\u2018Christ the Lord has promised us the Holy Spirit: come, let us adore him, alleluia.\u2019 (Invitatory antiphon).<\/p>\n
Traditionally, the week of prayer for \u2018Christian Unity\u2019 is celebrated annually from 18\u201325 January, between the feasts of St Peter and St Paul. Christians come together to pray for their unity.\u00a0 The theme for 2020 was \u2018Unusual Kindness\u2019.\u00a0 The reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 27:27-28:5) was the text chosen for Week of Prayer 2020.<\/p>\n
As noticed in this Sacred Scripture, the hospitality shown was a means to Christian unity. We are called to a spirit of greater generosity to those in need. While on a jouney, Paul and his companions were shipwrecked in a storm. The people who helped them did not yet know Christ. It was through this \u2018unusual kindness\u2019 shown at the time of need that brought these divided people closer together.\u00a0\u00a0 Our own Christian unity will be realised ‘through loving encounters with those who do not share our language, culture or faith.’<\/p>\n
The Gospel (Jn 17:20-26) proclaimed at Mass today may be heard via webcam or read in the New Testament.<\/p>\n
This Good News (Jn 17: 1-26), is Jesus\u2019 prayer to the Father for \u2018the new holy people\u2019 and is a model for all prayer.<\/p>\n
In the Gospel proclaimed today (Jn 17: 20-26), Jesus prays for the apostles and for all who will believe in him. Jesus prays to the Father, and asks that the world will know that God sent Jesus; that they will be all united in God; that they will be where Jesus is; and that they will know they are loved. Jesus promises those who believe that he will continue to reveal God\u2019s name to them.<\/p>\n
SEEK THE LINK IN THE GROW IN LOVE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAMME<\/p>\n
One of the skills taught to children in the Grow in Love programme is to explore the structure of the Prayer of the Faithful read at Mass. Then, the children are invited to write a prayer possibly for the celebration of Eucharist. Jesus\u2019 prayer in St John\u2019s Gospel provides a model for this (Jn 17: 26). For example, Jesus prays for the disciples that they may be one; that they may be united; that they might have joy; that they may be delivered from the evil one; that they may be consecrated in the truth; that they may know that God sent Jesus and that they may know they are loved. The structure of the Prayer of Faithful lies in praying \u2018for\u2019\u2026 \u2018that\u2019 something may happen. We can see that Jesus had many requests for the Father. Families too have many requests in prayer.<\/p>\n
In Level 3 of the Catholic Preschool and Primary Religious Education Curriculum for Ireland (2015), under the Christian Faith Strand and Strand Unit, The Mystery of the Church \/Kingdom, the curriculum outlines the, \u2018Introduction to other Christian churches present in the local community: e.g. Church of Ireland; Methodists and Presbyterians, Orthodox Christians, Evangelical Christians, and Easter Rite Churches.<\/p>\n
Children in Fourth Class\/P6 are introduced to these five Christian Churches: the Catholic Church, the Church of Ireland, the Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church and the Orthodox Church. Resources are available specifically in Grow in Love Fourth Class\/P6, Theme 8, Lesson 4.<\/p>\n
In Fifth Class\/P7, Theme 4, Lesson 4, pupils explore how Christmas is celebrated among Christians in a variety of ways. They explore the Coptic Christians celebration of Christmas.<\/p>\n
In Grow in Love 8, Sixth Class, Theme 6, Lesson 4, the children are introduced to the main Christian denominations currently in Ireland. They explore the beliefs that are common to all Christians. Through exploration of the work of ecumenism, they see how the Church through dialogue and co-operation seeks unity among all Christians, as Jesus willed for the Church.<\/p>\n
Children from five Christian Churches are interviewed on the VERITAS Grow in Love website:<\/p>\n
Logon: www.veritas.ie<\/p>\n
Email: trial @growinlove.ie<\/p>\n
Password: growinlove<\/p>\n
Children pray in school each day and many pray at home. With a concrete experience of praying, they explore Jesus\u2019 teaching on prayer. When a disciple asked Jesus to teach him and his friends to pray, Jesus taught them the \u2018Our Father\u2019 (Lk 11:1-4). As the children are introduced to the Sacred Scripture they will discover the teachings of Jesus on prayer and discipleship.<\/p>\n
Children recall by chatting with their parents, priests and deacons, pastoral workers and teachers about the gift of faith they received at Baptism, helping them to believe in God. Prayer is integral to the Grow in Love programme. Children take a moment \u2018to listen to the voice of God as they become \u2018quiet and still\u2019. They recognise God\u2019s presence in their hearts and in the world around them, in the beauty of creation and most especially in the person of the poor. They are called by God to \u2018listen to the cry of the earth and the poor\u2019. They listen to Pope Francis\u2019 teaching on care of our common home in Laudato Si\u2019. They pray the prayers of St Francis, \u2018Praised Be\u2019 and \u2018Prayer of St Francis\u2019. They take time to meditate on God\u2019s Word.<\/p>\n
Through the love of parents\/guardians, extended family, friends and teachers, children experience God\u2019s love. They appreciate and thank God for the love and the encounter they have with Jesus. They share the love with others and the Holy Spirit helps them to do this. Every day, the Holy Spirit invites the children and teaches them to know God as they pray and reflect on their lives in the light of Gospel values. The Church celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.<\/p>\n
God\u2019s love is for everyone. Jesus told his disciples, \u2018Freely you have received; freely give.\u2019 (Mt 10:8).<\/p>\n
INVITATION TO:<\/p>\n
READ in Grow in Love or in the Bible<\/p>\n
1 Corinthians 12:12, 15-16, 18-20, 25-27, Isaiah 9: 2-3, 6, Ephesians 4:5-7.<\/p>\n
SING with Grow in Love\/I nGr\u00e1 D\u00e9<\/p>\n
\u2018They\u2019ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love\u2019; \u2018Spirit- Filled Day\u2019; Christ\u00a0 Be Our Light\u2019; \u2018Connected\u2019; \u2018Wherever You Go\u2019; \u2018Grow in Love\u2019; \u2018Creation Story\u2019; \u2018Use What You\u2019re Given\u2019, \u2018Come Holy Spirit\u2019, \u2018Trust in the Lord\u2019,<\/p>\n
PRAY with Grow in Love\/I nGr\u00e1 D\u00e9<\/p>\n
LITURGY OF THE WORD<\/p>\n
After the Readings<\/p>\n
Reader: The word of the Lord.<\/p>\n
People: Thanks be to God.<\/p>\n
LIOT\u00daIRGE AN BHRIATHAIR<\/p>\n
I ndiaidh na L\u00e9achta<\/p>\n
L\u00e9itheoir: Briathar an Tiarna.<\/p>\n
Pobal: Bu\u00edochas le Dia.<\/p>\n
OUR FATHER<\/p>\n
Our Father, who art in heaven,<\/p>\n
hallowed be thy name;<\/p>\n
thy kingdom come,<\/p>\n
thy will be done<\/p>\n
on earth as it is in heaven.<\/p>\n
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses,<\/p>\n
as we forgive those who trespass<\/p>\n
against us;<\/p>\n
and lead us not into temptation,<\/p>\n
but deliver us from evil. Amen<\/p>\n
AN PHAIDIR<\/p>\n
\u00c1r nAthair at\u00e1 ar neamh,<\/p>\n
Go naofar d-ainm,<\/p>\n
Go dtaga do r\u00edocht, go nd\u00e9antar do thoil ar an talamh<\/p>\n
Mar a dh\u00e9antar ar neamh.<\/p>\n
\u00c1r nar\u00e1n laeth\u00fail tabhair d\u00fainn inniu,<\/p>\n
Agus maith d\u00fainn \u00e1r bhfiacha,<\/p>\n
Mar a mhaithimindne d\u00e1r bhf\u00e9ach\u00fana<\/p>\n
f\u00e9in,<\/p>\n
Is n\u00e1 lig sinn i gcath\u00fa,<\/p>\n
Ach saor sinn \u00f3 olc. \u00c1im\u00e9an.<\/p>\n
\u2018Go into the world and teach all people; baptise them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, alleluia.\u2019 (Benedictus antiphon).<\/p>\n
\u2018When the Spirit of Truth comes he will teach you the whole truth; he will reveal to you things that are to come, alleluia.\u2019 (Magnificat antiphon).<\/p>\n
\u2018Keep me safe O God, for in you I take refuge.\u2019 (Psalm 15:1)<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, faced as we are with global environmental deterioration, I wish to address every person living on this planet.’ (Pope Francis, Laudato Si\u2019, no.3)<\/p>\n
Sr Anne Neylon<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u2018Christ the Lord has promised us the Holy Spirit: come, let us adore him, alleluia.\u2019 (Invitatory antiphon). Traditionally, the week of prayer for \u2018Christian Unity\u2019 is celebrated annually from 18\u201325 January, between the feasts of St Peter and St Paul. Christians come together to pray for their unity.\u00a0 The theme for 2020 was \u2018Unusual Kindness\u2019.\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5208","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5208","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5208"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5208\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5208"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5208"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5208"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}