3rd Sunday
of lent
4 MARCH
Third Sunday of Lent
Gospel:  John 2:13-26
Jesus clears the Temple courts
Teacher Background

Monday
5 MARCH
​Grace Prayer
Grace is a name for a short prayer said prior to eating a meal. It is a prayer to ask God’s blessing on the food and the people who provided the food. It is also a time to give thanks to God for the food and the providers. As well, students can be encouraged to pray for people in our world who have very little access to good food. Students can also be involved in writing Grace prayers using the You Who Do Through structure. These prayers can be written on Grace Mats and a collection of different Grace prayers can be available for students to select from.  These could be placed in the centre of a group of tables or students could sit in small circles around a Grace mat.
Example of a Grace Prayer
Ever Present God,
You walk with us and know each of us by name
Bless this food and those who prepared it
Bless all people who are hungry today
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen

Tuesday
6 MARCH
Litany for Forgiveness
  • Lent is a time to pray, fast and do good deeds. It is a time to change ways and to turn to God for forgiveness.
  • Pray a Litany for Forgiveness.
  • Response: Lord, forgive us for our sins.
  • For the times we have used hurtful words or body language to bully or exclude others.
  • Lord, forgive us for our sins.
  • For the times we have chosen to show disrespect for creation. 
  • Lord, forgive us for our sins.
  • For the times we have turned away from God’s call to listen and pray.
  • Lord, forgive us for our sins.
  • Pray An Act of Contrition 

Wednesday
7 MARCH
Praying with Art
  • Arts and Faith for Lent, Loyola Press, provide a video commentary about a work of art inspired by the Lenten Gospels for Cycle B. 
  • Access other images of how artists have depicted Jesus in the Temple and invite students to reflect on one of these. Use imaginative meditation to enter into the art work: What is happening? What do I see? What can I hear? How does this painting make me feel? What is my prayer? 

Thursday
8 MARCH
International Women’s Day
  • Pray International Women’s Day Prayer honouring women of all times and places. Go to the International Women's Day website.
  • Reflect on the words and images of Women's Day prayer.
  • Use this prayer as a stimulus for creating a Prayer Collage of images of significant women, both living and dead e.g. teachers, leaders, mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, saints.

Friday
9 MARCH
Project Compassion Story
  • Watch or read Bayan's story. Bayan is a 12-year-old Syrian girl, living with her family in Jordan, a keen student, who has her sights set on a career as an ophthalmologist.  Caritas has provided her with a network of support services.
  • Pray for Bayan and all  young women who are experiencing any form of conflict or oppression.
  • " I would not be able to read and write. I would feel lost, as if I knew nothing about the world. School has the power to lift us up, so we can reach our goals and learn quickly." - Bayan