Dear Teachers,

It’s a new year for all of us. 2008 is done and we are facing 2009 with no assurance at all of what is in store for all of us this year. Yet, we can always hold on to our dream— to your dream of becoming better teachers. Here, we try to fuel you to keep moving as you continue to work for God’s glory.

Always be conscious that you play a vital role in the lives of many young minds. Allow then yourself to be an instrument of God’s love so you may bear good fruits.

‘Be careful how you live. You might be the only Bible other people could ever read.’

Have a grace-filled new year!

OUR COVER

Our cover shows Fr Gary Walker with the girls of the Holy Family Home.
‘A child redeemed is a generation saved’ are the words on the gate of Holy Family Home, Bacolod City, featured in A Safe Haven. The smiles on the faces of the young women and girls offer the hope that they will pass on the joy of the gospel they have experienced there, some in the midst of unutterable suffering that brought them there.

As a motivation, ask your students what comes to their mind as they hear those words and how can they relate to it.

Students’ Workshop

Fr Connolly’s Poem
My Missionary Life is the Fruit of a Dream

Another year has passed and surely we have received a lot of blessings. It is rightful therefore to thank God for His goodness.

I. Present the poem written by Fr Noel Connolly to your class. Let this be an example of expressing gratitude to God. Afterwards, ask your students to write down the things that they are grateful for. In groups, let them share their list to the other members. Encourage them to present the group’s output through a prayer, a poem or in any creative manner.

II. Aware of the things that they are grateful for, this time allow them to get in touch with their dreams. Present the slides on ‘My Missionary Life is the Fruit of a Dream.’ Then in their list of dreams, let them identify their dream that concerns other people. Dreams are for free, so encourage them to dream for more for other people, for society, for the world. End the session with an act of offering their dream list before the Crucifix or an image of Jesus.

Faith Sharing

Not Quite the Baker’s Dozen
Learning the True Spirit of Service in Nagoya

A life lived in the service of other people is more meaningful, fruitful, and fulfilling. These two stories stress that as one journeys with others, one also grows in spirit and love, and that it later becomes one’s life. Have your students read the stories. Allow them to reflect on the following questions:

a. In the stories, what struck you most?
b. In line with your dreams in life, how are you going to make it happen in a way that you will be of service to others?

End the session with the singing of We are Made for Service.

Youth Corner

Our Hideaway
Misyon Student Essay Contest 2008 Winning Pieces
What WYD Showed Me
Your Turn

St Pedro Poveda believed so much in the power of the youth as he said, ‘Youth, you can conquer the world.’ The articles listed above capture the great minds of the youth. Divide the class into six groups, assigning one article to each group. Let them share in their small groups with the following guide questions:

a. What have you learned from the article?
b. In what way can you be an agent of change of our society?
c. Choose a representative from your group to report to the class what transpired from your small group sharing.

Practical Faith

To Search is to Find
Father Joeker
25 Cents from the Poor to the Poorest of the Poor

25 Cents from the Poor to the Poorest of the Poor stresses social responsibility. After reading the story and a short discussion, you can encourage your students to do the same or they can suggest ways on how they can reach out to the needy.

Father Joeker can be used as an icebreaker. The article featured in To Search is to Find clarifies the issue of true religion. This is an answer to those having the same question in mind. You can encourage your students to email us their questions at editor@misyononline.com and we shall answer them as soon as we can. We will also use some of them, anonymously, in To Search is to Find.

Reflection Points

Peace by Peace
Stones and Tears that Heal
What’s in a Photo?

As a motivation, show to the class the photos exhibited in the articles Stone and Tears that Heal and What’s in a Photo? Ask your students the following questions:
a. What can you say about the pictures?
b. What is it trying to tell you?

(Tell them the story behind those pictures.)

c. Learning from the stories, how do you feel about it?
d. Draw a picture that captures your most unforgettable experience. Post the pictures around the classroom for a gallery walk.

From the things featured in Peace by Peace, you can quote a line to be written on the board that will serve as your class’ living word for the week.

Coming Home

Pulong ng Editor
A Safe Haven
Which One is Home?

Missionaries having been to different places often ask themselves, ‘Which one is home?’ Form one big circle. With the aid of the articles above, bring your students into a reflection, asking them:
a. Where is home for you?
b. Do you feel ‘at home’ now?
c. What is it that your heart most earnestly desires?
After a short while, let them speak aloud just one word or phrase that answers the question,
d. What are you looking for?

Then allow them to affirm and be affirmed by saying to each other, ‘May you find what you are looking for.’ Or they could use a blessing that St Paul uses, with slight variations, at the end of all his letters: ‘The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you’ (1 Cor 16:23).

Our Website

Please invite your students and your co-teachers to explore our forum at http://misyononline.com/misyonforum/
Some teachers and students may want to share their thoughts on some of the articles discussed in class.

Check our website for links to Sunday reading reflections.