March-April 2010 -Teachers' Guide

Dear Teachers,

We bring ourselves into a period of reflection as we enter the season of Lent. It is a special moment of giving ourselves the chance to commune deeply with our God as we come to think of Jesus.

This issue’s Pulong ng Editor features Fr Michael Sinnott thanking all who prayed and worked for his release. His experience somehow proves to us the love of God as He answers the cry of His people. Let us learn from every event through which God speaks.

‘Don’t look for Jesus far away, He is not there. He is in you, take care of your lamp and you will see Him.’ Let us once again be reconciled to Him. God never abandons His people. In fact, He is just waiting for us, He lovingly waits. May this Lent be a season of knowing ourselves more and of knowing God. May this be a season of peace and reconciliation within ourselves and with others.

May Jesus’ blessing be with us all!

Our cover features Fr Michael Sinnott with the children of Holy Family Home, Bacolod City. The joy in their faces is so visible. These kids are a few of the many people who really prayed for Fr Mick while he was in captivity and were rejoicing on the news of his release. Fr Mick came here to Bacolod City upon the invitation of our editor to meet these kids.

‘But my wish would be to go back and to do the little I can for as long as I can’ are the words he lovingly repeats whenever he is asked if he still has the plan to go back to Pagadian. Such a missionary’s heart!

What is it that you can offer to God for Him to work on? What are you willing to commit in serving God?

STUDENTS' WORKSHOP

A Dream Come True

‘My heart was drawn to the young people when I heard the stories of their lives.’ A Dream Come True narrates the writer’s experience of how she was graced to fulfill her long time dream of helping young people by providing them a place where they can express their dreams and hopes through the building of the Centre for Learning Alternatives for Youth (CLAY). It also tells of the realities of the youth in Myanmar, of their hardships as they carry the burdens of their family.

‘My dear young people, be agents of love. Be communicators of Peace.’ With these words from Pope John Paul II,

1. How are you going to take the challenge?
2. Think of the little ways of how you can extend your help to other young people.

Many of the youth and children are out-of-school, in the streets, and are working really hard to earn a living. Lead your students to a reflection. Make them think of how privileged they are for being in school, able to study and not having to work hard for their family and being nourished.

3. Have you ever thanked your parents or guardians for their many efforts for your good?
4. Write a letter to your parents, guardians or to someone whom you owe gratitude. Let them know how thankful you are for their help, concern and love.

BEYOND CULTURE

YAsia Fiesta! 5th Asian Youth Day

‘Young Asians: Come Together, Share the Word, Live the Eucharist’ was the theme of YAsia Fiesta! 5th Asian Youth Day around which the talks and activities formulated revolved. The writer tells of her experience with other young people of Asia and the joys of sharing and learning from different nationalities, from different cultures.

‘We felt so blessed as we were sent back to our different countries with the thought of becoming witnesses to Christ.’

1. From the story, how do you relate yourself with the other young people of the world?
2. What do you think is the biggest challenge to the youth of today?
3. In your daily routine, how can you possibly become a witness to Christ?

YOUTH CORNER

Our Hideaway
Your Turn

‘There’s true happiness when you find your feet walking in your dream shoes.’ Our Hideaway is a sharing of a young person of her perceptions on what true happiness means. She speaks here of the importance of achieving a balance in life that is the key to a peaceful flow of living.

Your Turn tells of how the writer was moved and inspired by the article God Cares featured in the March-April 2008 issue of Misyon. It made her realize how blessed she is and how it motivated her to be optimistic in life.

Have your students read the articles.

1. What is happiness for you? Show it through a drawing.
2. Make a caption for your drawing. It can be a quote that will capture the entire picture.
3. When everybody’s done, ask them to post their drawings on the walls of your classroom. Then invite them to go over each photo and try to relate with their classmates their perception of what happiness is.
4. Journalize your experience.

PRACTICAL FAITH

To Search is to Find
Peace by Peace

In our To Search is to Find an inquiry is made if it is all right to skip Sunday Mass in particular situations.

Peace by Peace features Pope Benedict XVI’s message for Lent 2010 along with some items on justice and love.

Giving the items to your students, make them expound on a certain line that struck them. You can use this as a motivation to your class.

THE CALLING

Edward J Galvin: Trailblazer for God
First Missionary Experience

We are all called by God in peculiar ways. Edward J Galvin: Trailblazer for God is a vocation story of one of the founders of the Society of Saint Columban. It is a touching story on his difficulty in detaching himself from his loved ones, especially his mother, just to respond to the knockings of the missionary call. It is the fulfillment of the will of God for him.

First Missionary Experience is a story by a newly ordained Columban priest during his mission to China. As an English teacher in a private middle school, he learned of the stories of those marginalized in Chinese society.

Have them read the articles.

1. From the stories, what struck you most?
2. How do you see the hand of God working through the writer’s life?
3. In your own life, how do you see and feel God’s presence?
4. What is God’s invitation for you today?