No one can take us out of Jesus!

During the lesson on preparing the chalice at Mass in her atrium of 6-9-year-old children, the catechist said: "The wine represents Jesus." She pours a full cruet into chalice, then continues, "The water represents you and me." She stops again and pours one drop of water into the wine. "Now, what could this mean for us?"

Silence descended among the children as they stared at what had just happened. Then they burst out: "We're inside Jesus...We disappear; we're gone...Yes...No, we're still us...We become Jesus...No one can take us out of Jesus!"

Eucharistic Presence

Daniella, age 5, was familiar with a material representing the parable of the Good Shepherd. It had figures of a shepherd and ten sheep she could move in and out of a sheepfold. Next, she received a presentation which uses the image of the Good Shepherd to introduce the Eucharistic Presence. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, calls the sheep around a small altar. Then bread and wine replaces the shepherd, because Jesus is present in the bread and wine, not the statue. Finally the sheep are replaced with people. The words of the Last Supper are repeated, and the catechist says, "With these words, Jesus feeds the sheep with himself in the bread and in the wine." After the presentation, she worked with the material for over an hour, and drew this picture.

Eucharistic Presence

Dana, age 5, had been coming to the atrium infrequently. Her catechist finally had the chance to present to her the Eucharistic Presence--a meditation which connects the Eucharist to the Good Shepherd feeding his flock. Immediately after receiving the presentation, Dana worked alone for an hour and drew this reflection. The drawing includes a group of people gathered around the altar with bread and wine, and an image of a sheep above the altar.

After the Eucharistic Presence presentation, Henrik worked with the material. He had the Good Shepherd go out and find the lost sheep, and when the lost were found, the altar was set for a grand celebration, to mark their return. Henrik said that the people around the altar "couldn't believe it," so amazed were they at what the Good Shepherd had done. The people were "so surprised" to have a celebration like this.

The Lost Sheep

After the Eucharistic Presence presentation, Henry worked with the material. He had the Good Shepherd go out and find the lost sheep, and when the lost were found, the altar was set for a grand celebration, to mark their return. Henry said that the people around the altar "couldn't believe it," so amazed were they at what the Good Shepherd had done. The people were "so surprised" to have a celebration like this.