Religious Education
THE GOSPEL CHALLENGE
One way in which all students get to encounter Christ in our classrooms each week is through something known as The Gospel Challenge. It is a very poor substitute to the actual Liturgy of the Word proclaimed during a weekend Mass and it lacks the homily given by the priest. But the days of engaging all our students in a discussion about the readings they heard in church on Sunday are gone, replaced in some instances by blank stares, silence and descriptions of alternative weekend activities.
As a way of overcoming this and making sure that our students are given the opportunity to hear God’s Word in a reverent and respectful way they participate in The Weekly Gospel Challenge as part of our Religious Education Curriculum. Again, let me emphasize this is no substitute for attending Mass but more of a debriefing or an unpacking of the meaning behind the Sunday Gospel.
Each class is shown the same slide show presentation. They begin by making the Sign of the Cross and then either read or listen to a recorded version of the Gospel reading. This is followed by a brief explanation of the story and a video which is often a simple cartoon version of the Gospel story. This is particularly useful for our younger students. Now comes the challenge part where students respond to what they have heard using the 3H model - Head Heart Hands. The theory behind this model suggests that effective learning should engage all three domains: Head (cognitive), Heart (affective), and Hands (psychomotor).
Some rich and meaningful classroom discussions often arise when students are thinking about and reflecting on Jesus’ words in this way. They are using their head. What does the story tell us?
Students further explore the text through a lense of empathy and compassion driven by a loving heart. How does Jesus' words or actions make you feel?
Finally, and perhaps most importantly a response is called for. Students consider how they might take action and use their hands to respond to God’s call. What is Jesus asking us to do or to be by following His example?
The Gospel Challenge session finishes with a prayer that relates back to our school motto where we thank God for His guidance and ask that he help each of us to show Christ is in the heart of all in our actions, loving one another just as He loves us.
Teachers are provided with other resources such as discussion points, a craft activity and a hymn to reinforce the learning. Sometimes the reading is reflected on in silence as Christian Meditation.
So there it is, The Weekly Gospel Challenge in a nutshell. A whole school approach to sharing God’s message for us all.
ACTION
Next Tuesday we have the opportunity to witness some of this community action first hand through the first Second Hand Uniform Sale of the year. This is a wonderful community response to God’s message as donations of pre-loved school uniforms are generously donated to the school and then resold at an incredibly discounted price. All proceeds from the sales go directly to our own parish chapter of St Vincent De Paul who in turn offer support and financial assistance to people in need. Thanks to the families who donate, the volunteer parent Jill Ireton who carefully sorts donations and the Year 6 Social Justice Leaders who run the sale, our school community is enacting the Word of God.
Kathryn Ady
Religious Education Leader
A message from Fr Justin Ford:
I am writing to introduce you to an inspiring and transformative Catholic conference, "Mothers Who Pray for Their Children," hosted by Catholic Melbourne mums.
This conference stems from a growing Catholic movement with Marian devotion called "Mothers Who Pray for Their Children." Originally founded in Brazil by Angela Abdo, the movement gathers mothers who desire to pray and intercede for their children, fostering networks of faith and spiritual growth within the Church.
Here are some key highlights of the conference and the movement:
- Inspiring Testimonies: Attendees will hear profound stories from mothers who have witnessed God's grace and intercession through their prayers.
- Growing International Presence: The movement has rapidly expanded across Brazil, France, Germany, the USA, Africa, and now Australia, with over 70,000 members worldwide. Australia has already established 8 prayer groups, with more being formed.
- Deep Community Impact: The conference serves as an opportunity for mothers to come together, grow in their faith, and support each other spiritually.
We believe this conference would resonate deeply with your community and provide an invaluable opportunity for them to connect with this transformative movement. As part of the event, we would love to explore ways St.Patrick's Church clergy could be involved, whether by promoting the event, or partnering with us to spread the word to the wider Catholic community.
Please find attached our poster for advertisement and please let us know if you would like further information or would be interested in collaborating. You can also visit us at www.motherswhoprayfortheirchildren.com or follow us on Instagram and Facebook for updates on the movement and conference.
Thank you for considering this opportunity to support and enrich the faith journey of Catholic mothers in your community. We look forward to the possibility of working together.
