Unit 2 studies the first centuries of the early Church, describing disagreements between early church leaders and the development of liturgical traditions and church teachings that are essential to Christian faith today. Refer to the Unit 2 Opener in The Study of Our Church. Give Us Your Peace Use the unit song before or after opening prayer, during a prayer celebration, at the end of a session, or during special celebrations. Councils, Cultures, and Conflicts Twenty-two different church traditions make up the universal Catholic Church. Liturgy and Unity, Worship and Beauty Throughout history the essential signs and words of the liturgy have remained the same. The Church and the Empire The Church reminds us that obedience to God comes before obedience to any civil authority. Prayer for Understanding Genuine prayer, in which we open our hearts and minds to the Holy Spirit, promotes healing and understanding. The stories on these pages follow the last chapter of each unit. They introduce social justice issues from a Catholic perpective. "They shall be my people, and I will be their God. One heart and one way I will give them, that they may fear me always to their own good and that of their children after them." —Jeremiah 32:38-39 Unit 2 provides an overview of the first centuries of the early Church. It points out that the universal Catholic Church was a gathering of many different cultures. It is important to consider how church leaders have historically addressed conflicts that arose as a result of differences. This puts into perspective the effort that church leaders must continue to exert in order to reach out to the universal Church. At the end of each unit of Blest Are We, the We Care section brings social justice issues to life through stories about young people who are helping bring about a kingdom of love and justice. For Unit 2, this section focuses on "We Care about Family and Friends" supporting the Catholic Social Teaching theme: Call to Family and Community Participation. The topic of this unit’s We Care feature is bullying. Bullying can be identified as: • intentional, unprovoked attempts to physically harm or cause emotional stress • inflicted, usually over time, on one or more victims • tipping the balance of physical or emotional power – the bully being stronger or seeming to be stronger than the victim Much bullying occurs without the knowledge of catechists or parents, and many victims are reluctant to tell adults of their experience. They may be ashamed, afraid adults cannot or will not help resolve the situation, or the bully may have threatened them with retaliation. Because it is such a serious topic whose presence is quite prevalent in society today, we offer the following websites as a source of information for you. Blest Are We does not endorse a particular site, but offers the list below as a guide. Keep in mind that websites frequently change and you should always check out a website before recommending it to young people. www.lfcc.on.ca/bully.htm This site is sponsored by the London Family Court Clinic. Effective strategies for adults who wish to stop bullying include: providing • good supervision for children effective consequences to bullies, • good communication between teachers and parents, • all children opportunities to develop good interpersonal skill, and • a social context which is supportive and inclusive, in which aggressive, bully behavior is not tolerated. www.colorado.edu/cspv/safeschools/index.html Look for "Safe Communities – Safe Schools," to find fact sheets for young people. Includes "Bullying Prevention: Recommendations for Kids," and offers adults signs to recognize if a child is being bullied. www.dontlaugh.org There are two programs for grades 6-8 and 2-5. The program is free to download, but has a fee for training. The emphasis is on conflict resolution skills. It deals intensively with the need to address issues of difference. www.nea.org/schoolsafety/bullying.html Offers guidelines for parents whose child reports bullying. Emphasizes that bullying hurts both the victim and perpetrator. www.bullybeware.com Articles are especially valuable to parents; includes article where parent acknowledges child is a bully. It’s out of Canada, so colloquial phrases may be unfamiliar, but message is clear. www.bullying.org Provides letters from young people on bullying. • Am I sensitive to how the young people treat one another when they are together in my care? • Have I made it clear to the young people in my care how important it is for all of us to treat one another with respect? • Have I been bullied? If so, I pray to respond with self-dignity; to treat another as I want to be treated. Books Students Resolving Conflict Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-673-36096-2 Creative Conflict Resolution Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-673-154642-7 Fighting Invisible Tigers – A Stress Management Guide for Teens Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-915793-80-6 Parents & Kids Talking about School Violence Boys Town Press, 2000 The Bully-Free Classroom Boys Town Press, 1999 Videos Preventing Conflicts and Violence (30 min.) Big Changes, Big Choices Series Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 1-57348-107-6 Respecting Others (30 min.) Big Changes, Big Choices Series Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 1-57348-112-2 Resolving Conflicts (28 min.) You Can Choose Series Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 1-57348-210-2 Staff Development: Conflict Resolution, Grades 5-12 (24 min.) Helps a group set up a conflict resolution program or peer meditation. Sunburst Communications Bullies & Harassment on Campus (30 min.) Real Life Teen Video Series Boys Town Press 800-282-6657 Music "We Are the Hope," "I Have Been Anointed," "Send Down the Fire," "Set Your Hearts On the Higher Gifts" Blest Are We CD, Level 7-8 Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36394-9 Blest Are We Audio Cassette, Level 7-8 Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36454-6 Blest Are We Song Book for Grades 1-8, School Edition Words and melody for students; contains music for grades 1-6 (school) and 7-8 (parish and school) Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36617-4 Blest Are We Accompaniment Book for Grades 1-8, School Edition Contains accompaniment music for grades 1-6 (school) and 7-8 (parish and school) Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36618-2 "We Are Called," "We Have Been Told" David Haas GIA Publications "City of God," "Here I Am, Lord" Dan Schutte OCP Publications "Lead Me, Lord" John D. Becker OCP Publications