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Resurrection Atrium's Inaugural Year 2014-15 Recap

Jesus called them to him, saying, 'Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.'

- Luke 18:16

Dear Level I and II parents,

Your children have been deeply immersed in prayerful work this past year.  As you know, the Catechesis is not a program where a child walks out of the room on Sunday with a piece of paper illustrating what they have learned that day.  They walk out of the room, often, with a prayerful heart still hearing God speaking with them.

Our job as catechist or assistants, is to name for them what and Whom they already know.  The Holy Spirit is the Teacher in the Atrium.  We are all there to listen to Him.  What a joyful calling!  So what and Who have we lifted up this year?  Here's a rough sketch:

Prayer: the Holy Bible, Psalm 23, the Lord's Prayer, prayer table, liturgical colors, processions

• Biblical geography: Globe, Israel, Jerusalem
• Baptism and Eucharist: symbols, articles used, gestures
• Good Shepherd and the Eucharistic Presence; the Found Sheep & the Hired hand
• Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah
• Infancy Narratives of Jesus
• Parables of the Kingdom of God (pearl, leaven, mustard seed)
• Mystery of Life and Death (seed dying, to give its life for new plant)
• For especially the younger ones: practical life work

And as always, there is time each Sunday dedicated for the children to respond to these proclamations, through artwork. 

As the child grows in the Atrium, Level II (6 yrs and up) introduces:

• added depth to the material above, with theological synthesis (similar themes found in Kingdom parables, for ex.);
• Moral theology: God calls us into Covenant, we can respond to that in different ways)
• planning communal prayer together
• a widening of their world to reveal that God's plan in history, which we read about in the Bible, is to bring all of humankind into the full enjoyment of the life of God (Creation - the Blue Strip, the Gifts Strip)
• We envision also, for Level II children who've already had a year in the atrium, offering a 2016 Lenten retreat focusing on the True Vine parable and the Forgiving Father (Prodigal Son).  More on that this fall. 

 So those are what I hope we can shepherd our older children through this coming next year. 

Thank you to all of our adult assistants who have contributed of their time on Sunday mornings.  My hope is this time proves to be just as spiritually nourishing for you as it is for me.  The children point the way to Christ.

So much to be thankful for - so much to look forward to!  Thank you for YOUR support.  It has been a true joy to see our little mustard seed of an Atrium begin to grow some beautiful roots and shoots.

Yours in Christ,

Mother Kelly