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 Unit Activities & Answer Key With Your Group Unit Resources  
Entries relate to BLEST ARE WE FAITH & Word Edition © 2008 and BENDECIDOS © 2008. Titles that refer only to BLEST ARE WE © 2002 and ©2004 are indicated in parentheses.    Catholic Social Teaching - Option for the Poor and Vulnerable Because we are all God's children, it is important that the strong, healthy members of our communities care for the neediest, as Jesus did. We are called by God to do all that we can to help other people enjoy good health, experience a sound education, and have opportunities to live freely in a just society. Throughout the world, the gap between the wealthy and the poor is growing at an alarming rate. By some estimates as many as thirty percent of our children suffer from malnutrition, lack of medical assistance, and inadequate housing. Jobs that pay a living wage continue to elude the vast majority of the working poor, many of whom are women. Those operating homeless shelters and food pantries report that the demands for their services continue to grow. 
 If your parish is an affluent one, talk with the children about ways they can help others. Perhaps the children could bring in canned foods and clothes or toys in good condition. Find a parish in a struggling area to share these materials with. If your parish is on the receiving end of goods, help the children write thank you notes to the children who "shared" with them. For either parish situation, keep the emphasis on gifts being "shared."  In the life of a six-year-old, the above teaching translates into "God loves and cares for all his children. God knows what each one needs and wants us to be his helpers." Discuss with the children how they can show their love for others, especially for the poor and homeless. Links Catholic Relief Services, "CRS Kids" Catholic Campaign for Human Development Books My Very First Bible Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-7566-0983-6 To Act Justly-- Introducing Catholic Social Teaching to Children with Stories and Activities by Anne E. Neuberger Available through Twenty-Third Publications, 2002 Saying Amen: A Mystagogy of Sacrament by Kathleen Hughes Available through Liturgy Training Publications, 1999 Videos Jesus Grows Up (16 min.) Animation of Joyful Mysteries tells of Jesus' early years Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-9674408-1-5 / 9780967440811 Music "Come All You People," "If You Believe and I Believe" BLEST ARE WE Music CD 1 Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36652-2 BLEST ARE WE Song Book Words and melody for children; contains music for levels 1-8 ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36617-4 BLEST ARE WE Accompaniment Book Contains accompaniment music for levels 1-8 ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36618-2 "They'll Know We Are Christians" Peter Scholtes Available through FEL Publications |
