By Janet Miller. Copyright © 2012, TeamRCIA.com. All rights reserved.

CATECHIST’S NOTES

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

Children’s RCIA Resource HOW TO USE THIS RESOURCE

Dismissal Session The Dismissal Session is for catechumens only who are dismissed from worship before the Creed (RCIA #75.3). The Dismissal Session group may gather for the Catechetical Session at another time during the week.

Catechetical Session When the Dismissal Session is immediately followed by the Catechetical Session, parents or other sponsors join the group after Eucharist. Baptized children preparing for confirmation and Eucharist may also join in the Catechetical Session (RCIA #254; Appendix III, #19). Select the session options that fit your time frame.

NOTES FOR THIS SUNDAY Sunday’s readings Jonah 3:1-5, 10 Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 Mark 1:14-20

Doctrine correlations Jesus calls to conversion, an essential part of the proclamation of

the kingdom, and Baptism is the principal place for initial and fundamental conversion (CCC #1427).

After John was arrested Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel of God and inaugurated the kingdom of heaven of earth (CCC #541).

RCIA team notes The catechumens learn to follow supernatural inspiration in their deeds and to practice love of neighbor even at the cost of self-renunciation (RCIA #75.2). Catechumens learn from the examples of those who lived as Christians. See the Crossing the Ages option.

GETTING READY FOR THE SESSION

Items to prepare

check-in sheet and nametag materials poster paper or white board, erasers, and erasable markers green cloth on table or counter space for prayer, percussion

instrument Bibles, one set to Mark 1:14, prayer cards potted plant, candle in a heat-proof holder, matches stick, heavy string, magnet, fish-shaped cards, paper clips, blue

cloth Sharing Faith questions, copies of “Faith at Home” online devices, computers, and printers (optional), books, or

printed information, poster-making supplies

Gathering Prayer Ritual Place a Bible, candle, potted plant, and crucifix on a green cloth. Have numbered cards, printed with the first half of each line of the prayer. Plan to collect to reuse.

Singing option Use music from your faith community resources. The suggestion is a guide available in Gather Comprehensive and Give Your Gifts, Melody Book, from GIA Publications, Inc. Bring songbooks and music in a player.

Building Community Tie a 3-foot length of heavy string to a yard stick or long branch. Loop the other end of the string though a donut-shaped magnet and tie securely. Cut fish shapes from color index cards. On one fish-shape each, print the name of a catechumen, any helpers, and yourself. Slip a paper clip at the mouth of each fish shape. Spread a blue sheet or blanket to make a pond.

Snack option Send a reminder to the sponsor providing the snack this week.

Sharing Faith groups Put the Scripture citation with the questions on cards for group leaders.

Crossing the Ages Activity option: What did they leave to follow Jesus? Contact sponsors and parents to bring devises with internet access or computers with (optional) printer. From the public or parish library obtain books or printed material about Christians who followed Jesus at the cost of self-renunciation. Bring large sheets of construction paper and poster-making supplies.

CATECHIST’S NOTES

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DISMISSAL SESSION

GATHERING (15 MINUTES)

Catechumens, having heard the Sunday proclamation of the Word, are dismissed from the Mass. Greet the catechumens as they arrive. Have them check in and put on nametags. For anyone new provide nametag materials. Distribute prayer cards to readers to prepare.

GATHERING PRAYER RITUAL

Chime a percussion instrument as a call to prayer. All stand around the prayer focal point.

(†) Light the candle. Teach the response, “Come for the reign of God is at hand.” Have the prepared readers lead, and the others respond.

Reader: Hearing the call and inspired to follow: All: come for the reign of God is at hand.

Reader: You who are casting and you who are mending: All: come for the reign of God is at hand.

Reader: Recognizing Jesus who has authority over evil: All: come for the reign of God is at hand.

Reader: Healing the sick and serving the needy: All: come for the reign of God is at hand.

Song Suggestion: “You Are Mine.”

Invite everyone when you lift a hand to respond, “Teach me your ways, O God.” Prayerfully say the following verses inspired by Psalm 25, calling for the response by lifting a hand.

Make your ways known to me, O God. Teach me your paths. (response)

Guide me in your truth. You are God my savior. (response)

In your kindness remember me. You guide the humble to justice. (response)

Extinguish the candle flame.

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CONNECTING WITH ONE ANOTHER

Invite everyone to sit in a circle. Introduce anyone new. Invite sharing about their experiences with the “Faith at Home” pages from the previous session.

BUILDING COMMUNITY

Fishing for a Name: Have everyone stand around the blue imaginary pond. Toss the prepared fish shapes into the pond. Show the fishing pole with the magnetic “hook.” Have everyone “fish” until each person has a fish. Anyone catching his or her own name does “catch and release” by tossing back and trying again. The leader fishes last. Share the names on the cards. Ask them to keep the card and pray daily for the person whose name they have. Mention:

We can join the first disciples in fishing for people by praying for someone. You might pray that your group mate continues to share the good news.

RECALLING THE WORD (10 MINUTES)

Have everyone sit with Bibles in a circle. Use the following as a guide. For information, refer to “Insight for the Catechist” and the reflections on the “Faith at Home” page. Always affirm the catechumens’ responses adding comments to aid their understanding.

Help everyone find Jonah 3:1-10. Explain that this is part of a larger story. Encourage the catechumens to read it at home with their families. Clarify that the story uses the word “evil,” but God never does evil and that everything God does is good.

When the people realized that they had done evil, what did they do?

Have the catechumens find 1 Corinthians 7:29-31. Explain:

Saint Paul was expecting Christ’s Second Coming at any moment. Paul recommends avoiding marital problems and the worries of this world. His point is that we need to be focused on Christ.

What types of things make people either upset or happy but have nothing to do with faith?

What kinds of things do we really need to own? What types of things are fully of this world and not helpful for a life of faith?

Have everyone find Mark 1:14-20.

Why did Jesus tell people to repent, which means to turn around or to change your attitude?

Since Jesus is also calling you to turn around, from what should you turn away or what attitudes might you change?

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Affirm the members’ comments. Summarize:

You catechumens are very much like the first disciples who chose to follow Jesus. You are turning towards a new way of life based on following Jesus.

PRAYING INTERCESSIONS (5 MINUTES)

We trust God to hear our prayers. When I lift my hand please respond, “God who sees our actions, hear our prayer.”

That people who do evil will repent their ways, we pray. (Lift a hand for the response.)

May ways of faith be more important than ways of the world, we pray. (Lift a hand for the response.)

That we and other followers of Christ will continue to spread the Good News, we pray. (Lift a hand for the response.)

Invite the members to contribute intercessions. Conclude:

God, you call us to turn around and follow your ways. Hear our prayers, those we have spoken and those we hold in our hearts. May your Holy Spirit guide us, united as one in Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

All: Amen.

Option: Break for a snack or social time. If the group disperses now and meets for catechesis later in the week, collect nametags.

By Janet Miller. Photo by Dave Snowden, via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. Copyright © 2012, TeamRCIA.com. All rights reserved.

The Catechetical Session follows the Dismissal Session either immediately or at another time during the week. The catechetical session is designed for catechumens and parents or sponsors to grow in faith together. The status of the catechumens never is to be confused with that of baptized children preparing for confirmation or Eucharist, who may join in this catechesis as supportive companions (RCIA, Appendix III, #19).

GATHERING FOR CATECHESIS (5 MINUTES)

Welcome the catechumens, parents, sponsors, and any baptized children arriving from liturgy. If this Catechetical Session is not following the Dismissal Session, allow an additional ten minutes and begin with the Gathering segment in the Dismissal Session. Have those arriving check in and put on nametags.

PRAYING Invite everyone to stand around the prayer focal point. Use the (†) prayer from the Gathering Prayer Ritual in the Dismissal Session, another prayer, or sing a gathering song from liturgy.

ENGAGING THE WORD (15 MINUTES)

Distribute Bibles. Have everyone find Mark 1:14-20. Assign a role for each member who wishes to join in the dramatization: John the Baptist, arresting soldiers, Jesus, Simon, Andrew, James, John, Zebedee, and the hired men. Allow a few minutes for them to plan what they will say and do to enact the story. Then, they do the dramatization. Ask:

What did this dramatization help you realize?

John the Baptist was one of Jesus’ cousins. They respected each other very much. When John told the king to repent and turn from his evil ways, John was arrested. Jesus began a mission of his own and called people to turn around and see. He preached the good news of salvation. He quickly gathered a group of followers.

SHARING FAITH (15 MINUTES)

Form groups of four to six mixed-age groups with Bibles. (If there are only a few participants, lead the discussion as a whole group.) Print the questions on large paper or marker board or distribute questions on cards for an adult to lead. Circulate to offer support as needed.

CATECHETICAL SESSION

THIRD SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Jonah 3:1-5, 10

Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

Mark 1:14-20

Insight for the Catechist

Jesus appears in Galilee to proclaim the good news. Jesus’ ministry puts an end to the time of waiting and begins the time of fulfillment. The reign of God comes and repentance is the proper response.

Jesus speaks with authority and power issuing a call that demands an immediate, life-changing response. The fishers get the message. Without hesitation, they give up a secure future in their father’s business.

According to the Evangelist Mark, Jesus establishes the dominion of God as a completely new type of society. The patriarchal structure is broken as the sons leave the father behind to follow a new way. They do not, however, abandon their father as he has hired men who are not free to go.

Jesus called Simon, Andrew, James, and John to help in his ministry. We each are called for a purpose too.

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CONVERSING ABOUT MARK 1:14-20

What were the fishers expecting when they dropped everything to follow Jesus? If you had been one of the people fishing, would it have been difficult or easy to drop

everything, change your ways, and follow Jesus? Why? In choosing to join the church, what kinds of things do you leave behind?

With the whole group, conclude:

Jesus came into Galilee preaching good news, the gospel of God. He declared that the kingdom of heaven is also here on earth. Everyone who comes to initiation sessions, here and in faith communities around the world, is answering the call to conversion. You catechumens are turning your lives around as you follow the way of Jesus.

CARRYING OUT THE WORD (5 MINUTES)

SUMMING UP

Invite everyone to stand around the prayer focal point. Encourage them to offer insights from this week’s session. Summarize:

Jesus calls you to conversion, to become members of God’s heavenly realm. Through preparation for baptism, catechumens begin a life-long process of turning away from evil and towards the way of Jesus.

CLOSING PRAYER

Explain that each member will say the prayer by turning and holding the hands of the next person. They may use the words you use or a prayer of their own. Begin by holding the hands of the first person. Say:

The reign of God is here. Turn around, and believe the good news!”

After the prayer is passed around the circle, say:

Go forth from this place, and know that the time of fulfillment is now.

And may the ever-living God bless us, (Make the Sign of the Cross on yourself as a model for everyone.) protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.

All: Amen.

Distribute the “Faith at Home” page. Collect the nametags.

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Crossing the Ages Activity (Optional activity for children and adults together: 20 minutes)

What did they leave to follow Jesus? (Learn to follow supernatural inspiration at the cost of self-renunciation, RCIA, #75.2.)

Mention:

The Christian tradition has a wealth of models who gave up a familiar way of life to follow Jesus. Some left their families, and some gave up physical comforts. Many sacrificed to the point of death to stay the course with Jesus.

Partner adults with children. Give each pair a card with the name of a Christian who followed Jesus at the cost of self-renunciation. Possibilities:

Kateri Tekakwitha, known as “the Lily of the Mohawk”

Mother Teresa, founder of Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta

Maria Cecilia Autsch, Sister Angelica of Auschwitz

Saint Paul, first century apostle Doctor Tom Dooley, humanitarian

worker in Vietnam Saint Andrew Kim Taegon, first

Korean-born Catholic priest Nijole Sadunaite, defied the KGB to

maintain a clear conscience Dietrich Bonhoeffer, pastor and

martyr in the resistance movement against Nazism

Edith Stein, Saint Teresia Benedicta of the Cross

Father Damien de Veuster, minister to lepers on Molokai, Hawaii

Provide poster-making materials. The partners gather information using a device with Internet access or books and printed material. They design a poster about the person who, at the cost of self-renunciation, followed Jesus.

Encourage the children to display their posters at home as a reminder to follow Jesus even at the cost of self-renunciation.

At a convenient time for the family, gather around a dining table or in the living room. Silence all electronics. Place a Bible opened to Mark 1 in the center. Begin with a moment of quiet.

REFLECTING ON JONAH 1:3-5, 10

The Book of Jonah is a story about how God’s love and mercy extends to everyone, even to archenemies of those who think they own God. Chapter 3 begins with the second call of Jonah. The first time he went the opposite way and ended up thrown into the sea and swallowed by a large fish. Since the people of Nineveh do repent, God forgives and restores them.

What are some things that God may be calling us to do that we are resisting?

Who are some people that cause problems for us? As a family pray, for the situation to change.

During family prayer time, read the whole Bible story of Jonah. Take parts: narrator, God, Jonah, ship captain, and sailors.

REFLECTING ON 1 CORINTHIANS 7:29-31

Saint Paul expected the Second Coming of Christ at any moment, but his advice remains valid for Christians today. Christ is the most important thing in your life. Live accordingly. None of your relationships, none of the things that make you sad or even happy, none of the stuff you buy, nothing of this world is lasting. Everything you value is viewed through the lens of faith and hope. Do not become entangled in worldly attachments and events.

Who are some people we love, and what types of things do we get emotional about?

Considering these, in what ways do we put God first?

To what extent do we determine our purchases according to our faith values?

Evaluate the family budget? Which expenses help us live as a family of faith? Which are for things purely of this world?

By Janet Miller. Copyright © 2012, TeamRCIA.com. All rights reserved. Permission is given to reproduce this handout for family home use.

Faith at Home Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B

Remember Sunday’s Word

Jonah 3:1-5, 10 Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

Mark 1:14-20

REFLECTING ON MARK 1:14-20

The time is now. The divine realm is at hand. Turn around, do an about-face, change your attitudes. Love what you once hated, and despise what you once valued. Change your lives and play by a new set of rules. Jesus brings good news and announces glad tidings. Answer his call to conversion. Some of us are good at mending things, fixing things, putting together the broken pieces, and making something useful again. Others of us are good at casting, going out of our way to do what is right, reaching out, and gathering in others. We all have a place in the divine realm.

From what might we each need to turn away?

Who in our family is good at casting to bring goodness into our home?

Who in our family is good at mending and making peace when things go wrong?

A rebus puzzle uses pictures and symbols as well as letters to convey a message. Using your own words write messages based on Saint Paul’s letter to the Corinthians or the gospel passage in Mark. Then, rewrite the messages using symbols and pictures to replace some of the letters. Solve one another’s rebus puzzles. As a warm up, together as a family say the rebus messages below.

Re t !

The dom of God is at .

Proclaim the Good .

will make U ers of .

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B TeamRCIA.com