M
Mel_Stones
Guest
I have almost completed my first year as a 4th grade RE catechist and am looking to next year. This year I learned that the vast majority, if not all, of my students were lacking very basic knowledge of what we are doing and why. Actually my entire parish is lacking some because our pastor is doing a series of mini-talks during Mass on what we are doing and why that explain seasons, certain prayers, times of silence, and such (which I’m loving 
).
So, I’m looking for children’s missals that explain Order of the Mass and basic Catholic teaching/belief. Most of what I have found are aimed at first Communion age and don’t provide much material. No one ever seems to bother with WHY we pray the Sign of the Cross with holy water, genuflect, kneel before Mass or a host of other small important things. My students couldn’t even comprehensively answer “What’s in the chalice (cup)?”. Admittedly, I have gained little ground with this particular group of students, but I think I can do massively better next year.
Is there anything out there for older children (above 1st/2nd)? Maybe a kind of “Catholicism for Dummies” children’s edition.
).So, I’m looking for children’s missals that explain Order of the Mass and basic Catholic teaching/belief. Most of what I have found are aimed at first Communion age and don’t provide much material. No one ever seems to bother with WHY we pray the Sign of the Cross with holy water, genuflect, kneel before Mass or a host of other small important things. My students couldn’t even comprehensively answer “What’s in the chalice (cup)?”. Admittedly, I have gained little ground with this particular group of students, but I think I can do massively better next year.
Is there anything out there for older children (above 1st/2nd)? Maybe a kind of “Catholicism for Dummies” children’s edition.