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centertop00Catholic Education Week: Igniting HopeMonday, May 4, 2020Our Hope in ChristHappy Catholic Education Week! This year’s theme is Igniting Hope and today’s subtheme is Our Hope in Christ.Introduction:In a time of crisis, we can lose our sense of direction. It is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. As people of faith, hope is the light that is shining through the challenge. Faith is our rock and always sees us through. The resurrection of Jesus reminds us that Our Hope in Christ and his love can see us through any hardship.In Canada’s capital, two leaders of faith came together to unite Canadians in prayer at this time. Archbishop Terrence Prendergast and Rabbi Reuven P. Bulka came together in an initiative calling on all Canadians of faith to unite in prayer at this challenging time. A message from many faith leaders was released:“In spite of present sufferings, which can be overwhelming at times, the flames of hope cannot be extinguished. Love, which gives life its fullest meaning, continues to seek out the common good in spite of individual difficulties.”“Let us witness hope to each other and so become beacons of light during these uncertain times.”-A statement released on March 30, signed by 80 Canadian faith leaders. The Catholic Register, March 31, 2020God’s promise of love, given to us so freely through Jesus, is greater than any challenges that we face as a human family. It is the hope that dwells within us. Living in this hope, may prayer serve as the healing that will see us through.And so let us begin in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen+Opening Prayer:Loving God, we face many challenges during this epidemic. Help us to know that together we are resilient and that humanity works as a community. Your love always helps us to handle whatever comes our way. Be with us as we continue to stay in our homes to protect others. Help us to remember the love of our community and let this be a sign of hope. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen+Scripture Reading:A reading from St. Paul’s letter to the RomansMay the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.Discussion:Where do you see hope alive in the world today during this crisis? God has created the human family with goodness and love. Every human being has the capacity to bring this goodness to others.Reading and Guided Reflection Question:Faith leads a believer to see in the other a brother or sister to be supported and loved. Through faith in God, who has created the universe, creatures and all human beings (equal on account of his mercy), believers are called to express this human fraternity by safeguarding creation and the entire universe and supporting all persons, especially the poorest and those most in need.-From a document by Pope Francis for World Peace and Living Together, February 2019The Holy Spirit has infused humanity with a capacity for good, bringing together people with differences to care for each other, united as one global family. How does your faith lead you to care for God’s global family?Our Father:Let us pray together the words that Jesus taught us.Our Father...Closing Prayer:Spirit of Jesus, we close our eyes now in silence to feel your presence. Let the joy of your resurrection fill our hearts in this Easter season, reminding us that hope and unity bring us to the other side of darkness. Amen+We close in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen+Closing Song:Do Not Be Afraid by Tanner Clark Education Week: Igniting HopeTuesday, May 5, 2020The Hope Within UsHappy Catholic Education Week! This year’s theme is Igniting Hope and today’s subtheme is The Hope Within Us.Introduction:Hope within us refers to our ability to look inside ourselves for strength and peace. God has given us so many strengths and talents to help us overcome whatever gets in our way. Indeed, hope does dwell within us. This is our faith alive. How can we strengthen this indwelling hope? Like our faith, we cannot ignore the need to work at it. In these challenging times, it is good to explore the many ways that we can grow and cultivate the hope within us.And so let us begin in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen+Opening Prayer:God of love, you give us the love of your Son to guide our days and to carry us through life. We thank you for the love of the Trinity. Our hope is in the love we receive. Help us to bring this hope to others. We make this prayer in the name of Christ, our Lord. Amen+Scripture Reading:A reading from the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 40:31)Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.Discussion:This reading reminds us that God’s love for us is always present. God knows that we can support each other and be witnesses of hope. When we have faith, our sense of hope is strong. Can you think of a time when you felt God’s love so strongly, you had a real sense of hope and inspiration?1517656985000Reading and Guided Reflection Question:Peace is not something which can be bought or sold; peace is a gift to be sought patiently and to be “crafted” through the actions, great and small, of our everyday lives. The way of peace is strengthened if we realize that we are all of the same stock and members of the one human family; if we never forget that we have the same Father in Heaven and that we are all his children, made in his image and likeness.-Homily, Pilgrimage to the Holy Land, May 24, 2014In these days of the Coronavirus pandemic, these words of Pope Francis remind us that we are all part of the same human family. When we honour what is being asked of us by our leaders, we are honouring this human family. How do you feel connected to the human family of God’s creation?Our Father:Let us pray together the words that Jesus taught us.Our Father...Closing Prayer:Loving God, continue to strengthen us to be a source of hope. You are the hope that dwells within us in the form of endless love and compassion. May we bring this to others. Amen+We close in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen+Closing Song:Lean on Me Education Week: Igniting HopeWednesday, May 6, 2020The Hope Among UsHappy Catholic Education Week! This year’s theme is Igniting Hope and today’s subtheme is The Hope Among Us.Introduction:Hope among us is a theme that we should embrace in this time of a pandemic. Front line health care workers, family and friends who check in with messages of love, and the Holy Father praying for the world, are all examples of The Hope Among Us. We are God’s people and we bring the presence of God to each other. Jesus encouraged this when he walked the earth. He continues to work in our hearts inspiring us to reach out to others in community. God created us to be in community and to bring love and hope to each other. Let us pray for our community and find new and creative ways to reach out in love to one another.And so let us begin in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen+Opening Prayer:Loving God, you have created us to thrive in community. We give you thanks for our families. They are mini communities and sources of hope. Help us to remember that you have made us people of hope through your love. Jesus is with us and the Holy Spirit creates us anew. May we be ever mindful of the hope among us. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus, our brother and friend. Amen+Scripture Reading:A reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 5:5-11)For you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness…Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, as indeed you are doing.The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.Discussion:In this reading, God reminds us that we are to be there for one another. This is how God works in the world, through us. We are called to bring God’s light and hope to others. How do you see yourself as a child of light?139065381000Reading and Guided Reflection Question:To the world, you may be one person; but, to one person, you may be the world.-A quote from Dr. SeussHow do you “let your light shine” and share hope with the people you encounter each day? Who brings the world to you and shines light on your life? What is one simple act you can do today to bring God’s light to another?Our Father:Let us pray together the words that Jesus taught us.Our Father...Closing Prayer:God of light, open our hearts to the warmth of your radiant light. Strengthen us so that we may be sources of hope for one another. Guide us in creativity and love to find new ways of bringing your light to others. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen+We close in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen+Closing Song:This Little Light of Mine Education Week: Igniting HopeThursday, May 7, 2020Hope for the WorldHappy Catholic Education Week! This year’s theme is Igniting Hope and today’s subtheme is Hope for the World.Introduction:People around the world are one human family. Humanity is linked by so many challenges and circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. We see that we are all vulnerable and we all need each other; rich or poor, young or old, large or small families, and people of many different living situations. We are there for each other. Christ called us to be one body and to let our lives be guided by our love for each other. Today’s sub-theme, Hope for the World, reminds us that the love of Christ is there for the whole world. Let us always remember that the love of Jesus is hope for all of humanity.And so let us begin in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen+Opening Prayer:God of all people, your love has been in existence since the world was created. Jesus came to remind us that your love knows no bounds. You gave us your only Son as a sign of your love. Help us to bring Christ’s love alive in the world in which we live. Thank you for the hope that we have in this unending love. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus, prince of peace. Amen+Scripture Reading:A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark.All: Glory to you O Lord.And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.”The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.Discussion:When times are hard, we can forget that Jesus came to bring Good News. How do we bring this Good News to the world? Every kind word or thought for someone else is living Good News. We can go into the world to proclaim the good news by taking care of all of creation. The Good News of Jesus is hope for the world. He came to give good news to the poor and freedom to those who are captive.Reading and Guided Reflection Question:St. John Paul II was a source of hope for the world. He was often referred to as a “Witness to Hope.” When he became Pope, he travelled all over the world to visit as many countries as he could. He worked to bring peace to conflicts and dignity to the suffering. When John Paul II passed away, the whole world mourned his loss. He had touched the lives of people of all faiths. Even when he became frail, John Paul II still brought a sense of hope to millions of people.How did Pope John Paul II bring Good News to the world? Why was St. John Paul II a witness of hope? Where do you see hope in the world today?Our Father:Let us pray together the words that Jesus taught us.Our Father...Closing Prayer:Lord Jesus, help us to see your love as our strength so that we may go beyond ourselves to bring Good News and hope to others. Help us to share your love with our family, friends and community members. Jesus, inspire us to pray for our world community and the hope of a future of goodness and peace. We pray this in the name of your Father, the Creator, and your sustaining Spirit. Amen+We close in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen+Closing Song:Hope (Catholic Education Week 2020 Theme Song) ()Music Sheet ()centertop00Catholic Education Week: Igniting HopeFriday, May 8, 2020A Future Full of HopeHappy Catholic Education Week! This year’s theme is Igniting Hope and today’s subtheme is A Future Full of Hope.Introduction:Today we celebrate a future full of hope. During this Easter season, we are celebrating Jesus’s victory over death. The Resurrection of Jesus is a reminder to us that new life is always on the horizon. Creation is in a continual circle of birth and death and the sun rises each morning. There is a rainbow after a storm, a calm after the wind and healing and renewal after pain. The future holds promise and this is the foundation of God’s love.And so let us begin in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen+Opening Prayer:Loving God, let your spirit breathe within us in this Easter season so that we may hold onto the promise of new life that the springtime brings. Strengthen us with each new day to look toward a future of promise and renewal. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen+Scripture Reading:A reading from the prophet JeremiahI alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for. Then you will call to me. You will come and pray to me, and I will answer you. You will seek me, and you will find me, because you will seek me with all your heart.The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.Discussion:Have you ever noticed how weeds can break through concrete and grow tall? Our loving God has created us to be strong and resilient. The Holy Spirit gives us gifts so that we can be strong and overcome hardship. Prayer and the support of community help us to be like the weed pushing through the concrete. Our hope in the future lies in the strength that we receive through God’s spirit alive in our family and community.170815889000Prayers of the Faithful:God of Hope, you have given us a mind to know you, a will to serve you, and a heart to love you. Be with us in all we do, so that your light of hope may shine in our lives.The response is: With a future full of hope, Lord, hear our prayer.R. With a future full of hope, Lord, hear our prayer.For our Church: May it be a true light of hope to all nations, we pray. R.For our hope in Christ: May the spirit of your son, Jesus, guide our words and actions, we pray. R.For hope within us: May the love of God that embraces us all, be known to us each day, we pray. R.For hope among us: Especially for those struggling with loneliness, poverty, and illness; May we be called as witnesses to the life-giving spirit of Jesus in our society, we pray. R.For hope for the world and its leaders, striving to ease the sufferings of people: May our leaders be instruments of God’s faith, hope and love, we pray. R.For a future full of hope: May we be committed to your call to discipleship and friendship with Jesus, we pray. R.Our Father:Let us pray together the words that Jesus taught us.Our Father...Closing Prayer:Loving God, you sent your son, Jesus, to be our hope. We feel his promised spirit at work within us. We recognize his risen presence among us as we gather in his name in prayer, and celebrate the Eucharist. He is the hope which inspires us to share as members of the Catholic educational community, in your Church’s mission to announce the Good News to the whole world. We thank you for the gift of Catholic education. May it continue to be a place where Christ ignites within us, an abiding confidence, in a future filled with hope. We make this prayer through the same Christ, our Lord.We close in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen+Closing Song:Go Make a Difference ................
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