kerry association of religion teachers
TRANSCRIPT
Kerry Association of Religion Teachers
Nov/Dec 2013
In this issue:
Ceiliúradh na nÓg
Theme for this year: Love One Another
Chaplains Corner Mairead Hickey, Chaplain in Kenmare, Resources for November.
Teachers Take
Teachers, Katherina Broderick, Causeway Comprehensive, Elaine Costello, Mercy Mounthawk and Brendan O Regan share an authors’ note on their new senior cycle non-exam textbook.
Other PDST RE In-service Mark Moriarty, Student Reflection on Volunteering in Lourdes
For Ourselves
The Rock Cries Out
Lift up your faces, you have a piercing need For this bright morning dawning for you.
History, despite its wrenching pain, Cannot be unlived, and if faced with courage,
Need not be lived again.
Lift up your eyes upon The day breaking for you.
Give birth again To the dream.
Women, children, men, Take it into the palms of your hands. Mold it into the shape of your most
Private need. Sculpt it into The image of your most public self.
Lift up your hearts.
Each new hour holds new chances For new beginnings.
Do not be wedded forever To fear, yoked eternally
To brutishness. The horizon leans forward,
Offering you space to place new steps of change.
Maya Angelou
Ceiliúradh na nÓg 2014
What is Ceiliúradh na nÓg? Ceiliúradh na nÓg is a youth celebration project. It is an initiative of the Diocese of Kerry to encourage young people’s participation in their local faith community.
Each year young people are invited to participate in Ceiliúradh na nÓg by creating and developing home, school and parish links or connections. Having worked on their project over a number of weeks or months, the young people and their teachers are invited to a celebration day in Tralee in March where they receive certificates of participation from Bishop Ray Browne.
What is the theme? Each year a theme is selected for Ceiliúradh na nÓg. This year it is Love One Another.
Project Ideas
Organise visits to local nursing home/community hospital.
Organise a welcome committee for Sunday celebrations of the Eucharist.
Become involved in Children’s liturgy.
Set up a Youth Pastoral Council.
Reach out to those in need in your community.
Organise refreshments in the community centre after mass on Sunday to help nurture the feeling of community.
Volunteer, fundraise for your local St Vincent de Paul or other charity groups.
Youth Celebration Day The Ceiliúradh na nÓg celebration day will take place in March.
What happens on the day? • Welcome & Prayer • Interviews/Presentations on projects • Presentation of Certificates • Lunch (A hot lunch is provided for everyone) • Guest speaker • Workshops • Reflection & Evaluation
How can we get involved? It’s simple! • Register your school group • Select and work on your school parish links • Gather photos as you go for your presentation at the Celebration Day • Prepare your presentation and appoint a spokesperson • Come to the Celebration Day
Further Information / Help & Advice Contact Edwina Gottstein at 064-6632644 or email [email protected]
A Teacher’s Take
SEEK & FIND- a note from the Authors
Responding to feedback from teachers, we wanted to write a textbook which would assist in the teaching of the non - exam RE syllabus at senior cycle. The text is based on the NCCA Curriculum Framework for Senior Cycle RE and it covers all eight sections of the Framework.
We teach in different schools and have different styles and approaches to teaching which we pooled together to create a text which offers variety, depth and relevance to the non-exam syllabus. We worked out a lesson format to help with planning a forty minute lesson. The layout of the lesson follows recommended assessment for learning approaches to enhance teaching and learning. The objective of the lesson is clearly stated at the start and each lesson concludes with a brief summary of key points learned. The opening exercise encourages personal engagement from the student to begin with and questions range from recall to higher order. This promotes the development of the affective domain of students’ learning by moving from a cognitive understanding of the concepts to varied exercises that encourage students to apply their understanding to their own experience, inviting students to respond to the content in personal and creative ways.
Feedback from teachers who have used the text to date is very positive. Many appreciate having a single text that addresses the entire RE syllabus at senior cycle – it facilitates planning and allows for choice in the presentation of the lessons.
The content is up-to-date and engaging for the senior cycle student. It presents a balance of contemporary and traditional references and illustrations. There are vibrant and attractive visuals throughout the text to enhance the text.
A website, www.seekandfind.ie, has also been created to significantly support the text content by providing worksheets and by providing links to videos or songs mentioned in the text. It is our intention that this text will stimulate RE teachers’ own creativity, because it is a teacher’s own enthusiasm which lifts a lesson to a higher plane. We hope you enjoy using SEEK & FIND as much as we enjoyed writing it
Elaine, Brendan and Katherina
Katherina Broderick
Katherina Broderick teaches in Causeway Comprehensive School, Tralee. She is an associate trainer with the PDST. She formerly worked as Diocesan Adviser for Post Primary Religious Education in the Diocese of Kerry and as Regional Development Officer for the Religious Education Support Service.
Elaine Costelloe
Elaine Costelloe teaches in Mercy Secondary School, Mounthawk, Tralee. She has been teaching Religious Education at both Junior and Senior Cycle for the last twelve years. She has also taught the Leaving Certificate Religious Education Syllabus for examination.
Brendan O’Regan
Brendan O’Regan, recently retired from Arklow CBS, created and runs the Faith Arts website which provides arts based resources for Religious Education teachers, and is also media columnist with the Irish Catholic newspaper. He has been involved in providing in-service to Religious Education teachers, especially in the area of arts and IT.
Happenings... Mark Moriarty, a student from St Brendan’s College, Killarney, reflects here on journeying to
Lourdes in September as part of the Kerry Diocesan Pilgrimage as a volunteer.
There are so many things to be said about Lourdes. The theme of Lourdes this year was “A doorway through faith”. This year was my first year going to Lourdes and I can tell you that it won’t be my last. At the start of the week the theme “a doorway” was introduced to us by Bishop Browne, and I can only tell ye now that I have some kind of understanding to this wonderful phrase.
By going to Lourdes as a helper for the week the doorway was opened for me and for everyone else. This is not like any normal door. This door has no handle. Therefore as normal human beings we start to see the negative aspects of the door. It does not work! But after experiencing Lourdes for a week it is now clear to me that the door does work, it is opened from the inside. By going through this door we are going deeper into our faith; we are exploring all the aspects that make us who we are.
Lourdes is thoroughly a magical place. 5 million people travel to Lourdes each year. Why? The simplest answer is because they go as one community of faith to explore themselves and to help others who are less fortunate. At the start of the week I was going to Lourdes just as a helper and to have a good time. But I came away from Lourdes with so much more. I came away with a better understanding of who I am and what I want to become.so many of us take simple things for granted such as walking, being able to communicate, talking. I experienced over in Lourdes that not everyone is as lucky as me. But Lourdes is a place where everyone gathers together on pilgrimage.
I believe it is ironic that Bishop Browne lead the pilgrimage last week because he chose The motto in the coat of arms of the diocese in the years ahead to be ‘love one another’ (John 15:12). This is ironic because that is exactly what we did in Lourdes last week. We loved one another. In the bible it says “love one another just as I have loved you” and that is what we did as the Kerry diocese last week. We cared for and loved each other.
The friends that you make over there will last a lifetime, the fun you have will never be forgotten, the people you meet are extraordinary.
Lourdes is a truly amazing experience and I would strongly urge everyone to sometime in their lives to take the time to go to this holy place. I finish off with a little saying that Bishop Browne said during the week and was also the theme during his ordination “St Brendan navigated the seas, Ours to tend the home shores”.
Chaplain’s Corner
Mairead Hickey, Chaplain, Pobalscoil Inbhear Sceine, Kenmare shares a November Prayer Service and a template for writing a text message to God as part of the service. She also
shares some November reflections.
November Prayer Service Opening prayer Lord, we are gathered here today to spend some quiet time reflecting on the joys and sorrow that are a part of life. The month of November is a time to remember those we have known who have died so that they live again in our hearts. Lord help us to trust in Jesus’ promise of eternal life. We ask this though Christ our Lord. Amen.
John 11:17-27,38-44 Scripture Reading: A reading from the Gospel of St. John Reader 1: When Jesus arrived, He found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. Reader 2: When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, While Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” Reader 1: Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again”, Reader 2: Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day”. Reader 1: Jesus said to her “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die, Do you believe this?”. Reader 2: She said to him “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world”.
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Ritual of Remembrance Leader: I invite each of you now to come forward and send your texts to God. These messages you have written are personal. They are between you and God. I ask you to place your message in our “SEND BOX”. We ask God to read our texts and keep them close to his heart. Your message will bring the person or people you are remembering to mind today. We give thanks for their lives and the influence they had on us. As long as we remember our loved ones they will continue to live in our hearts and influence our lives. Prayer for the deceased: This litany is said by the group for each alternative line. In the rising of the sun and in its going down, We remember them. In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winder,
We remember them. In the opening of buds and in the rebirth of the spring, We remember them. In the blueness of the sky and in the warmth of summer, We remember them. In the rustling of the leaves and in the warmth of autumn, We remember them. In the beginning of the year and when it ends, We remember them. When we are weary and in need of strength, We remember them. When we are lost and sick at heart, We remember them. When we have joys we yearn to share, We remember them. So long as we live, they too will live, for they are always part of us, We remember them. (Jewish Prayer) AMEN Prayers of the faithful: Loving and merciful God, by raising your son Jesus from the dead you opened the gates of heaven to all who believe in you. Listen to us now as we turn to you in prayer and remember all the people we know who have died.
1. For all the people we know and love who have died, that they may reach the safety
of God’s everlasting home.
Lord Hear Us.
2. For all the people who are sad because someone they love has died, that they may
receive the help and support they need.
Lord Hear Us.
3. For all of us who have come together to pray, that we may live well and fully in this
life, having hope in the life to come,
Lord Hear Us
4. For all who do not have any faith, that they may receive hope from our friendship
and support. Lord Hear Us
5. For all people who suffer because of old age or illness, That they may have the peace
that comes from loving god.
Lord Hear Us.
6. Lord, we pray for an end to unnecessary death through war and famine, we pray
that peace will become a reality in this world, and that there would be an end to all
hunger and starvation in the world.
Lord Hear Us
Lord give us the certainty that beyond death there is a life where broken things are
mended and lost things are found, where there is rest for the weary and joy for the
sad and where we will meet again our loved ones. We make this our prayer through
Christ our Lord. Amen
Reflection
You can shed tears that your loved one is gone Or you can smile because they have lived. You can close your eyes and pray that they’ll come back Or you can open your eyes and see all that they’ve left. Your heart can be empty because you can’t see them Or you can be full of the love you shared. You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday. You can remember them and only that they’re gone Or you can cherish their memory and let it live on. You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back, or you can do what they’d want: smile, open your eyes Love and go on. Blessing Lord, we ask you to help us understand that love does not die when someone dies. May we leave here today with the memories of the good times we had with our loved ones. We ask you to give us strength and courage to live well today and every day. Amen.
For Ourselves
For the Classroom
Communities of Faith, Key Concepts Revision
For the Classroom The Feast of the Immaculate Conception usually takes place on 8th December, however as this year the 8th of December is a Sunday, we will celebrate The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin
Mary on Monday 9th December. It is not a feast this year and as a result not a Holy Day of Obligation.
The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Think Firstly invite students to think and write down what they think is meant / celebrated on this day.
WATCH Busted Halo have a series of video clips called ‘You don’t know Jack’ where Fr Jack Collins, CSP, hits the streets asking young adults what they know about all things catholic. Watch the following one if possible, where Fr Jack talks to people about what is and what is not the Immaculate Conception. http://bustedhalo.com/video/you-dont-know-jack-about-the-immaculate-conception
Check back Now invite students to check back on their answer were they right?
Read
On December 9, we honour the Immaculate Conception of Mary our Mother.
We are each born into the world with original sin. This original sin and is removed
when we are baptised.
But the Blessed Virgin Mary was given a marvellous gift. She was conceived in the
womb of her mother, St. Anne, without this original sin.
In her humanness she was to be like ourselves, but in another way she would be
different
God made her perfect. Even though she would be one of the children of Adam and
Eve, she would not inherit original sin like the rest of us, nor any weakness that
might lead her to commit sin. So Mary was untouched by original sin.
That is what we mean by the Immaculate Conception - that Mary was in a state of
grace from the moment she was conceived – from the first moment of her
existence.
That is why when the Angel Gabriel came to her in Nazareth he could say: "Hail, full
of grace. . . ."
That is why when Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth, she could say: "Blessed
art thou amongst women. . . ."
In November 1830 Our Lady showed herself to Catherine Laboure standing on a
globe with streams of light coming from her hands. Underneath were the words:
"O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!"
Our Lady gave Catherine a direct order:
"Have a medal struck as I have shown you. All who wear it will receive great graces."
So it was that the medal,
which we call the miraculous medal, was made.
On December 8, 1854 Pope Pius IX proclaimed to the whole world that there was
no doubt at all that Mary was conceived without sin.
The Pope stated:
"We declare, pronounce and define that the doctrine which holds that the Blessed Virgin Mary, at the first instant of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace of the Omnipotent God, in virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of mankind, was preserved immaculate from all stain of original sin, has been revealed by God, and therefore should firmly and constantly be believed by all the faithful...."
Four years later, in 1858, Our Lady appeared to Bernadette at Lourdes. When St.
Bernadette asked the lovely lady who she was, Mary joined her hands and raised
her eyes toward heaven. She said, "I am the Immaculate Conception."
On this day we pray:
O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee
Wordsearch on Immaculate Conception
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Liturgy
Advent Calendar This Advent, you are invited to take a line of God's Word from the Sunday
reading, to pray with it on Sunday and to act out that Word daily in your own
life during the following week.
1st Sun of Advent 'I rejoiced when I heard them say, Let us go to God's
house.'
Dec 2nd Mon: Notice what makes you joyful today
Dec 3rd Tue: Pray for all who gather in God's house
Dec 4th Wed: Give time today to someone who is sad
Dec 5th Thu: Fast today in solidarity with those who have no joy
Dec 6th Fri: Rejoice with someone in their good fortune today
Dec 7th Sat: Let go of what holds you back from rejoicing
2nd Sun of Advent 'Prepare a way for the Lord. Make his paths straight'
Dec 9th Mon: Think of the preparations you make when expecting visitors
Dec 10th Tue: Straighten the path for those around you today
Dec 11th Wed: Pray for those whose paths are difficult
Dec 12th Thu: Take time to prepare for the Lord's coming
Dec 13th Fri: Notice how the Lord touches your life daily
Dec 14th Sat: Give thanks for all the straight paths you walk today
3rd Sun of Advent 'Come, Lord and save us'
Dec 16th Mon: Become aware of your need for God
Dec 17th Tue: Notice where there is a lack of freedom in your life
Dec 18th Wed: Give thanks for God's faithfulness to you
Dec 19th Thu: Pray for all who are waiting for the Lord
Dec 20th Fri: Prepare a space in your heart to welcome the Lord
Dec 21st Sat: Wait...wait...be conscious of how you wait
4th Sun of Advent 'Let the Lord enter!'
Dec 23rd Mon: Pray for the courage and let the Lord enter your life
Dec 24th Tue: Be the Lord's hands and feet for someone this day
Dec 25th Wed: Christmas Day - Emmanuel, God-with-us
Know that God is with you in each moment of every day.
Advent Prayer Service Hymn: Come to us, O Emmanuel ….begins very quietly, building up gradually… Opening prayer: Lord, on this Advent day and at this Advent time, we pray with longing and waiting for your coming; our hearts desire the warmth of your love
and our minds are searching for the light of your Word. Increase our longing for Christ our Saviour and give us the strength to grow in love, that the dawn of his coming may find us rejoicing in his presence and welcoming the light of his truth.
Scripture Reading - Jas 5:7-10 Be patient, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. Think of a farmer: how patiently he waits for the precious fruit of the ground until it has had the autumn rains and the spring rains! You too have to be patient; do not lose heart, because the Lord’s coming will be soon.
Reflection Sometimes waiting feels good…like when we are looking forward to meeting someone, or waiting to go on holidays…. This kind of waiting is different to waiting frustratedly for the bus to come, or the phone to ring. When it is good to wait, it is because we believe that we will be fulfilled, that something wonderful and great will happen. Advent invites us to wait……to wait consciously……….to wait openly for God……...to wait and notice God in our lives…in the bits and pieces of everyday. Advent invites us to live each day in expectation ……. God is not in the past, in all our mistakes and failings and things we have left undone. God is not in the future, in all things we are rushing to do. God is in the present, trying to break through, to become incarnate in our world right now, in this moment. But only those who are waiting….. expecting…. watching for something wonderful….. will notice. Sung Response: Come to us, O Emmanuel Scripture Reading - Is 7:10-14
The Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying: ‘Ask the Lord your God for a sign for yourself, coming either from the depths of Sheol or from the heights above.’ ‘No’, Ahaz answered, ‘I will not put the Lord to the test.’
Then Isaiah said: ‘Listen, O house of David! Are you not satisfied with trying the patience of men without trying the patience of God, too? The Lord himself, therefore, will give you a sign: the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.’
Reflection Emmanuel, God-with-us – this is the message of Christmas, that God is with us, ….wherever we are…in school, ….by the fireside, ….on the football field, …. in town, or…..in the wilds of the countryside, ………or in the heart of our homes …. Christmas reminds us that God is with us, that God so wanted to be with us that he comes as a small baby, to grow up among us and to live our lives, cheek by jowl with us….. Being open to new possibilities and choices,…. allowing life with all its bits and pieces, all its shades and hues, to ask questions of us,……changing my mind is hard, ……doing what I hadn’t planned to do,…… seeing someone in a new light…..all of this can be difficult. And yet what does God-with-us mean, if it is not that God walks with you and with me, in our lives, and asks us to do likewise…… Who is God-with-us, if not the one who invites me, us, to see life not just from my angle but from many angles…… God-with-us looks at our lives with the eyes of truth and helps us to see where we are closing our eyes to truth, living a lie, where we are less, oh, so much less than we can be….. God-with-us …..nudging us to look afresh at our lives and our living, to hear again the invitation of Advent….God with us – Emmanuel – be with us today, this day, this Advent.. Sung Response: Come to us, O Emmanuel – Promise of re-commitment in Advent Leader: Let us take some time to reflect
on all we have heard and seen. All sit…. Long Pause
We have begun a journey together. We have begun to ask ourselves questions about the way we live. We have begun to ask whether we are truly following Christ’s example and to think about difficult decisions in the light of our answers to these questions. Now we ask for the courage to continue our journey.
Reader: Lord Jesus, may we learn from you how to live more simply and more generously. All: Lord, grant us the courage to transform our lives and to follow your
example.
Lighting of incense/candle … Reader: Lord Jesus, embolden us to cry out in the wilderness, that we may find a voice to disarm power and a way to challenge prejudice All: Lord, grant us the courage to transform our lives and to follow your
example. Lighting of incense/candle… Reader: Lord Jesus, meet us as we face the darkness of our world that we may embrace you in the shadows
and move out to greet your light. All: Lord, grant us the courage to transform our lives and to follow your
example. Lighting of incense/candle… Reader: Lord Jesus, show us how to pray and to praise. All: Lord, grant us the courage to transform our lives and to follow your
example. Lighting of incense/candle… Leader: May we always remember
and respect the promises we have made and go out from here today renewed in hope and commitment. As we wait in joyful expectation for the coming of Christ our Lord, may we always turn to him for guidance as we pray…Our Father….
Closing Prayer Leader: Lord, you came to bring light to our world.
As we prepare for your coming, free us from old ways and make our hearts ready to receive your light.
All: Amen Leader: Lord, you came to be good news to the poor.
As we wait with eager expectation, fill us with joy at your coming that we may be messengers of hope.
All: Amen Leader: Lord, you call us to build a better world.
As we work for the coming of your kingdom, help us to share what we have so that everyone has what they need.
All: Amen.
Leader: May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen Leader: Go in the peace of Christ All: Thanks be to God. Closing Hymn: Wait for the Lord…. Taizé chant
(Frances Rowland, Diocese of Kerry)
Notices
Ardfert Retreat Centre Present
A Spiritual Journey,
an exploration of your spirituality, honoring Serenity, Courage and Wisdom
with Frank Downes OP.
On Saturday 29th November until 1st December
For further information contact:
Tel: 066 7134276 Email: [email protected]
PDST CPD Programme Religious Education
Junior Certificate RE Journal Work
Cork Education Centre
21st November 2013
7.00pm – 9.00pm
Advance Registration Necessary
For further information contact:
Email: [email protected]
Liturgical Calendar
Nov 21st The Presentation of the Blessed
Virgin Mary 24th Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the
Universe
Dec 1st 1st Sunday of Advent 6th St Nicholas 8th 2nd Sunday of Advent 9th The Immaculate Conception of the
Blessed Virgin Mary 15th 3rd Sunday of Advent 22nd 4th Sunday of Advent 25th The Nativity of the Lord 29th The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and
Joseph
Edwina Gottstein, Office: 064 6630531
Post-Primary Diocesan Advisor, Mobile: 087 2883127
John Paul II Pastoral Centre, Fax: 064 6631170
Rock Road, Killarney, Co Kerry.
Email: [email protected]
www.dioceseofkerry.ie