Geography, Generosity, and Worship

Last Sunday, the Level I class began preparing for Advent by learning about the places where Jesus lived. They reviewed the liturgical colors and heard that soon we will see purple in church because Advent is coming—a time to get ready for Jesus’ birth. They talked about how Jesus is not make-believe; he was a real person who lived on this earth. The students found Pennsylvania on the globe and then marked Israel, the land where Jesus lived. They looked at a topographical map of Israel and placed flags on Nazareth (where the angel visited Mary), Bethlehem (where Jesus was born), and Jerusalem (where Jesus died and rose again). After learning about these places in the context of Jesus, the children began to ponder the mystery of the Incarnation: that God came to live among us in a specific land, as a real child, whose birth we will celebrate at Christmas.

The Level II class enjoyed preparing and packaging dog biscuits for the upcoming Calvary Bazaar. The students measured, counted, and packed the treats as a team and discussed how the biscuits will be sold at the Bazaar to raise money to support various community organizations. By making something with their own hands to serve others, they realized that even small acts of kindness can be a real way to love our neighbors. Thanks, Miss Adele, for leading this exciting activity!

During Children’s Liturgy of the Word, Mother Bonnie-Marie guided the children through the Books of the Bible using our wooden Bible cabinet and hands-on materials. Together they learned the first five books of the Old Testament and noticed how Scripture from both the Old and New Testaments—and especially the Gospel—shapes what we hear each Sunday. By exploring where the readings come from and how they fit into the liturgy, children discover that the Bible isn’t just a big book—it’s the living story we pray, hear, and carry into our week.