GROWING UP CATHOLIC:CHARACTER ANDFAITHSister Kieran Sawyer, SSND LA Religious Education ConferenceMarch, 2014

This PowerPoint can be found on my website.

www.sisterkieransawyer.org

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Character and FaithA. What does it mean to be a person of faith? B. What does it mean to be a person of

character?C. Can you be A without being B?D. Can you be B without being A?

Know what is goodWant to do what is goodDo what is good

Character has to do with being good. To be persons of character we have to

To be persons of faith we have toKnow who we are and Whose we areKnow that we have been created for

love by Someone who loves usKnow why we should be good

Faith has to do with loving and being

loved.

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What is faith?

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Personal relationship with God

Shared faith of the living community

Formal faith of the institutional Church

AwarenessTRUST

ResponseLOYALITY

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Personal relationship with God

• Values• Morals• Attitudes• Priorities• Meanings• Beliefs• Expectations

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Shared faith of the living community (church small c)

BELONGING

• Scripture, tradition• Sacraments• Liturgy, prayer forms• Doctrine, dogma• Commandments• Morality• Government structures• Institutions

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Formal faith of the institutional Church (capital C)

ALLEGIANCECITIZENSHIP

My goal as a Religious Educators• Help children grow as persons -- children of God who know who they are -- persons of character who know, want, do what is right• Help children grow as Christians

-- develop a personal relationship with Jesus and his Father-- belong in a living community of Christians

• Help children grow as Catholics-- celebrate Eucharist and other sacraments meaningfully-- be committed members of a Catholic parish-- know the factual data that supports their faith

My goal in creating lesson plans for middle school children/teens

• Open their minds• Open their hearts• Teach them something• Deepen their faith in Jesus and his church

My goal during this session

Share with you some of my favorite lesson plans and teaching techniques

Holy Eucharist:

the Living Presence of JesusSister Kieran Sawyer, SSNDCenter for Ministry Development, 2013Youth Ministry Access, Middle School

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DT TRJ

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Jessie Joy Reesborn April 8, 1999died January 5, 2012

http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=3791Jessie’s Joy Jars

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The Jessie Story • one person• an idea, a message, a mission• people who love the person and believe

in the mission• a system• remembering the person and the

mission • involvement, enthusiasm, commitment• the whole world

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The Jesus Story

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Do this to remember me.

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Jessie Story / Jesus Story• one person• an idea• people who love and

believe• a foundation• remembering Jessie• involvement,

enthusiasm, commitment

• 50,000+++ Joy Jars

• one person• a mission• people who love and

believe• the church• remembering Jesus• involvement,

enthusiasm, commitment

• 2,200,000,000 Christians

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Remembering JessieCelebration Report of the Rees Foundation -- 2012

http://www.negu.org/events/2012-recap/

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Remembering Jesus

? ? ? ? ? ? ?

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DT TRJ Do this to remember Jesus.

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What difference would it make ifeach of us could remember that Jesus is alive and

present ???

HOME PLAYGROUND

FRIENDSHIP GROUP CLASSROOM

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HOLY EUCHARISTTHE LIVING PRESENCE OF JESUS

EACH PERSON the GATHERING

WORD

BREAD and WINE

PRIEST

PEOPLE IN NEED

(transubstantiation)

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Do THIS to remember Jesus:• go to Mass every week, BE there• have a positive attitude – open mind, open heart• really listen to the readings and homily• follow the missalette• sing, think about the words of the song• recite responses and prayers• offer the sign of peace, mean it• receive Jesus in communion, love him• pray for all the people in church

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FEEDBACK

• Did the lesson hold your attention?• Did you learn something?• Will it help you to get more out of

Mass?• Will it help you to be a better

Christian?27

The lesson on Eucharist is offered to you FREE by Youth Ministry Access.Go to www.sisterkieransawyer.org >Publications>Youth Ministry Access>Middle School Series on Sacraments>Eucharist: We Celebrate the Living

Presence of Jesus Choose: PDF, Word, Ppt

RECONCILIATION:WE CELEBRATE REPENTANCE

and FORGIVENESS Sister Kieran Sawyer, SSND

Center for Ministry Development, 2013Youth Ministry Access, Middle School

The lesson on Reconciliation can be found on Youth Ministry Access (Sorry, this one isn’t free.)The lesson doesn’t have a power point; I created this one just for you.

BECAUSE I LOVE YOUby Max Lucado

• Shaddai• The village• The forest• The wall• The hole

• The choice• Getting lost• The cry for help• The staff

BECAUSE I LOVE YOUby Max Lucado

• Shaddai• The village• The forest• The wall• The hole

• The choice• Getting lost• The cry for help• The staff

Reconciliation vocabulary• absolution• act of contrition• commandments• conscience• contrition• examination of

conscience• faith• grace• justify or rationalize• mercy

• penance• purpose of amendment• sin

o mortal sino venial sin

• Reconciliation, Penance, Confession

• repentance• temptation• vices• virtues

Guided meditation

Bible Study – Forgiveness Passages• MT 6: 14-15 LK 7: 47-48• MT 9: 6-8 LK 15: 5-7• MT 18: 21-22 LK 23: 34• MK 11: 25 JN 8: 10-11• LK 6: 36-37

Extend the Session

Guide to the Individual Celebration of

The Sacrament of Reconciliation1. I remember 7. I receive absolution2. I reflect 8. I give thanks3. I admit 6. I pray for forgiveness4. I confess 9. I do penance5. I listen 10. I remember

Examination of Conscience

I. I am the Lord your God, you shall not have false gods before me.o I am your God who made you, who loves you, and

who gives you life. Nothing should be more important to you than your relationship with me.

o Turning away from God, failure to pray, showing no interest in God and religion, choosing “false gods” over the true God. (False gods in today’s world might be: money, fame, power, popularity, sex, sports, grades, freedom, success – anything that I consider more important than God.)

 

II. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.o I am your God who honors you and trusts you with

the gifts of intelligence and free will. Trust, respect, and honor me. Never speak my name except in love.

o Swearing, using God’s name unlovingly, showing disrespect for God and the people, places, and things dedicated to God.

III. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.o I am your God who wants all of my children to

belong to a loving world family. Come joyfully to celebrate my love at the family party I give for you every week.

o Failure to come to Mass, attending Mass with a bad attitude

The Reconciliation Guide continues with each commandment. >>>

For a master copy of the Reconciliation Guide booklet go to >www.sisterkieransawyer.org >Publications>Handouts>Reconciliation Guide

(See also some material on the Commandments in this section)

Series on Sacraments: in Youth Ministry Access

Sacraments: Catholics Celebrate God’s Loving PresenceBaptism: We Celebrate New LifeConfirmation: We Celebrate Discipleship and ServiceHoly Eucharist: We Celebrate the Living Presence of JesusReconciliation: We Celebrate Repentance and ForgivenessAnointing: We Celebrate Health, Healing, and HeavenMatrimony: We Celebrate Married Love and FamilyHoly Orders: We Celebrate Mission, Ministry, and

Consecrated LifeSee also the parent-youth session: Sacraments and Our Love Relationship with God.

More Youth Ministry Access lessons which focus on faith development.

Celebrating Discipleship This session helps middle school youth understand discipleship by exploring God's plan for us and their role as young followers of Jesus. The lesson is based on Lego building blocks.

Church: Building a Caring Community Participants are helped to understand that they are church and that they share in the responsibility for building the caring community called "church" in their family, friendship group, and world.

I Know Your Father Based on a clip from The Lion King, participants reflect on their call to live as children of a loving God.

Growing in Faith This one-day retreat helps middle schoolers understand the change that entry into adolescence has on their understanding of themselves, their relationships with their family, their role in their friendship groups, and their personal relationship with God.

Magic and Miracles Participants are helped to understand the difference between magic and miracles, and become more familiar with the miracles of Jesus.

Were You There When They Crucified My Lord? Participants read and tell the story of Jesus' passion and death as it is presented in the four Gospels.

Activities and Lessons

on Character Development

Do you HAFTA?• go to school• do your homework• clean your room• brush your teeth• pay for merchandise• practice• wear what’s in style• give Mom a birthday card• help with dishes• apologize to your friend

WANTA level I do whatever is FUNEASY EXCITINGLAZYSPONTANEOUSI think about ME and NOW.I do whatever

I FEEL LIKE doing. (Child level)

WANTA level FUNEASY EXCITINGLAZYSPONTANEOUSME and NOWI do whatever

I FEEL LIKE doing(Child level)

HAFTA levelPARENTS (family)PRINCIPAL (school)POLICE (civic society)PASTOR/ POPE (church)PAY (work)PEER PRESSURE

(friends)Someone else decides what I hafta do.(Power / Pressure level)

CHOOSE-TO levelI choose to do what’s right

just because it’s right.RESPECTRESPONSIBILITYKINDNESS, CARINGFAIRNESSGRATITUDEFAITH LOVE Level of

CHARACTER

Levels of MotivationLevel 1: The Me and Now level (wanta)

I do whatever I feel like doing without considering how my actions might impact others or my own future.

Level 2: The Power and Pressure level (hafta)Someone else decides what I should do and has the power to make me feel like I HAFTA do it. OR I use my personal power to pressure someone else.

Level 3: The Character level (choose to)I choose what I will do based on principles of respect for others and responsibility for the person I want to be and become.

TRUTH or CONSEQUENCES The easiest way out of a tough situation seems to be to lie about it.

NERD Your friends are making fun of an unpopular kid.

ROWDY Some of your classmates are being very disrespectful to the teacher.

CLUMSY A kid you don’t like trips and spills a whole tray full of food.

How would you respond on each level?

ACCIDENT You broke a piece of equipment in the science lab.

No one saw you.NOT FAIR The kids on the other team are not playing by the rules.THIEF You know who stole the $10.00 from the teacher’s desk.MIMIC Some kids you know are mimicking a child with a speech defect.

Youth Ministry Access is giving you FREE ACCESS to two lessons built on the Three Levels of Motivation. Go to>www.sisterkieransawyer.org >Publications>Youth Ministry Access>Middle School Lessons

>Do I Hafta?>Character and Chastity

Rarely Sometimes Usually Almost always 1 2 3 4 51) Our students treat classmates and school mates with respect.2) Our students respect school property and other people’s personal property.3) Our students behave respectfully toward their teachers and other school

staff.4) Our students care about and help each other, even if they are not friends.5) Our students refrain from put-downs and picking on others or excluding

them if they are “different.”6) The older students in our school are kind and helpful to the younger

students.7) When our students do something hurtful, they apologize and try to make up

for it.8) Our students take their studies seriously: they pay attention in class and do

their assignments carefully.9) Our students show good sportsmanship on the playground and in intramural

sports. 10)Our students solve conflicts without fighting, insults, or threats. When they

see another student being mean, they try to stop it.

BUILDING A CARING CLASSROOM

Name:

Friends:

CARING CLASSROOM REPORT CARD A = Almost Always; Amazing progress B = Best effort; Better than before C = Could care more; Coming along D = Doesn't usually try F = Forgets frequently

ME US ME US ME US ME US1) Treats classmates with respect and kindness

2) Respects school property and other's personal property

3) Respects teachers and school staff

4) Takes studies seriously; listens to classmates

5) Is helpful to teachers, friends, and others

6) Solves conflicts without fighting, insults, threats

7) Refrains from put-downs and picking on others

8) Apologizes for hurts caused and tries to make up

9) Speaks up when classmates are mean or disrespectful

10) Shows good sportsmanship when playing and cheering

On the Line• I am a responsible student. I try my best

to listen, to study, to learn.• When I see other kids being teased or

bullied, I stick up for them.• Vulgar language is acceptable in my

friendship group.• My friends and I are trying to make our

school a caring community.• I encourage my friends to be polite and

respectful to adults.

More Youth Ministry Access lessons on developing positive peer relationships and character development.

Peer Power Participants are guided to understand the positive role of social pressure in their lives and are encouraged to use their personal power to have a positive influence on their peers.

Put Ups / Put Downs Participants are helped to become aware of the use of put downs in their peer groups, to realize their negative impact, and to practice using put ups -- words and actions that show acceptance and affirmation of one another.

Bee-Attitudes Participants talk about the positive attitudes, character traits, and virtues that characterize a "good person" and examine how these are (or are not) manifested in their daily lives.

Belonging and Being Myself Participants reflect on the challenge of balancing three primary human needs: the need to belong in a family, the need to belong in a group of friends, and the need to be independent.

My Friendship Quotient Participants examine the important role that friendship plays in their lives and analyze how well they are developing the qualities of a good friend.

 

An old Cherokee chief was teaching his grandson about

life...

"A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.

"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.

Two Wolves - A Cherokee Parable

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"One wolf is evil -- he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride,

superiority, self-doubt, and ego.

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"The other wolf is good -- he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness,

benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.

The grandson thought about it for a minute then he asked his grandfather,

"Which wolf will win?”The old chief simply replied,

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"This same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.”

"The one you feed."

FEEDBACK Something about this session that• surprised me• pleased me• inspired me• challenged me• upset me• helped me

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This PowerPoint can be found on my website.

• Search www.sisterkieransawyer.org• Click on “Workshops and Training”• Click on “Calendar”• Scroll down to this event; click on PowerPoint

(ppt)• Copy any slides that you might find helpful

Contact me: sawyerk@tymeout.org

(O) 414-239-8022 (c) 414-659-8428

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