Sunday
5 FEBRUARY
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Gospel: Matthew 5:13-16   
You are the salt of the earth! You are the light of the world! Let your light shine!
Teacher Background

Monday
6 FEBRUARY
Memorial of St Paul Miki and companions
  • In the Gospel (Matthew 5: 13-16) Jesus uses the metaphors of salt and light to teach about important principles of discipleship and leadership. St Paul Miki and his companions certainly were Christians who let their light shine.  Who was St Paul Miki and why are he and his friends remembered today? In their home country, Japan they are remembered by a monument on Holy Mountain, Nagasaki.
  • Have one minute of silence to remember and pray for all Christians in our world who are not free to practise their faith. 

Tuesday
7 FEBRUARY
  • Listen to the Gospel (Matthew 5: 13-16) and spend time with the words: salt and light. In the times of Jesus, salt was a very rare and expensive commodity. It was used for adding flavour to food and making it taste better as well as preserving food so it would last longer. It was also used as a healing agent. Jesus emphasises the distinctive taste of salt. It made a difference! The Church encourages all to be salt of the earth and a light for the world by practising the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.
  • Engage with the lyrics and pray with the song Bring Forth the Kingdom by Marty Haugen  

Wednesday
8 FEBRUARY
International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking
Memorial of St Josephine Bakhita
  • Pope Francis has designated February 8th as International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking as it is the feast of Saint Josephine Bakhita, a Canossian Sister who was kidnapped and sold into slavery at a young age in Sudan. When she was freed, she chose to enter a religious order and spent the rest of her life helping the poor and the suffering.
  • The story of St Josephine Bakhita
  • Pray for all men, women and children who are denied their freedom and forced to suffer at the hands of powerful and ill-intentioned humans. 

Thursday
9 FEBRUARY
Praying the Sign of the Cross
  • Explore the history and meaning behind the ritual of praying the Sign of the Cross.
  • Teach about the words and the gestures. (Suitable for younger students)
  • Talk about when this prayer is prayed in the classroom, school and in liturgies and sacraments.
  • Pray the Sign of the Cross reverently and mindfully by pausing after each movement.
  • In the name of the Father (pause) and of the Son (pause) and of the Holy Spirit (pause) Amen.

Friday
10 February
Praying for the Sick
World Day of Prayer for the Sick
  • Our Lady of Lourdes Saturday 11th February
  • Invite all to write the names of people to be remembered in the prayer e.g. relatives or friends who are sick; groups of sick people e.g. those suffering with cancer or people who minister to the sick e.g. nurses, paramedics. Names could be posted on a Prayer Wall or written in a Book of Prayers.
  • Pray a Hail Mary for the sick.
  • Pray the Litany of Our Lady of Lourdes