The Gatekeeper
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Level II February 22, 2012 - Level 2, Issue 11 |
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| Dear CGS Level II Parent | 
This week, Level II children will receive a presentation on the city of Jerusalem. You are welcome to stop into the Atrium to take a look at the model. This model helps a child connect with Jesus as an actual person who lived in an actual time and place. As we begin Lent and prepare for Holy Week, this model can help a child feel more connected to Jesus' Last Supper, Passion, and Resurrection. About mid-way through Lent, Level II children will receive a presentation focused on the Last Supper, and they will remember the model of Jerusalem and the Cenacle, or Upper Room, in which that supper was celebrated.
Parents have good opportunities to help their Level II child connect their Atrium work to our liturgical life, taking time in the next five weeks to prepare for more "receptive" and understanding ears during Holy Week, particularly in the readings on Palm Sunday and Holy Thursday. Read below about "Listening to God."
St. Teresa is offering various opportunities for parents and families to grow spiritually this Lent (see last week's e-news for details and links to St. Teresa's web site). We especially hope you can come to some or all of the Family Formation Workshops we are offering during Lent. Peace, Lina Hilko (editor)
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City of Jerusalem
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The study of the city of Jerusalem begins by remembering other geography materials and presentations received throughout Levels I and II. Then, the catechist brings the children's focus to Jesus' adult life and to a city that was very important to Jesus, the city of Jerusalem.
The catechist begins by pointing out the basics of Jerusalem. It's hilly. There are stairs to get to different levels of the city. There are pools of water in various locations because people didn't have running water in their homes at the time that Jesus lived. Jesus walked in Jerusalem a long time ago. There were homes and other buildings. Also, there were walls around the city for protection. All these details help the child feel that Jerusalem was a real city even though at a different time. We don't have city walls. We have running water. Things change.
After the general orientation, the catechist will show more details based on the children's age and attention. Minimally, the children will meditate on four key places and moments:
- The Cenacle, or Upper Room: Jesus came to Jerusalem to share a special meal, the Passover Feast, with his disciples. This was a special meal with special words. Jesus took bread, blessed it, and broke it. Giving it to his disciples, he said, "Take it; this is my body." Then, he gave them the cup and said, "This is my blood."
- The Garden: After the special meal with special words, Jesus and his friends went out to the Mount of Olives. It's also called the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus prayed there. That night, people came and arrested Jesus and took him away from the garden. Jesus was sentenced to death.
- The Cross: Jesus was crucified on a cross in Golgotha. It's also called Calvary. After he died, his friends placed his body in a tomb made from a cave. They rolled a big rock in front of the tomb.
- The Empty Tomb: On the third day, women came to care for Jesus' body according to their customs. They brought oils and spices and cloths. But the rock had been rolled away from the tomb, and Jesus' body was not in the tomb. Jesus was risen. We light a candle next to the tomb. This light reminds us of Jesus' light which is stronger than death.
Based on children's attention span, the catechist may show other places that play a role in Jesus' Passion, such as the House of Caiaphas, the chief priest; the Tower of Antonia where Pontius Pilate questioned Jesus; and the Palace of the Hasmoneans where Herod questioned Jesus. The Atrium material has scripture references for each of the key locations. There are many ways a child can work with this model further, such as reading or copying scripture passages or drawing their own map.
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Listening to God
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The celebrations of mass on Palm Sunday and Holy Thursday connect well to the Level II presentations on Jerusalem and the Cenacle, or Last Supper. However, it can be really hard for young children to listen to readings at mass. The first hurdle is for them to discern that there is relevance, a reason to tune in. If you think about it, children automatically tune out of many adult interactions because they sort of sense that what's going on isn't meant for them. You can help your child tune in by whispering something like, "Let's listen carefully to this story. Tell me if it sounds familiar." The second hurdle is comprehension. Listening to an adult reader at mass is not the same as listening to your parent read a story at home. The lectors and priest don't stop to define hard words or to ask little questions to see if you are paying attention. Parents can sometimes highlight just one relevant point very quietly at the end of the reading, just to help strengthen a connection.
Also, the more we hear a story, the easier it is for us to connect to it the next time. (I hear the Level III children all the time saying, "Oh, I know this one.") Consider reading a story or stories about the events we remember during Holy Week or about the Jewish Feast of Passover to your child over the next few weeks. I particularly like visiting the children's section of the Barnes & Noble on Webster and Clybourn. They have a good variety of books, and it's easy then to skim through for the story that best presents events that are particularly important to you. Choose books which include the four key places/moments (Last Supper, Prayer in Gethsemane, Death on the Cross, Resurrection). To connect with Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, you are looking for a book that treats Jesus' life with respect, employs scripture-based fact, and fits with the age of your child(ren).
Take care to note that not all books treat the Last Supper in the same way because different Christian denominations have different beliefs around Eucharist. Take particular care reading the institution of the Eucharist to make sure it closely represents your beliefs. This is particularly important for Level II children who are either preparing to receive First Communion or within one year (forward or back) of this special time.
At the first of our upcoming Lenten Family Formation Workshops this Sunday (Feb. 26th), I will have Easter books for parents to browse as possible examples of what you may look for to share with your child. After the workshop, I will keep these books displayed noticeably on top of a shelf in Level III Atrium. You are welcome to take a look. The selection changes at Barnes and Noble from year to year, and I haven't ventured out there yet this year. Some good books I saw last year were:
My top pick (you can browse it in Level III):
The First Easter by Carol Heyer
Simple board books for the youngest:
The Easter Story by Patricia Pingry
The Story of Easter by Patricia Pingry
Simple Spanish/English version:
The Story of Easter/La Historia de la Pascua by Patricia Pingry
More complex, read selective pages and grow into it:
The Story of Easter by Christopher Doyle and John Haysom
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Please provide comments about this newsletter to Lina Hilko, the editor, at LHilko@aol.com, and/or Kate Lynch, St. Teresa's Director of Religious Education, at kolynchdre@gmail.com.
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