July-August 2010 - Teachers' Guide

Dear Teachers,

‘A thing of beauty is a joy for ever’,  as John Keats the poet said, and a beautiful story that one has truly lived doubles the worth if it be shared for others to learn.

This issue shares different stories of how faith is made visible in the life experience of the writers. It tells of miracles, the big and obvious miracles and the little almost unnoticed miracles. In every story unfolds a miracle which others might not be able to identify easily. Miracles don’t have to display themselves right before our eyes. They speak to us in the language of God residing in our hearts. Just as every day we try to find reasons to smile, we also try to discover the miracles of each day. And the moment we see one in the little details, our disposition will speak itself for the faith within.

Life simply lived in goodness is already a big thing for God to hold. How much more for you, teachers who are more privileged to touch the hearts of many? God must be wise and trusting enough to leave His children in the care of your hands.

May you receive the grace as you mold your students to be followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, the greatest Teacher.  May you draw strength from the well of God’s overflowing grace as you live each day for His glory.

OUR COVER

Zoom In

Our cover features some Columban priests on their way back to the main square after viewing St Kevin’s Bed, a cave he used as a hermitage  in Glendalough, County Wicklow, Ireland. 36 Columban priests recently made a pilgrimage from St Columban's in Dalgan Park, Ireland, to Bobbio in Northen Italy where the body of their patron, Saint Columbanus, is buried. We can only think of how they felt as they relived the steps of their patron.

The text, ‘He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake’ taken from Psalm 23:3 has been an inspirational text for God’s journeying people.

In this life we are but pilgrims. Try to think of an experience wherein you cansay that you are also a pilgrim.

STUDENTS’ WORKSHOP

I Was Once A Street Kid

I Was Once A Street Kid tells of the experience of a Columban seminarian in his apostolate with street children. He was happy for the opportunity to learn from the story of every child. But he, too, is appealing for the love and respect that those children need. ‘They are waiting every day for the one who will notice them and share with them the value of life.’

We know that outreach activity is good with those feeding programs and other activities but it will be better if there is a sharing about life experience. For your outreach activity, provide an opportunity for your students for an encounter with street children. Try to help them establish a certain level of relationship such that the street children will somehow be comfortable to share about their life.

Have them ask the following questions:

a. What brought you here to the streets?

b. What do you do for a living or how do you survive?

c. How do you relate to other street children?

d. Don’t forget to allow your students to share their reflections with the class.

ENVIRONMENTAL APPEAL

MASIPAG and the International Year of Biodiversity

Your Turn

MASIPAG and the International Year of Biodiversity features the cause for a pro-poor, sustainable approach to farming. It aims to promote the protection and conservation of biodiversity. ‘This is a cause for hope, not only for our farming families but for all those who care about our world.’

Our letter sender in Your Turn is a person with special needs. He expresses his appreciation for the trisikad drivers as a big help for him and affirms the program Pedaling to Live which is featured in the previous issue of Misyon. It highlights both the trisikad and the tricycle as environment-friendly means of transportation.

Have them read the articles.

a. What can you say about the environmental programs featured in the articles?

b. Is there a way that you can help promote such causes?

c. Make a three-day journal entitled ‘I Love Mother Earth.’ On each day, write down the activity that you do promoting environmental care and concern.

d. Share your journals in class in order to learn from each other.

YOUTH CORNER

Our Hideaway

Her Home in the Philippines

Our writer in Our Hideaway shares her views on honesty, truth and prudency, taking into account that ‘being honest hurts since it is not only about us, it is also about others.’

Her Home in the Philippines features a Columban lay missionary from Peru who at a young age decided to join a mission program. It tells of how she values communication as an important factor in connecting with people, motivating her to learn the local language.  

Communication is indeed a big factor in establishing relationships. It is important to know the right words to say, the right time to say it and the right person to whom it should be expressed.  Thus, the manner of saying it really matters.

Have them read the articles.

a. What do the articles say about communication?

b. How do you value communication?

c. What struck you in the articles?

d. Share your reflection with the class.

It is important that your students know how to express themselves in a healthy way. Let it be a sort of communication exercise at the same time enriching each other by the sharing of their faith experience.

PRACTICAL FAITH

To Search is to Find

Peace by Peace

‘Why is it that Jesus advised those he had healed not to tell of the miracles he performed to other people?’  To Search is to Find deals with this question which is called ‘The Messianic Secret.’ It must be something that not everybody knows.

Let them read the article and wait for their reactions or reflections. In case your students raise some questions that you cannot answer, please don’t hesitate to write to your editor.

Make use of Peace by Peace as a point for reflection and a motivation in the class.

FAITH SHARING

Miracles Still Happen!

Mission in a Smile

Miracles Still Happen!  tells of how the author witnessed the many miracles granted to her and to her family. A proof of this is that all of these happened through works of faith. ‘Everything is possible for the person who has faith.’ With her testimony, God must be good! And Ana, in the article Mission in a Smile, also believes that God is good. She has gone through many challenges in her missionary life but still she is so positive to say that life is good, and that God is in every person. ‘In the smiles and laughter of the children, I see God in them.’

Inspired by the two articles, let them reflect on their faith-relationship with God.

Invite them for a ‘faith thermometer’ check. Give each a popsicle stick and a crayon (a color of their choice). The popsicle stick serves as the thermometer and the color as the mercury. Ask them, ‘What is the level of your faith in God as of the moment?’ After a short moment of reflection, let them shade their popsicle stick using the crayon according to the level which they feel describes their level of faith.

Divide them into groups of three. Ask them to share in their group the following:

Describe your ‘faith thermometer.’ Share one story wherein you felt God was working in your life. How do you see God now?