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Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter Programs |
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Advent/Christmas Program
With HCA's Advent/Christmas Program, children learn how to make the entire season more meaningful by offering prayers and sacrifices for children in the Developing World who await the "Good News" - and help them see Christmas with the eyes of a missionary. Materials include coin boxes or folders, a classroom poster featuring a look at the Advent/Christmas country of focus, and a Quick Reference Program Guide. Please order Advent/Christmas materials by September 16, 2011 to ensure prompt delivery.
Check out these other fun ways to celebrate Advent/Christmas in your school!
Quick Reference Guide for Advent/Christmas
Learn about Kenya, HCA's Focus Area for Advent/Christmas, through the Quick Reference Guide for Advent/Christmas. Activities and a prayer included.
Special Webpage for Kenya
Visit the Pontifical Mission Societies webpage on Kenya. It has information on the February 2011 trip there. Msgr. Blood participated in this trip!
Christmas Artwork Contest
Encourage your students to participate in the Christmas Artwork Contest!
St. Francis Xavier
December 3rd is the Feast Day of St. Francis Xavier, co-patron of the missions. Be sure to download a fun activity sheet!!
Advent Prayer Service
Take part in an Advent Prayer Service.
Advent Mission Prayer
Dear God, in this Advent Season, keep us mindful of those who do not know Your Son, Jesus, or about His great love for each one of us. Fill us with your Holy Spirit so that we may be courageous missionaries of the “Good News” now and all during our lives. Amen.
Stocking for Jesus
Start a new Christmas tradition by hanging an extra stocking in your home, labeled and decorated for Jesus. On Christmas Eve, each family member can take turns dropping a “gift” into the stocking for Jesus. It could be a note promising to pray the World Mission Rosary more often, to participate in the missionary activities of your parish, or the offerings saved for HCA during Advent!
Cut-out Hands Advent Wreath activity
Green construction paper
Glue/glue sticks
Scissors
Poster board
Markers or pens
Trace your hand on the green construction paper and use this as a template to cut out 24 additional hands. Then, cut out a large circle from the poster board leaving a hole in the center so that it looks like a large donut (ask an adult to help). Label the front of each hand with numbers from 1 through 25. On the back of each hand, list a prayer you will say or a “good deed” you will do during the Advent Season. Each day, glue a “hand” to your poster board (number side down) in a circular pattern to remind you of the Advent activity you have committed to do that day until the “wreath” is completed.
Epiphany Prayer Service
Take part in an Epiphany Prayer Service. Epiphany is January 6, 2012.
Lent/Easter Program
Children prepare for Easter through sacrificial giving and learn the importance of their Baptismal call to be missionary year-round. Materials are best used throughout the Lent and Easter seasons, as well as for the great missionary celebration of Pentecost Sunday. Please order Lent/Easter materials by November 14, 2011 to ensure prompt delivery.
HCA National Prayer Week: March 11-18, 2012
In prayer, we appeal to the Lord's goodness for the things we need, acknowledging our faith and trust in Him. HCA's National Prayer Week, March 11-18, 2012, is a time for young Catholics to unite in prayer for those in need throughout the world. Materials are FREE, easy to use and reproduce. Prayer Week materials are shipped automatically to schools/parishes in the United States. Thousands of young Catholics pray with HCA each year! Kids can also pray online at www.hcakids.org.
Prayer for Children of the World
Please bless children everywhere. Those with blonde hair, red, brown and black. Those with skin of every color. Those who smile and those who suffer because of war, poverty or hunger. Bless those with comfortable homes and those in homes with leaky roofs and dirt floors and those with no homes at all. Bless those who go to school, skip rope and play ball and those who work all day in fields and factories or on the street. Bless the children with loving parents and those who are orphaned and abused. Help us to bring your love and your message of peace, hope and eternal life to all these children. Amen.
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