These dual feasts, so long a part of Catholic tradition, focus our attention on life after death. Depending on their personal experiences, children may or may not have been exposed to the death of someone close to them. For the northern hemisphere these feasts are well placed in autumn, when the natural world around us is "closing down" to prepare for winter. Even children who have not lost a family member, friend or pet through death can see the dying leaves and shorter days of autumn. These signs from nature provide a springboard for discussing and praying about human destiny.

Celebrate the saints, canonized and family members, by honoring symbols of their lives. Remember the recently deceased, public figures and relatives, by creating memorial tributes.

The Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King
Since kingship is not the style of leadership in our democracy, the realm of fairy tales might be helpful in talking with children about kingdoms and benevolent rulers. Old Testament stories of good kings and weak kings, helping people to keep their covenant with God or leading them astray, can be a good source for understanding the title given to Jesus on this feast.

Jesus told his captors that his kingdom was not of this world. That aligns him with the angels and saints from this season's previous feasts. But Jesus also said to his followers, "The kingdom of God is within you," so that makes him ruler over our hearts. Many symbols of Jesus' loving leadership are appropriate here: the crown for his importance, the scepter for his leadership, a heart for his love and a throne for the permanence of his position. This feast crowns the end of our liturgical year. All the Sundays of the liturgical year have the Eucharist at their center. Jesus Christ as king and gift to us is raised up in this final tribute before the new Church Year begins to tell his story again.

Ordinary Time
Ordinary Time is not "ordinary" in the sense of being unimportant. Children are wonder-filled at all times of the year when anything approaching mystery touches them. Parents, teachers, pastors and liturgical ministers have the privilege of being facilitators of mystery.

Joliet Franciscan Sister Karen Berry is the director of a family program of religious education at St. Francis Parish in Tucson, AZ. She is a freelance writer for Catholic magazines and the Diocese of Tucson newspaper. Her new book Prayer Services for Parishes is published by St. Anthony Messenger Press (americancatholic.org).