Day of the Dead (Mexico)

We talked about the Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) a Mexican Celebration of all the souls that died. We set up an “altar” with a statue of Mary, flowers, and pictures of loved ones that have passed. We did the prayer service below and each student remembered someone from his or her family that has died.

Handout for Halloween, All Saints and All Souls Days:

Halloween-allsaints-allsouls

We will do a living Rosary with third grade.  We said the Glorious Mysteries. We explained what each of the Glorious Mysteries meant.  The explanation of the Rosary is on page 15 of the “Blest are We” grade 4.  This month (October) is the month of the Rosary.

Joseph’s Life

We will finish up watching the movie of Joseph’s life.  Joseph was betrayed by his brothers and Potiphar’s wife.  He is left in prison thinking– what kind of just God do I have? But God had a plan, he would save his brothers and father by bringing them to Egypt. How can this happen??? Genesis chapters: 37, 39-50.

Moses’s childhood and calling.

We are beginning Moses’s Life and the ten Commandments.

“Four hundred years ago, the first American colony was settled at Jamestown. Think of how much has changed since then! Four hundred years is a long time, and that’s how long the Hebrew people remained in Egypt after Joseph. Over time a new Pharaoh came to power who did not know Joseph. He made the Hebrew (Jewish people) into slaves. Because the Hebrew population have increased so much, Pharaoh decided every male Hebrew infant should be killed, so slaves would stay weak and afraid. The God began to reveal a plan to deliver his people.” -My Big Book of Catholic Bible stories.

Simple version of Moses’s Life: http://www.topmarks.co.uk/judaism/story-of-moses

Exodus 2:1:-10

Moses fled from Pharaoh’s court because he had killed a Egyptian for mistreating a Hebrew slave. He lived in the wilderness of Sinai as a shepherd of sheep.

Exodus 3:1-17

What is God’s name?

burning_bush_gods_name

“Blest Are We” book: page 60

First Commandment:

I am the Lord, your God. You shall not have other gods besides me.

Second Commandment:

You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.

Third Commandment

Remember to keep the Sabbath day.

Fr. Bender will celebrate Mass with us today.  He will wear Green Vestments. He will pray with us, teach us something special during the Homily and consecrate the bread and wine for Holy Eucharist. Finally, he will dismiss us with a blessing.

Today’s Mass readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/101415.cfm

Why do we have gold on the altar?