Teaching Sacraments in the classroom

What is a Sacrament? The Latin word sacramentum means "a sign of the sacred." Visible signs and actions of the Church that make visible God’s presence. ‘Doors 'to the sacred Closely connected to significant events in a person’s life Celebrated in a community. A symbol of God’s care for us in Christ. ( Joseph Martos)

Sacraments are sacred actions of the Church through which God is present. In the Sacraments, words, actions and symbols are used to communicate God’s presence and action. Sacraments are celebrations of Christian tradition, of Christian life and of Christian hope. They share the dimensions of past, present and future that give ordinary celebrations meaning.

Sacraments of Initiation Baptism Confirmation Eucharist Sacraments of Healing Penance Anointing of the Sick Sacraments of Commitment Marriage Holy Orders Some we only receive once. Teaching about sacraments requires sensitivity; one to be aware of the religion of students. Sacraments show us one way of being aware of appreciating God’s presence. They could be called ‘awareness” exercises. They call us to new moments of grace and they invite us to know a gracious and merciful God more intimately. They speak the Word of God to us and they use the language of symbols. Took several centuries for the sacraments to evolve... Catholics, Orthodox and Anglicans have 7 sacraments . Most other Christian denominations only celebrate Baptism and Communion.

Sacraments and scripture Sacraments celebrate the Christian story Each Sacrament has a foundation in the life and ministry of Jesus

Archdiocese of Brisbane Sacramental Policy 2015

Sacramental Policy of the Archdiocese of Brisbane Third Edition, September 2015 Introduction Christian Initiation incorporates us into Christ forms us into the people of God Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist Sunday Mass

Parish Family School Parish Based The parish is responsible for running the preparation and for the celebration of the Sacraments. “In the Sunday Mass, those who have been initiated are continually formed by the word of God and affirmed in their belonging to the Church, the Body of Christ.”

Parish Family School Family Centred Preparing children for sacraments is a “family affair”, parents and guardians are invited to share faith, prayer and fun activities with their children. “The family is where the faith is learned and lived.”

Parish Family School School Supported The parish primary school supports sacramental preparation through the religious life of the school and through curriculum content. Children who do not attend the Catholic primary school need to be supported in other ways for their faith development.

Christian Initiation For Younger CHILDREN Baptism Infants – 8 years old Confirmation Year 3 Eucharist Year 4 Penance Year 5

Sacraments, scripture and the Religion curriculum

Prep Year Level Description They learn that Christians believe God created people with the freedom to choose between good and bad, right and wrong. They explore examples of times, from familiar texts and their personal experience, when people make these choices. Achievement standard They recognise Jesus’ teachings about love, compassion and forgiveness that challenged people about the way they were living. They relate examples of people having the freedom to choose between good and bad, right and wrong.

Year One Year Level Description They explore the words, actions and symbols used in the Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist to communicate God’s presence and action. They learn about the different roles in the local parish community Achievement Standard They identify words, actions and symbols used in the Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist to communicate God’s presence and action.

Year Two Year Level Description They develop their understanding of the loving relationship God unconditionally offers to people; and their understanding of sin, as evident in the free choices that harm the individual and their loving relationships with God, with others and with all creation. They explore ways in which believers seek to heal these relationships through reconciliation and prayer. They investigate ways in which believers celebrate reconciliation with God and with others in the Sacrament of Penance. Achievement Standard They explain ways in which believers seek to heal these relationships through reconciliation and how they celebrate reconciliation in the Sacrament of Penance

Year Three Year Level Description They learn about the significance of the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist) for the Church community. Achievement Standard They explain ways in which the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist) welcome and strengthen members of the Church community

Year Four Year 4 Level Description They broaden their understanding of the significance of the Sacraments for Church communities through an exploration of the Sacraments of Healing, including Anointing of the Sick and Penance. Year 4 Achievement Standard They describe practices and characteristics of contemporary parishes and dioceses (including celebration of the Sacraments of Anointing of the Sick and Penance) and explain how these are modelled on the mission and ministry of Jesus.

Year Five Year Level Description Achievement Standard They learn about the action of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers as they engage with a variety of texts, including Scriptural references to the Holy Spirit and the Catholic Rite of Confirmation. Achievement Standard They analyse information from a variety of texts, including Scriptural references to the Holy Spirit and the words, symbols and actions of the Catholic Rite of Confirmation, to explain the action of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers.

Year Six Year Level Description Achievement Standard They develop their understanding of the role of celebrations in the faith life of believers, including the commemoration of High Holy Days by Jewish believers and the Church’s liturgical celebrations (including the Eucharist). Achievement Standard They identify and describe many ways in which faith is celebrated in the lives of believers, past and present, including the commemoration of High Holy Days by Jewish believers; the Church’s liturgical year and the celebration of Eucharist

Year Seven Year Level Description Achievement Standard Students examine ways in which believers nurture their spiritual life through prayer, ritual, the sacraments and sacred texts Achievement Standard They explain the significance of prayer, ritual, sacraments and sacred texts for the faith journey of believers, personally and communally.

Year Eight Year Level Description Achievement Standard They learn about the significance of initiation rituals in the Abrahamic religions (Christianity, Judaism, Islam) for the faith journey of believers. Achievement Standard

Year Nine Year Level Description Achievement Standard They consider sources of inspiration, strength and guidance for believers today, including Catholic social teaching, the three forms of penance (prayer, fasting and almsgiving), Scripture, celebration of the Sacraments of Healing (Penance and Anointing of the Sick), and personal and communal prayer experiences. Achievement Standard They explain the significance of the three forms of penance (prayer, fasting and almsgiving) and the celebration of the Sacraments of Healing (Penance and Anointing of the Sick) in the lives of believers past and present.

Year Ten Year Level Description Achievement Standard They examine the Eucharist as the primary and indispensable source of nourishment for the spiritual life of believers, who carry on Jesus’ mission in the world. Achievement Standard They explain the significance of various sources that guide the Church’s action in the world (including the teaching of Jesus and the early Church; the principles of Catholic social teaching and the reasoned judgements of conscience) and that nourish the spiritual life of believers (including the Eucharist, and individual and communal prayer for justice, peace and the environment

Year Eleven and Twelve Religious Knowledge and Deep Understanding Christian rituals embody beliefs that are expressed in structured actions or codified norms/rites. In the Catholic Church, the Sacraments of Commitment (Marriage and Holy Orders) give expression to the creative love of God, and call believers to a Genuine relationship, service of others, and building up of the Christian community. For Christians, marriage is a covenant expressed as an intimate partnership of life and love between man and woman, intended by God in creation. Christian marriage presumes Genuine freedom and understanding by both persons. In major Christian churches, the call to a ministry of word, liturgical and community leadership is ritualised through a variety of ceremonies and rites (e.g. ordination, endorsement and election). In the Catholic Church, through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, bishops, priests and deacons are ordained to make Christ’s priesthood present through their service and leadership of God’s people. Christian funerals express solidarity of the living and the dead (Communion of Saints). They combine prayer for the forgiveness of sin and for a merciful judgement; hope in resurrection; and gratitude for the blessings that came to others through the life of the deceased person. Skills Analyse some Christian rituals (e.g. Marriage, Holy Orders, funerals) using models of ritual analysis, to draw conclusions about the beliefs being expressed, and how they meet the spiritual and emotional needs of believers. CHLS16

Religious Knowledge and Deep Understanding In major Christian traditions, some rituals are prepared according to formal principles and rubrics. These rituals are referred to as liturgy. Liturgical adaptation is provided for in Christian traditions to enable expression of the cultural diversity of believers and encourage their active participation. CHLS17 Skills Investigate examples of Christian liturgy (e.g. Eucharist, marriage, funerals) in order to identify some formal principles and rubrics applied. Critique examples of Christian liturgy for their capacity to express the cultural diversity of believers and encourage their active participation.

Religious Knowledge and Deep Understanding Christians believe they are called through Baptism (Latin vocátió - ‘calling’) to use their gifts in their profession, family life, Church and civic commitments in the service of God and for the sake of the greater common good. In the Christian tradition, the response to this call (one’s vocation) involves choosing from the following four main states of life: that of a single person; a married person; a celibate member of a religious congregation (sister, brother, priest); an ordained minister (e.g. priest, deacon). For Catholic Christians, Sacraments of Commitment (Marriage and Holy Orders) are particular expressions of vocation and discipleship. Christians believe the Holy Spirit empowers them to live out Christ’s mission in the world. CHPG12 Skills Investigate how and why Christians (individuals or groups, past or present) have used their gifts in the service of God and for the sake of the common good (e.g. social, political or ethical reform; defence of human rights; action for social justice; ecological stewardship).

Resources

Flame of Faith Archdiocese website

Archdiocese of Brisbane website - Sacraments

Baptism by Carlo Cabanilla Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/clofresh/26672078/ {{cc-by-sa-2.0}} category:baptism

Baptism padlet at Resource Link Catechism of the Catholic Church Catholic Australia

http://flickr.com/photo/26085795@N02/4834044008

Reconciliation == Summary == {{Information |Description=Niels Larsen Stevns: Zakæus |Source=Own photo |Date=Dec. 2006 |Author=Gunnar Bach Pedersen |Permission=PD |other_versions= }} == Licensing == {{PD-self}}

Adaptive Reconciliation Kit

Confirmation

Learning Bytes

Eucharist

Together at One Altar

Big Books Sacred Objects Catholic Traditions Eucharist

Exploring content and skills in the Liturgy and Sacraments sub-strand