Trinity Sunday

Year A

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Sunday after Pentecost

Image

Mystery

Points to note

Learning is a continuous process and we never stop learning.  It is important to stress the fact that we continue to learn about Jesus through our parents and our catechists.  Even grown-ups continue to learn about Jesus through the Church.  Actually, even the Pope.

As it is Trinity Sunday, the stress is also that whatever that is taught by the Spirit about the Father is the same as what Jesus taught.

Try to say “Holy Spirit” instead of just “Spirit” as the latter has connotations for some children that can be a little distracting, while the former is a proper name to many children.

Liturgy

Acclamation before the Gospel

Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

the God who is, who was, and who is to come.

Alleluia!

Explain that Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus, one of the Jewish leaders.  Some of the things that Jesus said are a little difficult for non-Christians, like the Jews, to understand.

Gospel

A simple Sign of the Cross is made to start the mass, but you should explain its significance.  The early Christians used the sign of the cross to bless themselves during the liturgy, and to show that they are Christians at other times.  We don’t really know if they use it as a secret sign known only to themselves during the persecution, but it is an intriguing thought.

Children also like the idea that as our hands move to the different parts of our body when signing ourselves, we are also making a silent prayer with our hands: God, grant us wisdom (head), love (heart), and strength (shoulders).

Again, it may help explaining about the other Sign of the Cross that we use before hearing the Gospel.  This one is a little more primitive and being more discreet, was more likely to have been used as a secret sign if there was one.  It survives a lot more in the liturgies than the more conventional one.  For instance, the priest traces the cross on the forehead of the baby or catechumen during the Liturgy of Baptism.

Again, children like the idea of a prayer using their hands.  So: As we hear your word, let us think good thought (head), say good words (lips), and feel love (heart).

The Lord be with you.

All:   And also with you.

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St John

All:   Glory to you O Lord

(Jn 3:16-18)

Jesus said to Nicodemus:

“God loved the world so much

that he gave his only Son,

so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost

but may have eternal life.

For God sent his Son into the world

not to condemn the world,

but so that through him the world might be saved.

No one who believes in him will be condemned;

but whoever refuses to believe is condemned already,

because he has refused to believe

in the name of God’s only Son.”

This is the Gospel of the Lord

Dialogue

Does anybody like adventure games on the computer?  (for the uninitiated, adventure games are where you have to navigate a course, which could be like a house, by answering questions or going through locked doors, etc, in order to arrive at a destination where a prize will be waiting)  Get the children to talk about those games, but not too long.  Dwell on the aspects of the game where they have to figure out something that will take them to the next level.  In the game, a little bit will be made known to you – bit by bit.

What is a mystery?

In the early Church, a mystery is a hidden truth that is revealed only to the elect, i.e., baptised Christians.  A catechumen is initiated into the mystery in a rite of initiation lasting years, during which the faith is gradually revealed to him.  At the end of his formation, he will be baptised and is said to have entered into the mystery.  Even after that, though the newly baptised continue to be further initiated into the faith and will finally enter fully into the faith on meeting his Creator face to face.

Explain to the children that God is like a mystery to us and we learn about him gradually through the people around us and through talking to him in prayers.  In a way, our knowledge of God is a bit like the computer game – you cannot know about God all at once.  You can only know about God bit by bit.

Is Jesus still around to teach us?  Be careful!  Jesus isn’t dead on the Cross.  He stayed with the disciples for forty days after his resurrection, after which he went to heaven to prepare a house for us.  Forty days isn’t a long time to teach anyone about God, I guess!  But he has asked the Holy Spirit to continue to teach us about himself.  Stress that whatever the Holy Spirit teaches is the same as what Jesus taught.  So, therefore, the Holy Spirit will continue to teach us from where Jesus left off.

Ask the children how the Holy Spirit continues the teaching of Jesus.  Discuss how the Holy Spirit teaches us through things that happen around us; through people close to us, etc, etc

Trinity Sunday

Year C

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Image

Mystery

Points to note

Learning is a continuous process and we never stop learning.  It is important to stress the fact that we continue to learn about Jesus through our parents and our catechists.  Even grown-ups continue to learn about Jesus through the Church.  Actually, even the Pope.

As it is Trinity Sunday, the stress is also that whatever that is taught by the Spirit about the Father is the same as what Jesus taught.

Try to say “Holy Spirit” instead of just “Spirit” as the latter has connotations for some children that can be a little distracting, while the former is a proper name to many children.

Liturgy

Opening dialogue

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

All:   Amen.

A simple Sign of the Cross is made to start the mass, but you should explain its significance.  The early Christians used the sign of the cross to bless themselves during the liturgy, and to show that they are Christians at other times.  We don’t really know if they use it as a secret sign known only to themselves during the persecution, but it is an intriguing thought.

Children also like the idea that as our hands move to the different parts of our body when signing ourselves, we are also making a silent prayer with our hands: God, grant us wisdom (head), love (chest), and strength (shoulders).

Explain to the children that the Apostles were very sad because Jesus had just told them that he was going to leave them.  Ask how they feel if a favourite teacher was to be leaving their school.  Would they like their replacement teacher to be just as nice?

Acclamation before the Gospel

Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

the God who is, who was, and who is to come.

Alleluia!

Gospel

The Lord be with you.

All:   And also with you.

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St John

All:   Glory to you O Lord

Again, it may help explaining about the other Sign of the Cross that we use before hearing the Gospel (separately from the above explanation).  This one is a little more ancient and being more discreet, was more likely to have been used as a secret sign if there was one.  It survives a lot more in the liturgies than the more conventional one.  For instance, the priest traces the cross on the forehead of the baby or catechumen during the Liturgy of Baptism.

Again, children like the idea of a prayer.  So: As we hear your word. let us think good thoughts (head), say good words (lips), and feel love (chest).

(Jn 16:12-15)

Jesus said to his disciples:

“I still have many things to say to you

but you would not be able to understand them now

But when the Holy Spirit comes

he will teach you the complete truth,

since he will not be speaking about himself

but will teach what he has learnt from the Father;

and he will tell you about the things to come.

He will glorify me

since all he teaches you

will be from what I teach;

Everything the Father has is mine;

that is why I have said:

All he teaches you will be the same as what I have taught

This is the Gospel of the Lord

Dialogue

What is a mystery?

In the early Church, a mystery is a hidden truth that is revealed only to the elect, i.e., baptised Christians.  A catechumen is initiated into the mystery in a rite of initiation lasting years, during which the faith will be gradually revealed go him.  At the end of his formation, he will be baptised and is said to have entered into the mystery.  Even after that, though the newly baptised continue to be further initiated into the faith and will finally enter fully into the faith on meeting his Creator face to face.

Explain to the children that God is like a mystery to us and we learn about him gradually through the people around us and through talking to him in prayers.

Is Jesus still around to teach us?  Be careful!  Jesus isn’t dead on the Cross.  He has gone to heaven to prepare a house for us.  But he has asked the Holy Spirit to continue to teach us about himself.  Stress that whatever the Holy Spirit teaches is the same as what Jesus taught. 

Trinity Sunday

Year B

Trinity Sunday

Images

Baptising in the name of the Holy Trinity

Points to note

Easter season has just finished and we are not back into the ordinary season of the liturgical year.  The readings will remain with the Gospel according to St Mark, with a few exceptions like in this week, until the end of the liturgical year.

If you do wish to go into the intricacies of the Trinity, this will be in the leaflet for Year A.

In this reading, the injunction from Jesus calls on the Apostles, the first bishops to baptise in the name of the Trinity.  Names are very important to the ancients.  That is why important people in the Bible had their names changed by God at critical times of their lives:  Abraham; Jacob; Peter.  The Bible also emphasises naming of persons and often gives the meaning of the names. 

In the ancient world, the authority to give or to change someone’s name confers a certain power and ownership of the namer (is this the right word?) over the named.  Therefore, to be baptised in the name of the Trinity would seal the Trinity’s ownership over us.

This would also be an opportunity to share everyone’s names in the group.  You may want to have a book of names to give meaning to names.

Liturgy

Acclamation before the Gospel

Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit the God who is, who was, and who is to come.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Explain that this story took place after Jesus rose from the dead and just before he ascended into heaven.

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Matthew

(Mt 28: 16-20)

The eleven disciples set out for Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had arranged to meet them.  When they saw him they fell down before him, though some hesitated.  Jesus came up and spoke to them.  He said, “All authority has in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you.  And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Discussions

Does anyone remember their baptism?  Some of the children may have been baptism as children and not babies while some others may have witnessed a baptism.  Get them to talk about the more salient happenings during the baptism.

There is one point in the celebration where the baby is brought up to the priest for the baptism itself.  Before the baptism, the priest asks the parents for the name of the baby.  This will be a good opportunity to go through the room and ask every child what his or her parents said.  Do it slowly with respect and holiness when they say their names as the ritual of naming can be a solemn affair.

Point out that when their parents called out their names, it was the first time that the Christian community heard their name and the Christian community accepted that name by welcoming the baby into the Church through baptism.

Explain that the choice of names and their meanings are very important.  That is why in the ancient world, people chose the names of their children because of the meaning and not just because they sounded nice.  No one would have wanted their parents to name them Porky for instance!!  If you have a book of names, you may wish to go search out the meaning of names of each child.

Explain also that sometimes, people are named after someone famous, someone the parents like or respect a lot.  It could be a film star, a world leader, or a family member.  Ask if any of the children know if they have been named after someone. 

When parents named a child after someone, they hope that the child will take on the qualities of that person.  Guess what the parents would want their daughter to grow up to be if they have named her Britney?  Catholics like to name their children after saints in hope that they will grow up to be like the saint.

When we are baptised, we are all baptised with two names:  the name that our parents gave us and the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.  We are all baptised using the name of Christ.  After our baptism, people call us Christians and expect us to be like the person that we were named after:  Jesus.  So, being named and being baptised in the Catholic Church is a responsibility.  Discuss how we should respond to this responsibility.

Trinity Sunday

Year A

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Sunday after Pentecost

Image

Mystery

Points to note

Learning is a continuous process and we never stop learning.  It is important to stress the fact that we continue to learn about Jesus through our parents and our catechists.  Even grown-ups continue to learn about Jesus through the Church.  Actually, even the Pope.

As it is Trinity Sunday, the stress is also that whatever that is taught by the Spirit about the Father is the same as what Jesus taught.

Try to say “Holy Spirit” instead of just “Spirit” as the latter has connotations for some children that can be a little distracting, while the former is a proper name to many children.

Liturgy

Acclamation before the Gospel

Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

the God who is, who was, and who is to come.

Alleluia!

Explain that Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus, one of the Jewish leaders.  Some of the things that Jesus said are a little difficult for non-Christians, like the Jews, to understand.

Gospel

A simple Sign of the Cross is made to start the mass, but you should explain its significance.  The early Christians used the sign of the cross to bless themselves during the liturgy, and to show that they are Christians at other times.  We don’t really know if they use it as a secret sign known only to themselves during the persecution, but it is an intriguing thought.

Children also like the idea that as our hands move to the different parts of our body when signing ourselves, we are also making a silent prayer with our hands: God, grant us wisdom (head), love (heart), and strength (shoulders).

Again, it may help explaining about the other Sign of the Cross that we use before hearing the Gospel.  This one is a little more primitive and being more discreet, was more likely to have been used as a secret sign if there was one.  It survives a lot more in the liturgies than the more conventional one.  For instance, the priest traces the cross on the forehead of the baby or catechumen during the Liturgy of Baptism.

Again, children like the idea of a prayer using their hands.  So: As we hear your word, let us think good thought (head), say good words (lips), and feel love (heart).

The Lord be with you.

All:   And with your spirit.

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St John

All:   Glory to you O Lord

(Jn 3:16-18)

Jesus said to Nicodemus:

“God loved the world so much

that he gave his only Son,

so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost

but may have eternal life.

For God sent his Son into the world

not to condemn the world,

but so that through him the world might be saved.

No one who believes in him will be condemned;

but whoever refuses to believe is condemned already,

because he has refused to believe

in the name of God’s only Son.”

This is the Gospel of the Lord

Dialogue

Does anybody like adventure games on the computer?  (for the uninitiated, adventure games are where you have to navigate a course, which could be like a house, by answering questions or going through locked doors, etc, in order to arrive at a destination where a prize will be waiting)  Get the children to talk about those games, but not too long.  Dwell on the aspects of the game where they have to figure out something that will take them to the next level.  In the game, a little bit will be made known to you – bit by bit.

What is a mystery?

In the early Church, a mystery is a hidden truth that is revealed only to the elect, i.e., baptised Christians.  A catechumen is initiated into the mystery in a rite of initiation lasting years, during which the faith is gradually revealed to him.  At the end of his  formation, he will be baptised and is said to have entered into the mystery.  Even after that, though the newly baptised continue to be further initiated into the faith and will finally enter fully into the faith on meeting his Creator face to face.

Explain to the children that God is like a mystery to us and we learn about him gradually through the people around us and through talking to him in prayers.  In a way, our knowledge of God is a bit like the computer game – you cannot know about God all at once.  You can only know about God bit by bit.

Is Jesus still around to teach us?  Be careful!  Jesus isn’t dead on the Cross.  He stayed with the disciples for forty days after his resurrection, after which he went to heaven to prepare a house for us.  Forty days isn’t a long time to teach anyone about God, I guess!  But he has asked the Holy Spirit to continue to teach us about himself.  Stress that whatever the Holy Spirit teaches is the same as what Jesus taught.  So, therefore, the Holy Spirit will continue to teach us from where Jesus left off.

Ask the children how the Holy Spirit continues the teaching of Jesus.  Discuss how the Holy Spirit teaches us through things that happen around us; through people close to us, etc, etc.