level 5: grades 7 & 8 A Sacramental Community

level 5: grades 7 & 8
A Sacramental Community

Background Notes for Teacher Re ection and Preparation

ELEMENTS SACRAMENTS: Effective signs of Christ’s saving presence, communal celebrations of Christian identity.
AIMS
Participation in the liturgical and Sacramental life of the faith community
CONTENT STATEMENT Growing as a creative and spiritual person
STANDARD Growing to fullness of life

Students explore the meaning of Sacraments as the experience of the presence of God.
In examining the nature, role and ritual celebration of the Sacraments, an emphasis is given to the sense of Christian community expressed
through ritual, sign, symbol and word. This calls the students to active participation in the liturgical life of the Church.

See Good News For Living Refresh Document 2014

Strand Core Doctrinal Concepts Catechism Reference
God
Sacraments 1. God reaches out to us in loving relationship. 30, 299
5. Jesus Christ reveals the forgiveness, compassion and mercy of God. 221
Religion and Society
1. In showing forth the presence of God, creation is sacramental. 32, 1147
2. Sacraments grow out of and enrich the shared life of the Christian community, celebrating initiation, 1210

healing and service. 1145, 1189
3. Each Sacrament has its own history, symbols and rituals.

1. The nature and role of religion is integral in society and in people’s lives. 27, 28, 44

LINKING WITH OTHER RESOURCE BANKS 05

Level 4 Level 5 Level 6
Sacramental Life A Sacramental Community Nourishing Christian Life: Eucharist

05 STUDENT THEOLOGICAL The Seven Sacraments of the Church are celebrated
CONTEXT BACKGROUND liturgically; and every liturgy has its own specific ritual
level 5: grades 7 & 8 FOR TEACHERS form. It is important to understand the connection
Level Five students exhibit a capacity to engage in between the sacrament, the liturgy and the ritual
A Sacramental Community formal and more abstract thinking. They are “Sacrament”: a sign that is itself what it signifies. without confusing them or separating them into totally
developing a deeper understanding of how symbols independent realities.
can be connected to abstract concepts. A sacrament is not a mere representation, but is itself
the very thing it represents (just as a hug not only Sacrament, liturgy and ritual are deeply inter-related,
Their increasing capacity to reflect on given knowledge signifies affection, it is affection). but not the same. The following schema might help to
and to see situations from various points of view illustrated the relationship and the distinction:
should be utilized to the fullest along with their natural Sacraments not only show God’s love, they are that love.
enjoyment of expressing themselves creatively. With Every year those who love you celebrate your birth.
the support of teachers these aspects of Level Five Every sacrament has four parts to it: We call it your Birthday. And we celebrate it with a
students’ development can enhance their 1. it is an ordinary, earthly reality ritual called a Birthday Party. What we are actually
understanding of the importance of rituals in their lives 2. that points beyond itself celebrating is your life – indeed, you. Now, sacrament
as members of the Christian community. 3. making that to which it points truly and revealingly is to liturgy what you and your life are to your Birthday;
and ritual is to liturgy what a Birthday Party is to your
present in itself, Birthday. Let me illustrate this graphically:
4. thereby transforming us who receive it.
Sacrament Liturgy Ritual
Christ is the “Sacrament of God”: Your life Birthday Birthday party
• a fully human being,
• who points to God, Sacrament is the life we live in God concretely, as
• making God truly and immediately present in material, human reality pointing to the invisible reality of
our living and being in Christ.
himself,
• transforming us who receive his gift of himself into The life I now live physically I live by faith in the Son of
God (Galatians 2:20)
what he is: one-with-God..
Your life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3)
The Church has “seven” sacraments:
• Baptism It is the whole of our life.
• Confirmation
• Eucharist Liturgy is the actual celebration of the sacrament (as a
• Reconciliation birthday is a celebration of a life, a person).
• Anointing of the sick
• Holy Matrimony And ritual is simply the specific way in which we
• Holy Orders celebrate the sacrament liturgically (as a birthday party
is a celebration with cake, presents, balloons, or
Each of these sacraments points to the true nature of whatever the local customs happen to be).
the Church as the Body of Christ, the One who is the
very presence of God-with-us. This is true for all sacraments. We are always in God in
through Christ. The sacrament is a celebration of that
2 truth; and like all celebrations, it is a particularly intense
and transforming realization of that which it celebrates.

05 Let me illustrate by adapting the above schema, this and culminating in Eucharist, make the life and mission and rational thought and decision. The extent to which
time with reference to all the sacraments: of the church visible and real. Between Baptism and we are capable of decision and understanding, we
Eucharist all the other sacraments of the church, as it need to be aware of what is happening to us in
level 5: grades 7 & 8 Sacrament Liturgy Ritual were, live and move and have their being. Their sacred Baptism. But even a fully conscious and rational adult
Baptism Christening number of seven is neither merely numerical nor will never be fully aware and cognisant of what is
A Sacramental Community Immersion in magical. It is, in fact, deeply, symbolic: seven is a happening to her in Baptism; and even the newborn
Confirmation Chrismation water, etc number of completion (as in the seven days of babe is worthy of the gift that surpasses all we could
creation), of perfection and fullness, indicating that all ever hope for or imagine: God’s gift of God’s very self,
Reconciliation Confession Anointing with life, all material created reality, is a channel of divine the immersion of our being into God.
Anointing of Healing service chrism grace and our sanctification, our being made whole
the Sick and holy. Through Baptism we are constantly being immersed
Matrimony Wedding Absolution into the mystery of life and death toward God in Christ.
Orders Ordination Baptism
Anointing with That is the sacrament of Baptism: God forever
Eucharist Mass oils Baptism means immersion. It is fundamentally about plunging us ever more deeply into life by drawing us
our immersion into God and into the relationships that ever more fully into our own True Self, who is nothing
Vows form us as Church. less than Christ. And – here is the paradox – this is
achieved by way of the cross: by way of loving us so
Laying on of Water is the basic symbol used in the celebration of completely that death itself is transformed by love and
hands, etc this sacrament. Water is an ancient symbol of life and taken up into God.
death; and baptism is about being immersed into God
Novus ordo through the life and death of Christ raising us to new Baptism is about life. And it is about death. It is an
life in him as his Body, the Church. immersion into God, and an incorporation into the
All the sacraments point to our union with God and Body of Christ. It is a sacrament of the church – it
one another. Baptism is not just something that is done to us as points to and makes present the Body of Christ as a
babies (or neophytes to the church) never to be done community of faith.
All of them make that communion to which they point again. This is not to say that Baptism is repeatable. It
somehow present in our very celebration, thereby would be more accurate to say that the sacrament, Confirmation
transforming us into our own true nature as God had the mystery of immersion is something that never
always intended us to be: at-one-with-God. ceases happening. The sacrament of Confirmation – celebrated as
Chrismation – with its seven gifts of the Holy Spirit is,
3 Sacraments of Initiation Baptism is the whole of life as it is immersed into God; as it were, the sign of that dynamic unity of the seven
which is why it doesn’t matter when it is first sacraments, of their interplay and all-pervading power,
Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist are called administered ritually. permeating all life, all space, time and matter as
Sacraments of Initiation. potentially sacramental. It is called, together with
Ultimately, it does not matter whether we are Baptism and Eucharist, a sacrament of initiation. This
They initiate us (lead us into) the mystery of God as conscious of it or not: Baptism is not something we do, initiation is to be understood in its fullest and richest
the communion of love we call Trinity which is revealed but what God does. And in a very real and humbling sense. It is not merely about being initiated into a club.
by the life, death and resurrection of Christ. sense, we are never fully aware of what it means to be
immersed into the infinite and eternal God. Nor is this The sacraments of initiation are about being for ever
They also lead us into the mystery of the Church, the a piece of magic or some kind of divine imposition brought into the inexhaustible Mystery of God in the
community of all those who believe in Christ and know irrespective of our will. On the contrary, our will is mystery of life, through the mystery of death which
themselves as loved by God. respected to the extent that we are capable of conscious love alone opens and reveals.

It is through these sacraments that the Church
becomes Christ’s earthly presence, his own sacrament.

The sacraments of the church, starting with Baptism

05 It is in this sense that Baptism – a dying to death into Sacraments of Healing Sacraments of Commitment
life – and Eucharist – a thanksgiving for the gift of
level 5: grades 7 & 8 coming into communion as eternal life – are Being thus initiated into God, we are meant to remain The sacraments of commitment in the service of
sacraments of initiation, with the former standing, as it free and faithful in Christ. The sacraments of healing communion (Matrimony and Orders) focus on the
A Sacramental Community were, at the font, the source, and the latter at the – Reconciliation and Anointing – are about showing us positive, creative reality of human experience, the
summit of life’s journey, with Confirmation as the spirit how to remain baptised, confirmed, united. The possibility of relationship in love. They are there to
of both, uniting them in a trinity of initiatory mysteries. sacraments of healing, both from “evil done” remind us that our freedom is not just from the power
(Reconciliation) and from “evil suffered” (Anointing), are of evil, but more importantly for love.
The sacrament of Confirmation confirms the gift of the everyday ongoing mystery of Baptism’s power to
Baptism, the gift of the Holy Spirit, by an outpouring of set us free and enable us to grow in freedom from the Freedom in Christ is always freedom to grow in love by
the Spirit’s gifts. power of evil. opening our hearts and minds and bodies to the
wonder of being loved and of being enabled to love, of
As Baptism is about immersion into God, so the Evil done is healed by God’s unambiguous love being love-able in the dual sense of the term. It is
sacrament of Confirmation con-firms, seals and experienced as mercy, since for God sin is basically never the bogus kind of freedom, then, that merely
animates, the communion of Creator and creature. that which can be forgiven, rather than that which enslaves us to our own self-centred desire, the
separates us from God, for nothing can actually do so-called freedom to do whatever I want. On the
As Eucharist is about Christ giving thanks for the gift of that (even though it can certainly feel like it has!). contrary, it is a liberation of our desire as the
communion, of which his own body and blood – his undistorting of our self-centredness: it sets me free to
very self and life – are the signs, so the sacrament of Evil suffered, such as sickness of mind and body, is love you and let you love me because that is God’s
Confirmation is the anointing (chrismation) of that body likewise healed by being transformed, even when it is own desire in us drawing us into communion with God.
and the flow of that blood animating us with the very not cured. How? It is transformed by love, from Communion. That is the operative word: sacraments
gifts that are the hallmarks of his Spirit, the Giver of life: something we fear unto death, into something we of commitment in the service of communion. Let’s take
wisdom and understanding, discernment, courage, endure and, with compassion, transcend. a closer look at them.
knowledge, reverence and awe. Confirmation is the
sacramental completing of what Baptism is the With the help of the sacraments of healing, we learn to Let’s start with a closer look at what the Catechism
“beginning” and Eucharist is the “end”: union with God. celebrate the baptismal mystery of divine immersion into has to say:
life and death – that is, into the whole of life, including ‘Through these sacraments [i.e. Matrimony and Orders]
We must, of course, understand these words pain and death. With their help we are strengthened to those already consecrated by Baptism and
completing, beginning and end analogically. Likewise enter more fully and actively into the mystery of God in Confirmation for the common priesthood of all the
the words seal, anoint, chrismate and confirm are Christ whom we can “know” to the extent that we are faithful can receive particular consecrations. Those
metaphors. able by the abiding and consoling presence of his who receive the sacrament of Holy Orders are
Spirit, the sacrament of our communion with the God consecrated in Christ’s name “to feed the Church by
Nothing is sealed that is not simultaneously unsealed: who is a triune communion of love. the word and grace of God.” On their part, “Christian
the Spirit seals by an outpouring, an opening up and out. spouses are fortified and, as it were, consecrated for
the duties and dignity of their state by a special
The anointing of the body is chrismation / christification sacrament.”’ (Catechism §1535)
of the whole person. The Greek word chrism is the
root of the word Christ, the anointed. It is into the Matrimony and Orders are both consecrations – which
Body of Christ that we are chrismated, anointed, means intensification of, or fortifying, the sacredness –
christified. It is as Christ’s Body that we are con-firmed, of the common “priesthood of all believers”, which is
strengthened, animated, raised up. ours by virtue of our Baptism confirmed by our
chrismation (i.e. the sacrament of Confirmation).
4

05 What this means in somewhat plainer English is this: Eucharist eucharist is celebrated weekly and even daily. Why?
when we marry or are ordained, the priestliness that all Well, actually for the same reason: because of need.
level 5: grades 7 & 8 Christians share in together by the fact that we are Finally, Eucharist, the great sacrament of our becoming: We need to constantly to be celebrating this “source and
Christians, is intensified, made more explicit and The word “eucharist” comes from the Greek word for summit” of our life as Christians, namely our communion
A Sacramental Community specific in both Matrimony and Orders. In other words, “giving-thanks”; and this thanks giving is first and with Christ, our becoming what he is: one-with-God.
it is through their link with Baptism, the sacrament of foremost Christ’s own act of thanking God: it is the
our common priestliness, that married people no less action within the Triune God, the self-giving act of the SCRIPTURE
than the ordained clergy are priests of a new covenant, Son thanking the Father. That action is the Holy Spirit.
a new way of being in the world and before God. Student and Teacher References (NRSV)
In the liturgy of the Mass (a word that means “sent”),
Exactly what then is meant by baptismal priestliness we celebrate Christ’s Eucharist, his thanks giving; and Baptism
here? Simply this: in the sacrament of Baptism, as a we join our own to his: we enter into deepest
life-long process, we are dying to self, to ego, and are communion with him by doing the very thing that Mt 3:13-17 The Baptism of Jesus
receiving Christ, becoming his Body. defines his own person: we give thanks. In doing so, Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan,
we become that action. It is in that action – which is to be baptised by him. John would have prevented
We become a new creation since Christ is our true always Christ’s own – we become one with him by him, saying “I need to be baptised by you and do you
nature, and not the selfish, self-centred ego that I/We sharing in his Spirit, the Holy Spirit who is God come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so
think we are. As this new creation we are, for each precisely because the Holy Spirit is the love between now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all
other and for the rest of creation, a priestly people. the Father and the Son expressed in the Son’s giving righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus
thanks to the Father by giving himself completely. had been baptised, just as he came up from the water,
Now, a priest is simply one who brings together the suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw
human and the divine; who stands, as it were, between As the eucharistic prayer says: “we do well always and the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting
heaven and earth; who reconciles God and humanity; everywhere to give you thanks and praise.” In the on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my
unites the transcendent and the immanent, the eternal strictest sense, Eucharist is always happening – as Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
and the temporal, the sacred and the profane – and not indeed are all the sacraments: we are always being
as two separate things forced together, but in communion, immersed into God through life and death; we are Eucharist
which is to say, without dualism, without opposition; always being confirmed and filled by the Spirit; we are
but also without con-fusion, without reducing the one always being healed by the compassion and mercy of 1 Cor 11:23-27 The Institution of the Lord’s Supper
to the other into some undifferentiated blob. God; we are always growing in communion through For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to
our love and service of one another. And we are “always you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was
That is what Christ does in himself: he unites in and everywhere” giving thanks. And the reason for that betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given
perfectly pacific communion. He is the priest in whose is quite simple: Christ is always and everywhere, in all thanks, he broke it and said. “This is my body that is
priestliness we share as a community of faith and times and circumstances, the Sacrament of God present for you. Do this in remembrance of me. In the same
practice by our immersion (Baptism) into him who in us as his Body, in the Church as his sacrament. way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This
unites life and death and raises them up to God. And cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this as often
let me stress: we do so not as individuals in a In order that we might experience this truth ever more as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often
community, but precisely as community: it is a fully, consciously and actively, the Christian community as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim
communal and relational priesthood; it is never celebrates its sacraments through the liturgy, and most the Lord’s death until he comes.
exclusively ours or mine. That is what makes it catholic. especially the Liturgy of the Mass. Most other sacraments
5 This baptismal priesthood is then sacramentally are celebrated once (baptism, confirmation, matrimony,
expressed and lived in Holy Matrimony and Holy orders), and some are celebrated when need arises
Orders, as the Catechism makes clear. (reconciliation and anointing), but the sacrament of

05 Luke 22:14-20 The Institution of the Lord’s Supper it filled the entire house where they were sitting. PLANNING A
When the time came for Jesus and the apostles to eat, Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them and LEARNING S EQUENCE
level 5: grades 7 & 8 he said to them, “I have very much wanted to eat this a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were
Passover meal with you before I suffer. I tell you that I filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other Level Focus
A Sacramental Community will not eat another Passover meal until it is finally languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
eaten in God’s kingdom.” The Church recognises and celebrates the sacramental
Anointing of the Sick presence of God through ritual, sign, symbol and word.
Jesus took a cup of wine in his hands and gave thanks
to God. Then he told the apostles, “Take this wine and Jas 5:14-15 The Prayer of Faith. Overarching Goals
share it with each other. I tell you that I will not drink Are any among you sick? They should call for the
any more wine until God’s kingdom comes.” elders of the church and have them pray over them That students will begin to understand that
anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The Sacraments are a way of exploring the unfathomable
Jesus took some bread in his hands and gave thanks prayer of faith will save the sick and the Lord will raise mystery of God.
for it. He broke the bread and handed it to his apostles. them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be
Then he said, “This is my body, which is given for you. forgiven. Essential Question
Eat this as a way of remembering me!
Marriage How do the Sacraments enrich relationships with God,
After the meal he took another cup of wine in his the World and all people?
hands. Then he said, “This is my blood. It is poured Gen 2:24-25 Man and woman become one flesh
out for you, and with it God makes his new agreement. Enduring Understandings
Mk 10:6-9 Teaching about Divorce.
Lk 5:17-26 - Jesus Heals a Paralytic. • Sacraments are visible but limited signs of God’s
One day, while he was teaching, some Pharisees and But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them active presence.
teachers of the law were sitting near by (they had male and female.’ For this reason a man shall leave
come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the • All Sacraments are celebrations of paradox.
Jerusalem); and the power of the Lord was with him to two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer • Christ is a celebration of humanity and divinity.
heal. Just then some men came, carrying a paralyzed two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined • Baptism celebrates the paradox of life and death.
man on a bed. They were trying to bring him in and together, let no one separate.” • Penance celebrates the paradox of mercy and justice.
lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him
in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and Holy Orders Evidence of Learning
let him down with his bed through the tiles into the
middle of the crowd in front of Jesus. When he saw Lk 22: 19-21 The Institution of the Lord’s Supper. Demonstrated when students:
their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” Then he took a loaf of bread and when he had given 1. Are able to make connections between the
Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, thanks, he broke it and gave it to them saying, “This is
“Who is this who is speaking blasphemies? Who can my body which is given for you. Do this in Sacraments and metaphor.
forgive sins but God alone?” remembrance of me.” And he did the same with the 2. Distinguish between the concepts of paradox, irony
cup after supper saying, “This is my body, which is
Confirmation given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” and contradiction.
3. Show how paradox (as distinct from irony and
Acts 2:1-4 The Coming of the Holy Spirit
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all contradiction) functions within either Baptism or
together in one place. And suddenly from heaven Penance.
there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind and
6

05 Suggested Assessment Tasks • Create a booklet showing what happens, what is Suggested Learning Experiences
said, etc., for this ceremony. Include a reading from
level 5: grades 7 & 8 • Students design and present a poster showing the scripture and one other suitable reading you find • Explore the sacrament of Baptism, noting the
signs, symbols and words used in celebrating a especially appropriate from another source. Your specific aspects of the ritual and their intent,
A Sacramental Community Baptism, and the paradox it celebrates and provide booklet needs to show which songs, and/or hymns, meaning, symbolic representation.
a written explanation of their poster which includes prayers, poems, drama, symbols and actions the
reference to the importance of this Sacrament in participants in the ceremony will be experiencing/ • After discussion of various definitions of the
the life of the Christian community. engaged in. Sacraments the students, working in small groups,
Criteria: present their understanding of a given Sacrament
• Prepare a journal/PowerPoint which may include 1. Evidence of research, and inclusion of items to the whole class.
pictures, photos, prayers, poems, writing, music, from the list above appropriate to the focus of
that show the world as a sacrament revealing the the ceremony. • Sacraments are centred on the mission of Jesus.
saving presence of God. 2. Evidence of reflection on the occasion chosen They bring the action of the past into the present
Criteria: and it’s meaning for the lives of those present. experience and reality. They also prepare us for the
1. Evidence of research, and inclusion of items that 3. Evidence of the spiritual nature of the event end time and point to the Reign of God. Prepare a
clearly highlights the focus. chosen. (How God is speaking in and through Sacraments Facts sheet for each of the seven
2. Evidence of the spiritual nature of the items the event that is being celebrated) sacraments indicating:
chosen. (How is God speaking in and through 4. Organisation and presentation of the booklet. 1. Type: eg – Initiation, Healing, Service
the chosen items) 2. What the Sacrament celebrates
3. Organisation and presentation. • Prepare a presentation which looks at creation in 3. Its focus
relation to Australian Spirituality. Consider how the 4. Primary words and symbols
• Prepare a ceremony for a special occasion in bush, Uluru and the beach represent the heart of 5. How does the Sacrament link the past, present
someone’s life. It could be a significant birthday, or our Australian Spirituality even though the majority and the future?
for students coming to your school in Year 7 next of Australians live in cities. How do these icons
year. It could be a national occasion, or a speak to our inner being? It would be appropriate • Identify aspects of Jesus’ ministry which relate to
celebration of a season of the year, or it could to include pictures, poems, cartoons and art work. the Sacramental rituals in the early Church.
honour the bravery of people like fire fighters.
Explore the elements found in these kinds of rituals. • Divide the class into three groups and ask each to • Research the diverse ways in which Sacramental
Discuss how these are similar and different to prepare for a parliamentary style debate. Each rituals have been and are celebrated within the
Sacramental rituals. group focuses on Sacraments of Initiation or local community.
Healing or Service and then presents a case for
their particular sacraments as being the most • Invite speakers to share with the class their memory
important for individuals and the community. To of Sacramental celebrations.
prepare for this debate each group is to use the De
Bono Six Hats (Teaching Strategies Resource Book) • After discussion of various definitions of the
Sacrament of Baptism the students, working in
• Engage in reflective activities to focus on the small groups, present their understanding of a
importance of Sacraments in living a Christian life. given Sacrament to the whole class.

7 • Brainstorm (Teaching Strategies Resource Book)
how events in people’s lives are recognized and
celebrated. Follow this with individual reflection/
journaling, and/or small group discussion.

05 • Do a media search identifying expressions of • Look at an array of nature pictures in books or cut
people celebrating significant events in their own or from ‘nature’ calendars (and laminated) and draw or
a community’s life. have students explore how these images reveal the
sacramental presence of God in the world. With an
• Creation of board games, wonder words and array of Scripture quotes these images could be
crosswords to recall details about the seven developed into a prayer service by/for the students.
sacraments.
• Create/view visual and audio collages relating to
• Fieldwork - visiting local churches to view/identify rites of passage and/or the sacraments.
different signs and symbols relating to their
community’s celebrations. Liturgical celebrations/sacramental celebrations
provide opportunities for connection with the prayer
• In small groups the students create a non-sacramental life of the Church, for reflection and resonance. Such
ritual for a significant life event/experience. celebrations should be an integral part of every unit
• Gather and should be linked to the liturgical year whenever
• Scripture possible.
• Response
level 5: grades 7 & 8 • Symbols

A Sacramental Community • In small groups the students role-play a family
celebration/ritual highlighting how it can be a time
of appreciating the sacramental presence of God in
their lives and world.

• Lead the students through a guided reflection which
identifies significant events in their lives and calls
them to recall/plan what signs, symbols and words
were used/might be used to celebrate these events.

• Using Scripture quotes provided, have the students
role play those that lend themselves to this
(Teaching Strategies Resource Book) and explain
how God is revealed through the action.

• In small groups identify the key symbols that speak
to Australians about their inner self, for example,
the bush, Uluru, the beach. A good way to
introduce this is to use the Swoon DVD or one of
the ABC Nature & Music Videos/DVD’s

8

05 Resources NB: OP means ‘Out of Print’

level 5: grades 7 & 8 Highly Recommended Resources.

A Sacramental Community Archdiocese of Melbourne. (2003). To know, worship and love, Year 7. 2nd ed. Melbourne: James Goold House Publications. Chapters 11 and 12.
Archdiocese of Melbourne. (2003). To know, worship and love, Year 8. 2nd ed. Melbourne: James Goold House Publications. Chapters 11, 12, 13 and 14.
9
Community Resources

Local Church bulletins and newsletters.
Local newspapers and magazines, sacramental leaflets and advertisements/timetables for the Local Christian community’s celebrations especially at Christmas and Easter.
Religious leaders from local churches and religious groups.

Teacher Resources

Bausch, W. (2003). A new look at the sacraments. Mystic CT: Twenty third publications.
Billington, P. (Ed.). (2005). Teaching Strategies Resource Book. Sandhurst Diocese Catholic Education Office.
Catholic Church. (1994). Catechism of the Catholic Church. Homebush, N.S.W.: St. Paul Publications.
Coffey, K. (2003). Immersed in the sacred. Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press.
Congregation for the Clergy. (1997). General directory for catechetics. Australian edition. Homebush, N.S.W.: St. Paul’s Press.
Costello, H. & Flannery, A. (Eds.). (1984). Documents of Vatican II. Sydney: St. Paul’s Publications.L
DeGidio, S. (2000). Sacraments alive, their history celebration and significance. Mystic CT: Twenty third publications.
Hellwig, M.K, (2002). Understanding Catholicism. (2nd ed.). New Jersey: Paulist Press.
Liddy, S. & Welbourne, L. (1999). Strategies for teaching Religious Education. Katoomba, N.S.W.: Social Science Press.

Student Resources

Engebretson, K. (1992). Belonging: A Religious Education textbook for Year 8 students. Wentworth Falls, N.S.W.: Arrow Glen Desktop Publishing. Chapter 4.
Engebretson, K. (1993). On sacred ground: An exploration of the human and Christian experience. Wentworth Falls: Social Science Press. Chapter 6.
Fleming,J., Gilligan, B et al. (1999). Living in hope. Ausrealia: HarperCollinsReligious. Chapter 6.
Faith for the future. (1998). Redemptorist Press, England: Ligouri Publications. Part 2
Morrissey,J. Mudge, P. Taylor,A. (1998). Out of the Desert Book 2. South Melbourne, Australia: Longman. Chapters 2 & 6.
Ryan,M. (1999). Sacraments of Healing. Australia: Social Science Press.
The Catholic Youth Bible. New revised standard version. Winona, Minn.: St. Mary’s Press.

Picture Story Books

Baker, J. (2002). Window. London: Walker books.
Fox, M. (1995). In the beginning there was joy. New York: Crossroad.
Hoffman, M. & Littlewood, K. (2002). The colour of home. London: Frances Lincoln.
Lachenmeyer, N. & Ingpen, R. (2003). Broken beaks. Melbourne: Michelle Anderson Publishing.
Matthews, C. (1998). The Blessing Seed, a creation myth for the new millennium. New York: Barefoot.
Marsden, J. (1997). Prayer for the twenty-first century. Port Melbourne, Victoria: Lothian Books.
Sasso, S. (1998). God in between. Woodstock, Vermont: Jewish Lights Publishing.
Tan, S. (2000). The lost thing. South Melbourne, Victoria: Lothian.

05 Music

level 5: grades 7 & 8 There is much suitable liturgical music to enhance each unit. It is suggested that it is better to have both the music and a recording of the music. In this regard As One Voice
Vols. 1 & 2 is an ideal resource. The index at the back of Gather Australia is a valuable resource as it has numerous headings and fine suggestions. The selection listed
A Sacramental Community below is merely an example of what is available.
Kearney, P. (Composer). (1996). All the world is sacred [Compact disc]. Mittagong, N.S.W.: Crossover Music.
Mangan, M. (Composer). (1998). The Spirit of God [Cassette recording]. In Sing jubilee (Side 1,
Watts, T. (Composer). (1984). Canticle of creation [Cassette recording]. In Prophets of hope (Side 1, No. 1). Brookvale: Willow Music.

Audio-visual/video Resources

ABC Classics. (2003). Swoon a visual and musical odyssey DVD.
ABC Classics. ( ) Nature & Music Videos (To be identified)
Powell, S. (Producer) & Putney, M. (Author). (1988).The sacraments [Videotape]. Rockhampton, Qld.: Catholic Broadcast Unit.

World Wide Web / Internet

NRSV http://www.devotions.net/bible/00bible.htm
The Vatican: Includes a detailed index for the catechism of the Catholic Church. http://www.vatican.va/
Treasures, New and Old. http://vision.cangoul.catholic.edu.au

10