SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Adapted for use

in Renfrew County Catholic Schools

PRAYERS & ACTIVITIES FOR

CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK

Catholic Education Week 2020: Igniting Hope

Introduction

Each year, the Catholic community of Ontario engages in a week-long celebration of the unique

identity and distinctive contributions of Catholic education during Catholic Education Week.

This year’s celebration is entitled, “Catholic Education: Igniting Hope” and will be celebrated

during the week of May 3 – May 8. The theme for CEW 2020 was inspired by three sources:

▪ The recent Papal Exhortation, Christus Vivit, by Pope Francis following the 2018 Synod

of Bishops on Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment

▪ The recent Ontario Bishops’ pastoral letter, Renewing the Promise (2018)

▪ The Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations by the Institute for Catholic

Education (2011)

The five sub-themes for Catholic Education: Igniting Hope are:

Our Hope in Christ

The Hope Within Us

The Hope Among Us

Hope for the World

A Future Full of Hope

The purpose of the Secondary School Resource Kit is to provide opportunities for students to

engage in meaningful activities and reflections to deepen their awareness and understanding of

both the gift and the responsibility of Catholic education. The Secondary Resource Kit contains:

→ Daily prayers and reflections

→ An outline for a one-day secondary school retreat

→ A suggested movie list related to the five sub-themes of CEW 2020

→ Web resources

→ Scripture readings and quotes

Feel free to adapt any of the materials in this package to suit your school’s specific needs.

Materials may be found on the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association (OCSTA) website

at www.goodnewsforall.ca. We encourage all of our partners in Catholic education to reference

the Elementary and Secondary Resource Kits as well as past issues for prayers and activities, as

many may be appropriate for this year’s theme.

Catholic Education Week Resource Committee

Paul Beaudette

Janet Bentham

Sr. Pat Carter

Nancy Davie

Laura Hughes

Sébastien Lacroix

Amy LaFroy

Stephanie Maher

Michael Nerino

Katharine Stevenson

Murray Watson

Anne O’Brien

CEW Song

Christopher Rait, Brant Haldimand Norfolk CDSB

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in

hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

CATHOLIC EDUCATION: IGNITING HOPE

SECONDARY SCHOOL RESOURCE KIT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Daily prayers

2. Further reflection for each of the five sub-themes

3. An outline for a one-day secondary school retreat

4. Movie resources related to the five sub-themes

(Removed from this adapted resource, available on OCSTA website)

5. Web resources related to the theme

6. Scripture readings and quotes related to the five sub-themes

Morning Prayers and Daily Reflections

Students

You are a most significant educational influence on each other.

We invite you to become active participants in the process of Catholic education. We urge you to

bring your energy, enthusiasm and generosity to the task of building a Catholic community

within your school and to shaping the vision of Catholic education. Your strengths and your

weaknesses, your joys and your fears, your struggles and your searchings, will be welcomed in

this community. Whatever your age, you are not too young to assume responsibility with and for

your fellow students. You are a most significant educational influence on each other. You can

help each other become disciples of Jesus Christ, or you can hinder each other from becoming

everything you are called to be. How you are with one another now will significantly influence

how you will be with others as adults. The future of the church and its mission of service in the

world will be yours. For this, you will need courage, self-discipline and all the love you are able

to give. Take up the challenge of growing into a sense of who you are as Christians, so that you

can develop the talents you have been given and bring the best of yourself to the society in which

you will be living.

This Moment of Promise, Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario, 1989

Depending on your school’s practice, these prayers can be used in a variety of ways. Some

schools have daily prayer over the school intercom, while others invite prayer within the

community of the classroom. Each day, schools are invited to offer their own prayers and special

intentions, specific to the particular needs of their community of faith.

Each prayer emphasizes a sub-theme of Catholic Education Week. Following the daily prayers,

the gospel reading is broken open in a more fulsome way. Individual classes may choose to

expand upon the prayer by delving deeper into the gospel that was proclaimed. Reflection

questions have been provided for personal student reflection and/or to facilitate further classroom

discussion.

You may wish to select one or two individuals per homeroom class, prior to Catholic Education

Week, to serve as prayer leaders each day. These students could be trained by the school’s

Chaplaincy Leader to facilitate a prayer experience within the classroom. The prayer leaders

could serve to deepen an understanding of some, or all, of the sub-themes by continuing the

prayer begun in the morning and leading a deeper reflection, as suggested in the questions

provided.

However you choose to use these prayers and daily reflections, there is plenty of room to

experience the gift of Catholic education. In each corner of this province, there are young people

being shaped by their Catholic educational experience and Igniting Hope!

A Note About the Structure of the Daily Prayers

Each day, the Call to Prayer briefly introduces the daily sub-theme for Catholic Education Week

and provides an orientation for the prayer that day:

Monday – Our Hope in Christ: As an Easter people, our hope is firmly rooted in Jesus

and his victory over the powers of death and sin. Jesus’ love and power make possible

what might otherwise seem impossible, by merely human standards.

Tuesday – The Hope Within Us: As people of faith, we carry the light of Christ’s love

within us. This is the hope and the burning in our hearts that we bring to the world. It is a

hope that brings redemption and overcomes darkness.

Wednesday – The Hope Among Us: The faith that lives within us, is one that we share,

and it is in our believing community that we support one another and work together to

witness and strengthen that faith for others. In the face of challenges and struggles, our

hope is grounded in our faith relationship with the Risen Jesus that binds us together.

Thursday – Hope for the World: “The world” can mean both the earth, as our common

home, as well as our gloal community. These are very interconnected. Only through our

awareness of and support for those most at the mercy of global economic, environmental,

and social forces, can we fashion a world filled with hope.

Friday – A Future Full of Hope: We are a people of hope, and we look to the future

with anticipation and openness. Our role is to work hand-in-hand with the Lord, using our

gifts to help build a future of justice, harmony, and inclusion – our gift to future

generations.

Contemporary Music Suggestions: The suggested songs reflect on the sub-themes and draw

upon the gifts and faith of modern Christian musicians. Most music suggestions can be found on

YouTube and their lyrics can be found online. Reading through the lyrics, and discussing them,

can be a valuable way to “unpack” what the composer is trying to say to us today. In many cases,

these songs are well-suited to more than one day of Catholic Education Week. Feel free to mix-

and-match them as needed, based on the situation of your own school community or class.

The Opening Prayer asks God’s blessing upon our day and focuses our petitions more

specifically, on the gifts we need to ignite hope, according to the day’s particular sub-theme.

The Scripture Passages highlight scriptural themes of hope and guide us towards ways in which

we can ignite hope in our lives and our community.

The Closing Prayer draws our personal petitions together and calls upon God to pour gifts upon

us, so that we may live authentically, the message upon which we have prayerfully reflected.

Each morning prayer concludes with a short quotation from the Ontario Bishops’ 1989 pastoral

letter, This Moment of Promise. When it was written, This Moment of Promise included a

number of statements which articulated “the texture of the times.” Thirty years later, as we

engage in “renewing the promise,” we recall those statements, which still seem very current, and

look to them for direction and vision, to guide our way to a future filled with hope.

MONDAY – OUR HOPE IN CHRIST

Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/cross-heart-jesus-christ-symbol-4471977//

(free for commercial and non-commercial use across print and digital; attribution is not required)

“Christ is alive! He is our hope, and in a wonderful way, he brings youth to our world, and

everything he touches becomes young, new, full of life.”

(Pope Francis, Apostolic Exhortation to Young People, Christus Vivit, #1)

CONTEMPORARY MUSIC SUGGESTIONS

Because he Lives by Matt Maher

In Christ Alone by Owl City

My Hope is in You by Aaron Shust

My Hope is You by Third Day

Something Which is Known by Gregory Norbet (CBW 3 #393)

CALL TO PRAYER

This year’s theme, Igniting Hope, seems to suggest that hope is like a fire that we are trying to

kindle in our world… A fire that provides light and warmth, but that needs our effort if it is

going to reach people and make a difference. At a time when many people seem to have lost

hope, we believe that the message of God’s love in Jesus can inspire people with hope, knowing

that we are loved and forgiven, and that we have the ability to bring God’s transforming love into

our world through our words and actions. At the start of Catholic Education Week 2020, we ask

God to make us witnesses to hope… People who have that spark of hope in their hearts, and who

are able to share it effectively with others.

Let us begin with the Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the

Holy Spirit. Amen.

OPENING PRAYER

God our companion and guide, in a world of change, confusion, and turmoil, we know that Jesus

lives, and by his Resurrection, he has triumphed over the forces of evil, hatred, and death. Help

us to root our hope firmly in Jesus and his love for us, and to share our hope with others, so that

we may look to the future with confidence. May our faith inspire us to help build a world of

hope, promise, and transformation, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 1:3-4, 8-9, 21

A reading from the First Letter of St. Peter

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy, he has given us a

new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an

inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in Heaven for you… Although

you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in

him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your

faith, the salvation of your souls… Through him, you have come to trust in God, who raised him

from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Prayers of the Faithful Reflecting the Needs of Your School

CLOSING PRAYER

God of every time and place, you know the struggles and challenges we face. When we are

discouraged, inspire us anew, with the hope that comes from our relationship with Jesus and his

risen life. Be light for us in moments of darkness and fear, and reassure us that we are your

beloved children, never alone, and never abandoned. May our faith in Jesus open our eyes to a

future full of goodness and wonder, full of blessings and hope. Praise and glory to you, Lord,

through Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen.

And may Almighty God bless us: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

“In a society marked by personality cults, we are called to bear witness to Jesus Christ, our

Saviour and Lord, and to reverence him in the poor, the lowly, and the marginalized.

This Moment of Promise, 1989

TUESDAY – THE HOPE WITHIN US

Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimforest/5709665251

(may be reproduced for non-commercial use with attribution)

“Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road?” Luke 24:32

CONTEMPORARY MUSIC SUGGESTIONS

We are the Light by Jesse Manibusan (Spirit & Song #141)

Hope to Carry On by Rich Mullins (Spirit & Song #181)

Go Make a Difference by Steve Angrisano and Tom Tomaszek (Spirit & Song #113)

CALL TO PRAYER

When the disciples lost their friend, Jesus, they felt abandoned. They did not understand how to

move forward. In other words, they had no hope. They meet a stranger who brings the hope back

to them. Reflecting on the experience of meeting Christ again, one of the apostles asks, “Were

not our hearts burning when we heard him speak?” Hope is a conviction; it leaves us with

burning hearts. God gives us the gift of hope, dwelling within us. In the reflection today,

remember this phrase, “Were not our hearts burning?” There are prophets among us every day

who ignite the fire within us as God works through them.

Let us begin with the Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the

Holy Spirit. Amen.

OPENING PRAYER

God of all people, your Son brought hope to the world. Jesus showed us that God’s love is

inclusive and there for everyone. Help us to see this hope alive in our world today. When we feel

defeated by the darkness that humanity can inflict upon the world, help us to remember that hope

dwells within us, through Your limitless love for us in Christ. We make this prayer to you in His

name. Amen.

SCRIPTURE: Luke 24: 28-32

A reading from the Gospel according to Luke. Glory to you, O Lord.

As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on.

But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is

now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took

bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they

recognized him, and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts

burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to

us?”

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayers of the Faithful Reflecting the Needs of Your School

CLOSING PRAYER

God of love, we thank you for the gifts that you give so freely. Help us to fully embrace the gift

of hope that is within us, and strengthen us to bring this hope to others. We make our prayer

through your Son, Jesus Christ, in union with the Holy Spirit. Amen.

And may Almighty God bless us: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

“In a world which ignores the human thirst for God, we are called to share the living waters of

our faith.”

This Moment of Promise, 1989

WEDNESDAY – THE HOPE AMONG US

Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fbi/41235201235

(may be reproduced for non-commercial use under Creative Commons license)

“Today, amid so much darkness, we need to see the light of hope, and to be men and women who

bring that hope to others.” (Pope Francis, Inaugural Mass, 2013)

CONTEMPORARY MUSIC SUGGESTIONS

Lighthouse by Collabro

Christ be our Light by Bernadette Farrell (Celebrate in Song #6.31)

CALL TO PRAYER

As we reach the midpoint of Catholic Education Week, we have reflected on the fact that our

hope is in Christ, and that this hope lives within us. Now we look around and see how that hope

is shared within the Catholic community. That hope is like a light that guides us, together, on

what is sometimes called, “the path of righteousness,” or “the way of truth.”

Let us begin with the Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the

Holy Spirit. Amen.

OPENING PRAYER

Jesus, you told us that you are the Light of the world, and that whoever follows you, will not be

walking in the dark, but will have the light of life. It is hard to know sometimes, which way to

go, even when we want to follow you. But I know, too, that I don’t have to walk this way alone,

and that you have given me a community to walk with me. Help me to resist the temptation to be

alone on my journey, and give me the courage to trust the people that you send to accompany

me. In the certainty of our shared faith, let me be a leader, as well as a follower, and be willing to

show the way of faith to others. I pray this prayer in the power of your most holy Name. Amen.

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:14-16

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord.

Jesus said to his disciples, “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No

one, after lighting a lamp, puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light

to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your

good works and give glory to your Father in Heaven.”

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayers of the Faithful Reflecting the Needs of Your School

CLOSING PRAYER

God, creator of light, we thank you for showing us the way to you, through all the wonderful

things you have made, through your Holy Word in the Scriptures, and most clearly, the loving

witness of your Son. We are blessed to have so many people who continue to lead us through

their own commitment to your community. Help us to be authentic and credible witnesses to

your life within our community and to others as well. United in the Holy Spirit, we make this

prayer to you through Jesus the Lord. Amen.

“In a time which often seems to be without goals or ennobling aspirations, we are challenged to

declare ours and to dedicate our lives to their achievement.”

This Moment of Promise, 1989

THURSDAY – HOPE FOR THE WORLD

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Greta_Thunberg_01.jpg

Credit: Anders Hellberg https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

“To protect creation, to protect every man and every woman, to look upon them with tenderness

and love, is to open up a horizon of hope, it is to let a shaft of light break through the heavy

clouds.”

(Pope Francis, Inaugural Mass, 2013)

CONTEMPORARY MUSIC SUGGESTIONS

Do Something by Matthew West

Come with Me into the Fields by Dan Schutte (Glory & Praise #11)

CALL TO PRAYER

In the pastoral letter, Renewing the Promise, we are reminded, “The Christ-centered mission of

each school, by its very nature, contains a call to service in the greater community. Catholic

schools form disciples with a social conscience who put their faith into action. Students and staff

help to promote engagement with the local and global community through their many acts of

charity and by their witness to social justice and environmental stewardship.” Let us, through our

engagement in the world, be a sign of hope for others.

Let us begin with the Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the

Holy Spirit. Amen.

OPENING PRAYER

Lord Jesus, you who called many people into discipleship, help me to respond to the needs of

those in the world who could use some help. So often people lose hope, because they feel alone,

or feel they are the only ones who care. But, we know that fear is overcome by solidarity, and

that by working together as part of a faith community, we can live out the promise you made to

your disciples, “As long as you did it to the least of these, you did it to me.” Give us strength to

work together in your name, for a better world. In the power of your Holy Spirit, to the glory of

God the Father. Amen.

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 9:35-38

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord.

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming

the Good News of the kingdom, and curing every disease, and every sickness. When he saw the

crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep

without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are

few; therefore, ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.”

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayers of the Faithful Reflecting the Needs of Your School

CLOSING PRAYER

Creator of all things, we live in a world where your wonderful works are being undone by greed,

conflict, and apathy. In the power of your Holy Spirit, animate and inspire us to be a part of the

restoration of the world, so that it can once again become the way you envisioned it; startlingly

beautiful, richly bountiful, unimaginably biodiverse, and a common home to be shared by all. By

our actions, may we give witness to the connections among justice, peace, and the stewardship of

creation. Through your Son and our Lord, Jesus Christ, whose preaching was all about your reign

here on earth, as it is in Heaven. Amen.

“In a world marked by poverty, oppression and war, we are commanded to work for justice and

peace.”

This Moment of Promise, 1989

FRIDAY – A FUTURE FULL OF HOPE

Source: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/hope-forward-religion-faith-mother-3452568

(free for commercial and non-commercial use across print and digital; attribution is not required)

“The very first dream of all, is the creative dream of God our Father, which precedes and

accompanies the lives of all his children. The memory of this blessing, that extends from

generation to generation, is a precious legacy, that we should keep alive, so that we too, can

pass it on.”

(Pope Francis, Apostolic Exhortation to Young People, Christus Vivit, #194)

CONTEMPORARY MUSIC SUGGESTIONS

There is a Cloud by Elevation Worship

Future/Past by John Mark McMillan

Waymaker by Michael W. Smith

Be Still, My Soul by Kari Jobe

CALL TO PRAYER

It can be tempting to spend a lot of time thinking about the future – and dreaming about the

future can be a form of escaping from the present. But, for Pope Francis, Christians have a duty

to look toward the future, and to think about what type of future Jesus wants us to build, for

ourselves, our communities, and our world. We are part of God’s creative dream for his world,

and we have a role to play in shaping that future in keeping with Gospel values. Our actions

today, taken in faith, will help to ensure a hope-filled future for future generations.

Let us begin with the Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the

Holy Spirit. Amen.

OPENING PRAYER

Wise and generous God, we look toward the future with hope, because we know that you, the

Timeless One, are already there waiting for us, inviting us to embrace your dreams for us. As we

look eagerly toward the future you are preparing for us, help us to lay the foundations of that

future here and now, with love, courage, and vision, using your gifts to faithfully build up the

Kingdom of Jesus. We pray in his name, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 16:1, 3, 4a

A reading from the book of Proverbs.

The plans of the mind belong to mortals, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. Commit

your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. The Lord has made everything for its

purpose…

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Prayers of the Faithful Reflecting the Needs of Your School

CLOSING PRAYER

God, source of all that is, the past, the present, and the future are all held in your loving hands.

Help us to be people of Christian hope as we move forward, builders of a world of justice, peace

and compassion, according to Jesus’ teachings. In moments of fear, give us courage and

confidence. In times of worry and uncertainty, remind us of your constant, unshakeable presence.

Bless our future, Lord, and bless us who are the citizens of that future, for we pray in the name of

the Risen One, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

And may Almighty God bless us: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

“In an age which seems more fearful of the future, we are directed to give an account of the hope

that is within us.”

This Moment of Promise, 1989

Monday – Our Hope in Christ

It is not hard to see how genuine hope is different from

optimism. We are not talking about a sunny disposition that

makes us believe things will be better tomorrow. An optimist

says, “The war will be over; your wounds will be healed; the

depression will go away; all will be better soon.” The optimist

may be right, but unfortunately, he or she may also be wrong…

No, hope does not come from positive predictions about the

state of the world anymore than faith does. Nor does hope

depend on the ups and downs of our life’s particulars. Hope,

rather, has to do with God. We have hope and joy in our faith,

because we believe that while the world in which we live is

shrouded in darkness, God has overcome the world. “In the

world,” said Jesus, “you face persecution. But take courage. I

have conquered the world!” (John 16:33) We follow one who is

not limited or defeated by the world’s sufferings.

Henri Nouwen, Turn My Mourning into Dancing, page 52

Scripture Reading and Reflection

Read 1 Peter 1:3-4, 8-9, 21

For Reflection:

This passage from the New Testament reminds us that as

Christians, our hope is ultimately rooted in Easter, and in the

resurrection of Jesus. While the forces of evil, death,

destruction, and violence are real and powerful, Easter makes it

clear that they do not have the final word. Our faith tells us that

love and goodness, life and hope, are ultimately more powerful,

and that they are the building blocks of a very different future,

the future God wants for us, and for all God’s creation.

Although we do not see Jesus, physically today, we experience

his risen power, and it enables us to look beyond appearances,

and to build a world of justice, peace, inclusion, and harmony.

What are the things that can make it hard to have hope some

days?

What parts of Jesus’ life and message inspire me with hope as a

believer?

What do you think of Father Henri Nouwen’s distinction

between hope and optimism?

Blessed be the God and

Father of our Lord Jesus

Christ! By his great mercy,

he has given us a new birth

into a living hope through

the resurrection of Jesus

Christ from the dead, and

into an inheritance that is

imperishable, undefiled, and

unfading, kept in Heaven for

you… Although you have

not seen him, you love him;

and even though you do not

see him now, you believe in

him and rejoice with an

indescribable and glorious

joy, for you are receiving

the outcome of your faith,

the salvation of your

souls… Through him, you

have come to trust in God,

who raised him from the

dead and gave him glory, so

that your faith and hope are

set on God.

1 Peter 1:3-4, 8-9, 21

For Further Reflection:

Pope Francis speaks of hope as “the virtue that inspires us and keeps us moving forward, even

when obstacles seem insurmountable.” (2020 Message for World Day of Peace)

How do you try to share hope with people you know who may be struggling, fearful, or

depressed?

How have others been “messengers of hope” for you when you needed them?

Pope Francis also stresses the importance of moments spent alone with God, in silence. What are

some of the ways that you make time for silence in your own life?

Tuesday – The Hope Within Us

“Hope” is again at the heart of Pope Francis’ latest World Day

of Peace message, which opens with the statement, “Peace is a

great and precious value, the object of our hope, and the

aspiration of the entire human family.” Hope, writes the Pope,

is “the virtue that inspires us and keeps us moving forward,

even when obstacles seem insurmountable…” Pope Francis

refers to the recent Synod on the Pan-Amazon Region. “Faced

with the consequences of our hostility towards others, our lack

of respect for our common home, or our abusive exploitation of

natural resources, we are in need of an ecological conversion,”

he writes, one that will “lead us to a new way of looking at

life.” The Pope concludes with a renewed call “for a peaceful

relationship between communities and the land, between

present and past, between experience… and hope.”

www.vaticannews.va, January 1, 2020

Scripture Reading and Reflection

Luke 24:28-32

For Reflection:

When the disciples lost their friend Jesus, they felt abandoned.

They did not understand how to move forward. In other words,

they had no hope. They meet a stranger who brings the hope

back to them. Reflecting on the experience of meeting Christ

again, one of the apostles asks, “Were not our hearts burning

when we heard him speak?” Hope is a conviction; it leaves us

with burning hearts. God gives us the gift of hope, dwelling

within us. In the reflection today, remember this phrase, “Were

not our hearts burning?” There are prophets among us every

day, who ignite the fire within us, as God works through them.

The disciples were inspired to move forward after their

encounter on the Road to Emmaus. Hope came to them in the

presence of Jesus.

Where do we see the hope to which Pope Francis is referring in

the world today?

As they came near the

village to which they were

going, he walked ahead as if

he were going on. But they

urged him strongly, saying,

“Stay with us, because it is

almost evening, and the day

is now nearly over.” So he

went in to stay with them.

When he was at the table

with them, he took bread,

blessed and broke it, and

gave it to them. Then their

eyes were opened, and they

recognized him, and he

vanished from their sight.

They said to each other,

“Were not our hearts

burning within us while he

was talking to us on the

road, while he was opening

the scriptures to us?”

Luke 24:28-32

For Further Reflection:

In 2018, Senator Murray Sinclair spoke at a Canadian Mennonite University. He shared his

thoughts about the Truth & Reconciliation journey in Canada. Senator Sinclair, who was the

Chairman of the Residential Schools’ Truth & Reconciliation Commission, told of some of the

devastating statistics from the residential school legacy, and the abuse that so many suffered.

However, he stressed that the stories from the Commission were not about victimization. He

shared the following thought:

“Nevertheless, their stories continue shedding light onto the survivors to show us that despite the

present systemic obstacles they face every day, they keep pushing forward and demanding

change.”

Nakota Strong

Teens from a First Nation community in Alberta have recorded a video to inspire their

community to stand strong. The Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation community has struggled with the

challenges of addiction and trauma. Collaboration with a youth worker, Dave Hodges and the

N’we Jinan music initiative, the youth wrote music and created a video in response to these

challenges. The following CBC link has the story and the link to the video:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-s-alexis-nakota-sioux-nation-music-youth-

music-video-1.527927

Pope Francis reminds us that “hope inspires and keeps us moving forward.”

How do we see this hope alive in our community and country today?

How do we, as a people of faith, have a role to play in realizing the hope that is within us?

Wednesday – The Hope Among Us

Over the twenty years since their first formulation, the Ontario

Catholic School Graduate Expectations have become a

significant part of the culture of Catholic schools in Ontario.

The introduction to the OCSGEs states, “Like a beacon

piercing the night, a vision serves to illuminate the way

forward. It provides direction, nurtures motivation, and bolsters

support for the mission.”

The Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations have

contributed to being a shining light for Catholic schools since

1998. They have served as a lens for Catholic educators who

continually seek to discern and interpret the signs of the times.

They have informed our collective efforts to respond to the

challenges of our world in a distinctively Christian manner in

order to serve our students and their families. They hold out the

potential of grounding us in the broader mission of our Church,

and most importantly, in the message and person of Jesus

Christ.

Institute for Catholic Education

Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations, 2011

Scripture Reading and Reflection

Read Matthew 15:14-16

For Reflection:

This passage is part of the Sermon on the Mount, which

represents the initial instructions of Jesus to his disciples.

How do the following Ontario Catholic School Graduate

Expectations reflect the call to discipleship described in the

scripture passage?

The graduate is expected to be:

→ A reflective, creative, and holistic thinker, who

recognizes there is more grace in our world than sin,

and that hope is essential in facing all challenges.

→ A collaborative contributor who develops one’s God-

given potential and makes a meaningful contribution to

society.

You are the light of the

world. A city built on a hill

cannot be hid. No one after

lighting a lamp puts it under

the bushel basket, but on the

lampstand, and it gives light

to all in the house. In the

same way, let your light

shine before others, so that

they may see your good

works and give glory to

your Father in Heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16

For Further Reflection:

This Moment of Promise is a pastoral letter from the Bishops of Ontario to the Catholic

educational community. It was released in 1989, at the time of full funding to Catholic schools.

There are a number of statements called, “The Texture of the Times,” which remind us about

what is distinctive about our Catholic school system. Two of these statements are:

“In a time which often seems to be without goals or ennobling aspirations, we are challenged to

declare ours and to dedicate our lives to their achievement.”

“In a world which ignores the human thirst for God, we are called to share the living waters of

our faith.”

How do these statements call us to be light for the world.

Thursday – Hope for the World

“I want to encourage all of you in this effort, because I know

that your strong hearts want to build a better world… You are

the ones who hold the future! Through you, the future enters

into the world… Continue to fight apathy, and to offer a

Christian response to the social and political troubles emerging

in different parts of the world. I ask you to build the future, to

work for a better world. Dear young people, please, do not be

bystanders in life. Get involved! Jesus was not a bystander. He

got involved. Don’t stand aloof, but immerse yourselves in the

reality of life, as Jesus did.”

Above all, in one way or another, fight for the common good,

serve the poor, be protagonists of the revolution of charity and

service, capable of resisting the pathologies of consumerism

and superficial individualism.

Pope Francis, Christus Vivit, 174

Scripture Reading and Reflection

Read Matthew 9:35-38

For Reflection:

What act of Jesus do you think of when Pope Francis says that,

“Jesus was not a bystander. He got involved.”?

How does the vibrant invitation of Pope Francis to young

people in his letter, “Christ Lives!”, echo the prayer of Jesus for

workers for the harvest?

Then Jesus went about all

the cities and villages,

teaching in their

synagogues, and

proclaiming the Good News

of the kingdom, and curing

every disease and every

sickness. When he saw the

crowds, he had compassion

for them, because they were

harassed and helpless, like a

sheep without a shepherd.

Then he said to his

disciples, “The harvest is

plentiful, but the labourers

are few; therefore, ask the

Lord of the harvest to send

out labourers into his

harvest.”

Matthew 9:35-38

For Further Reflection:

One of the great signs of hope in our time, is the courage, determination, and witness of Greta

Thunberg, a teenager from Sweden who has been a global leader in rallying people against

climate change, in part through her school climate strikes, now called, “Fridays for Future.”

Despite dealing with challenges of Asperger Syndrome, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD),

and selective mutism, she has become a prophetic voice all over the world, in the struggle to

restore the earth to a sustainable level.

For more information about Greta, see https://www.ted.com/speakers/greta_thunberg.

How is Greta an example of “Hope for the World?”

Friday – A Future Full of Hope

Many believe Jesus’ miracles… reveal God’s greatest dreams

for the world… a future in which there is no more suffering, no

more death, no more stigmatization, no more exclusion, and no

more chaos. They show us what it looks like for God’s will to

be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven, and they invite us to buy

into that future now, with every act of compassion and

inclusion, every step toward healing and reconciliation and

love.

“Hope,” wrote N.T. Wright, “is what you get when you

suddenly realize that a different worldview is possible, a

worldview in which the rich, the powerful, and the

unscrupulous do not after all, have the last word. The same

worldview shift that is demanded by the resurrection of Jesus is

the shift that will enable us to change the world.”

The miracles of Jesus aren’t magic tricks… They are

instructions and challenges. They show us what to do and how

to hope.

Rachel Held Evans

Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, &

Loving the Bible Again, page 185

Scripture Reading and Reflection

Read Proverbs 6:1, 3, 4a

For Reflection:

As Christians, we are never prisoners of situations as they are.

We know that change is always possible, and that God is

always at work in our world, bringing newness in unexpected

places, and through unexpected people. In the Old Testament,

God freed our Jewish ancestors from slavery to the powerful

Egyptians. In the New Testament, God brought life out of death

by raising Jesus on Easter Sunday. None of us can predict what

the future may hold, but we know that, whatever it is, God will

be with us there.

As you think about the future, what role does prayer play in

your discernment and planning?

How can you try to listen for God’s “still, small voice,” and

allow God’s love and wisdom to guide you as you think about

next steps in your own life journey?

The plans of the mind belong

to mortals, but the answer of

the tongue is from the Lord.

Commit your work to the

Lord, and your plans will be

established. The Lord has

made everything for its

purpose…

Proverbs 6:1, 3, 4a

For Further Reflection:

In January 2017, Pope Francis spoke to a crowd of young people, saying, “In Krakow, at the

opening of the last World Youth Day, I asked you several times, ‘Can we change things?’ And

you shouted, ‘Yes!’ That shout came from your young and youthful hearts, which do not tolerate

injustice, and cannot bow to a “throw-away culture,” nor give in to the globalization of

indifference. Listen to the cry arising from your inner selves! A better world can be built, also as

a result of your efforts, your desire to change, and your generosity. Do not be afraid to listen to

the Spirit who proposes bold choices!”

What most excites you as you look ahead to the future (for yourself, and for our world)?

How would you like to use your talents and gifts to help shape a hope-filled future for those who

will come after you?

An Outline for a Secondary School Retreat

Although these activities are designed to be delivered outside the regular school environment as

a retreat, they can easily be adapted for use in the classroom. Some activities could be adapted

for adult prayer time. Each of the activities should be timed to include moments of quiet

reflection. Breaks should be scheduled as deemed appropriate. There are more activities here

than needed for a full day retreat, so you can tailor the day to meet the needs of your group.

Time required: 4-5 hours or tailored for in-class/group use.

Opening Prayer

God of all grace, goodness and peace,

You invite us to ignite hope in our world. Rooted in prayer and living in community, we know

that hope lives within us. Open in our hearts, a desire to glow in holiness as we journey together

in faith, with you by our side. We pray that our enthusiastic sharing of the Good News will

transform our schools and our world. We are blessed to know you and to believe the future is full

of hope for us. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Amen.

Community Building Activities

Choose an ice-breaker or community building activity that is suitable for your group. These

websites have activities that can be used by teens:

http://topten.org/content/tt.AU20.html

http://wilderdom.com/games/Icebreakers.html

http://humanresources.about.com/od/icebreakers/Ice Breakers Energizers and Activities.html

http://www.jubed.com/youth ministry/

http://www.teampedia.net/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

http://www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com

ACTIVITY 1 – GREET THE CHRIST IN THE PARTICIPANTS

Purpose: To make everyone feel welcome as they arrive at the retreat.

Materials Needed:

nametags with each participants’ name joyful music

sound system tables and chairs

greeters guides

welcome signs with participants’ names

Outline of Activity: As participants arrive for retreat, have greeters at the doors, welcoming

everyone with sincere words.

Have guides show retreatants where to put their coats, bags, belongings, and where to get their

nametags.

Have joyful music playing as a sign of welcome to the day.

Have a seat ready for each person in groups if that will be helpful to begin.

If groups will be used for the activities, place a welcome sign on each table, listing the

participants in the group (example. We have been expecting you and have prepared a place for

you!).

ACTIVITY 2 – HOPE FOUND IN SILENT PRAYER

Purpose: To meditate.

Materials Needed:

chairs of varying sizes

timer

prayer chimes (if available)

Outline of Activity: Have chairs spaced apart so students can have their own comfort zones

around them. If possible, have smaller chairs for students with shorter legs, so they are able to

have their feet flat on the floor. No instrumental music is played during this type of meditation.

Silence is needed. Use the following instructions:

Leader:

“We are going to experience a type of prayer called, “Christian meditation.” It is a very simple

form of prayer. It requires the following:

Place your feet flat on the floor. If you are not able to put your feet flat, sit at the front of the seat,

so your feet can touch flat.

Put your hands on your lap.

We are going to close our eyes gently when we begin. I will not be closing my eyes, so I can be

aware if something needs attention.

We are going to breathe deeply, in and out, and as we do so, we will say silently within

ourselves, a word that is Aramaic (the language that Jesus spoke). The word is ma ra na tha.

Say it with me aloud, ma-ra-na-tha. Four separate syllables. Ma ra na tha.

Repeat the word to yourself as you breathe in and out.

It means, ‘Come, Lord Jesus.’”

(If you have non-Christian participants, invite them to say, “breathing in, breathing out”)

“I will time our prayer for five minutes (twenty minutes for experienced meditators).

“When our prayer has completed, I will ask you to open your eyes.

Try to keep your body as still as you are able.

Let us begin.

Repeat after me…

Be still and know that I am God. Be still and know that I am God.

Be still and know that I am. Be still and know that I am.

Be still and know. Be still and know.

Be still. Be still.

Be. Be.

Ma ra na tha – Come, Lord Jesus.”

Ring chime three times to begin.

Using the timer, allow students to pray for the allotted time.

When the time is complete, say, “Thank you, you may open your eyes,” or ring the chime three

times to end

If students are not able to sit for five minutes, give them a chance to settle, but end the meditation

if there is too much noise. If they are only able to sit for a minute, that is fine. Do not scold the

students. Prayer is intended to be a time of grace.

Do not analyze the prayer time. Simply let it be their quiet time with God.

ACTIVITY 3 – HOPE IN THE SIGNS OF GOD’S PRESENCE ALL AROUND US

Purpose: To meditate while walking silently looking for signs of God’s presence.

Materials needed:

a space to walk outdoors

a labyrinth, if one is available

Outline of activity: If you think it would be helpful to have an initial discussion, ask participants

before they begin their walk to identify some signs of God’s presence they may experience

outdoors (example. the sun’s warmth, trees, flowers, etc.). Invite the students to walk

silently/quietly in the outdoor space to experience God’s presence. The quieter they are, the more

they will be able to experience. If something catches their attention, chances are it is important

for them to notice. Almost everything in the created world can bring us to an appreciation of

God’s presence. Once the students have walked, invite them to share with each other if they had

an “ah-ha moment” during their walk. Explain that people have gone on pilgrimages throughout

history to have this very kind of experience. People today walk across the top of Spain for a

pilgrimage known as the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. Some walk for days and some

walk for months. Some walk alone, some walk in groups. There are other faith traditions that

have pilgrimages too, such as The Hajj, a Muslim pilgrimage in Mecca. Thousands travel to

Mecca during the holy season.

If a labyrinth is available, invite students to walk silently and to be aware of how the Spirit

moves in them as they make their way through to the centre. Once at the centre, invite the

students to say a special prayer to God. Their prayer may simply be, “Thank you.” Depending on

how many students you have, you may have some walking along a path and some walking in the

labyrinth. It can’t be too crowded in the labyrinth, otherwise it becomes chaotic and less

prayerful.

ACTIVITY 4 – HOPE WITHIN US

Purpose: To discuss what hope is and what it is not.

Materials needed:

a peaceful space with comfortable seating (cushions on floor, or outdoors)

definition of “theological virtues” on chart paper so everyone can see it

definition of “hope” on chart paper so everyone can see it

conversation starters if discussion lapses

Definitions:

Theological Virtues – Gifts given to us by God so we can grow to become saints. Faith, hope

and love are the three theological virtues.

Hope – The virtue that helps us to know that the future is filled with potential, that change is

always possible, and that we can make a difference.

Outline of Activity: Begin with the breathing exercise below.

Gently close your eyes…

Be comfortable… relaxed…

Take a deep, silent breath and settle yourself.

Breathe in… and breathe out.

Fill your lungs with air, hold it… then let it leave your body.

Breathe in all that is good… and breathe out all that is not good.

As you breathe deeply, let your body relax and be calm.

Have one of the students read the definition of “Theological Virtues” and another student read

the definition of “Hope.” Inquire if everyone understands these definitions. Begin discussion

with the following: Sometimes we think of hope like children – I hope for this gift for my

birthday; I hope I get a job this summer. As we grow up, we need to understand the difference

between these thoughts about hope and the theological virtue. Even when life is very

challenging, we can have hope.

Ask, “Can you think of a time that you had the experience of the theological virtue, hope?”

Allow students a few minutes to reflect, and then ask for students to share their experience with

the large group, if they are willing. If need be, use the conversation starters below to encourage

further thinking and sharing…

Note that hope can be cultivated within us. Do you have any ideas of how we could cultivate

hope?

Hope is a challenge in our world today. Sometimes we see hope in the most devastating

moments. When the refugees from Syria landed in Canada and their arrival was televised, I

experienced hope. Their lives had become so difficult in their homeland, and now they were safe

in Canada.

God places hope within us. It is a gift that is hardwired into us. But we have to open the gift and

use it for it to become obviously expressed in our lives. Young people often have an idealized

idea of the world and the way things can change for the better. This is an expression of hope.

There is such a powerful energy in the gift.

ACTIVITY 5 – IGNITING HOPE

Purpose: To enjoy a song about igniting hope.

Materials needed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVzrCGM_ilI

computer

projector

speakers (if needed)

Outline of activity: Have student groups listen to and watch the video. Invite the student groups

to dance to the video. Invite students to describe their reaction to the song.

ACTIVITY 6 – WALKING WITH HOPE ON OUR MOTHER EARTH

Purpose: To pray using the Three Step Prayer that originates in the North American Indigenous

tradition.

Materials needed:

prayer

Preparation: Determine which direction is east prior to praying. This activity is best done

outside in the morning, if possible.

Outline of activity: Have the group face the east direction, with enough space in front of each

person that they are able to take three steps forward.

Background Information for Leader: This morning offering comes from a North American

First Nations’ tradition. It includes three steps and there is a strong emphasis on the earth. That’s

why it’s best to say the prayer outside, although with a little imagination it can be done

anywhere. Usually, you face the east, toward the rising sun, preferably in a spot with a vista. The

size and type of steps is entirely up to you. The steps may be taken with or without words, as is

customary with many First Nations’ rituals. But for beginners, words might be helpful.

Prayer:

Stepping Out, Stepping In by Jose Hobday

Let us begin by standing still and centering ourselves. Breathing in… and breathing out. This is a

three step prayer.

Please take a step forward. The first step is into the day ahead. The idea is that you step out, and

greet and accept the day, and everything that will be given to you throughout the day.

So we pray:

“O Great Spirit, you have given me this day as a special gift. In taking this step into the day, I

accept everything it will bring, whether it is part of my plan or not. Teach me to accept every gift

that comes my way today. Help me to use each gift wisely, to love my sisters and brothers, and

to care for my Mother the Earth.”

Breathing in… and breathing out.

Please take a step forward. The second step is into yourself.

And we pray:

“O Great Spirit, you have created me as I am. In taking this step, I accept myself as I am now, as

I have been in the past, and as I will be in the future. I ask that today I will be true to the way you

made me. Help me to walk respectfully on my Mother, the Earth, so none of its plants will be

crushed. Help me to walk into people’s lives in the same way today so none of them will be

bruised.”

Breathing in… and breathing out.

Please take a third step forward. Step three is into mystery.

Let us pray:

“O Great Spirit, you have created me and everything around me with a sense of mystery. I now

step into that mystery and put my arms around it. Help me to accept the things of this day I do

not, and cannot, understand, and that my encounter with them will bring me nearer to you and

closer to living a Holy life.”

Amen.

ACTIVITY 7 – LEARNING A MESSAGE OF HOPE BY HEART

Purpose: To learn a message of hope by heart.

Materials needed:

a candle and a match

Handout #1: Messages of Hope (print on cardstock or laminate so individual scripture passages

can be distributed to students and used throughout the day)

Outline of activity: Have students sit in a circle with the candle lit in the middle. Invite students

to pick a slip of paper with a scripture passage on it. Invite the students to learn the passage by

heart in the quiet of the circle. Older students can help younger students, if necessary. At the end

of the session, have everyone recite their passage to the group.

Message of Hope

My hope is in you.

Psalm 39:7b

For God alone my soul waits in silence, for

my hope is from him.

Psalm 62:5

I will hope continually, and will praise you

yet more and more.

Psalm 71:14

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his

word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more

than those who watch for the morning.

Psalm 130:5-6

O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord

there is steadfast love, and with him is great

power to redeem.

Psalm 130:7

Happy are those whose help is the God of

Jacob; whose hope is in the Lord their God,

who made Heaven and Earth, the sea, and all

that is in them, who keeps faith forever.

Psalm 146:5-6

The Lord takes pleasure in those who respect

him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.

Psalm 147:11

For surely I know the plans I have in mind for

you, says the Lord. Plans for peace and not

for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then

when you call upon me, and come and pray to

me, I will hear you. When you search for me,

you will find me; if you seek me with all your

heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord.

Jeremiah 29:11-14a

For David says concerning him, “I saw the

Lord always before me, for he is at my right

hand so that I will not be shaken; therefore,

my flesh will live in hope.”

Acts 2:25-26

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we

have peace with God through our Lord Jesus

Christ, through whom we have obtained

access to this grace in which we stand, and we

boast in our hope of sharing, the glory of

God.

Romans 5:1-2

Handout #1 (Activity 7)

ACTIVITY 8 – CREATING A MESSAGE OF HOPE ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Purpose: To have a conversation about the way social media can transmit hope.

Materials needed:

large photocopy of cellphone/tablet for a wall near activity

popular songs played to redirect conversation and/or attention

markers

Handout #2: Sending Messages of Hope

Outline of activity: For intermediate students, have senior students facilitate the conversation.

For senior students, have a Chaplain or teacher facilitate the conversation.

Script: (to begin the conversation)

Most young people live in online communities. We are plugged-in every day for most of the day.

It seems that anxiety is on the rise for young people too. Are these two realities intersecting with

each other? Let us have a conversation about the dos and don’ts of living in the social media

communities of today. I will ask you a question to consider with a group of 2 or 3 others. Then,

we will bring the wisdom of the group together. I will get your attention by playing a song, and I

will then ask the last speaker to finish their thought. Then we will move to another question.

1. How is the way you chat online the same as, or different from, the way you have face-to-face

conversations with your friends?

2. What do you think about before you decide whether or not to post a message?

3. How do you anticipate people’s responses to your posts without the visual cues you would get

from a face-to-face conversation?

4. How and why do you use “emojis” in your online communication?

5. Do you think online communication contributes to teen anxiety? Why or why not?

6. What dos and don’ts have you learned through your experience of communicating in the online

communities?

7. How can social media be used to communicate messages of hope?

To conclude this activity, distribute handouts with a cell phone outline and have colourful markers

available. Invite students to create a message of hope, to be posted around the school in the days

following the retreat. Post these messages of hope around the school upon the completion of the retreat.

Sending Messages of Hope

Social media can be a powerful tool to send messages of hope. That message of hope would you

send to those in our school community? Write your message below.

Handout #2 (Activity 8)

ACTIVITY 9 – DOING JUSTICE AND CREATING HOPE AMONG US

Purpose: To explore how justice and hope are connected.

Materials needed:

a list of past injustices that have been changed because of the hope within people (use examples

from the local context where possible)

Outline of activity: While participants are seated, say:

I am going to make a statement or ask a question. Listen very carefully. You will need to make a

decision to stand, or remain seated with each statement or question. For some, I will ask if you

know of a person who has worked to change the practice. For those practices that have not yet

changed, you will remain seated and think about how change might be realized.

Stand if you think everyone on a bus has the right to sit wherever there is an open seat.

Does anyone know who made this possible? (Rosa Parks)

Stand if you think there is no colour barrier in Major League Baseball.

Does anyone know who made this possible? (Moses Fleetwood Walker, Jackie Robinson)

Stand if you think Apartheid is officially over in South Africa.

Does anyone know who helped to make this possible? (Nelson Mandela, Steve Biko, etc.)

Stand if you think there is equality of the races in Canada.

Most recent survey said that racism happens most frequently in Canada to Indigenous,

black and Chinese people.

Stand if you think there is freedom of religious expression in Quebec.

The highest government in that province is passing a law, making it wrong to wear

religious symbols for those who work in public sectors.

Stand if you think women can practice medicine in Canada.

Does anyone know who the first woman to practice medicine in Canada was?

(Dr. Emily Stowe)

Stand if you think women have taken a stand against sexual harassment and sexual abuse.

The Me Too! Movement has made some strides against sexual harassment and sexual

abuse.

Stand if you think young people have a voice when it comes to climate change.

Greta Thunberg has done a great deal to give young people a voice when it comes to

climate change.

Stand if you think justice is blind, as it ought to be.

Unfortunately, there are too many cases where the wrongfully convicted sit in jail cells,

often due to the colour of their skin, or the culture from which they come.

De-brief questions:

1. Why do you think we did this activity?

2. Have you ever heard, “Everybody does that”? Did everyone here remain standing, the entire

time of this activity?

3. If your parents/guardians were sitting in a circle around the group, would they have agreed

with your responses?

4. How does knowing that others act courageously to change the world, inspire hope in you?

Adapted from The Faith Difference: Prayers, Lessons, Activities and Games for Teens by Kieran

Sayer, S.S.N.D., Ave Maria Press, Notre Dame, Indiana, page 47

ACTIVITY 10 – HOPE IN CHRIST’S CROSS

Purpose: To acknowledge that Jesus died on the cross for us.

Materials needed:

passage of scripture marked in a bible (Mark 15:16-23)

a large crucifix placed on a wall

a song that focuses on the gift of the cross

a small sticky note for each participant

pens and pencils

Outline of activity: Give each participant a sticky note and a pen/pencil, and ask them to wait

until they are invited to use them. Invite a student to read the passage from the scripture (Mark

15:16-23). It is good practice, if possible, to select this student prior to the retreat, so he/she can

prepare to proclaim this reading. Play the song (one you have selected, or Andrew Lloyd

Webber’s, I Don’t Know How to Love Him). Ask the students to listen to the song and try to hear

the message in the words. Invite students to share with a partner, the message they have taken

from the song.

Invite a student to slowly, and thoughtfully read the following reflection to the group:

Facing the Hard Times

Lord, you really do know what it is like to be beaten, teased, pushed around, and rejected. If you

could put up with this torment, then maybe there is hope for others who feel the same way at

times. Like when we are made fun of or rejected because of the way we look or act or for what

we believe in. Or when we feel all alone or that no one understands what we are feeling. But

now, I know that you understand, Lord. You took these difficult steps even before we did. You

have been there. You show us a way through these tough times. Teach me to pray as you did,

“Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup (suffering) from me; yet, not

what I want, but what you want.” Mark 4:36 Give me the strength to overcome my despair. Give

me faith to abandon myself in God’s hands as you did. Give me hope to see a new life beyond

these moments of pain and hopelessness. Amen.

Have students sit in quiet reflection, considering the words of the song and the reflection. Then,

invite the participants to write on the sticky note, a message to Jesus, about how they feel about

his dying on the cross for them. After they have written their message, they may affix the note on

the wall around the crucifix.

Invite a student to read this prayer of thanksgiving at the end of the activity:

Thank you Jesus, For your love and care for us. When we look at a crucifix, May we remember

how much you love us. Amen.

ACTIVITY 11 – HOPE FOR THE WORLD

Purpose: To ponder how we can make the world a more hopeful space/place/home.

Materials needed:

the song Seasons of Love from the Broadway Musical, Rent

project the words of the song on the wall

have a picture/poster of the earth from space as a focus for the activity

Outline of activity: Have the students listen to the song, Seasons of Love. Ask the students how

they would answer the question, How do you measure the life of a woman or a man? Allow the

students to discuss their answers.

Ask the students to think about one activity that they could do to make the world a more hopeful

space/place/home in the next year (five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes). Ask

the students if they would be willing to commit to doing that one activity. How often would they

have to do the activity, to see the result of a more hopeful world?

Activity inspired by One Home at a Time: Realizing and Living Out Our Domestic Church by

John Kostoff and Patricia Dal Ben, Novalis, page 7

ACTIVITY 12 – FUTURE FULL OF HOPE

Purpose: To journal a response to the Jeremiah passage.

Materials needed:

instrumental music

pen/pencil

Handout #3: A Future Full of Hope

Outline of activity: Distribute Handout #3 to each student. Play instrumental music. Invite

students to sit for a moment in silence. Then, ask them to read the Jeremiah passage (both

paraphrased and NRSV version) on the handout and journal a response.

A Future Full of Hope

The prophet Jeremiah was given a message of hope for the Israelites when they were in exile

from their homeland. Read this passage as if God is speaking to you, personally.

“I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out – plans to take care of you, not abandon you,

plans to give you the future you hope for. When you call on me, when you come and pray to me,

I’ll listen. When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. Yes, when you get serious about

finding me, and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.”

How do you respond to God? What do you want to say?

For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a

future with hope. Then, when you call upon me, and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me,

you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord; and I will restore your

fortunes, and gather you from all the nations, and all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord; and I will

bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile. Jeremiah 29:11-14

Handout #3 (Activity 12)

ACTIVITY 13 – IGNITING HOPE IN FIRE

Purpose: To share stories around a campfire.

Materials needed:

safe space to have a fire/fire pit (wood, fire starter, fire blanket/extinguisher/water)

logs to sit on, a safe distance from the fire pit

a designated person to start fire and stay with fire until it is extinguished

marshmallows with long sticks for roasting

Outline of activity: Where retreat days can take place at an outdoor education centre, campfires

can be a scheduled activity. Invite students to share appropriate stories around the fire. It has

been a place where stories have been shared, since people first discovered fire. The

chaplaincy/staff leader, may want to select a theme for the stories that is focused on hope. Take

every precaution to ensure the safety of the students. The designated person will be sure that the

fire is completely extinguished before the space is left.

ACTIVITY 14 – SYMBOLS OF IGNITING HOPE

Purpose: To find a symbol from nature that represents hope.

Materials needed:

natural space

paper to draw symbol (if removing the object would cause damage)

pencil

Outline of activity: Allow participants a few minutes to think about the meaning of the

theological virtue of hope, and ways in which hope can be ignited. Ask the participants to go for

a walk outdoors to find an object that symbolizes hope or igniting hope. Ask the participants to

bring either the object back to the space, or a drawing of the object. Participants could also use

their phones to capture photos of objects. Once the participants return, invite each to explain how

their symbol represents hope or igniting hope.

Example. A tree branch with buds of new leaves – the buds promise new leaves and this is a

hopeful enterprise; the hope of things to come; hidden potential; hope for new life, etc.

Closing Blessing for the Retreat Day

May God wrap his warmth around you like a shawl to hug you tight;

God’s light glows bright within you to guide your steps at night;

God’s strength flows all through you, holds you up against hurt and fear;

And whispers in your heart, “Dear friend, my love is always near.”

Amen.

Web Resources Related to

Catholic Education Week 2020

http://vocations.ca/ National Association of Vocation and Formation Directors (Canadian)

https://www.archtoronto.org/media-centre/news-archive/chancery-news/1-year-anniversary-of-

project-hope Project Hope associated with the Archdiocese of Toronto

https://www.archtoronto.org/media-centre/blog Reflecting on the Joys and Challenges of Five

Years of Marriage

www.saltandlighttv.org Salt & Light Catholic Media

http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/cotidie/2019/documents/papa-francesco-

cotidie_20190930_cuture-of-hope.html Culture of Hope – Pope Francis’ Morning Meditation

http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations.index.html Apostolic Exhortations

http://www.faithconnections.ca/ Fontbonne Ministries of Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto

https://www.larche.ca/en/ L’arche Canada – communities for mental and physically challenged

adults

https://iceont.ca/renewing-the-promise/ The Hope in Our Hearts: Living Our Faith Every Day

monograph

https://chco.ca/en/?s=Hope Hope and Healing in Catholic Health Care

http://www.ccbi-utoronto.ca/?s=Hope Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute

http://www.catholicteachers.ca/For-Your-Classroom/Curriculum-

Resources/Other/Websites/Mental-Health-Hope,-Dignity-and-Our-Compassionate

https://cpco.on.ca/files/6115/1880/0811/3._The_Hope_of_Spring.pdf

http://ssvp.on.ca/en/keywords.php St. Vincent de Paul offers hope to many who are poor

http://www.cwl.on.ca/ Catholic Women’s League works on many justice issues

https://ontariokofc.ca/ Knights of Columbus

http://www.epcc.ca/ Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

https://www.devp.org/en/search/google/Hope Development & Peace is a partner of Caritas

International

https://www.csco.ca/resources Catholic School Chaplains of Ontario – prayers and liturgy

https://www.colf.ca/index.php/en/ Canadian Organization for Life and Family

https://carfleo.com/ Catholic Association of Religious and Family Life Educators of Ontario

http://catholiccurriculumcorp.org/ Catholic Curriculum Corporation

http://www.eoccc.org/ Eastern Ontario Catholic Curriculum Corporation

http://catholic.net/ Catholic Net

https://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=429 Act of Hope – Catholic Prayer

https://ifnotusthenwho.me/hope-lesson-plan-and-video-

guide/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA9orxBRD0ARIsAK9JDxSS6WbfUd9oNoymsEkvLx8vCXQiP-

byLX8A2IQXn6k-TgRJ_WfvzQYaAm1xEALw_wcB Indigenous peoples offer a Scalable

Climate Solution

https://paxchristi.net/ Pax Christi is a peace organization

https://www.kairoscanada.org/ Ecumenical Justice Initiative – created Blanket Exercise

http://www.educationforjustice.org Education for Justice

http://www.onesky.ca/ The Canadian Institute for Sustainable Living

https://ploughshares.ca/ Project Ploughshares is a peace organization

Scripture Readings & Quotes Related to the

Five Sub-Themes of CEW 2020

IGNITING HOPE

For though my faith is not yours, and your faith is not mine, if we each are free to light our own

flame, together we can banish some of the darkness of the world. Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

Our Hope in Christ

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. St. Francis of Assisi

Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each

other and forgive one another. Colossians 3:12

Hope is some extraordinary spiritual grace that God gives us to control our fears, not to oust them.

Vincent McNabb

The Hope Within Us

Hope is the deep orientation of the human soul that can be held at the darkest times. Vaclav Havel

You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do

makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make. Jane Goodall

Take time to laugh. It is the music of the soul. Anonymous

A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure, may turn to glorious

success. Elbert Hubbard

Happiness is a butterfly, which, when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you

will sit down quietly, may alight upon you. Nathaniel Hawthorne

You don’t have to give all your savings to some charity to make this world a humane and just place,

rather, you just need to give a little hand whenever and wherever you see someone in need. Abhijit

Naskar

Grace isn’t just a little prayer you say before receiving a meal. It’s a way to live. Jackie Windspear

Consult not your fears, but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about

your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what is

impossible for you to do. Pope John XXIII

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is to not stop

questioning. Albert Einstein

Strive to be uncynical, to be a hope-giving force, to be a steward of substance. Maria Popova

The Hope Among Us

The path to happiness is to live your life joyfully in your own way, and to support and encourage

others to do likewise. Jonathan Lockwood Huie

When you share your last crust of bread with a beggar, you mustn’t behave as if you were throwing a

bone to a dog. You must give humbly, and thank him for allowing you to have a part in his hunger.

Giovanni Guareschi

Never deprive someone of hope… it may be all they have! Anonymous

Hope inspires the good to reveal itself. Anonymous

Hope for the World

Go to the people. Live among them. Learn from them. Love them. Serve them. Y.C. James Yen

This is what the Lord asks of you, only this, to act justly, to love tenderly, and to walk humbly with

your God. Micah 6:8

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed it is

the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead

All the great things are simple and many can be expressed in a single word; freedom, justice, honour,

duty, mercy, hope. Winston Churchill

To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle, requires creative

imagination. Albert Einstein

…mercy is just when it is rooted in hopefulness and freely given. Bryan Stevenson

A Future Full of Hope

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to

leave the world a better place; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived, this

is to have succeeded. Bessie A. Stanley (commonly attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark. George Iles

Hope is not a dream, but a way of making dreams become reality. Anonymous

Hope sees the invisible… feels the intangible… and achieves the impossible. Anonymous