Focus:

Jesus gives his disciples, and us, a mission to go and make other disciples.

Materials Needed:

• Candle
• Bible

Create a special table or sacred space in your home you can where you focus during prayer and your in-home Sunday celebration.  Here is a video on how to do so: https://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/2020/04/pop-up-catechesis-creating-a-prayer-space-in-your-home/

Light the candle. Call your family to prayer.

Opening Activity:

Begin by watching a video about the Ascension of Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnRJa4cZQIE or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lzYihXQa-w

Discuss how it feels when someone you love has to leave you like Jesus left his Apostles.  Do you just stop doing things because that person has left? Do you know that person still loves you?  Have they ever given you anything to help you when they are not with you? Jesus tells his disciples that he will be sending them a helper and gives them a mission, which we will hear about in today’s Gospel.  Jesus also remind them that he will be with them, and us, until the end of time.

Music:

Choose one of the music suggestions below.  Sing together as a family.

Make the Sign of the Cross.

Sunday Gospel:  Matthew 28:16-20

Together read the Sunday Gospel.  Feel free to use your family bible or children’s bible.  Be creative.  Read it in parts.  Act out the story.  http://cms.usccb.org/bible/readings/052420-ascension.cfm  Or a children’s version (a combination of the First Reading from Acts and the Gospel) can be found here: http://jareddees.com/ascension-biblestory-kids/

Discussion:

• What mission does Jesus give to his followers? (To make disciples)
• How does Jesus tell them to do this? (By baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit)
• What does it mean to be baptized? (Through baptism, we become followers of Christ and members of the Body of Christ, the Church)
• Why do you think Jesus asked his followers to do this?
• How do we help with the mission of making disciples? (By our witness and our words)
• What are the things we do to show others that they would want to be part of the Body of Christ?

Apostles Creed:

Together pray:

I believe in God the Father almighty Creator of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty, from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.

Music:

Choose another song to sing together.

Universal Prayers:

As a family, offer prayers for our Church, our world, your local communities, and your families.

The Lord’s Prayer

Together pray the words that our Savior gave us:

Our Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy Will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Conclude with the Sign of the Cross.

Music:

Choose another song to sing together.

Family Activity Suggestions:

• Play “Finding God Everywhere”: https://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/2020/05/pop-up-catechesis-finding-god-everywhere-game/

Discuss how it shows that Jesus is always with us even when he is in heaven with the Father.

• Watch a video or look at pictures of your child(ren)’s baptism(s). Talk about what the day was like.  Point out that the same words Jesus gave the apostles are still used today.  Find their baptismal candles and light them while you have a special meal together.
• Create your own Bible Story video to share with others, helping to spread God’s word.

Music Suggestions:

Gathering: All the Earth Proclaim the Lord

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8IqqqajEbU

Psalm Response: Psalm 47: God Mounts His Throne

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXU3E88PxbY

Presentation of the Gifts: I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ionKh1dL9o0

Communion: All Who Hunger

https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.giamusic.com/mp3s/3859_3448_5ab20e7fe2ad6.mp3

Hymn of Praise: Go Out, Go Out

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdiEEVIhvPI

Other Web Resources:

Loyola Press:

https://www.loyolapress.com/catholic-resources/liturgical-year/sunday-connection/ascension-of-the-lord-cycle-a/

The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) (official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales and part of Caritas International):

https://cafod.org.uk/Education/Children-s-liturgy

Catholic Mom:

http://catholicmom.com/kids/catholic-gospel-coloring-worksheets-sunday-mass/

USCCB:

https://catholicdotbible.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/ascension.pdf

Strong Catholic Faith:

http://www.catholicfamilyfaith.org/easter-season-resources.html

Pop-Up Catechesis:

https://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/tag/pop-up-catechesis/