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Objective
During this Easter and Pentecost season students will
IDENTIFY ways that they can joyfully and courageously spread kindness as missionary disciples.
DEMONSTRATE how they are called to live out their faith and ways that they can challenge themselves through reflection, role-play, and campaign planning.
EVALUATE their actions and choices through check-ins and observation.
Step 1: Pray
St. Teresa of Avila said,
“To have courage for whatever comes in life – everything lies in that.”
Lord, I am young and sometimes fear reaching out to others.
I do not know what to say or do.
Give me your words.
Send me your Spirit so that I may go forth as your missionary disciple.
Help me to be prophetic and witness boldly in all that I do and all that I say.
Amen!
Step 2: Personal Connections
READ the FAITH PERSPECTIVE and NEIGHBORHOOD FOCUS stories.
REFLECT: In both of the stories the Seattle students and John Siyumbu wanted to inspire others.
SHARE WITH A PARTNER: Who is one person or what was one event that inspired you to do something for others?
WRITE answers to the following questions: What are you passionate about? What is a dream you have for your life? How can you use your passions and dreams to help others?
DISCUSS how the students in Seattle inspired voters. Where in your community could you cheer others on? And how?
BRAINSTORM as a class actions that you might take to motivate and inspire others. Once you agree on an idea break into small groups dividing the tasks that need to be done to accomplish your plan of action. Come back together and share your group’s suggestions and fill in the gaps the groups might have missed. After you have implemented your plan come back together and have each group EVALUATE what went well with their plan and what could have been done differently.
Some ideas for inspiring others might be:
1. Have students line the hallway to cheer on graduates/welcome new classes.
2. Spread joy by visiting people in a nursing home either as a class or with just your family.
3. Initiate a community project to encourage
Faith Perspective
The night before the elections Mrs. Hall assigned the class to make a non-partisan sign to encourage others to vote. The students showed up for class with all kinds of signs the next day. Eagerly the 7th grade class at Christ the King School in Seattle then walked down the street to their neighborhood ballet drop-off box. As voters dropped off their ballots, the students cheered them on. A local TV station covered their story and said the students were not only inspiring; they reminded people to vote.
These students remind us that missionary discipleship can take many forms. It may involve actively working for the common good or simply encouraging others who are. Christ the King School is participating in the Maryknoll Missionary Discipleship Institute in Seattle.
Neighbor Focus
John Siyumbu dialed the number to his parents’ home in Kenya. He had big news to share with them. After University, he had decided to pursue his life desire: to be a missionary priest. John recalls, “When my mother answered, I told her I wanted to be a priest and she reminded me that I had told her the same thing when I was a child. I thought she had forgotten. My mother’s remembering made me feel that God was saying to me, ‘You can do this’ and I heard God saying: ‘Come.’”
John’s campus chaplain was Maryknoll Fr. Lance Nadeau. John says, “Fr. Lance inspired me because he believed in me and trusted me to fulfill my potential. I also want to inspire others and to share my faith and joy. When you have joy, you cannot keep it inside. You have to share it. By being a missionary and living with the people, I will know both their joys and their sorrows. This is the life where I can reach my full potential to love and to serve with joy. God has promised that I can do this!”
John is a courageous and joyful missionary disciple who left his home in Africa and is currently serving as a seminarian in Cochabamba, Bolivia. He works in a parish and school, and visits people who are homebound and persons with disabilities.
Read the full article on John Siyumbu in Maryknoll Magazine.
Step 3: Explore Scripture and Tradition
READ ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
OLD TESTAMENT: Exodus 4:10-17
LIFE OF JESUS: Matthew 21:28-31
CHRISTIAN LIVING: Romans 10:9-18
REFLECT: In Exodus, Moses struggles with whether or not he can do what God is asking of him. Do you ever feel that you are too young to do something important? These passages all talk about being sent and the fact that sometimes there is a real reluctance to go. Where might God be sending you to use your abilities as a young person? What would you need to go forth in courage to share kindness and joy?
CREATE a chain of courage-and-kindness. After reading these scripture passages, invite the students to be part of a chain reaction of courage and kindness. Have them write one kind thing they will do today on a strip of paper or write one courageous step that they will take. Provide strips of paper along with glue or tape, so that the students can link their strips to form a paper chain. Explain that courage and kindness usually cause a chain reaction. Encourage them to do what they have written and invite others to join them.
What does the Church say?
Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come and give us strength in our daily lives. The 12 Fruits of the Holy Spirit are signs that the Holy Spirit is with us.
The fruits of the Spirit are “charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity.”
Catechism of the Catholic Church 1832
Pope Francis remind us “ We are all called to be holy by living our lives with love. That does not require extraordinary deeds but everyday acts of kindness.” Rejoice & Be Glad
Step 4: Take Action
Raise your Voice
Be a Global Neighbor
Engage Your Family
