This celebration is intended to gather the children, youth and catechists for an opening to the catechetical year using the Blest Are We series. It can be used for small or large groups, and can best be celebrated in a gym or large room setting, each group forming a circle. PREPARATION
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In advance, share the celebration with your catechists, and show them where their groups will be seated (use the floor or arrange folding chairs in circles for each group).
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Invite each catechist to prepare a brief story telling why s/he is sharing faith this year, and to identify the focus for this year’s study.
Level 1: We celebrate God’s Presence: Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Level 2: We celebrate the Sacraments: Especially Eucharist and Reconciliation
Level 3: We celebrate the People of God, the Church
Level 4: We celebrate Moral Choices: The Commandments and Beatitudes
Level 5: We celebrate the Sacraments, and All Life as Sacred
Level 6: We celebrate the People of God from the Old Testament
Level 7: We celebrate Jesus as We Become His Disciples
Level 8: We celebrate Our Pilgrim Church
Option: Large boxes can be decorated as gifts; one for each group level with the appropriate caption (selected from above) boldly printed on each box. Provide several markers for each group: participants use them to print/write their names on their gift box. Later, each group can take its box with them to be used as a visual throughout the year. Save boxes for the year’s closing prayer service.
MATERIALS
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Oil in small dish; one for each group
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Nametag for each child/youth
CELEBRATION
GATHERING SONG
(Song leaders and musicians play/sing “Blest Are We” until every one has entered and is seated in a class circle facing the musicians.)
Leader
We begin our new catechetical year, by gathering together to celebrate how blest we are to as a faith community. God has blessed us with all of creation; stars, planets, moons and sun. God has given us the earth filled with green vines, trees, grass and colorful flowers. God has given us countless creatures who crawl, walk, fly and swim over land, sea and sky. God has breathed life into each person. We are each made in God’s image. We are all children of God.
Today we are called together to breathe life into our new year of religious formation. To do that, we invite the catechists to share their story of what their group will study and experience as the year unfolds.
Catechist
and Group
(Catechists now share the story with their own group what they will study this year. If gift boxes are used, after telling the story, they invite each child/youth to write his/her name on their box. Keep each box within the group circle. Background instrumental music of Blest Are We plays during this conversation.)
Leader
We each have learned what God calls us to experience this year. We pray that throughout the year we awaken more deeply to the gift of faith that God has given us.
As a sign of your commitment to receive God’s blessings, I now invite each of you to stand. Your catechist will make the Sign of the Cross with oil on your forehead. You are invited to respond “Yes.”
Catechist
N. ____________, I sign you with God’s cross. Do you say “Yes” to God’s call for you to grow in your Catholic faith?
Response
Yes.
(Play the “Blest Are We” instrumental music.
When all have finished, conclude the celebration with the following promise.)
PROMISES
Leader
You have said “Yes” to accept God’s blessings this year. I now invite you to raise your right hand and repeat the following promises after me:
I promise to be kind to everyone.(echo)
I promise to respect all property.(echo)
I promise to respect all people. (echo)
I promise to serve others. (echo)
I promise to follow Jesus. (echo)
Amen. Alleluia. (echo)
May God bless us in the name of the Father + and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit +, Amen.
CONCLUDING SONG
Sing as many verses of “Blest Are We” as you feel appropriate.
