By Janet Miller. Copyright © 2011, TeamRCIA.com. All rights reserved.

CATECHIST’S NOTES

HOW TO USE THIS RESOURCE

Dismissal Session

The Dismissal Session is for catechumens only who are dismissed from

worship before the Creed (RCIA #75.3). The Dismissal Session group may

gather for the Catechetical Session at another time during the week.

Catechetical Session

When the Dismissal Session is immediately followed by the Catechetical

Session, parents or other sponsors join the group after Eucharist. Baptized

children preparing for confirmation and Eucharist may also join in the

Catechetical Session (RCIA #254; Appendix III, #19).

Select the session options that fit your time frame.

NOTES FOR THIS SUNDAY

Sunday’s readings

• Genesis 12:1-4

• Psalm 33:4-5, 18-20, 22

• 2 Timothy 1:8-10

• Matthew 17:1-9

Doctrine correlations

• The Transfiguration is a moment of self-disclosure of Christ’s

divine glory (CCC glossary).

• Jesus invited three witnesses to a mysterious event on a

mountain top (CCC #554).

RCIA team notes

As with adults, the Christian initiation of children is marked by

steps with periods corresponding to those of adult initiation (RCIA,

#253, 260-329). In the third step, the ordained minister who

baptizes them also confers confirmation, and the children

participate for the first time in the liturgy of the eucharist (RCIA

#305). Confer with the RCIA team to ensure that the children are

guided through the complete initiation process parallel with the

adults.

Second Sunday of Lent Year A

Children’s RCIA Resource

GETTING READY FOR THE SESSION

Items to prepare

� check-in sheet and nametag materials (violet paper, scissors,

lanyards or yarn and stapler)

� Bibles, one set to Matthew 17

� poster paper or white board, erasers, and erasable markers

� Sharing Faith questions and copies of “Faith at Home”

� violet cloth on table or counter space for prayer

� crucifix

� candle in heat-proof container, matches

� clipboards or books, recycled paper, pencils

� white chalk, dark paper, hairspray

� simple costumes, props, and parent notes (all optional)

Gathering Prayer Ritual

Set up prayer space with words for responses printed on a large sheet or

written on a board.

Singing option

Use music from your faith community resources. The suggestion is a

guide. Bring songbooks and music in a player.

For Sharing Faith groups

Put the Scripture citation with the questions on cards for group leaders.

Crossing the Ages Activity option: Transfiguration Skits

Gather simple costumes and props (optional). If the members will be

performing for another faith community group or care facility, make

arrangements. If they are to reconvene at another time, prepare

permission notes with the date, time, and place.

Snack option

Send a reminder to the sponsor providing the snack this week.

Planning ahead

For next session’s Engaging the Word, recruit three sponsors or youth

members to practice John 4:5-29, 39-42, the parts for narrator, Jesus,

and the woman.

CATECHIST’S NOTES

Friends on the Way - Second Sunday of Lent, A 2

DISMISSAL SESSION

GATHERING (15 MINUTES)

Catechumens, having heard the Sunday proclamation of the word, are dismissed from the Mass. Greet

the catechumens as they arrive. Have them check in and put on nametags. If they were not present last

week, have them make nametags using violet paper. (They cut the paper into a cross shape or draw a

cross on the nametag and print their names. Provide recycled, sterilized lanyards or yarn and a stapler.)

GATHERING PRAYER RITUAL

All stand around the prayer focal point with the words for “All” displayed. Light the candle.

Ask a volunteer to hold up a crucifix.

All: Be with us, Jesus, as we walk the way of your cross.

Leader: Christ Crucified,

All: have mercy on us.

The crucifix is placed near the Bible on a violet cloth.

Song Suggestion: “Come and Follow Me” from Give Your Gifts, Melody Book, GIA Publications, Inc.

(†) Invite the members when you lift a hand to respond with, “Merciful God, we place our trust in

you.” Prayerfully say each of the following verses based on Psalm 33, and call for the response by

lifting a hand:

All God’s works are trustworthy. (response)

God, who loves justice,

fills the earth with kindness. (response)

We put our hope in you, O God,

our help and shield. (response)

Hold up the candle and say:

Christ shines for all.

Pass the candle around the circle. Each member takes it and repeats, “Christ shines for all.” Place the

candle on the cloth and say:

Let us share the light of Christ with everyone.

Extinguish the candle flame.

Friends on the Way - Second Sunday of Lent, A 3

CONNECTING WITH ONE ANOTHER

Invite everyone to sit in a circle. Introduce anyone new. Invite sharing about their experiences with the

“Faith at Home” page from the previous session.

BUILDING COMMUNITY

Back-to-Back Drawing: Assign partners. (Be a partner, if needed.) Give each pair one clipboard or

book to use as a backing, a sheet of recycled scratch paper, and a pencil. Explain that one person will

imagine an item and describe it while the other person draws. Have them decide who will draw and sit

back to back. Remind the person describing to clearly envision one item and describe it without looking

while the partner draws. Then, invite sharing about how it was difficult to know exactly what to do.

Conclude with the following:

In the gospel story of the Transfiguration, the disciples heard God telling them to

listen to Jesus. At that time, it was not yet clear what they were to do.

RECALLING THE WORD (10 MINUTES)

Have everyone sit with Bibles in a circle. Use the following as a guide. For information, refer to “Insight

for the Catechist” and the reflection on the “Faith at Home” page.

Have everyone find Genesis 12:1-4a. Explain the following:

For thousands of years, Abram has been held up as a model for all who believe in

one God of all.

⇒ What do we know about Abram by reading this account? (Affirm responses. Point

out Abram’s willingness to do as God directed.)

Have everyone turn to 2 Timothy 1:8b-10.

In this letter one early Christian is writing to another as a reminder of the ministry

they share.

⇒ What do these early disciples believe about Jesus?

⇒ Do you agree or disagree that following the gospel can be difficult? Why?

Have everyone turn to Matthew17:1-9. Explain that the word “transfigured” means “changed to appear

glorious.”

⇒ What do you find amazing in this gospel account? (Affirm all comments.)

⇒ What glowing changes do you see in yourselves as you come closer to Jesus?

Friends on the Way - Second Sunday of Lent, A 4

Friends on the Way - Second Sunday of Lent, A 5

Summarize the members’ comments and insights. Conclude:

This week’s gospel story reveals the beloved position of Jesus who reflects God’s

glory. Through knowing Jesus, the disciples discovered the power of God. Their

experiences with Jesus sustained them to carry on the mission and build the

Christian church.

PRAYING INTERCESSIONS (5 MINUTES)

We believe that God knows our concerns and hears our prayers, so let us petition

God in prayer.

When I lift my hand please respond, “God who opens us to be transformed, hear

our prayer.”

• Strengthen your faithful to be willing to do as you, almighty God, direct. (Lift a

hand for the response.)

• We give thanks for grace that leads believers in the ways of holiness. (Lift a hand

for the response.)

• With all the faithful may we know the glory that comes with transformation.

(Lift a hand for the response.)

Invite the members to contribute their own intercessions. Then conclude:

God who gives us all good things,

hear the prayers we have spoken and those we hold in our hearts.

Help us to know the glory that only comes from you, Almighty God.

We pray in unity with the Holy Spirit

and through Christ Jesus who shows us the way,

One God for ever and ever.

All: Amen.

Option: Break for a snack and social time.

By Janet Miller. Copyright © 2011, TeamRCIA.com. All rights reserved.

The Catechetical Session follows the Dismissal Session either immediately or

at another time during the week. The Catechetical Session is designed for

catechumens and parents or sponsors to grow in faith together. The status of

the catechumens never is to be confused with that of baptized children

preparing for confirmation or Eucharist, who may join in this catechesis as

supportive companions (RCIA, Appendix III, #19). Note: The members may

need to regroup at another time to perform skits for another group.

GATHERING FOR CATECHESIS (5 MINUTES)

Welcome the catechumens, parents, sponsors, and any baptized

children arriving from liturgy. If this Catechetical Session does not take

place immediately following the Dismissal Session, plan an additional

ten minutes and begin with the Gathering and Connecting segments in

the Dismissal Session.

PRAYING

Invite everyone to stand around the prayer focal point. Use the (†)

prayer from the Gathering Prayer Ritual in the Dismissal Session,

another prayer, or sing a gathering song from liturgy.

ENGAGING THE WORD (15 MINUTES)

Distribute white chalk and dark paper. Ask everyone to draw while they

listen. Pausing often for members to reflect and draw, dramatically tell

Matthew 12:1-9. Allow a few moments for members to finish. To set the

chalk, mist with hair spray. Invite sharing of their illustrations.

SHARING FAITH (15 MINUTES)

Explain reflective listening as follows:

Each person will have an opportunity to answer each

question while everyone else listens reflectively. When

someone finishes, you may ask a question or say how

something the person mentioned is meaningful to you.

Form mixed-age groups of four to six with Bibles. (If there are only a

few participants, lead the discussion as a whole group.) Print the

questions on large paper or marker board or distribute questions on

cards for an adult to lead. Remind the leaders to give everyone around

the group a turn to answer each question without interruption, and

then ask the next question. Circulate to encourage reflective listening.

CATECHETICAL SESSION

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT,

YEAR A

Genesis 12:1-4

Psalm 33:4-5, 18-20, 22

2 Timothy 1:8-10

Matthew 17:1-9

Insight for the Catechist

The writer in the Gospel

according to Matthew

consistently identified Jesus

as the new Moses. Moses was

called to an enshrouded

mountain with a witness,

Joshua, where God spoke

from the cloud.

In the Transfiguration

account, Jesus took

witnesses to a mountain.

They had an experience of

God’s glory coming through

a cloud with Jesus

illuminated in the presence

of great prophets, Moses and

Elijah. Later, the disciples

told about this experience to

affirm Jesus’ identity as truly

the servant of God who was

foreseen by the prophets.

Peter’s suggestion to erect

tents related to the festival of

booths. This annual harvest

event included prayers for

the new year. Peter made the

connection that Jesus

inaugurated a new age.

Peter, James, and John later

became primary witnesses of

the resurrection, proclaiming

to others the glory of God as

shown through Jesus.

6

CONVERSING ABOUT MATTHEW 17:1-9

• Why do you suppose Jesus showed this divine vision to the three witnesses?

• How do you think the disciples felt and when, if ever, have you felt this way?

• The memory of the Transfiguration encouraged the disciples. What memories encourage

you to be faithful?

Call the attention of the whole group, ask for insights, and summarize:

The glorious vision of the Transfiguration must have left the three witnesses with

many different feelings. Maybe it caused more questions than it answered at the

time. For example, Peter was not sure what to do, so he suggested putting up tents

in which to pray. After Jesus’ resurrection the meaning became clear, and the

disciples were encouraged by their memories of that vision.

Friends on the Way - Second Sunday of Lent, A 7

Crossing the Ages Activity (Optional activity: 20 minutes)

Transfiguration Skits

(Deepen the sense of mystery of salvation)

Depending on your schedule, do the activity with the

members, parents, and sponsors.

Assign mixed-age teams of three or four with pencils and recycled scratch paper. (Some members may

prefer not to act but can help develop the dialog.) Ask the teams to develop skits with Jesus, Moses, and

Elijah talking on the mountain or with Peter, James, and John talking after the Transfiguration.

Provide simple costumes and props (optional).

If needed, suggest possible themes:

• Moses and Elijah give suggestions to Jesus about his mission.

• Jesus, Moses, and Elijah recall events recorded in Scripture.

• The disciples talk about how they feel and what the Transfiguration might mean.

Have the members perform their skits.

Extended-Time Option: Take members to other groups to perform, or provide notes with information

about where and when to reconvene to enact skits for another group within the faith community or at a

care facility.

CARRYING OUT THE WORD (5 MINUTES)

SUMMING UP

Invite everyone to stand around the prayer focal point. Encourage them to offer insights from this

week’s session. Then conclude with the following:

When we reflect on Scripture, some of our questions are answered while other

questions continue to come to us. In this week’s gospel account, Jesus took three

friends to a mountain where they saw Jesus in a divine vision and experienced

God’s glory coming through a cloud. Later, they told about this experience to teach

others that Jesus came to be glorified by God as savior of all.

CLOSING PRAYER

Invite anyone who wishes to offer spontaneous prayer. Invite everyone to respond “Amen” after each

petition.

O God, may we always be attentive to your voice. (Amen.)

Send your Spirit, O Jesus, to help us see you shining in the faces of those in need.

(Amen.)

Touch us and bid us to “Rise up” whenever we are afraid. (Amen.)

Raise your hands in blessing over the group, and say:

Go forth from this place with God’s glory shining through you

as followers of Jesus.

And may the Lord bless us

(make the Sign of the Cross on yourself as a model for everyone)

protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.

All: Amen.

Distribute the “Faith at Home” page. Collect the nametags.

Friends on the Way - Second Sunday of Lent, A 8

By Janet Miller. Copyright © 2011, TeamRCIA.com. All rights reserved. Permission is given to reproduce this handout for family home use.

Remember Sunday’s Word

Genesis 12:1-4

Psalm 33:4-5, 18-20, 22

2 Timothy 1:8-10

Matthew 17:1-9 Faith at Home Second Sunday in Lent, Year A

At a convenient time for the family, gather around the dining table or in the living room. Place a

Bible opened to Matthew 17 in the center. Silence all electronics. Begin with a moment of quiet.

REFLECTING ON GENESIS 12:1-4

Abram, whose name was later changed to Abraham, is looked up to as the founder of faith for all

believers in one God. Abraham trusted God and did as he believed God directed even though that

meant leaving his homeland. Jewish people and Christians derive their spiritual heritage from

Abraham traced through his son, Isaac, by his wife Sarah. Muslims trace their heritage through

Ishmael, the son of Abraham by Sarah’s slave, Hagar.

Sometimes it is difficult to see God’s blessing when a family needs to make a change. Later, a

necessary geographic move, a job change, or another unexpected event may become a blessing in

disguise.

⇒ When has our family needed to make changes?

⇒ What blessings resulted from these changes?

⇒ Are there some changes in which we have not yet realized God-given blessings?

Select a change that your family has had to make. Write a prayer of thanksgiving for the blessing or a

petition asking God to help you see the blessing. Put a copy of the prayer in the Bible, and say it often.

REFLECTING ON 2 TIMOTHY 1:8-10

Since many of the first Christians suffered ridicule and even imprisonment, the writer of this letter

offers encouragement. The writer reminds the readers of their shared ministry. Together they are

called to a holy life of grace made manifest by Christ the Savior who brings life and immortality.

⇒ In what ways is it sometimes hard to follow gospel teachings?

REFLECTING ON MATTHEW 17:1-9

In the Transfiguration experience, the disciples see Jesus as truly God’s Beloved. Even Moses and Elijah,

who had been God’s emissaries in the past, did not shine with the fullness of God’s glory. We can see

why Peter considered this an event worthy of setting up prayer tents. After Christ’s death and

resurrection, the vision bolstered the disciples to carry on his mission.

⇒ Which images of Jesus does each family member find helpful?

⇒ How is the power of Christ transforming our family?

As a family, plan a trip to a mountain top or high building on a clear or partly cloudy morning. Leave

before the dawn. Together, await the sun rise and enjoy the growing glow. Sit for a moment in the

brightness of the rising sun. If there are any clouds, imagine together what God might be saying to your

family. Each person share a vision about the future. On the way down, try to be silent and reflect. Back

at home, over breakfast, share impressions.

Draw figures on the picture below to show the story of Jesus’ Transfiguration.

Second Sunday of Lent, A TeamRCIA.com