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Catechist Handout

Service Fair

Week 8

CATECHIST NOTES

Christian Service (CS) is embedded in all our religious education programs beginning in first grade. FLAME students are asked to offer 20 hours of CS per student per year. Why? Because according to all we know 1. God’s wants us to be of

service to others and 2. it is good for us

If we are to be known as Christ’s disciples we must become servants to all. In other words CS is not optional; it is required of Christian disciples

The Gospel calls us each to the Christian responsibility to participate in acts of service, mercy, charity, justice and peace in our local and global communities.

“Faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17).

Christian Service or service to the poor is a natural outgrowth of encountering the Christ of the gospels.

All catechesis leads to a greater awareness of God’s presence in one’s life. Once one is aware of God’s presence one is morally responsible for the care of the poor.

OVERVIEW

1. 4:00-5:00pm- Teen Mass

2. 5:00-5:15pm - Hospitality in the Narthex

3. 5:15-5:30 – No Large Group/attendance in the Multitorium

4. 5:30- 6:15pm - Station Learning Experience

5. 6:15- 7:00pm- Small group discussion

OBJECTIVES

Help teens understand the benefits of Christian Service (CS) for them, for those they serve and for the community at large

Introduce teens to the wide variety of CS providers which can be found within their faith and civic community

Educate teens about the diverse opportunities for CS within Holy Family, the larger Palatine community and the surrounding area

Help teens learn how they can realistically and safely be of service to others

Connect the Christian responsibility to participate in acts of service, mercy, charity, justice and peace proclaimed in scripture and tradition with the practice of participating in CS

Provide teens with opportunities to do CS

LESSON COMPONENTS

This class will be run as a large group with opportunities for differentiated instruction. Differentiated instruction strategies allow teachers [catechists] to empower and engage students by accommodating each of their different learning styles.

One way to employ differentiated instruction strategies is called learning stations—a way to supply your class with multiple ways to learn and understand concepts. Much like a menu offers patrons a variety of options to satisfy their appetite, learning stations expose students to a variety of strategies and choices that address many learners’ needs.

Each catechist and peer will be asked to Take attendnace at the beginning of the session direct or oversee a learning station OR help teens move from station to station gather with their teens for the last 10 minutes of the class to

reflect with students on what they experienced.

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Catechists will be assigned to the various learning stations 2 weeks prior to this classs session. All the materials catechists will need to direct or oversee a learning station will be provided by the Teen Faith office and staff.

How does this fit into our normal protocols?

A. Community Building - large group experience led by Teen Faith (5 min.)

B. Shared experiences by adults – teens will be asked to visit at least two 15

presentations (30 min.)

This will occur throughout the session as teens have a chance to visit with various CS providers who will tell the teens

who their agency serves

why this service is necessary

how, when and where they provide this service

C. Scripture - will occur throughout the evening

Teens will be given various small prayer cards at each station which tie a particular passage of scripture with what is being discussed or done at that particular station.

D. Putting Faith Into Action – teens will be asked to do service at one or more of the Service Project stations (40 min) Teens may have an opportunity to choose one of ‘doing’ stations to participate in a service project

Writing letters or thank you notes to those in the armed service currently deployed across the world

Creating Birthday cards for the elderly or homebound within Holy Family

Making no-sew fleece blankets to be distributed to the homeless through Journeys

Putting together Activity Packets for children who are homeless to be distributed through Journeys

Putting together small first aid kits which will be distributed to the homeless at PADS

Test your skill on freerice.com. They’ll donate 10 grains of rice through the World Food Program for every answer you get right. Teens will need access to a smart phone or tablet.

Create placemats for Meals on Wheels or for the IGNITE retreat the following weekend

E. Catholic Teaching/Insight (5-7 min)

Teen Faith Staff will provide a brief multi-media presentation about how CS is constitutive for both Scripture and tradition and will lead the teens in a brief prayer

F. Debrief with small groups (10 min)

Teens will have the opportunity in their small groups to: Share what they learned with each other Decide if as a group they want to take some more time to do one

of the projects available at one of the stations, either in class or at another time.

CATECHIST NOTES

Service learning is a well documented and successful pedagogy that helps learners:

Explore or cement one’s values and beliefs

Have opportunities to act on one’s values and beliefs

Gain hands-on experience Grow in one’s

understanding of diverse cultures and communities

Learn more about social issues and their root causes

Improve one’s ability to handle ambiguity and be open to change; become more flexible

Develop or enhance one’s skills, especially in the areas of communication, collaboration, and leadership

Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills

Social Justice is a valued part of the Catholic faith as it is proclaimed and lived out within the Holy Family Catholic community

Participation in CS promotes:

positive self-esteem personal happiness increases the chance of

being successful

Participation in CS is one of the most effective strategies for dealing with the impact of stress as well as anxiety and depression.

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LESSON PREPARATION NOTES:

Is there something I want to pick up or go over from last week’s class?

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My community building activity this week will be

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What parts of the lesson will the Peer Ministers lead/facilitate?

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Do I need anything from the Faith Office prior to class?

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CATECHIST NOTES

Things I will need for class this

week:

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The Key Ideas/Objectives for

this week are

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Things I need to consult Mel

about

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