By Janet Miller. Copyright © 2012, TeamRCIA.com. All rights reserved.

CATECHIST’S NOTES

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion Year B

Children’s RCIA Resource HOW TO USE THIS RESOURCE

Dismissal Session The Dismissal Session is for catechumens only who are dismissed from worship before the Creed (RCIA #75.3). The Dismissal Session group may gather for the Catechetical Session at another time during the week.

Catechetical Session When the Dismissal Session is immediately followed by the Catechetical Session, parents or other sponsors join the group after Eucharist. Baptized children preparing for confirmation and Eucharist may also join in the Catechetical Session (RCIA #254; Appendix III, #19). Select the session options that fit your time frame.

NOTES FOR THIS SUNDAY Sunday’s readings Mark 11:1-10 or John 12:12-16 Isaiah 50:4-7 Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 Philippians 2:6-11 Mark 14:1—15:47

Doctrine correlations Christ’s death, the sacrifice of the New Covenant, reconciles

humanity to God through the blood of the covenant poured out for the forgiveness of sins (CCC #613).

Jesus, the Son of God, accepted, suffered, and transformed death which is part of the human condition (CCC #1009).

RCIA team notes Encourage the catechumens to participate in Holy Week liturgies and to support the elect during the Easter Vigil. Advise the elect to spend Holy Saturday in reflection, or if possible, coordinate with leaders of the adult group for prayer reflection (RCIA #185-205).

GETTING READY FOR THE SESSION

Items to prepare

check-in sheet and nametags, red crayons, palm pieces, scissors poster paper or white board, erasers, and erasable markers red cloth on table or counter for prayer, percussion instrument Bibles, one set to Mark 14, prayer cards crucifix, candle in a heat-proof holder, matches biblical costumes and props (optional) copies of “Faith at Home” guest (optional), assorted paper, pencils, pens, markers, rulers,

scissors, glue, stapler, assorted craft and recycled materials, small plastic zipper bags, cotton balls, fragrant oil, play coins, Melba toast, cloth pieces, twigs, wooden craft sticks, sponge, flat stones, recycled religion books and magazines, hole punch, yarn

lenten calendar, crayons, crucifix

Gathering Prayer Ritual On red cloth, place Bible, candle, crucifix. Bring reader prayer cards.

Singing option Use music from your faith community resources. The suggestion is a guide available in Gather Comprehensive and Give Your Gifts, Melody Book (GIA Publications, Inc.). Bring songbooks and music in a player.

Building Community Invite two adults or youth leaders, one to coordinate each group. Bring simple biblical costumes and props including robes and leafy branches (optional). Adjust your timing to allow for preparations.

Snack option Send a reminder to the sponsor providing the snack this week.

Engaging the Word Check that Bibles have identifying section titles.

Sharing Faith groups Put the Scripture citation with the questions on cards for group leaders.

Crossing the Ages Activity option: Five Senses Passion Books Ask sponsors to contribute supplies. (Option: Invite someone to give instructions on scrapbooking.) Bring scratch paper, pencils, pens, markers, heavy and light-weight craft paper, rulers, scissors, glue, stapler, assorted craft and recycled materials, hole punch and yarn. Include small plastic zipper bags, cotton balls, fragrant oil, play coins, Melba toast, purple and other cloth, twigs, wooden craft sticks, sponge, and flat stones. Recycle used religion books and magazines. Decide with whom the books will be shared. Option: Pre-punch holes in heavy paper.

Carrying Out the Word Bring the lenten calendar, crayons, and a crucifix that has the “INRI.”

CATECHIST’S NOTES

Friends on the Way - Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, Year B 2

DISMISSAL SESSION

GATHERING (15 MINUTES)

Catechumens, having heard the Sunday proclamation of the Word, are dismissed from the Mass. Greet the catechumens as they arrive. Have them check in and put on nametags. For anyone new, provide nametag materials. Distribute prayer cards to readers to prepare.

GATHERING PRAYER RITUAL

Chime a percussion instrument as a call to prayer. All stand around the prayer focal point.

(†) Light the candle. Teach the response for everyone to say after each reader.

Leader: God, our hope and our salvation, you guide us with your saving hand and never forget your covenant.

All: God, you gave us your covenant.

Readers: 1. Through Noah for all creation… (response) 2. Through Abraham for all his descendents… (response)

3. Through Moses, giving us ways to live… (response)

4. Through Cyrus, even when the people were unfaithful… (response)

5. Through Jeremiah, who promised a new covenant written on hearts… (response)

6. Through the suffering Messiah, who fulfills your promise… (response)

Song Suggestion: “Lamb of God, O Tree of Life.”

Invite everyone when you lift a hand to respond, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” Prayerfully say the following verses inspired by Psalm 22.

All who see me mock me. A pack of evildoers closes in on me. (response)

They pierced my hands and feet. I can count all my bones. (response)

They divide my garments among them And cast lots for my clothes. (response)

But you, O God, be not far from me. O my help, hasten to my aid. (response)

Extinguish the candle flame.

Friends on the Way - Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, Year B 3

CONNECTING WITH ONE ANOTHER

Invite everyone to sit in a circle. Introduce anyone new. Invite sharing about their experiences with the “Faith at Home” pages from the previous session.

BUILDING COMMUNITY

Procession into Jerusalem: Assign two groups, each with an adult or youth leader. Provide Bibles, costumes, and props (optional). Appoint a narrator for each group. Ask one group to prepare to enact Mark 11:1-10 and the other John 12:12-16. Allow a few moments for preparation. Then, each group acts for the others. Say:

Saint Mark and Saint John each wrote what they had heard about Jesus entering Jerusalem. When Jesus arrived the crowds might have been expecting him to use his wondrous powers to overthrow the Roman government. When he did not live up to their expectations, many turned against him.

RECALLING THE WORD (10 MINUTES)

Have everyone sit with Bibles in a circle. Use the following as a guide. For information, refer to “Insight for the Catechist” and the reflections on the “Faith at Home” page. Always affirm the catechumens’ responses, adding comments to aid their understanding.

Help the catechumens find Isaiah 50:4-7. Explain:

This reading describes the many prophets and people throughout all time who have suffered while doing God’s will. Christians see Jesus as the fulfillment of this ancient prophecy. Many servants of God have “set their faces like flint” as they confronted injustices in the world.

What in this prophecy reminds you of Jesus? (spoke to the weary, opened his ear to God through prayer, never turned away from his mission, was tortured and ridiculed but was never disgraced)

Have the catechumens find Philippians 2:6-11. Explain:

God became human and experienced joys, pains, decision making, and suffering in the person of Jesus Christ. In this passage Saint Paul uses words of an ancient Christian hymn to try to explain that mystery. Jesus submitted himself to a tortuous death in order to triumph over death forever.

I wonder: Why did Jesus never resist his tormentors?

If you were writing a hymn about Jesus, what is a line you would include?

Have everyone find Mark 14:1—15:47. Say:

This week you heard the account of Jesus’ trial and crucifixion which we call the Passion.

What are your feelings about Jesus’ Passion?

Friends on the Way - Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, Year B 4

Friends on the Way - Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, Year B 5

Affirm the members’ comments. Summarize:

Jesus willingly joined all humanity in suffering and showed his total love for all. The sufferings of Jesus are very sad, just as the sufferings of each human person are very sad. Next week we will explore the good news that came through Christ’s sufferings.

For children who are the elect preparing for baptism:

How ready do you feel to walk the way of Jesus by loving others?

PRAYING INTERCESSIONS (5 MINUTES)

Knowing God loves everyone, we offer prayers. When I lift my hand please respond, “God who loves us totally, hear our prayer.”

Give followers of Jesus well-trained tongues to speak for the weary. (Lift a hand for the response.)

Through your Holy Spirit, humble us and make us obedient to the will of God. (Lift a hand for the response.)

So that your will be done, O God, conform our hearts to the way of the cross. (Lift a hand for the response.)

Invite the members to contribute intercessions. Conclude:

Loving God, you gave us your own begotten Son. Hear the prayers we have spoken and those we hold in our hearts. Send your Holy Spirit so that we may be strong in following the way of the cross, the way of your love. We offer our prayer through Christ Jesus, who gave himself so that we might share in his glory for ever and ever.

All: Amen.

Option: Break for a snack or social time. If the group disperses now and meets for catechesis later in the week, collect nametags.

By Janet Miller. Copyright © 2012, TeamRCIA.com. All rights reserved.

The Catechetical Session follows the Dismissal Session either immediately or at another time during the week. The catechetical session is designed for catechumens and parents or sponsors to grow in faith together. The status of the catechumens never is to be confused with that of baptized children preparing for confirmation or Eucharist, who may join in this catechesis as supportive companions (RCIA, Appendix III, #19).

GATHERING FOR CATECHESIS (5 MINUTES)

Welcome the catechumens, parents, sponsors, and any baptized children arriving from liturgy. If this Catechetical Session is not following the Dismissal Session, allow an additional ten minutes and begin with the Gathering segment in the Dismissal Session. Have those arriving check in and put on nametags.

PRAYING Invite everyone to stand around the prayer focal point. Use the (†) prayer from the Gathering Prayer Ritual in the Dismissal Session, another prayer, or sing a gathering song from liturgy.

ENGAGING THE WORD (25 MINUTES)

Distribute Bibles. Have everyone find Mark 14:1—15:47. For each

section:

Invite volunteers to read the title. Ask various members to tell what happened.

After this discussion, say:

Saint Mark wrote this gospel to tell about the sufferings of Jesus. He wanted people to know that Jesus, the Son of Man, who was truly human, also is the Son of God, truly divine. The Passion story shows the extent of Jesus’ love for us. It is important to realize that Jesus’ suffering and death is not the end of the story. On the third day Jesus was raised up and offers new life for everyone.

CATECHETICAL SESSION

PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION,

YEAR B

Mark 11:1-10 or John 12:12-16 Isaiah 50:4-7

Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24

Philippians 2:6-11 Mark 14:1—15:47

Insight for the Catechist

The evangelist Mark shows Jesus as the suffering servant of Isaiah’s prophecy. The suffering servant is a willing victim who remains in control. He does not resort to violence when facing the gravest of injustices.

Jesus suffers alone in his struggle with the forces of evil. Without support, Jesus prays to endure his trial and is betrayed by a friend. While Jesus silently faces his accusers, Peter denies him three times. The quotation from Psalm 22 emphasizes Jesus’ suffering servant role.

Consolation comes from faithful women. Before his trial, the generous anointing by the woman contrasts with the others’ attitude. In the end, the women who ministered to him stand watch as Jesus is crucified.

Now there is a new covenant. Sing “Hosanna!” Jesus, the suffering servant, died so that we may learn how to live in peace among the violence of the world.

6

SHARING FAITH (5 MINUTES)

Process as a whole group.

CONVERSING ABOUT MARK 14:1—15:47

Encourage members to express their feelings about Jesus’ Passion.

Conclude:

Christ’s death is called the sacrifice of the New Covenant. In giving himself, Jesus reconciles humanity to God as the blood of the covenant poured out for the forgiveness of sins. Earthly death comes to each human person. Jesus, the Son of God, accepted and suffered death and transformed it into new life.

Friends on the Way - Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, Year B 7

Crossing the Ages Activity (Optional activity for children and adults together: 20 minutes, minimum)

Five Senses Passion Books: (Activity accommodated to the liturgical year, RCIA #75.1)

Invite the members to make scrapbook-style children’s books about Jesus’ Passion. Explain that each book will contain ways for the children to use each of their senses: see, feel, smell, hear, and taste. Tell if the books will be given to the church nursery or if the members will share them with young siblings, cousins, or neighbors. Introduce the guest who then gives basic instructions for making books. (Note: If the pages are not pre-punched, the members first need to mark a margin and punch holes for binding.) Explain that they write on and attach items to heavy paper on one side of the paper only.

Place a large assortment of sensory and bookmaking materials on a table. Adults help children to make and assemble books that tell the story of Jesus’ Passion. Show how they can put some items in small zipper baggies including cotton balls soaked in fragrant oil, play coins, and Melba toast. Explain that they print simple wording, create drawings or cut out pictures, fasten on tactile objects, and attach baggies on appropriate pages. Have them make a front cover with a title and their names as “author” and “illustrator.” Have adults help bind the books by tying yarn through punched holes.

Friends on the Way - Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, Year B 8

CARRYING OUT THE WORD (5 MINUTES)

SUMMING UP

Invite everyone to bring a chair and sit around the prayer focal point. Have crayons. Show the lenten calendar “Living by God’s Covenant” from the Faith at Home pages. Point out Week Six. Say:

The droplets remind us that in living by God’s covenant we make sacrifices. Recall some sacrifices you make for God, either during this year’s Lent or some other time.

Invite volunteers to color one droplet and say a way they make a sacrifice for God.

CLOSING PRAYER

Show the crucifix with the letters INRI above the corpus. Explain:

In Latin “I” is used for “J.” These letters are the Latin abbreviation for “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” as Pilate had called Jesus. We will have silent prayer so you can reflect on Jesus’ total self-giving love. I will pass around a crucifix. Hold it for a few moments. Then, pass it to the next person.

After the crucifix completes the circle, place it near the Bible. Raise your hands in blessing over the group, and say :

Go forth from this place feeling Jesus’ total love for you.

And may the ever-living God bless us, (Make the Sign of the Cross on yourself as a model for everyone.) protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.

All: Amen.

Distribute the “Faith at Home” page. Collect the nametags.

By Janet Miller. Copyright © 2012, TeamRCIA.com. All rights reserved. Permission is given to reproduce this handout for family home use.

Faith at Home Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, Year B At a convenient time for the family, gather around a dining table or in the living room. Silence all electronics. Place a Bible opened to Mark 14 in the center. Begin with a moment of quiet.

REFLECTING ON ISAIAH 50:4-7

The evangelist Saint Mark teaches that Jesus is the Suffering Servant of Isaiah’s prophecy who maintains hope in God while suffering violent rejection. Unashamed, the servant speaks to those who are weary and arouses them.

To what extent do we begin each day by opening our ears to God?

When has our family turned to God when disgraced or weary?

REFLECTING ON PHILIPPIANS 2:6-11

This part of an ancient hymn is one of the oldest pieces of Christian literature. Jesus, through obedience to the point of freely accepting death on the cross, was exalted by God and won salvation for all humanity. As we respond to God’s word and discern our calling, we experience the apparent contradiction of Christian life. Glory comes by way of suffering.

What in the passage points to Jesus’ humanity?

What in the passage points to Jesus’ divinity?

On a large piece of paper draw the outline of a cross shape. Together, as a family, brainstorm adjectives that describe Jesus. Write them inside the outline.

REFLECTING ON MARK 14:1—15:47

Mark’s account of the Passion begins with Jesus in Bethany as the authorities collaborate to kill him. A woman is criticized when she anoints Jesus with costly oil. During the Passover meal, Jesus institutes Holy Eucharist. His abandonment begins as he goes to pray in the garden. The disciples cannot stay awake, and Judas betrays him with false affection. Then, Peter denies him three times. When Jesus is crucified the disciples flee, but women who had ministered to him watch faithfully. They follow the courageous Joseph of Arimathea to the tomb.

Which characters in the Passion story are we each like?

How do we feel about the injustice Jesus suffered in order to triumph over death for us?

Remember Sunday’s Word

Mark 11:1-10 or John 12:12-16 Isaiah 50:4-7

Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24

Philippians 2:6-11 Mark 14:1—15:47

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, Year B TeamRCIA.com

Draw in pictures of the women who stood looking on. Add drawings of your family members seeing Jesus suffer.