A Variety of Things

During our Pentecost celebration, our 6-12 children brought a plant to represent Creation, when the Spirit moved over the waters, and the following to correspond to the gifts of the Spirit:

- The Good Samaritan for Understanding (He understood the traveler's pain)

- The Good Shepherd for Knowledge (He knows the Sheep and the Father)

-  The Mustard Seed for Fear of the Lord

-  Simeon and Anna for Piety

-  A prophet for Counsel

- For Strength, a variety of things, including the oil of baptism, the woman who looks for the coin, and bread and wine

- For Wisdom, the Maxims

The Language of God

After reading Acts 2:1-11 with a group of 9-year olds, the catechist asked, "How could people from so many different places all understand the apostles?"

Nathan replied, "Because when you speak with God there is only one language, and they were all speaking the language of God."

The catechist asked, "Is there any other time we know of when all people will be speaking the 'one language of God?'"

The children replied, "Parousia."

Awe, Wonder and Strength

In our Pentecost celebration, after the children lit their candles to choose their gifts, they told each other why they chose their gifts. Here are two:

I chose awe and wonder because there are so many beautiful things, I just want to appreciate them more. Serena, 9

I chose strength because we need it so we don't despair. Xander, 9

To the left is the original drawing of Pentecost done when the child was 3 years 9 months. This original drawing was lost along with a book full of many of her atrium drawings. In her great distress, the child began to meticulously recreate every drawing from memory. This recreation of the original, shown to the right, was drawn when the child was 5 years 9 months. The original book was eventually found.

Sing for Love and Pray for Peace

Kiaran, age 7, wrote this on the day of the Pentecost celebration, shortly after his First Communion:

Sing for love and pray for peace.
God in heaven has prepared a room for me.
The goal of heaven is mine.
Sing for love, and pray for peace.
You can't see Jesus in a blink of an eye, but he is around you and me all the time.
Oh, oh, h, oh, sing for love and pray for peace.
Pentecost is the day I love
a day of coming of the spirit's love.
Pentecost we celebrate as the birthday of the church.
Pentecost is the day of love
and the gentle coming of the dove.
Pentecost is the day the holy spirit came from above.
Tongues of fire came raining down on the birthday of the church.
Send me off, send me off to where I need to go.
Send me off, my life is the road that takes me where I need to go.

The Language of God

After reading Acts 2, 1-11 with a group of 9-year olds, the catechist asked, "How could people from so many different places all understand the apostles?"

Noah replied, "Because when you speak with God there is only one language, and they were all speaking the language of God."

The catechist asked, "Is there any other time we know of when all people will be speaking the 'one language of God?'"

The children replied, "Parousia." "Perhaps we have here a preview--a foretaste--of what Parousia will be like," mused the catechist.

Jesus is my only power.

During a Pentecost celebration. The children had lit small candles to place in front of the "gift" candles with the Paschal candle behind all. We were enjoying the moment, singing or being quiet. Kristopher, age 5, made this bold proclamation:

Jesus is my only power.
He was born and rose from the dead.
He is the (my) light,
the only son of the Father.'

Pentecost is the day of love

Kyle, age 7, wrote this on the day of the Pentecost celebration, shortly after his First Communion:

Sing for love and pray for peace.
God in heaven has prepared a room for me.
The goal of heaven is mine.
Sing for love, and pray for peace.
You can't see Jesus in a blink of an eye, but he is around you and me all the time.
Oh, oh, h, oh, sing for love and pray for peace.
Pentecost is the day I love
a day of coming of the spirit's love.
Pentecost we celebrate as the birthday of the church.
Pentecost is the day of love
and the gentle coming of the dove.
Pentecost is the day the holy spirit came from above.
Tongues of fire came raining down on the birthday of the church.
Send me off, send me off to where I need to go.
Send me off, my life is the road that takes me where I need to go.

Wonder and Awe

Quinn, age 7, chose the readings and songs for our Pentecost Mass. For the first reading, he had chosen the story of the Magi. It seemed a little out of season, but then I realized it made a nice connection to the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, so I mentioned that the magi brought gifts to Jesus, and we receive gifts from the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Then we did the presentation where each child selects a "gift" and lights a candle from that gift's candle.

We returned to the atrium after Mass for an "Open house" work period;' We asked the children to show their parents some of their favorite materials. It was a little chaotic because there were refreshments and tons of people, but the children ate their cake and then set to work.

Cole, 5, who has Down Syndrome, chose the Adoration of the Magi. He took the materials out of the box and then pointed emphatically at me and then at a chair next to his: he wanted me to read the Scripture booklet.

As I was reading, Colin, also 5, stopped and listened, then said, "Oh! Wonder and awe! That's one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It's the one the three kings had." And then he walked away.