Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls.

Apr 4: Sessions 31-33: Paschal Mystery, New Covenant, and God Calls His People

• Read The Mystery of Faith on page 225 with your parents and answer the questions that follow
• Read The Effects of Baptism on page 236 with your parents and answer the questions that follow then turn to page 238, Members of the New Covenant and follow the instructions
  • Bring posters to our end of year party on May 2^nd

Mar 20: Sessions 28-30: Jesus Fulfills the Old Testament Roles of Priest, Prophet, and King

• Read Priest, Prophet, and King on page 210 and answer questions that follow
• Complete Jesus the Prophet on page 217 as directed
• Read The Lord’s Prayer and the Kingdom of God on page 223 and answer questions
• Do NOT forget to bring back Works of Mercy cards for next class

Mar 7: Sessions 26-27: The New Testament & God's saving actions + Jesus the Messiah

• Complete The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy on page 199 as directe
• Complete The Incarnation on page 208 as directed
• Complete Gifts of the Holy Spirit on page 201-202 (each student was assigned a gift at class)

Feb 21: Sessions 23-25: The Royal Kingdom, Exile & the Prophets

• Complete The Judges on page 177 as directed
• Complete  The Davidic Covenant on page 184 as directed
• Complete The Call Narrative of the Prophets on page 190 as directed

Feb 7: Sessions 21-22: Passover + Parting of the Red Sea & the Ten Commandments

• Read Reasons to Sacrifice on page 162 and complete questions that follow
• Read The New Passover on page 165 and complete questions that follow

Jan 26: Sessions 19-20: Exodus + Moses

• The descendants of Jacob, the Israelites, became enslaved by the Egyptians.
• God called Moses to free His people from slavery.
• God worked many signs and wonders through Moses to prove to the Egyptians and the Israelites that He is the one true God.
• The birth story of Moses foreshadows the birth story of Jesus.
• God called Moses and gave him the mission of freeing the Israelites from slavery, even though Moses was imperfect.
• Moses initially resisted God’s call, but eventually accepted it.
• God’s revelation of His name is an invitation to know Him and be in relationship with Him.
• Slides used for class

• Can you remember the last thing you experienced that you would call amazing or wonderful? What made it so?
• Like Moses, we often do not say “yes” immediately to what God is calling us to do. Have you ever hesitated before acting to help someone in need? Why do you think that hap pened?

• Read The Ten Plagues on page 142 and complete questions that follow
• Read Moses’ signs on page 145 and complete questions that follo
• Read Moses’ Birth Story on page 148 and complete questions that follo
• Read Jesus’ Escape to Egypt on page 150 and complete questions that follow
• Extra Credit: Read God’s Name on page 155 and complete questions that follow

Jan 10: Sessions 16-18: Isaac, Jacob & Joseph

• God called Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, as a test of his faith.
• The sacrifice of Isaac foreshadows Christ’s sacrifice.
• Isaac is a type of Christ.
• Prayer was a central part of the story of Isaac’s marriage to Rebekah. (Homework)
• Jacob and Esau were twins who were in conflict with each other even in the womb.
• Jacob tricked Esau into selling him his birthright as the oldest son of Isaac.
• Laban tricked Jacob just as Jacob had tricked his father, Isaac. (Homework)
• The stories of Jacob wrestling with an angel and God’s remembering Rachel (homework) illustrate the battle of prayer we all experience.
• Joseph’s brothers hated him and sold him into slavery.
• God blessed Joseph with success in his work despite his rejection, persecution, and suffering.
• Joseph’s God-given gift of dream interpretation allowed him to rise to the top in Egypt.
• Through Joseph’s story we learn that God can bring good out of evil.
• Joseph is a type of Jesus Christ.
• Slides used for class

• Can you think of how love is related to sacrifice? What are some things your family has sacrificed for your good? Can you remember a time when you set aside your own good out of love for a friend or family member?
• Have you ever been tricked by someone? How did it make you feel? Can you remember a time when doing the right thing was a struggle? Why do you think that was the case?
• Can you think of an example in your life when something bad happened, but good came out of it?

• Extra credit: Read the story of The Story of Isaac and Rebekah on page 114
• Read the story of Jacob and Laban on page 121 and complete questions that follow
• Read the story God Remembers Rachel on page 124 and complete questions that follow

Dec 20 Circles of Care/Netsmartz + Christmas party

• Missed Class Information

• Watch Netsmartz "You Can't Take it Back" video

• What kinds of things can we you do to be safe when navigating the internet/social media?

• Apply your Christmas gift (Bible tabs) to your Bibles given you at the start of this semester.  This will help you to find bible passages quicker.
• Compare the Books of the Bible handout (didn't realize it is Protestant list when purchased) to list of books in your actual Bible and write the names of the additional books in your Bible

Dec 13 (postponed from Dec 6): Sessions 14 & 15: God's Chosen People & God Calls Abraham
The line of Cain, which was sinful, and the line of Seth, which was faithful to God, intermarried and produced children who rejected God.

• The descendants of Noah’s son Ham tried to build a tower to Heaven in order to make themselves gods and replace God.
• In punishment, God confused the language of the human race and scattered them throughout the world.
• God called Abraham to enter into a covenant with Him and to be the father of His Chosen People.
• God made three great promises to Abraham, which would be fulfilled by the final three covenants of Salvation History.
• God raised the promises He made with Abraham to covenant status.
• God blessed Abraham and his wife in their old age with a son, from whom nations and kings would come.
• Missed Class Information - Sessions 14 & 15
• Slides used for class

• What kinds of things can we communicate without speaking? What kinds of things do words help us accomplish in life?
• What is so special about making a promise? What is it that makes us trust somebody? If you promise to do something for a friend, but then do not do it, how does that affect the trust between you?

• Read the essay of The Nephilim on page 96 & answer the questions that follow
• Read The Tower of Babel story on page 98 and complete questions that follow
• Extra credit: pages 108-109

Nov 22: The Early World of Genesis - Sessions 12 & 13: Cain & Abel + Noah & the Great Flood

• Cain and Abel both fulfilled their priestly role given to them through Adam by offering sacrifice to God. 
• Cain’s sacrifice was unacceptable as it did not represent a true spiritual sacrifice.
• God gave Cain the opportunity to repent, but he did not. God’s punishment of Cain is a
  natural consequence of Cain’s actions.
• God sent the Great Flood to cleanse the earth of wickedness and sin. 
• God entered into a new covenant with all of creation through Noah and his family. 
• God restored the roles of Adam — priest, prophet, king, son/ daughter, spouse — in Noah and his family.
• Slides used for class

• What sacrifices can we offer God? Can we give Him our time and attention
• How is Noah’s Ark a perfect image or symbol for the Church? What do they have in common?

•  Page 92

Nov 8: Creation + Adam & Eve

• The story of creation in Genesis is not meant to be science, but rather it communicates important truths about God and humanity.
• The doctrine of creation has great importance for our faith.
• Some scholars believe Genesis 1 and 2 represent two different stories of creation, while others believe they tell the same story from different perspectives.
• God made Adam and Eve in His image and likeness to live out the roles of priest, prophet, king, son or daughter of God, and spouse.
• Adam and Eve sinned because of the temptation of the devil.
• Missed Class Information - Sessions 10 & 11
• Slides used for class

• What truths does the story of Creation tell us about God and about human beings?
• We face temptations every day; how can we tell when we are being tempted? What are some tactics we can rely on that help us to resist temptation?

• Pages 67-71
• Pages 72-74, The Fall of Man (Note changed to this instead of pages 62-65)

Oct 25: Old & New Testaments + Salvation History 

• Both the Old and New Testaments are the equally inspired Word of God.
• In both Scripture and in Jesus Christ, the Word of God is fully present.
• Sacred Scripture is the speech of God as it is put down in writing under the breath of the Holy Spirit.
• A covenant is a sacred, permanent bond of family relationship.
• Every covenant includes a mediator, a promise, a sign, and a progression.
• The story of the Christian faith is a love story betwwen God and His people.
• Missed Class Information - Unit 2 Sessions 8+9
• Slides used for class

• What are some ways we can prepare for Mass in order to be nourished by God’s Word?
• Do you have a favorite book, or story, from the Bible? What is it? What do you like about it?

• Pages 40-42 --COMPLETED in class
• Pages 46-47, The Covenant with Noah
• Pages 48-50, Salvation History: A love Story

Oct 4: Inspiration of Scripture and Writing Styles of the Bible + Senses of Scripture

• All of Scripture is inspired by God.
• Scripture teaches solidly, faithfully, and without error that truth which God wanted written in Scripture for the sake of our salvation.
• There are many writing styles present in Scripture
• To better understand Scripture, we must consider its literal and spiritual senses.
• Typology is the study of how people, places, things, or ideas earlier in Salvation History foreshadow or point to a later person, place, thing, or idea in Salvation History
• Missed Class Information - Unit 2 Sessions 6-7
• Slides used for class

1. If you were going to record an event that you witnessed, how would you go about it?
2. What sort of problems happen when everybody interprets the Bible their own way?

• Pages 25-27
• Pages 34-35
• Lectio Divina handout (Session 4) to do as family
  • Catechist guide to Lectio Divina

Sep 27: Use of Scripture at Holy Mass &  How to use the Bible

• God speaks to His people through Sacred Scripture proclaimed at Mass.
• The Mass has two major parts: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
• Most of the prayers of the Mass find their roots in Scripture.
• The Bible is unlike any book that has ever been written.
• To read the Bible effectively, we must first know how to read it
• Missed Class Information - Unit 1 Sessions 3+5

1. What are some ways we can prepare for Mass in order to be nourished by God’s Word?
2. Do you have a favorite book, or story, from the Bible? What is it? What do you like about it?

• Page 12, Scriptural Roots of the Mass, to do with your parents
• Pages 22-23, How to Use the Supplemental Materials in the Bible

Sep 13: Revelation of God + Purposes of Sacred Scripture

• God reveals Himself to us through Sacred Scripture and Tradition.
• Sacred Scripture is the written record of God’s revelation of Himself.
• Sacred Tradition is the mode of transmission of the Word of God as it was handed on by Jesus to the Apostles and their successors, the bishops.
• The Magisterium is the teaching authority of the Church.
• Theology is the study of God and the things of God.
• In Scripture, God has revealed Himself and His plan for our salvation.
• We meet the Person of Jesus Christ in His Scriptures
• Missed Class Information - Unit 1 Sessions 1-2

• What are some of our family traditions? How do we stop these traditions from being lost or forgotten?
• What kinds of things do we learn about God in Scripture? What kinds of things do we learn about ourselves?

• Pages 2-3, God Reveals Himself in His Word
• Pages 5-7 to do with your parents
• Get to know your new Bibles handout
• Extra credit: Complete two (or more if you can) Bible passages on page 11

What we covered this year::
4/19/21: Fire Inside

• Mary’s perfection should not alienate us because Mary wants us to share in her perfect connection to the Holy Spirit.
• When Mary said, “yes” to being Jesus’ mother, she said, “yes” to being our mother too. She has been a mother for the Church.
• Everything Mary experienced, good or bad, she pondered in her heart with the Spirit. One step toward being like Mary is to offer our experiences to the Holy Spirit like she did.
• Scriptural Rosary (3rd Joyful Mystery)
• Answers to Marian gather game

3/29/21: Oxygen

• We are called by God to achieve holiness through a specific state of life, or vocation.
• Consecrated life is when a man or a woman makes a permanent decision to live a life of poverty, chastity (celibacy), and obedience. (CCC 914-915)
• Your vocation is a part of the grand plan God has for your life; a plan that will bring you the greatest happiness. (Jeremiah 29:11)

3/22/21: Life In The Fire

• Church on a Mission handout

3/15/21: Everlasting

• The Church is united as one. All of the Catholic churches around the world are a part of the one Church. (CCC 813-816)
• The Church is holy because Jesus is holy. Jesus is always present in the Church and the Catholic Church has the fullness of salvation. (CCC 823-830)
• The Church is Catholic, or “universal,” and recognizes the goodness of and some similarities with other religions, but holds that the fullness of the truth remains in the Catholic Church. (CCC 843-846)
• The Church is apostolic, which means that she was founded on the apostles. (CCC 857)

3/8/21:::Kindling

3/1/21:: Circles of Care

• Grade 6 (doing grade 7-8 closing prayer)
• Grades 7-8 (grade 7 will do same activity as grade 8)

2/15/21:: Ignition

• The Holy Spirit has been at work with the Father and the Son since the beginning of time and continues to work with them until the end of time. (CCC 702)
• Just before Christ died on the cross, He promised that the Holy Spirit would come to be with us forever to teach us, to remind us of what He said, and to help us bear witness to Him in the world. (CCC 729-730)
• We are called to share our faith in the normal circumstances of our life: at school, at home with our family, and with our friends.
• Handout - My Response to the Holy Spirit

2/8/21:: Eternal Kingdom

The Edge Night begins with a fun Gather game where the youth are setup to be waiting for someone to bring them a treat all night and then they proceed to play a fun active game. The Proclaim leads the youth through what will happen at the end of the world, the Last Judgment, and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The Break gives the youth a chance to discuss the teaching, and during the Send they pray a decade of the rosary, focusing on the Ascension of Jesus. The Edge Night ends with the Core Member who they were waiting for finally coming in with their treat.

• Handout (for Send)

2/1/21: A Legacy

• Death is a reality of life. We will all die at some point in time, and none of us know when that will be. Death is the end of our earthly life — it is a natural event, but it is also the consequence of sin. (CCC 1001-1008)
• At the moment of our death we will be judged by all the actions of our life, this is called particular judgment, and we will go either to heaven, hell, or Purgatory. (CCC 1021-1022)
• We, in the Church, are also given every advantage to help us to get to heaven; through the sacraments we have all the grace we need to live a life with Christ now and to choose Him in this life.

1/25/21: Triumphant

• Jesus was dead for two days before He rose on the third day, but even during those days Jesus was at work. After His Death and before His Resurrection, He descended into hell.
• The Resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth of our faith, meaning that it changed everything. Jesus proved to us that He is God, that He is all powerful, and that He did in fact come to save us from our sins and death. (CCC 638, 651-655)
• After spending 40 days with His disciples and appearing to countless people, Jesus ascended into heaven.

1/11/21: Defeated

• From the beginning of Jesus’ public life He was misunderstood, He was different, and a lot of people found His teachings to be difficult and offensive; because of this they sought to destroy Him. (CCC 574-586)
• God loves us so much that He was willing to die for us, He was willing to give the greatest sacrifice of His very life to save us — all of us. There is not a single person who has lived or ever will live for whom Christ did not suffer and die. (CCC 605)
• Jesus was obedient to the will of the Father to the point of being killed. His obedience saves us from our sins. His obedience makes up for all of humanity’s disobedience. (CCC 612)

Nicene  & Apostles' Creeds

• Parent Letter - Fire Inside (4/19/21)
• Teaching Materials - Fire Inside (4/19/21)
• Parent Letter - Oxygen (3/29/21)
• Teaching Materials - Oxygen (3/29/21)
• Parent Letter - Life In The Fire (3/22/21)
• Teaching Materials - Life In The Fire (3/22/21)
• Handout - Life In The Fire (3/22/21)
• Parent Letter - Everlasting (3/15/21)
• Teaching Guide - Everlasting (3/15/21)
• Parent Letter - Kindling (3/8/21)
• Teaching Materials - Kindling (3/8/21)
• EDGE Winter-Spring UPDATE
• Parent Letter - Ignition (2/15/21)
• Teaching Materials - Ignition (2/15/21)
• Parent Letter - Eternal Kingdom (2/8/21)
• Teaching Materials - Eternal Kingdom (2/8/21)
• Parent Letter - A Legacy (2/1/21)
• Teaching Materials - A Legacy (2/1/21)
• Parent Letter - Triumphant (1/25/21)
• Teaching Materials - Triumphant (1/25/21)
• Handout - Defeated (1/11/21)
• Parent Letter - Defeated (1/11/21)
• Teaching Materials - Defeated (1/11/21)
• Parent Letter - Winter/Spring 2021
• Calendar of YM dates
• EDGE Letter to Parents Fall 2020
• SJN RE Calendar 2020-21

Fall 2020

ETERNAL KINGDOM:

12/21/20:

• Before beginning His public ministry, Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River and then spent 40 days and nights praying and fasting in the desert.
• Throughout His three years of public ministry, Jesus proclaimed the coming of Kingdom of God on earth. He performed many mighty deeds and miracles to show people the truth of His words.
• Jesus called together the 12 apostles from all different walks of life to accompany Him on His mission to proclaim the Kingdom.

12/14/20 Royal Descent

• The Annunciation and Mary’s “yes” to God’s will in her life is an example for all of us.
• Jesus experienced life as a man by entering into the world as a baby through the Incarnation and relied on His family to take care of Him.
• It is important for us to look to Jesus and Mary as our examples of how to be obedient to both God and our parents.
• Shopping for Jesus video

12/7/20: Long Live The King

• Jesus was not a typical king by the standards of the world. He lived His life differently than earthly kings, yet He is given the titles King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and Christ the King.
• What is most remarkable about Jesus, the God who saves — the Anointed One — is that He is fully God and fully man. (CCC 461-464)
• Jesus is our great King who comes to save us and also comes to show us how to live our lives so that we will find the greatest happiness

EXISTENCE:

11/16/20: Bad News

• God gave humanity free will to choose God or reject personally and comrnunally.
• The effects of original sin are felt through disharmony in the natural order which leads to 'natural evils" like disease, natural disasters, and death.
• Jesus Christ redeems us and suffers with us; God can make good come from suffering and evil.
• See Gallery on left/above to see us end the night praying for the bad news we found in the papers as well as laying our pain/suffering at the foot of the cross.

• God created humanity in His image and likeness and created them good, but through a free choice humanity broke its relationship with God through sin.

• Original sin has consequences for all humanity and is transmitted to all generations, the consequences are a broken relationship with God, each other, and creation,
• God the Father does not abandon us to temptation and sin but sends a Savior, Jesus Christ,
• His son to redeem humanity and rescue us from sin.
• Please click on associated age group for examination of conscience:
  • Grade 6 Examination of Conscience
  • Grade 7 Examination of Conscience
  • Grade 8 Examination of Conscience

• Men and wornen are created by God and destined for God
• Men and women are both spiritual and physical; they have both a body and a soul.
• Humanity was created as male and female who are different yet equaland are complementary to one another.

• The sequence of the creation of the world reveals that God has a plan, purpose. and a design for everything
• God rested on the seventh day writing into the very creation of the world the importance of the Sabbath day
• God entrusts humanity with the care of creation
• Click here to watch proclaim-send video

• God created a whole spiritual realm that we cannot see.
• Angels are messengers of God; they are constantly at work to do the will of God and to bring about His plans of salvation for the world.
• The fallen angels, led by Satan, refused the reign of God and definitively turned away from Him. They are real, but God’s power is far greater./li>
• Click here to watch recorded proclaim-send

• God revealed His name to Moses indicating He wants to be in relationship with all of mankind
• God has no beginning and no end
• God is the fullness of truth; He cannot deceive and always keeps His promises
• God is the fullness of Love. The three person of the Trinity are a relationship and exchange of love (CCC 218-221)
• Jesus taught us to call God our Father
• By merit of Jesus' death on the cross, He makes it possible for us to become God's adopted sons & daughters through Baptism
• God istays close to His creation and cares for it, especially mankind
• Click here to watch recorded proclaim-send

• God exists and He continually reveals Himself to humanity.
• He desires for us to know Him and love Him.
• We are called to have faith, which is both a decision and an act to believe in God and what He has revealed.
• God gives us grace to have faith and in Scripture we have great examples of people who were able to respond to God in faith.
• Faith is based in trust of and love for our great God who loves us more than we can imagine.
• Faith is also based in knowing and following the teachings of the Catholic Church.
• If you were unable to attend in person, the recorded proclaim-send can be be seen here.

• Girls: Read Luke 1:26-38
• Guys: Read Genesis 22:1-13
• Journal on the following questions:

1. Do you think that Mary / Abraham trusted God? Why
2. How is Mary / Abraham an example of faith?
3. Why is it important that Mary had faith? OR What was Abraham's continual response to God?
4. Why is it important for us to have faith and trust  in God?

1. Proper response Handout
2. Pray Nicene Creed

• God created the whole universe and we can see proof of His existence in the intricat details of the created world and humanity.
• God reveals Himself to humankind in creation, salvation history, Scripture, Tradition, and most clearly in Jesus Christ.
• Humanity is created by God and for God and will only find true happiness in Him.
• If you were unable to attend in person, the recorded proclaim-send can be be seen here.

Fruits of the Holy Spirit (W2020)

• Calling All Superheroes: Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be our Comforter & Guide. The Holy Spirit works in our daily life to deepen the presence of God within us & help us live as children of God. We received the gifts of the Holy Spirit at baptism and those gifts are strenghened at confirmation.  Those gifts will bear the 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit when we choose to open/use them in our daily life.  We'll delve deeper into these 12 fruits using the examples of various superheroes throughout this semester.
• Supergirl: Generosity is giving what we have out of love for others and Charity is giving of ourselves, in the greatest possible ways, through self-sacrificial love.
• Spiderman: Faithfulness is giving God our belief, our trust, and through that trust, our actions and Joy, which is greater than happiness, that is rooted in trust and brings a deep inner peace and radiant love that stems from knowing who you are and living your life in accordance with who you were created to be.
• Hulk: Peace is a freedom from chaos and disruptions--a goal of the Chirstian life. When we lose self-control, we can let anger steal our peace. However, when we have self-control we can react properly and respond to our emotion in a manner which leads to peace. We can use every situation in our life as an opportunity for prayer and practicing self-control.
• Captain America: Chastity & modesty

• (3/30) Rescue: EDGE packet emailed to parents to cover Gentleness & Kindness
• (4/6) A New Hope AND Safe Environment: Email sent to parents to cover the SEASON of Easter and Cyberbullying.
• (4/19) Batman: Will send email to cover last two Fruits of the Holy Spirit - Goodness & Patience

Corporal Works of Mercy (F2019)

 - Color My World! - Jesus wants us to live a full and exciting life for Him
 - Love One Another - We are to love everyone (not just those nice to us/easy to love) as Jesus loves us.  This requires a choice, sometimes it is a simple act of kindness and other times it means putting someone else's needs ahead of our wants.
 - Hunger Games - We are called to feed the hungry & give drink to the thirsty. We talked about both physical hunger and spiritual hunger. Together we put together 50 bag lunches that were donated to the Nashua Soup Kitchen.  Most of us are blessed to not worry about where our next meal is coming from and have a loving home.  What can you do to answer our call to help those that are hungry? Can you share our snacks at school? Can you talk to someone we see sitting alone at school/invite them to join our group? Remember in Matthew 25:40 it says "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."
 - Operation Body & Soul - We are called to bury the dead.  We talked about how the body is to be treated with dignity upon death -- it is NOT to be thrown away like trash.  Because the body is sacred, and equally as important as the soul, the remains are to be honored with a Christian Burial.  Although the soul is temporarily separated from body, it will be reunited on the last day when Jesus comes again, and will rise to heaven as Jesus did.
 - For the Love of God - We have many gifts in our lives and are called to share those gifts with our brothers & sisters in need. We talked about our call to clothe the naked. Most of us have a lot of clothing... some of which we no longer wear.  Wouldn't our clothes we no longer/seldom wear be more beneficial to someone in need? Maybe during this month that we celebrate Thanksgiving, we can take a few moments to see what we can share with others so they too have much to give thanks for. NOTE: Many kids got email before class & brought in coats/clothes to donate.  From the EDGE night donations alone (2 of 3 clothing pictures below, 3rd is from parishioner donations on 11/9-10), we donated 17 coats and several bags of various clothing! By end of clothing drive, we donated over 100 coats + a dozen large bags of clothes!! 
- A Stranger and You Welcomed Me - we are called to give shelter to the homeless.We often think of those that are physically homeless, but this also includes those that feel homeless/unloved/unaccepted/unwelcomed. When we feel God stir in our heart to help someone, we should listen to the voice that questions what the person will do with money they receive, but rather answer yes to Jesus and pray it will be used wisely.  (If too concerned, there are always gift cards for food places.) We also stressed that we can live this work of mercy by inviting those we see that are alone in school to join us & our friends. We discussed St Mother Teresa of Calcutta and her love for the poor -- how she taught that ALL lives should be treated with dignity... that she took people off the streets of Calcutta to a place where they could die with dignity, surrounded by love.  That she once said "The greatest disease in the West today is... being unwanted, un;loved, and uncared for. We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love."
- A Door to My Heart + Just Visiting - we are called to visit the sick as well as the imprisoned.  We talked about those that have both physical and psychological illness (to include loneliness). That  we can live the call to visit the sick by our just being present, listening to them, telling them stories or playing a game with them.  Visiting the imprisoned includes not only those in jail/prison, but also those who cannot leave their home (e.g. nursing home). We can live the call not only by visiting (e.g. if parents want to bring us to a juvenile detention center) to remind people they are still valuable & loved by God, but also by praying for them or writing letters (only use first name if do the latter). It is not for us to judge those who are in prison (only God knows their heart), but to pray for them to repent and choose to follow Jesus. We ended the night teaching how to pray the rosary then praying a decade of the rosary on the mission rosary received as a gift for each one of them (along with card on how to pray the rosar