How can we teach kids to find Jesus not just during an hour on Sundays, but in the normal events of their daily lives? Where can we help them see God at work in hidden ways, connecting to His with through the Sacraments? How do we uphold the Mass as the source and summit, pouring over into everything?
Those are the big questions that I challenged myself with while I created a new series for the National Eucharistic Revival called
Looking for Jesus. Inspired by Sr. Alicia Torres series for adults, together we developed 12 everyday themes like light, silence, meals, etc. that directly connect to our experience of God and understanding of the Eucharist. This Eucharistic Worldview has the potential to crack open our Faith into something that isn't restricted to inside the walls of a church but is something that we live and breathe. I encourage you to read
Sr. Alicia's 12 reflections for adults here.The Looking for Jesus children's bulletins make practical connections between daily life and the Mass. They are catechetical in nature, but unlike anything else I've created. Because they were made for the National Eucharistic Revival, they were also edited and reviewed but USCCB staff, so you can trust that the content and wording are theologically accurate. And they also have been translated into Spanish!
Each bulletin contains:
- A relatable connection to everyday life, like meals, doors, light, etc.
- How that thing connects to the Mass, the Eucharist, and Jesus
- A "Crack the Code" puzzle of a matching Bible verse
- A Saint story, highlighting Saints that connect to the Eucharistic worldview topic
- Highlight of a Eucharistic sign/symbol that kids can look for in their own church
- A "Seek and Find" puzzle with important words
Ideas for using the Looking for Jesus bulletins:
- The 12 editions are practically spaced to use over an entire year. If you use the corresponding edition for the month (11 for November, 12 for December) there are some Liturgical Year connections, but this isn't a necessity. You can use them in any order and at any time of year.
- Use in a school or CCD classroom as a bell ringer or early finisher activity once a week or once a month.
- Teach as a whole unit to encourage students to better understand the Mass and to look for Eucharistic connections in their everyday lives.
- Incorporate as family formation with students preparing to receive their First Holy Communion and their parents, or as continued development the year after receiving the Sacrament.
- Use as a jigsaw activity where students choose one bulletin, read and study, and then present their theme to the class. This way all students learn about all 12 themes but with less classroom time required.
- Send home monthly in a classroom/CCD/school/church newsletter or bulletin, either a physical copy or a pdf.
- Make copies and have available in the back of church for children to interact with like a children's bulletin.
Click below to download and print/share the Looking for Jesus Bulletins:
Includes themes of words and communication, connects to the Liturgy of the Word at Mass, shares the story of St. Carlo Acutis, and teaches about the Monstrance.
Includes themes of gathering around a table for a meal or celebration, connects to the Liturgy of the Eucharist at Mass, shares the story of Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin, and teaches about the Altar.
Includes themes of work and sacrifice, connects to the Offertory at Mass, shares the story of St. Tarcisius, and teaches about the Crucifix.
Includes themes of the beauty of creation and nature, connects to the meaning of the architecture of a church, shares the story of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, and teaches about the vine & the branches.
Includes themes of water, tears, and cleansing, connects to the Prayers of the Faithful at Mass, shares the story of St. Josephine Bakhita, and teaches about the Pelican.
Includes themes of food and nourishment, connects to the Eucharist and Concluding Rights at Mass, shares the story of St. Frances Xavier, and teaches about grapes & wheat/bread & wine.
Includes themes of movement, play and service, connects to the physical postures at Mass, shares the story of St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, and teaches about the mingling of the water and wine.
Includes themes of using our hands to create, connect, and serve, connects to the Sign of Peace at Mass, shares the story of St. Francis Xavier and St. Ignatius of Loyola, and teaches about the loaves and fish.
Includes themes of doors including new spaces and beginnings, connects to the Introductory Rites at Mass, shares the story of St. John Bosco, and teaches about the Tabernacle.
Includes themes of noise, silence, distraction, and listening, connects to preparing to receive Communion at Mass, shares the story of St. John Paul II, and teaches about kneeling.
Includes themes of light in the world and in Scripture, connects to the union with Heaven at Mass, shares the story of All Saints Day, and teaches about the Sanctuary Lamp.
Includes themes of bells, buzzers, and the passage of time, connects to the use of bells at Mass, shares the story of Holy Family, and teaches about the Gloria.
For younger kids, you might also like these
Eucharistic Signs and Symbols coloring pages, which contain the matching 12 symbols from the kids' bulletins. They are also available in Spanish:
