Faith Station LeSSon PLanS - Service-Life · PDF fileBaptismal Clipart ... Moses, the Cat: Psssst It’s me again... Moses. Did you hear that ... Shh!!! ListenIt sounds like they’ve

FAITH LEADER GUIDE 5

Faith Station LeSSon PLanS

“Courage! In the spiritual life, whoever

doesn’t go forward goes backward. It’s the same as with a boat that must

always go forward. If it stands still, the wind

will blow it back”. -St. Padre Pio

© Cat.Chat VBS – A WILDERNESS ADVENTURE THROUGH THE SACRAMENTS6

Faith Lesson Plan StructureEach day, the faith lesson plan will be structured in a similar way.

1. Softly play VBS song #9, The Mystery as the children are entering your station.

2. Light the prayer candle, while telling everyone that the light of Christ is always with us.

3. Begin with a short prayer.

4. Ask the children if they know what today’s theme is. Discuss the theme.

5. Play the Audio Show Clip of the day. Follow along with the Script Reference so that you know when to stop the CD. Ask the audio show questions.

6. Present the main teaching, discussion questions and share the Saint story. You can make an overhead or poster of each saint (see Reproducibles). The Saint card of the day could be presented at this time or as a take home item given at the closing assembly each day.

7. If time allows, do the faith activity together as a group or you may prefer to challenge the kids to do it as a take home activity. 8. End in prayer.

NOTE: There are many ideas/activities presented in the lesson plans for this station. You may not have time to finish them all. Please feel free to pick and choose those that will work best for your group and for the time that you have.


Theme: Explore the Sacrament of BaptismVirtue: Courage (to be brave; to face fear, danger or difficulties with strength in the Lord)

Opening Prayer: Jesus, I offer you these wonderful children. Help us to explore the sacrament of Baptism. Give us the courage we need to seek you and live out our baptismal promises. Amen.

Bible Verses of the Day: “Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Matt. 28:19 “Be strong and of good courage … for it is the Lord your God who goes with you...” Deut. 31:6

Great Quotes: “Baptism is God’s most beautiful and magnificent gift…” St. Gregory of Nazianzus

“Baptism gives us the grace of new birth in God the Father, through his Son, in the Holy Spirit.” Saint Irenaeus of Lyons

You’ll need: VBS music CD & CD player Poster/ Saint Card of St. Martin de Porres Table Bible (scripture reference: Mark 1:4-8) Large bowl of water Small towel White garment Small plastic cup Small bottle of scented oil Baptismal candle Baptismal Clipart (see reproducibles) Pencils & colored markers Photo of a child’s baptism & baptismal certificate (If possible, show your own personal photo & certificate: the kids will love it!)

Activity prep: Be sure to display the above items on a table. It will be helpful to have these visual props accessible for teaching the faith lesson and demonstrating some of the important things that occur at Baptism.

Activity:Each day, at our faith station, we will listen to a fun, short (approx. 2 min.) story from the Cat.Chat VBS Music CD. This story helps us think about adventures in the wilderness and it will also lead us into some good faith discussions about the Sacrament of Baptism. Be sure to listen closely to the story, because afterwards I’ll be asking you some questions..

Day 1


Play VBS Music CD – Track #12 (length: 1 min. 50 sec.)

Moses, the Cat: Psssst… It’s me again... Moses. Did you hear that? Snacks, songs and a roasty-toasty fire! Me-ow! I love camping in the great outdoors. It’s the best! Gee, I sure hope Papa cooks up some of that fish they caught. Nothing beats good ol’ Jackfish, over an open fire, Little bit of butter, salt n’ pepper, but not too much pepper, ‘cause it makes me sneeze! Boy, am I hungry!

Moses continues:

I think we’re in for a real treat.Last night, we stayed up listening to Papa’s camping adventures. It was great!!! It was like being at the movies. Stories about white water-rafting, hiking in the Rocky Mountains, and meeting up with a great big Grizzly Bear. Hmm…I’m curious to hear what they’ll chat about this time. I don’t know about you, but I’m sticking around for this one. I don’t want to miss a thing. (In background: Papa strums a tune on his guitar) Shh!!! Listen…It sounds like they’ve already started. Well, bye for now.

Hannah: Papa, would you like a rootbeer or an orange pop?

Papa: A rootbeer would be great. Thanks, Hannah.

Josh: Hey, Sarah, could you pass me the marshmallows?

Jesse: Hey, Uncle Jer, were you playing that Jesus song?

Papa: I sure was Jesse. How do you know that song?

Jesse: Uuummm… I think I heard Hannah sing it once before.

Hannah: Yeah, at Easter. Right?

Sarah: Yeah, you sang that one for Grandpa and Grandma.

Papa: Well, do you remember what it’s about? (music fades in)

Hannah: (eagerly) It’s a song about… having joy cause Jesus is in our heart.

STOP CD HERE

After listening to the audio track, ask the following questions:

What kind of fish does Moses the Cat like to eat? Jackfish

What kind of bear did Papa meet up with on one of his wilderness camping adventures? Grizzly bear

Share: Wilderness adventures are a lot of fun! This week at our Cat.Chat VBS, we will be going on a different kind of wilderness adventure: An adventure through the 7 Sacraments!

Who can tell me which is the very first Sacrament that we receive?

Baptism is the “first sacrament”; it’s the “door or gateway” to all the other Sacraments. (CCC #1213) Baptism is a great way to start off our life as a Christian! Show a picture of the 7 Sacraments Wilderness Signpost (see clip art in the reproducible section) and emphasize how the Sacrament of Baptism is listed first, at the top.


Who can tell me what Baptism is? Baptism is the Sacrament which uses water to baptize: Show the bowl of water, scoop some water into a cup and pour it slowly back into the bowl. Baptism makes you a Christian (a follower of Jesus) and a member of the Body of Christ.

Why is it really important that a person receives the sacrament of Baptism? 1. We need to be baptized in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (show Bible and read from John 3:5)

Jesus says: “Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God”

2. Baptism washes away all sin from our soul / heart. (point to water) In the Bible, Acts 2:38 says”… be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins.”

3. It puts a special (Sanctifying) grace into our soul; it’s what makes the soul Holy.4. It also brings the Holy Spirit into our soul. (show a picture of a dove from the reproducible section)5. We become children of God and a member of the Catholic Church.6. Without Baptism, you can’t receive the other sacraments.

Does anyone know what the word “transformation” means?Transformation means that something changes.A beautiful transformation takes place in the person being baptized. (somewhat like a butterfly) We become a new creation in Christ. God actually creates a new spirit within us.

Expand with older kids:Through Baptism, our sins are washed away. Both original sin (the sin passed down to us from Adam and Eve) and all personal sin (actual sins that we have committed against God) are washed away.

Who can receive Baptism?Infants and anyone else who has not yet been baptized.

How many times can a person receive the Sacrament of Baptism? Once. (show 1 finger)

Expand with older kids:What other 2 sacraments can only be received once in a lifetime?The Sacrament of Confirmation and the Sacrament of Holy Orders. (C.C.C.# 1246, 1272, 1280) If some kids answer the Sacrament of Matrimony, remind them that if a husband or wife dies, the other spouse can remarry.

Who can Baptize people?Bishops or priests

Expand with older kids:If someone is in danger and might die without a proper Baptism by a priest or Bishop, anyone can baptize and must use the Trinitarian baptismal formula (I baptize you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit…)

How does the priest baptize a person with water? In most cases, the priest pours Holy water (3 times) on the forehead of the person being baptized while saying: ‘I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.’


Note: You may choose a volunteer (or child) to help you demonstrate this. You may prefer to use a doll for the demonstration.Emphasize that this is not a real Baptism, simply a demonstration. Kids will enjoy this!Ask the volunteer to place his/her head over the bowl. Gently pour water over his head, by saying the words, “I baptize you…”

Expand with older kids:Baptism can be given by full immersion or sprinkling, but in all cases the water has to flow over the head or forehead.

Why does the priest place a white garment on the baptized person? Have a garment (Baptism gown/dress or bib) to show the kids.The white garment represents “putting on Christ”; being “clothed in Christ”.

Why does the priest bless the person being baptized with Holy oil/sacred chrism? Show the Holy oil and if possible, invite some children to smell the oil.

When the priest anoints the one to be baptized, he asks God to fill them with the Holy Spirit and grant them the graces to live as a follower of Jesus.Note: Did you know that Sacred Chrism is a perfumed oil that has been blessed by the Bishop. (C.C.C. #1241)

What does the Baptismal candle represent? Show candle.The candle represents the light of Christ and it reminds the newly baptized person to keep the flame of faith alive in their heart and in the world.

Why do we have Godparents?

Godparents have the great responsibility to be examples of Jesus to us and see that we stay faithful to God and grow in our Catholic faith. (see C.C.C. # 1255) Our Godparents also pray for us.

Expand with older kids: (opt.)

Did you know that we can make a special commitment to God by renewing our baptismal promises?You may have heard this before since we renew our baptismal promises every year at the Easter Vigil. (C.C.C. # 1254)

Go through the six questions of the baptismal promises. Have the kids say out loud “I do”.

Leader: Do you reject Satan?Kids: I do.Leader: And all his works?Kids: I do.Leader: And all his empty promises?Kids: I do.Leader: Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth?Kids: I do.Leader: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?Kids: I do.Leader: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?Kids: I do.


Who remembers the actual date of their Baptism? (ask for a show of hands)If some kids don’t remember, tell them to check the date on their baptismal certificate, when they get home. (Show a copy of your own baptismal certificate).

Everybody celebrates a birthday every year, right?

Wouldn’t it be great if we all celebrated our baptismal anniversary every year, too?

What are some fun ways you can celebrate your baptismal anniversary every year?• display photos & watch a home video of the day of your Baptism

Note for leader: show a photo of your own Baptism• decorate a cake and light your Baptismal candle (show a Baptismal candle and tell them that they’ll be

making Baptismal cupcakes in the snack station)• read a passage about Baptism in Mark Chapter 1:4-8 (show Bible)• say a prayer and thank God for the gift of our Baptism• if possible, call or send a thank you letter to the priest who baptized you • do something special with your Godparents

Thank YouDear

I want to thank you for being my Godparent. Thank you for being a good example of Jesus to me. I thank you for praying for me so that I can grow in my Catholic faith.

P.S. I am learning about the Sacraments at our Wilderness Adventure Cat.Chat Vacation Bible School. It’s really cool! You can call me and we can chat about it.

Love

www.catchat.ca

Thank YouDear

I want to thank you for being my Godparent. Thank you for being a good example of Jesus to me. I thank you for praying for me so that I can grow in my Catholic faith.

P.S. I am learning about the Sacraments at our Wilderness Adventure Cat.Chat Vacation Bible School. It’s really cool! You can call me and we can chat about it.

Love

www.catchat.ca

Optional Faith Activity: Letter of “Thanks to your Godparent(s)”.Note: You may prefer to send this as a take home activity.

Have the children sign a letter to their God parent(s). (See reproducible section of this guide)They can take the letter home and ask their parents to help them mail it to their Godparent(s).


I’d like to share with you a short story about a man who actually had the privilege of baptizing Jesus.

Does anyone know who this man is? (St. John the Baptist)He’s the VBS Saint of the Day! (Before going home today, you will receive a Saint Card of St. John the Baptist- show card, with short story on the back) It’s important that you listen closely to this story, since afterwards I will ask you a few questions about the life of St. John the Baptist.

Read the short saint story (below) and you may choose to ask the following questions:What is something new you discovered about the life of St. John the Baptist?Who were John’s parents? (Elizabeth and Zechariah)Why was John thrown into prison? (for preaching to King Herod)

A Short SAint Story...

St. John the BaptistJohn’s parents were Elizabeth and Zechariah. They were in their old age when the Angel Gabriel told Zechariah that his wife was expecting a child. Elizabeth and Mary (Jesus’ mother) were cousins and both pregnant around the same time. Mary went on a journey to visit her cousin. At Mary’s arrival, Baby John leapt for joy in Elizabeth’s womb.

When John was around 30 years old, he was courageous and went around baptizing people and preaching that “the Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand.”

One day, while he was baptizing in the Jordan River, Jesus came and asked to be baptized. As soon as John did this, the sky opened up and a loud voice came from heaven saying, “This is Jesus, my beloved son, of whom I am well pleased.”

Later, John was thrown in prison for preaching to King Herod. He was then beheaded, and his body was placed in a tomb.

St. John the Baptist, pray for us.

Closing prayer:Lord Jesus, thank you for this time together. May we continue to experience You in our heart, while learning about the Sacraments at our Cat.Chat VBS. Amen!


Theme: Explore the Sacrament of the Eucharist Virtue: Gratitude (an attitude of thankfulness; showing appreciation)

Opening Prayer:Jesus, help us all to have hearts of gratitude for you and to believe that you are truly and really present to us in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Amen.

Bible Verses of the Day:“I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever…”John 6:51

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is what God wants from you in your life…” 1 Thess 5:18

Great Quotes:“There’s nothing so great my children, as the Eucharist.” St. John Vianney

“The greatest love story of all time is contained in a tiny white host.” Archbishop Fulton Sheen

You’ll need: VBS Music CD & CD player Set up a mini altar (table, cloth, candles, Bible, chalice, paten & host) Day 2 Clip art (see reproducibles) Poster/ Saint Card of St. Martin de Porres

Activity prep:Today, we will listen to a fun, short story (approx. 2 min.) from the Cat.Chat VBS Music CD. This story will help us lead into some good faith discussions about the Sacrament of the Eucharist. It’s important that you listen closely because afterwards, I will be asking you some questions about the short story.

Day 2


Play VBS Music CD – Track #14 (length: 2 min. 4 sec.)Sarah: Uncle Jer, did you always have Jesus in your heart?

Papa: (quite surprised) Oh my, Sarah. That’s an interesting question.It’s kind of ... a long story.

Hannah: Story? Can we hear it, Papa? Can we? Can we?

Josh: Papa, we love your stories!

Papa: Hmm ...(in reflection) I have to think about this one...

Jesse: Hey, Josh quit hogging all the marshmallows!

Josh: Oh…sorry, Jesse, but they’re so good.

Papa: Now, let’s see if I can remember…Well, ever since I was a little boy, My mother & father would…

Hannah: (interrupts, quite confidently) that’s grandma and grandpa!

Papa: Right. Well, every Sunday, they would take all 7 of us to church.

Jesse: Your parents had 7 kids? Wow!

Papa: (chuckles) That’s right, Jesse. Seven awesome kids. My three sisters sang in the choir (Alleluia, Alleluia) and my brothers and I were altar boys, just like you Josh. Our priest was so cool. Sometimes, after mass, he’d give us bubble gum and candies and tell us funny jokes.

Josh & Jesse: That’s cool. Wow!

Papa: And, I was always the one who would ask the priest lots of questions. There was one time, when I was about 8 or maybe 9 years old and I asked him,

Papa(young boy): “Father Paul, will I get to go to heaven? “

Father Paul: “Well…Jeremy, hmm… just keep loving God with your whole heart. And try to think of others before yourself. Continue coming to Mass as often as you can, to receive the Precious Body and Blood of Jesus, in Holy Communion, this way you will get closer and closer to Jesus and further away from sin. Do you understand all that?

Papa (young boy): (politely) Yes, Father.

Father Paul: Good for you, Jeremy. Then, of course, you can look forward to eternal life…in heaven.

Papa: So, Father Paul helped me to realize how important it was for me to go to church, even when I didn’t feel like it, and to read my Bible, (music fades in) to take the time to pray the rosary, and to try my best to be more like Jesus.

STOP CD HERE

After listening to the audio track, ask the following questions:How many kids were in Papa’s family?

7 kids

What was the name of the priest? Father Paul

What did Father Paul give the kids after Mass? Bubble gum and candies

What are some really important things Father Paul shared about how we can get closer to Jesus? Keep loving God with your whole heart, think of others before yourself, continue coming to Mass as often as you can, read the Bible and pray the rosary.


In this short story, we listened to Father Paul talk about Holy Communion.

What is Holy Communion? When we receive the precious Body and Blood of Jesus in the Eucharist.

What’s the greatest gift we receive at Mass?Jesus in the Eucharist

Who has already received their First Eucharist/ First Communion? (show of hands)

Share: For those of you that have not yet received your First Holy Communion, Jesus is still very close to you. He loves you very much and looks forward to the great day when you will get to receive Him fully in the Eucharist. You have something really exciting to look forward to.Note for faith leader: (opt.) You may take this opportunity to share with the kids about what the Eucharist means to you. Your openness, honesty and enthusiasm will present Jesus to them as personal and real. The kids will be able to relate to you and it will be a powerful witness to them.

Where do we receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist?When we celebrate the Mass (at church)

Expand with older kids:Most times, we receive the Eucharist during Mass. However, a priest (or lay person) may bring the Eucharist to a sick person at home or in the hospital.

Does anyone know what the word “Eucharist” means?The word “Eucharist” means “thanksgiving.” At Mass, we gather together to thank God for his many gifts and blessings. It is important that we have an attitude of gratitude for the great gift of the Mass.

Who can tell me what actually happens to the bread and the wine at consecration?The bread and wine become the REAL Body and Blood of Christ. It’s an awesome miracle!

Does anyone remember hearing the words to a song at Mass that says: “Look beyond the bread you eat, see Your Savior and Your Lord…” (if possible, sing this part of the song) (show Day 2 clip art of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament)The bread and wine may look, taste, smell or weigh the same on the outside, but it’s what happens on the inside that actually changes. It takes an incredible faith to believe that it is actually 100% real! It is not a symbol of Jesus and it’s definitely not make- believe or pretend. The Eucharist is really and truly Jesus!

Expand with older kids: Does anyone know what we call this amazing change? Clue: It’s a really big word that begins with the letter T!

It is called transubstantiation (Wow, 6 syllables) It’s a word that means change of substance.


What could you tell someone who does not believe that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist? (answers will vary) You could also say: “God doesn’t play tricks on you! God is telling the truth when He says in the Bible: This is my Body and this is my Blood”. “Anything is possible with God.” “There are many miracles that prove that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist.”

Expand with older kids:In Luke’s Gospel, we hear the story of how Jesus gave us the Eucharist. It is the great story of the Last Supper.

Who would like to help me read this story from Luke 22:17-19? (read from a Bible)And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

I’m sure that most of us have heard the priest repeat some of these words during the Mass. Next time you’re at Mass, be sure to listen up for these words from Scripture and ponder them in your heart.

What are some reasons why the Eucharist is so important in our lives? (answers will vary)

• The Eucharist feeds our soul.• The Eucharist helps us get to Heaven

(Jesus says in John 6:54: “Whoever eats my flesh, and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.”)

• To help us get closer to Jesus (Jesus says in the Bible : “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him”. John 6:56)

• It gives us the power & strength we need to live as better Christians.• It unites us as Catholics.

How often should we receive the Holy Eucharist? A good Catholic receives Communion every Sunday, or every day, if possible.Note: The Catechism states that it is a grave sin to miss Mass on Sundays.

What are some silent prayers we can say in our heart before receiving Jesus in the Eucharist? (answers will vary)Jesus, prepare my heart to receive you. Jesus, I love you, My Lord and My God!Note: A priest once said: “We should receive the Eucharist as if it was our very first time, our last time and our only time.”

Expand with older kids:Because of the respect and love we have for Jesus in the Eucharist, we ask that only Catholic Christians (who truly believe in the Real Presence) receive Communion. Those who do not receive Communion, for whatever reason, may come forward for a blessing. They should place their right hand on their heart to indicate their desire to have a blessing. (You can demonstrate or ask a child to demonstrate this.) We should receive the Bread of Life worthily, in faith, hope and love and not just out of routine or habit. To receive Holy Communion, one must be in the state of grace (free of having committed a mortal sin. In 1 Cor 11:27 it says: “Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the Body and Blood of the Lord.”


What should we do at Mass, after receiving the Eucharist? answers will vary)We should spend some time praying to God, adoring Him, thanking Him, loving Him, and asking for His help.

What are some ways we can better prepare ourselves for Mass?• Spend time in prayer• Go to Confession/Reconciliation• We can come to Mass dressed in our Sunday best because we’re going to

banquet…a Heavenly Banquet• Try to get to Mass early (arriving late is disrespectful)• Pray about how much money you should give for the collection: the needs of the church

Why is it a good idea not to eat or drink anything one hour before Mass?We fast from all food (including gum, candy and drinks) one hour before Mass, so that we have more of an appetite for Jesus; yearning for the Bread of Life.

What are some ways we can enter more fully into the Mass? (answers will vary) • Sit in one of the front pews with your family• Try not to let your mind wander like a monkey who jumps

from tree to tree• Join in the singing and prayers with all your heart • Listen carefully to the Word of God to hear what God wants

to say to you • Volunteer as an altar server or help to bring up the gifts of

the bread & the wine

The Holy Eucharist is also called The Blessed Sacrament. Where is The Blessed Sacrament kept in the church?

In a special gold box called a tabernacle.

Share: Jesus is really and truly present in every Catholic church in the world. Isn’t that cool?He is also here in our church, too. Jesus wants us to visit Him as often as we can. For this reason, we are going to go for a short visit to experience Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

Before we go, it is important that we honor Jesus, our Creator and King , by being respectful when we enter the church. How can we show our respect to Jesus in His presence?

• By kneeling (or genuflecting) when we are before the Blessed Sacrament (demonstrate)• By whispering or being silent• By adoring Him, praising Him, loving Him, thanking Him, etc…


• Arrange for your parish priest to expose Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament for the children.

• Have them spot out the Sanctuary Lamp (a sign of the light of Christ and indicating the real presence of Jesus)

• Teach them how to genuflect while entering a Church/ Adoration Chapel when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed (on both knees – they can also bow their head).

• They need to be very quiet and peaceful (this is a place for a super-soft voice).

• Have the children gather in the pews or on the floor around the Blessed Sacrament. Ask the priestahead of time which one he prefers.

• Talk to them about how Jesus is truly present in the host/Blessed Sacrament, how He loves us and wants us to come and visit Him often. Jesus wants to become your best friend.

• Teach them to adore Jesus because He is God.

• Tell them to close their eyes and listen to Jesus. Allow Him to speak to their heart and fill it with His peace. Jesus is the source of all peace.

• They can whisper to Jesus: “Jesus, I love you” and say other prayers to Him in their hearts.Or they can simply spend time gazing at Jesus.This is a wonderful time to pray for families and for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

• Let them know that they can visit Jesus at any time when they are happy or when they are sad.

• (Opt.)Present the Saint Martin de Porres “Short Saint Story”.

Faith Activity: A SHORT VISIT TO JESUS IN THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT (adapted from www.mostholyrosary.com)

The attention span for children (especially younger children) is short; therefore, it is suggested to begin with a short visit of about 5 to 10 minutes. It is important to educate them before hand on their

surroundings, their behavior and how to pray while visiting Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.



St. Martin de PorresMartin was born in Lima, Peru. His father was a Span-ish knight and his mother was a young black woman of Panama. His father abandoned the family, so Martin grew up in poverty.

At the age of 15, Martin applied to join the Dominican Convent of the Rosary and became a Dominican brother. Martin had a devotion to Our Blessed Mother and to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

When he was 24, he was put in charge of taking care of the sick at the convent. It was then that miracles began to hap-

pen. Martin would treat the sick by bringing them healing with only a simple glass of water. He also had the gift of bi-location, meaning he could be in two different places at once. His love for animals inspired him to set up a hospital for cats

and dogs.St. Martin is often pictured with a broom since he considered all work to be holy, no matter how small the job.

St. Martin de Porres, pray for us.

I’d like to share with you a short story about a Saint who had an amazing love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. His name is St. Martin de Porres. He’s the VBS Saint of the Day! Before going home today, you will receive a Saint Card of St. Martin de Porres. Show poster (see reproducibles) or St. card.

It’s important that you listen closely to this story, because afterwards I will ask you a few questions about the life of St. Martin de Porres.

Read the short saint story (below) and you may choose to ask the following questions:What is something interesting you learnt about St. Martin de Porres? (answers will vary)

Why is St. Martin often pictured holding a broom? He considered all work to be holy, no matter how small the job.

Closing prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for this special time we had together. May we continue to experience You in our heart, as we learn more about the Sacraments at our Cat.Chat VBS. Amen!


Day 3Theme: Explore the Sacrament of ConfirmationVirtue: Perseverance (not giving up; keep trying with determination)

Opening prayer: Jesus, may our hearts seek answers and instructions from your Holy Spirit, so that we can make your glory shine through our words, actions and example. Amen.

Bible Verses of the Day: “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, (the Holy Spirit) who will stay with you forever.” Jn 14:16-17

“…persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.” Hebrews 12:1-2

Great quotes: “I prepared myself with great care for the coming of the Holy Spirit. I can’t understand how anyone can do otherwise before receiving this Sacrament of Love.” St. Therese of Lisieux

“The Spirit comes with the tenderness of a true friend to save, to heal, to teach, to counsel, to strengthen and to console.” St. Cyril of Jerusalem

You’ll need: VBS Music CD & CD player Shamrock (see Day 3 Clip art in reproducibles) Poster/card of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Holy Oil A hand fan

Activity prep:We’re going to listen to a short story (approx. 2 min.) from the Cat.Chat VBS Music CD. This story will help us get into some good faith discussions about the Sacrament of Confirmation. It’s important that you listen closely because afterwards, I will be asking you some questions about the story.


What was a hard choice Papa had to make when he was a young boy in school?The decision to follow Jesus or follow his friends.

What was wrong with Papa’s friends?They’d get into too much trouble.They weren’t kind to others, and the music, movies and games they played did not please God.

How did Papa know God wasn’t pleased with the games he played?Papa had a sense it was wrong. Papa felt pretty crummy and his heart felt kind of empty. He was forgetting about God and what His Holy Word teaches.

In this story, we heard Papa explain that something had to change in his life: the Holy Spirit was speaking to Papa’s heart.

Who is the Holy Spirit?The Holy Spirit is a person: the 3rd person of the Trinity. God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.


Jesse: Trying to be like Jesus isn’t always easy, you know.

Sarah: Yeah, no kidding. It’s hard to always do what’s right. Sometimes, I just want to do what my friends are doing, even if I know it’s not a good thing.

Papa: Sarah, I understand, ‘cause when I was just a little older than you are, trying to be like Jesus wasn’t easy for me, either.

Josh: (quite surprised) It wasn’t?

Hannah: (concerned) Why, Papa?

Papa: Well, when I was in junior high, I had some hard choices to make.

Hannah: Hard choices? Do you mean like choosing your favorite ice cream at Big Bob’s? (We have all flavors of ice cream...)

Papa: (chuckles) No, not quite. I had to choose what was more important: following Jesus or following my friends.

Sarah: (curiously) Uncle Jer, what was so wrong with your friends?

Papa: Well, together, we would get into too much trouble.

Josh: (even more surprised) Trouble? You, Papa?

Hannah: (innocently) Oh, my!

Papa: Yeah, we weren’t very kind to others. Oh, and the music, the movies and the games we played did not please God.

Jesse: How do you know it didn’t please God?

Papa: Somehow, I just knew it was wrong. It didn’t seem right. I was forgetting about God and what His Holy Word teaches. I wasn’t being a true Catholic. I felt pretty crummy and my heart felt kind of empty. I knew something had to change in my life… Come to think of it, my mother & father must have been praying really hard for me because sometime after that, I ended up going on a special weekend retreat.

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Share:

The three-leafed clover, or shamrock, is the way that St. Patrick explained the Holy Trinity to the Irish people. Show a shamrock (See reproducibles). The shamrock has three leaves, but only one stem. God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit are three persons, but one God.”

Jesus said “I will ask the Father and He will give you another Helper, who will stay with you forever. (John 14:16-17):

Who is this Helper that Jesus is talking about?The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit comes into your soul more fully in the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Has anyone here received the Sacrament of Confirmation? (show of hands)For those of you who have not yet received this great sacrament, you have something wonderful to look forward to.

How many times can you be confirmed? Only once.

Who gives Confirmation? Usually a bishop or sometimes a priest.

What are some of the things that the Bishop or priest does during Confirmation?He places his hands on the person(s) forehead, prays for them, and blesses them with Holy Oil (chrism).

Note: You may ask an older child to help you demonstrate this. Invite a volunteer (or child) to come forward.

Emphasize that this is not a real Confirmation, simply a demonstration. Kids will enjoy this!Gently extend your hands over the child and pray a simple prayer: Send your Holy Spirit upon (name child) to be his Helper and Guide. Amen.You may also ask for a volunteer to be the confirmand’s sponsor. Have the sponsor stand behind the person being confirmed and place his hand on the candidate’s shoulder. You can continue by blessing the child’s forehead with oil, placing your hands on him or her and saying, “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.”You can shake the candidate’s hand and ask them to sit down.

Do you have to choose a sponsor for Confirmation? Yes, but it doesn’t have to be your Godparents. Note: You should choose a Catholic (over 18 yrs. old) who you admire for their faith.

FatherHoly SpiritSon


What actually happens inside the person who receives the Sacrament of Confirmation? • The Holy Spirit given to us at Baptism, is stirred within us. • We are filled with grace to live out our faith.• The Holy Spirit strengthens us and helps us to persevere in our faith

Expand with older kids: As with Baptism, Confirmation puts a special mark on our soul; nothing can wash it away. It’s like we’re being “stamped” or “branded” with the Holy Spirit. The Bible says: “…He has put his seal upon us and given us His Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” (2 Cor 1:22)

The Holy Spirit has 7 Gifts to share with us.Who can name some of the gifts of the Holy Spirit?

Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, Right judgment, Courage, Reverence and Wonder & Awe. It is up to us to recognize and use these gifts everyday.

If time allows, explain each gift: Note: The snack leader will be teaching the Gifts of the Spirit with a fun lesson using 7 ingredients for a Trail Mix. 1. Wisdom: When we have wisdom, we put God 1st in our decisions, in our actions….In everything

we do.2. Understanding: When we have this gift, it helps us understand the truth and discover the meaning

of our faith.3. Right judgment (or counsel): This gift helps us to know the difference between right & wrong and

to choose to do what is right. 4. Courage (or fortitude): Courage helps us to be brave and to overcome our fears & obstacles as we

try to live out our faith. 5. Knowledge: Knowledge helps us know the basic message of Jesus. 6. Reverence (or piety): When we are reverent, we honor and respect God and all His children. 7. Wonder and awe (or fear of the Lord): This gift helps us to appreciate the “awesomeness” of God:

His total majesty and unlimited power, especially in His creation.

Which of these gifts could you ask the Holy Spirit to give you more of? (answers will vary)

Jesus sent his comforter, his Spirit to be with us. (John 14:16)How do we know that the Holy Spirit is with us?

We know He is with us because He touches our hearts and those around us. The Holy Spirit tugs on our hearts and minds, asking us to turn away from sin and turn to God. Think for a moment about the wind or a gentle breeze (make the sound & motion of wind). We can’t see the actual wind with our eyes, but we can see what the wind does to things. (Show a hand fan & wave a fan in front of a child’s face). The wind reminds us of the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. The Holy Spirit changes our hearts to be more like Jesus.

Can you name someone in your life who lives a life guided by the Holy Spirit? (answers will vary)

How can you tell that this person is living a life guided by the Holy Spirit?(answers will vary)They are joyful, prayerful, not afraid to talk about Jesus to others, loving, patient, peaceful, they put God first in their life, they care about others, etc…


Each of us is called to be living a life in the Spirit of Jesus. Mother Teresa said: “We are all called to be Saints.” (opt.) You could use the names of kids & adults in your group: “Hannah is called to be a Saint and Jordan is called to be a Saint, etc….” All of us here have the potential to become Saints!

Who would like to become a Saint? (show of hands)It is possible to become a Saint with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Share:I’d like to share with you a short story about a girl whose life was filled with the Holy Spirit.She was a beautiful example of Jesus to others. Her name is Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha. She’s the VBS Saint of the Day! Show poster (see reproducibles) or St. card, Before going home today, you will receive a Saint Card of Blessed Kateri. It’s important that you listen closely to this story, because afterwards I will ask you a few questions.Read the short saint story (below) and you may choose to ask the following question:

A Short Story...

Blessed Kateri TekakwithaKateri was born in the Mohawk fortress of Ossernenon in New York. Her father was a Mohawk chief and her mother was a Catholic Algonquin.

When Kateri was very young, there was a sickness that killed her father, mother and baby brother. Kateri also got very sick. When she recovered, she was adopted by her uncle.

At the age of 20, Kateri was baptized on Easter Sunday by a wonderful missionary priest named Fr. Jacques. Many Indians near Kateri’s home would beat her up because of her faith in God, but she continued to persevere and remain strong in her faith. She escaped to a Catholic community in Quebec, Canada to find safety. It is there that she lived the rest of her life dedicated to prayer, penance and caring for the sick. Kateri Tekakwitha died at the young age of 24.

Her last words were, “Jesus, I love you!”

Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, pray for us.


Faith Activity: A Song of Reflection “The Mystery”

Play the prayerful song #9 entitled “The Mystery” from the Cat.Chat VBS Music CD. Length: 3min.Encourage the kids to close their eyes during the song and listen closely to the words!

Share : “This is a special prayer time. Jesus wants you to be open and honest with Him. He wants to be your Best Friend, He loves you and cares for you very much. He knows everything about you and He has a special plan for your life.”

After the song, you can ask the kids if anyone wants to share what they experienced in their heart or something that the Holy Spirit may have said to them.

Closing prayer: “Holy Spirit, thank you for this special time we had together. May we continue to experience You in our heart, as we learn more about the Sacraments at our Cat.Chat VBS. Amen!”

What is something interesting you learnt about Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha? (answers will vary)

If we want to live a life filled with the Holy Spirit, we need to remember to pray to the Holy Spirit.

Can anyone think of a prayer we can say to the Holy Spirit? (answers will vary)“Come Holy Spirit, touch my heart.” “Holy Spirit, help me to be brave. “ “Holy Spirit, help me to be a witness of Christ in my words and my actions.”“Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love.”Note: You will recognize this prayer in one of the VBS songs called: “Send Down Your Kingdom.”

Have the kids close their eyes & repeat after you: Holy Spirit…(repeat) For in you I live (repeat) In you I move (repeat) In you I have my every breath (repeat) Guide my life (repeat)

The Mystery

Verse 1:I approach the mystery of Your love. I approach the mystery of Your grace.I enter into the Mystery of faith in You.I enter into Your majesty. Chorus:For in You I live. In You I move. In You I breathe my every breath.Jesus, Holy Jesus.Praise You Jesus.

I approach the mystery of Your love.


Day 4Theme: Explore the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the SickVirtue: Self Control (controlling your behavior; making sure your actions, thoughts, words, and attitudes please God & others)

Opening prayer: Loving and forgiving God, please help us to understand that sometimes our choices bring sorrow and pain to ourselves and others. Thank you for your constant love for us and for healing our hearts. Amen.

Bible Verses of the Day:“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” Mark 2:17

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…” Galatians 5:22

Great quotes: “I would rather die than commit a sin.” St. Dominic Savio

“Control your tongue and your belly.” St. Anthony the Great

You’ll need: VBS Music CD & CD player Day 4 Clip art (See Reproducibles) Poster/card of St. Padre Pio

Activity prep:We’re going to listen to a short story (approx. 1 min. 30 sec.) from the Cat.Chat VBS Music CD. This story will help us get into some good faith discussions about the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. It’s important that you listen closely because afterwards, I will be asking you some questions about the story.



Jesse: Re - treat? What’s that? (jokingly/being silly) Some kind of extra treat?

(Kids chuckle)

Josh: Hey, speaking of treats, are there any more granola bars?

Hannah: (teasingly) Sorry, Josh, I just ate the last one.

Josh: Aaah, man.

Sarah: (sneezes twice) Aaachoo! Aaachoo!

Hannah: Bless you, Sarah.

Sarah: Thanks…So, what happened at this retreat?

Papa: Well, it was exactly what I needed. I had the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Jesse: (unsure) Recon-silly what?

Josh: You know… CONFESSION.

Sarah: Isn’t that like…when you tell a priest all your sins?

Papa: That’s right, Sarah. When we confess that we are truly sorry for all our sins, then by God’s mercy and grace, we are forgiven! Our heart that was once stained and dirty becomes fresh and clean again…(with excitement) Oh yeah… and at this retreat, there was this awesome youth speaker and what he said opened my eyes.

Hannah: (quickly) Well, what did he say?

Youth speaker: (with enthusiasm and energy) Young people, you know Jesus suffered and died on that wooden cross for our very own sins, And He rose again, to give us abundant life! Are we gonna respond to the Holy Father’s words when he said “Open wide your hearts to Jesus Christ?”

Youth speaker: (Crowd cheers: Yaaah) Are we willing to allow Jesus to make a difference in our life? (Crowd shouts: Yaaah !!!) Well, together, let’s you and I say NO TO SIN and YES TO GOD!

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Which Sacrament did Papa receive at the retreat?Papa received the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

What’s another name for this Sacrament?The Sacrament of Confession (or Penance)

What is Confession?Telling your sins to God through a Catholic priest or Bishop

What does Papa tell us about this Sacrament?When we confess that we are truly sorry for all our sins, then by God’s mercy and grace, we are forgiven! Our heart that was once stained and dirty becomes fresh and pure again.

Has anyone here received the Sacrament of Reconciliation? (show of hands)For those of you who have not yet received this great sacrament, you have something special to look forward to.


How often can we receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation?An unlimited amount of times; as often as possible. Note: Some Saints went to Confession once a week. Idea for older kids: Ask your mom or dad to set up an appointment for Confession with a priest.You may prefer to ask a priest if he can be available to hear confessions on the last day of the VBS.

What are the great things about this Sacrament? • God wipes away our sins (all the bad things we’ve done or said)

When you are free of mortal sin, you can receive the Eucharist.• God gives us the gift of a special grace in our soul to help us stay away from sin. • He fills us with His peace, and we can experience a sense of freedom and joy.• God gives us His power & strength to help us become better Christians.

Reconciliation is a cleansing experience and also a strengthening one, too.Someone once said that receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation is like going for a car wash and getting an oil change all in one. When we confess and are truly sorry for our sins, our souls get all washed up, and we get showered with the grace of God which is just like a fresh oil change (and it’s totally FREE; it doesn’t cost anything!) We are strengthened to go out on the road again and be a witness of Christ to others.

What is sin?Sin is an offense against God. (CCC #1850)The 7 capital sins: • Sloth • Gluttony • Lust • Envy • Greed • Wrath • PrideWhen we freely choose to say or do something that we know is against God’s ways.

What are some ways that we turn away from God? (answers will vary) Disobeying, complaining, lying, cheating, using bad language, etc…

What does sin do?Sin stains our soul, it makes our hearts unclean and impure.“[Sin] sets itself against God’s love for us ...”(CCC #1850)

There are two kinds of sins: venial sins and mortal sins.(1John 5:16-17)What is venial sin?

Venial sin is a less serious sin. “[Sin] committed without full knowledge or without complete consent.” (CCC #1862)“Venial sin constitutes a moral disorder that is reparable by charity.” (CCC #1865)

What is mortal sin?Mortal sin is a more serious sin.For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must together be met: (c.f. CCC #1857) • sin that is of grave matter • committed with full knowledge (the sinner knows it’s a sinful act) • it is done with complete consent (the sinner chooses to sin)Mortal sin separates us from God; it is “a rupture of communion with Him.”(CCC #1440)We should confess mortal sin as soon as possible in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.


How do we make a good Confession?1. Before going to Confession, spend some time thinking over the sins you have committed by examining your conscience. Sample Questions for A Child’s Examination of Conscience … • Did I forget to pray morning, noon and night? • Did I not pay close attention at Mass? • Did I disobey my parents or teachers? • Was I unkind, angry, impatient or bossy? • Did I say bad words or think terrible thoughts? • Did I fight with anyone? • Did I refuse to forgive someone? • Did I hurt anyone on purpose? • Did I take anything that was not mine (steal)? • Did I tell lies? • Did I read impure books or watch the wrong kind of movies? 2.Confess your sins to a priest: You may make the Sign of the Cross. You may say: Please forgive me, Father, in this Confession. Mention the length of time since your last Confession. (1 week,1 month, etc …) Tell your sins and be truly and sincerely sorry for those sins. Pray an Act of Contrition. Wait for the priest to absolve you of your sins with the Sign of the Cross. The priest will ask you to do some form of penance after you leave the Confessional. (For example, pray an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be.) The priest will bless you: you should make the Sign of the Cross and say “Thank you, Father”.

3.With God’s help, try to sin no more.

4. Do the penance the priest has assigned.

How to Confess your sins to a priest? For this sacrament, you usually tell your sins to a priest through a screen (in a confessional) or face to face in a quiet room.

Demonstration (opt.): You could invite a child to help you demonstrate Step 2 of “How To Make a Good Confession”.

Expand with older kids: Why do we confess our sins to a priest? This is the way Jesus Christ wants our sins to be forgiven. Jesus gave his apostles the power to forgive people’s sins. Since the time of the early apostles, the Catholic Church has kept this tradition. “The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent Me, I also send you. When He had said this, He breathed on them; and He said to them: Receive the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.” (John 20:20-23)

OccupiedConfessional

For older kids: You may choose to send the reproducible page “How To Make A Good Confession” as a take home sheet.


Why can’t I just tell my sins to God, instead of receiving the Sacrament of Confession?It’s good to talk to Jesus and tell him all your sins in prayer, but there is something extra special that happens when we receive this Sacrament. We receive a special grace into our souls that helps us to overcome temptations to sin.

Children often ask such questions as: What will the priest think of me? Will he tell my parents? Will he be angry with me?God is a loving God and it pleases Him when we recognize the sins we’ve done and when we try not to sin again.

Why should we not be afraid of Confession? In this Sacrament, the priest sits in the place of Jesus. He will never be angry with you.The priest is never allowed to tell anyone any sin he has ever heard in Confession. He will forgive you with the love of Jesus.

What is penance?Making up for our sins. The priest might ask us to say a prayer or to do a special act of kindness for someone or to think of 5 things you are thankful for, etc… Our penance helps us to stay away from sin and become better people. Note: This is why this sacrament is also called “The Sacrament of Penance.”

Expand for older kids: Before going to confession, it is good to memorize the Act of Contrition.

Does anyone know how to pray the Act of Contrition?

O my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell; but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen

Today at VBS, we are learning about another Sacrament.What is the name of the other Sacrament of Healing?

The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick (also called Sacrament of the Sick) Note: It is also known as Extreme Unction which means “last anointing”.

Who can tell me something about this Sacrament? It’s when a priest prays and blesses a sick or dying person with Holy oil. (See Day 4 clip art in reproducibles) Note: The priest anoints (makes the Sign of the Cross with the Holy Oil) on the person's eyes, ears, nostrils, lips, hands, and feet.

Expand for older kids: If the sick or dying person is still awake (or conscious), the priest will pray over them, hear their Confession, give them Holy Communion and anoint them with a final blessing.This sacrament gives your soul a special grace, strength and healing.This Sacrament cleanses your heart and prepares you for entry into Heaven.

Can you receive this Sacrament more than once? Yes.

Has anyone you know received the Sacrament of the Sick/Anointing of the Sick? (answers will vary)Note: If time allows, you may want to share any experience you may have with this Sacrament.



St. Padre PioFrancesco Forgione, also known as Padre Pio, was born to poor peasant farmers in the small village of Pietrelcina, Italy. At the age of 6, Francesco desired to become a priest.

At the age of 15, he joined the Capuchins friary where he received the name Brother Pio. He endured lots of suffering during his studies, but he never gave up his dream to become a priest.

There were many miracles in Padre Pio’s life. On September 20, 1918, Padre Pio had special graces to receive the Wounds of Christ, also known as “Stigmata”. Padre Pio’s hands, feet, and side bled for the rest of his life until his death, when the wounds completely disappeared. He also received the gift to read people’s souls and bilocate, where he could be in two different places at once. He spent many hours each day hearing confessions. He would often say, “Pray, hope and don’t worry.”

St. Padre Pio, pray for us.

The Bible says: "Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters (priests) of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven. (James 5:14-15)

I’d like to share with you a short story about a special priest who was known for his gift of healing. He would also hear people’s confessions for up to 14 hours each day. His name is St. Padre Pio.He’s the VBS Saint of the Day! Show poster (See reproducibles) or Saint card, Before going home today, you will receive a Saint Card of St. Padre Pio. Read the short saint story (below) and you may choose to ask the following question:

What is something interesting you learnt about St. Padre Pio? (answers will vary)

Faith Activity: Giant Get Well CardYou’ll need: Poster board (folded in half) Pens and Colored markers

Have the kids make a giant Get Well Card for a person in the parish who is sick or hospitalized. Have everyone sign the card and add their decorative touch to it. Give it to the parish priest or deliver it personally.

Optional Faith Activity for Younger Kids: Visit the ConfessionalPlan for the kids to see the inside of a confessional or reconciliation room. Being familiar with the place for celebrating Reconciliation, will help prepare the children for their first celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and it will also help answer any questions they may have.

Closing prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for this special time we had together. May we continue to experience You in our heart, as we learn more about the Sacraments at our Cat.Chat VBS. Amen!


Day 5

Opening prayer: Lord Jesus, please show us how we can bring hope and be a light to others. Amen

Bible Verses of the Day: “…your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:16

“For I know well the plans I have for you, Says the Lord…plans to give you a future full of hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

Great quotes: “We have to serve God in His way, not in ours.” St. Anthony the Great

“Pray, hope and don’t worry.” St. Padre Pio You’ll need: VBS Music CD & CD player 2 Wedding rings Clip art (see reproducibles or resource CDROM) (Opt.) Picture of a wedding gown Poster/card of St. Gianna Beretta Molla & St. John Vianney

Activity prep:We’re going to listen to a short story (approx. 2 min.) from the Cat.Chat VBS Music CD. This story will help us get into some good faith discussions about the Sacraments of Holy Orders and Matrimony. It’s important that you listen closely because afterwards, I will be asking you some questions about the story.

Theme: Explore the Sacraments of Matrimony and Holy OrdersVirtue: Hope (to expect something good will happen; a confident expectation of good things to come)



Papa: I want you all to close your eyes.

Josh: Close our eyes?

Papa: Josh, close your eyes.

Josh: Okay.

Papa: And you too, Jesse. (gently & slowly) Now, picture Jesus sitting right beside you, holding your hand and telling you how special you are and how much He loves you. And then, you whisper to Him all the little and big prayers on your heart. Now, keep your eyes closed and repeat after me: Jesus, I need you

Kids: Jesus, I need you.

Papa: Jesus, I love you

Kids: Jesus, I love you.

Papa: Jesus, I trust in you

Kids: Jesus, I trust in you.

Papa: I invite you into my heart.

Kids: I invite you into my heart.

Papa: You know, Jesus says in the Bible: “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself.” And He also says,“Know that I am with you always.” I had to repeat those scriptures in my heart over and over again when I was going through the saddest and most painful time in my life.

Hannah: (sweetly) Papa, was that after Mama died?

Papa: It sure was, sweetheart. That was so hard and sometimes it still is.

Josh: It is for me too, Papa.

Papa: (sincerely) Yeah, I know. Over the years, I’ve come to realize that it’s Jesus who carries us through the ups and downs of everyday life. And, I’m so thankful that we have hope and faith in Christ Jesus!

STOP CD HERE

What were some of the scriptures that Papa had to repeat in his heart over and over again?“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself.”“Know that I am with you always.”

Who can carry us through the ups & downs of everyday life? Jesus

Share:Jesus offers us hope through the Sacraments. Speaking of the Sacraments, we have 2 more left to explore: the Sacrament of Matrimony and the Sacrament of Holy Orders.Note for leader: The church’s teaching on marriage can be a sensitive topic. Be aware that some children you are teaching may have divorced parents or parents who are not living up to the Church’s teachings on marriage. We are not to compromise on Church teaching; yet we are not to judge others, either.

Who can tell me what is the Sacrament of Matrimony? The sacrament of Matrimony is when a Christian man and a Christian woman get married: the couple make promises to each other and to God to live together, helping each other in good times and bad times, in health and in sickness, forever.


What are the great things about the Sacrament of Marrige? God gives them a special grace to love each other with the love of Christ.God gives them special helps to perform their duties as married people and to overcome the difficulties that may come into their married life. It unites them in an unbreakable union until death.

Has anyone been to a Catholic wedding? (show of hands)

Expand for older kids: A very important part of a Catholic wedding is what is known as the exchange of vows. These words are the heart of the sacrament of marriage; they form the covenant with God that establish the couple’s marriage. The marriage can’t happen without these exchange of vows, or consent. For those of you who have been to a Catholic wedding, you might remember hearing the priest ask the bride and groom three important questions before the “exchange of vows”.

Note: You may choose to ask a married couple to help you demonstrate the following:

“(Name) and (name), have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage?” The bride and groom respond: “Yes”.“Will you honor each other as man and wife for the rest of your lives?” The bride and groom respond: “I will”.“Will you accept children lovingly from God, and bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?” Response:“I will”. Priest (or deacon) goes on to say: “Since it is your intention to enter into marriage, join your right hands, and declare your consent before God and his Church”.

Groom:“ I, (name), take you, (name), to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life”.Bride:“I, (name), take you, (name), to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life”.

Share: A church wedding is full of symbols of marriage that have meaning in the Catholic faith.

What do you think the wedding rings symbolize? (show rings)The rings (that are in the shape of a circle) symbolize the never ending love of the sacrament of matrimony, and that the marriage vows are forever.

What does the white wedding gown remind you of? (opt.: show a picture of a white wedding gown)It is a reminder of the white baptismal garment worn when a Catholic first joined the Christian family, and in a wedding ceremony represents the start of another new family that is rooted in Christ.

What do you think the wedding candle symbolizes? The light of Christ (opt.: show a wedding candle or the clip art of the candles on this page)


What do you think God’s master plan is for marriage? In other words, what is God’s purpose for marriage?

Marriage is for the good of the couple: it can help them to become Saints, by growing in holiness.And God also intended marriage for having children and raising them in the faith, so they too can become Saints and continue building His Church.God wants marriage to be a loving, life-giving and faithful relationship between a man and a woman.

Expand with older kids: The Bible teaches that marriage is part of God’s plan. God said: “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make a helper as his partner” Gen. 2:18.God created men and women so that they would be a great match for each other and bond together in married love. God wants this marriage bond to be fruitful and lead to new life. He said: “Be fruitful and multiply…” Gen 1:28

Share: Think about a man and a woman that you know who have a great marriage.

What makes their marriage so special? (answers will vary)They pray together, they go to church together, they forgive each other, they strive to do God’s will, they have lots of kids, they go to Confession, they hold hands, they have fun together, they laugh together… Note to faith leader: If time allows, you may want to take this opportunity to share a story or experience of the Sacrament of Matrimony.

Share: We have one last Sacrament left to explore. (Last, but certainly not the least)

Who can tell me which one it is? The Sacrament of Holy Orders

What is the Sacrament of Holy Orders? Holy Orders is the Sacrament which gives a man the powers of the Catholic Priesthood. Catechism # 1536 says: “Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry.”

Share: The Sacrament of Holy Orders was first given to us by Jesus.

When did Jesus give us this Sacrament?At the Last Supper. The first men who received the power of priesthood were the Apostles. Jesus gave the Apostles the power to change bread and wine into His Body and Blood. Jesus wanted to make sure His work was continued here on earth.

Was Jesus a priest?Yes. Jesus was and is the Great High Priest.

Expand for older kids: After the Apostles died, how was the priesthood handed down?

Before they died, the Apostles made other men bishops, who in turn made other men bishops, and in this way the priesthood has been handed down during the past 2000 years.


What are the steps a man has to take to become a priest?A man that wants to be a priest has to go to study for many years at a special school called a seminary. If he is approved by his bishop and things go really well according to his learning, health, morals, character, etc…then he can become a priest by receiving the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

What takes place in the Sacrament of Holy Orders? The Bishop lays his hands on the head of the priests and says a prayer asking for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. (show the clip art of ordination found in reproducibles)

Expand for older kids: In one part of the ceremony, the priest lies in front of the altar while the Litany of the Saints is sung or recited. In another part of the ceremony, a priest’s hands are anointed with chrism (special Holy Oil). The priest receives a permanent spiritual mark, called a character, signifying that they represent Jesus’ presence in the Church.

Who can give the Sacrament of Holy Orders? Only a bishop. Note: In the Sacrament of Holy Orders, a man joins the priesthood of Christ, at one of three levels (3 dimensions to apostolic ministry): the diaconate (becoming a deacon), the priesthood (becoming a priest), and the episcopate (becoming a Bishop).Each level of ordination confers special graces: from the ability to preach, granted to deacons; then the ability to act in the person of Christ to offer the Mass, granted to priests; to a special grace of strength, granted to bishops, which allows him to teach and lead his flock, even to the point of dying as Christ did.

What are some of the special things a priest does to help serve the Church and the People of God?A priest can give us the sacraments. (Christ is present to us through the priest).Ie. They offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, which includes the power to change bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ and... Ie. They can forgive sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation They can preach and teach the Word of God. They can also counsel people.

Share:I’d like to share with you a short story about 2 different Saints. St. Gianna Beretta Molla is a great Saint to help us think of the Sacrament of Matrimony and St. John Vianney for the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

They are the VBS Saints of the Day! Show poster or St. cards (See Reproducibles) Before going home today, you will receive a Saint Card of St. Gianna Beretta Molla & a Saint Card of St. John Vianney. It’s important that you listen closely to each of these stories, because afterwards I will ask you a few questions.

Read each saint story and you may choose to ask the following questions:

What is something interesting you learnt about St. Gianna? (answers will vary)

What is something you remember from the life of St. John Vianney? (answers will vary)



St. John VianneyJean, also known as John, was born in the little French village of Dardilly, France.

During the French Revolution, it was illegal to attend Mass. Jean’s family had to travel to distant farms, so they could receive Holy Communion. When faith & peace were restored in France, Jean chose to join the seminary.

He had a very hard time with his studies, but he never lost hope at becoming a priest.

At the age of 29, Jean was ordained a priest and served in the little village of Ars in France. Fr. Vianney became known as the Curé of Ars and was an amazing confessor. He heard confessions for up to 18 hours a day, survived on only a few hours of sleep and fasted for years on a simple meal of boiled potatoes.

Jean Baptiste Marie Vianney died at the age of 73. His body is found to be incorruptible, meaning it is still intact and has not decayed since his death.

St. John Vianney, pray for us.


St. Gianna Beretta Molla Gianna grew up in a loving, devoted family of 13 children in Magenta, Italy. At the age of 27, she became a doctor. She mostly took care of mothers and young babies.

In September 1955, Gianna Beretta and Pietro Molla got married. They were blessed with 3 children. Gianna embraced the vocation of marriage with great joy. She loved being a mother, wife and doctor. Gianna’s pregnancy with baby #4 had complications, and many doctors suggested that she should have an abortion (to end her baby’s life). She said: “If you must decide between me and the baby, do not hesitate: choose the baby to live!”

On Good Friday in 1962, Gianna gave birth to a precious baby girl named Gianna Emanuela. Despite all the efforts to try and save both the baby and the mother’s life, Gianna died 7 days after giving birth to her baby.

Through prayer, Gianna spent her whole life seeking to do the will of God.

St. Gianna Beretta Molla, pray for us.


Faith Activity: Special Guest #1Invite a priest to come and participate in a mini Question & Answer session about the Sacrament of Holy Orders and the ministry of the priesthood.He can also share how he heard God’s call in his life, how he said Yes to God and how he offers hope to others in his vocation. Encourage the priest to keep his sharings & responses very simple and brief.

Note: You may want to prepare the kids ahead of time with questions they could ask the special guest. (you can print them on index cards)• How old were you when you became a priest?• Can you explain what happened when you received the Sacrament of Holy Orders?• What’s the best part about being a priest?• What’s the most challenging part about being a priest?• What is a typical day in the life of a priest?• What would you tell a young boy who is thinking about being a priest?

Optional Faith Activity: Special Guest #2Invite a married couple to come and speak about the Sacrament of Matrimony.They can share how they heard God calling them to marriage, how they said Yes to God and how they offer hope to others in this vocation.

Note: You may want to prepare the kids ahead of time with questions they could ask their special guests. (you can print them on index cards)• How old were you when you were married?• Can you tell us a bit about your wedding day?• What’s the best part about being married?• What’s the most challenging part about being married?• What advice would you give someone who is thinking about getting married?

As a thank you, they can present the special guest with the craft of the day: A colorful mosaic poster that reads: “Thank you for being the light of Christ in my life.” (see craft leader for more details)

Another Optional Faith Activity:You can choose to review the 7 Sacraments with the activity on page 45 found in the reproducibles.

Closing Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for this great time we had together at our Cat.Chat Wilderness Adventure through the Sacraments VBS. May we continue to experience you in our hearts through the beauty of the Sacraments. Amen

Documents

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