The focus of our first study is the story of Creation. We often dismiss this book as a contradiction in science, but if we really read it as it was intended by the author, we find that it reveals something much deeper – not the how of Creation, but the why God created us. Use the resources below to learn and enter more fully into the story of creation and then spend some time in prayer (options available below) praising and thanking God, our Creator.
During this time at home, the best initial step for prayer is a return to the basics. The most basic introduction for children to learn to pray is by punctuating their day with basic simple prayers. Have your kids pray before meals, before bedtime and take 5 mins for intercessory prayer.
Meal Prayer
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
You can find all these prayers here.
Take 5 mins every day with your kids and ask them “What do you want to pray for?” Ask them whom they’d like to pray for? Ask them what they’d like to tell God that they are grateful for?
Every day there will be a video provided which will walk through the basic teaching of the Catholic Faith. We will begin by walking through the basics of the Bible, moving to the Sacraments, and then the Moral Life. These videos are created for adults to watch. (The videos assume the adult has little to no knowledge but are smart and have a capacity of understanding to a great level.) A parent or an adult teacher should watch the 20 min videos to learn it themselves and then teach what they’ve learned at an appropriate level to the child. We will also provide supplemental worksheets and teaching aids for kids that can help you teach these classes.
Watch this video – also available at the end of this page
The World was made in 7 days. Discuss each day.
The first three days God gives the world shape.
The next three days God fills the world that he just shaped.
The 7th day is made for us to have a relationship with God and rest/be with Him.
To all our families,
After viewing the daily lesson, we hope that you will be comfortable with the content to share in a more simplified manner with your child. Breakdown and formally discuss the lesson taking advantage of the natural moments in your day to incorporate the lesson.
Below are additional resources that you may find helpful. You may choose to use them or not, they are intended to assist you and not overwhelm you. We are here to support your efforts at home. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or suggestions you may have. We are all walking this journey together- awakening, discovering, deepening our faith in God- one step at a time.
-Julie Sheridan
During these next few weeks at home parents have an invaluable time to help laying the foundation of prayer for their middle school kids. Begin with the basics (prayers before meal, bed, etc) and challenge them by having them pray 10 mins every day in silence (you may need to do this with them!)
Meal Prayer
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Novena for an End to the Coronavirus Pandemic
You can find a list of all these prayers here.
Have your Middle School student take 10 minutes every day to pray in silence. This will be difficult for many of them but they are capable of doing it. Find a space in the house where they won’t be distracted (away from their phone). During this ten minutes, have them talk to God (or journal/write letters to God if it's easier). The best way to get a young person to do this is if a parent does their own 10 mins of prayer alongside them. Ideas of what to do/talk about during this ten minutes:
Petition - What do you need from God? What do you ask from him?
Intercession - Who needs help in your life? What do you want God to do for them?
Thanksgiving - God often answers our prayers but we forget to say thank you. What are you thankful for in your life?
Read the Bible - I’d recommend having a Middle Schooler read from the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John - the life of Jesus) to start. The Bible is the “word of God” and it is often where, if we read so as to listen, he speaks to us.
Every day there will be a video provided which will walk through the basic teaching of the Catholic Faith. We will begin by walking through the basics of the Bible, moving to the Sacraments, and then the Moral Life. These videos are created for adults to watch. (The videos assume the adult has little to no knowledge but are smart and have a capacity of understanding to a great level.) At this age, it should be the parents discretion if you think your child would benefit more from having an adult teach them the basics after having watched him/herself, or simply having the child watch the video him/herself.
For 5th and 6th Graders, it is recommended that an adult watch this video and then re-teach the information to the 5th & 6th grader at their level. You do not need to communicate everything, but only the basics. Each day, we will include a list of the main points you ought to cover.
For 7th & 8th Graders, we recommend having them watch the videos themselves. Although the videos are taught at an adult level, many of the young people at this age are capable of understanding the depth of these teachings.
Watch this video – also available at the end of this page
The World was made in 7 days. Know what God did on each day.
The first three days God gives the world shape.
The next three days God fills the world that he just shaped.
The 7th day is made for us to have a relationship with God and rest/be with him. We call this day the Sabbath.
It must always be remembered that at the heart of Christianity is not a philosophy, moral code, nor an idea, but it is a person that is Jesus. Christianity is inherently relational which means we can know God. Prayer is the way in which we can come to know. But in order to develop this relationship, like all relationships, it takes time and practice. These next few weeks is an invaluable time to begin or further develop that relationship with Jesus.
First of all, begin by reestablishing the basic prayers once again in your life:
Meal Prayer
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Novena for an End to the Coronavirus Pandemic
You can find a list of all these prayers here.
Next, we will recommend commiting to 20 minutes a day of silent prayer. Find a quiet place in your house, free of distraction (away from your cell phone), where you can do to this. Next, we’ve given recommendation of what to do in this time for those new to prayer and those with more experience in prayer.
First 10 mins - Talk to God
During this time do three types of prayer.
Petition - what do you ask of God?
Thanksgiving - What are you thankful for?
Intercession - Who needs prayers?
Some have found it easier or more beneficial to write these out in a journal as opposed to speaking it in your heart. Both are valid ways of talking with God.
Second 10 mins - Listen to God
The primary place where God speaks is in the Bible (it is the “word of God”).
Take time to read the Bible so as to listen to him speak into your life. We recommend beginning in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John)
For those in my 9th & 10th Grade Faith Formation Class, we’ve already been practicing this ancient tradition called Lectio Divina. You can find information about it here that was on the handout we had in class.
Turn your isolation and home into a mini-monastery. Pray Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, and Night Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours (aka the Breviary, Shorter Christian Prayer) and find time to do 20 mins of prayer & meditation.
Liturgy of the Hours – All the monks, priests, nuns, and many faithful from all over the world together still pray this ancient prayer of the Church. Structured to prayer all 150 psalms over a month, there are 7 times a day (every 3 hours) where faithful stop and spend time in praying a couple psalms & prayers. Of these we recommend doing:
Morning Prayer - when you first wake up
Evening Prayer - after dinner
Night Prayer - right before bed.
If you do not have a breviary or Shorter Christian Prayer, you can order one online or download the free iBrievary app.
20 Mins of Silent Meditation – Suggestions of what to do during this time:
Lectio Divina/Meditating on the Bible
Petition, Intercession, Thanksgiving, & Praise
Journaling
Reflecting on the Daily Readings
During this time of isolation high school students have an incredible opportunity to grow in their spiritual life. If they stick with this daily routine, not only will they learn (at minimum!) the basics of the entire Bible, they could potentially learn all the Sacramental Life & the Moral Life. Remember that studying about our faith is very important because “we cannot love what we do not know.“ Seek to know about Jesus, so that you can love him more deeply..
Every day there will be a video provided which will walk through the basic teaching of the Catholic Faith. All videos are 20 mins or less and were created for our faith formation volunteers. They assume that the viewer has little to no knowledge of the content but have a deep capacity of understanding.
Watch this video – also available at the end of this page
In our regular day-to-day life we are usually trying to juggle so many things that we don’t have time for prayer. Now, being in isolation or quarantine, we find ourselves for the first time in a long time as having more time then we know what to do with. This must be seen as an invitation of God to learn to spend time with him. To do this, we are going to give two recommendations. First, to reestablish your old prayer habit from childhood such as praying before meals and praying before bed. (We’ve included these prayers in case you’ve forgotten!) Second, we want to encourage you to set aside twenty minutes to silent prayer.
First of all, begin by re-establishbasic prayers once again in your life:
Meal Prayer
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Novena for an End to the Coronavirus Pandemic
You can find a list of all these prayers here.
Next, we will recommend commiting to 20 minutes a day of silent prayer. Find a quiet place in your house, free of distraction (away from your cell phone), where you can do to this. Next, we’ve given recommendations of what to do in this time for those new to prayer and those with more experience in prayer.
First 10 mins - Talk to God
During this time do three types of prayer.
Petition - what do you ask of God?
Thanksgiving - What are you thankful for?
Intercession - Who needs prayers?
Some have found it easier or more beneficial to write these out in a journal as opposed to speaking it in your heart. Both are valid ways of talking with God.
Second 10 mins - Listen to God
The primary place where God speaks is in the Bible. (This is why it's called the “Word of God.")
Take time to read the Bible so as to listen to him speak into your life. We recommend beginning in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John) or sign up to receive daily mass readings from the USCCB via email.
After praying with them, ask yourself, “What is God trying to speak to me personally in this?” and keep a log of these conversations.
Other Ideas to spend your 20 mins might be to:
Journaling
Turn your isolation and home into a mini-monastery. Pray Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, and Night Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours (aka the Breviary, Shorter Christian Prayer) and find time to do 20 mins of prayer & meditation.
Liturgy of the Hours – All the monks, priests, nuns, and many faithful from all over the world together still pray this ancient prayer of the Church. Structured to prayer all 150 psalms over a month, there are 7 times a day (every 3 hours) where faithful stop and spend time in praying a couple psalms & prayers. Of these we recommend doing:
Morning Prayer - when you first wake up
Evening Prayer - after dinner
Night Prayer - right before bed.
If you do not have a breviary or Shorter Christian Prayer, you can order one online or download the free iBrievary app.
20 Mins of Silent Meditation – Suggestions of what to do during this time:
Lectio Divina/Meditating on the Bible
Petition, Intercession, Thanksgiving, & Praise
Journaling
Reflecting on the Daily Readings
In addition to taking time to talk with God, use your new availability to learn about your faith. Our lessons will first begin with a walk through of the basics of the Bible, and then into lessons on the Sacramental Life & the Moral Life. Every day there will be a new video provided for you. All videos are 20 mins or less and were created for our faith formation volunteers to prep for their classes. They assume that the viewer has little to no knowledge of the content but have a deep capacity of understanding. Watch a couple of these and I promise you you willow tremendously!
Watch this video – also available at the end of this page
Watch the faith formation resource video below to learn more about your faith.
