2022 PREP Materials
- PREP Layout
- PREP Schedule
- PREP Parent Tips
- Confirmation Information
- Prayer Resources
- Leading Ignatian Meditation
- How to tell a story
- Dynamic Catholic Decision Point Confirmation Program
May-the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen!
- Points to hit this month:
- We are connected with the saints - everyone alive in heaven-, and they will help us if we ask them!
- Jesus wants to forgive our sins. We need to ask. We also need to forgive others.
- Heaven is real. We will get our bodies back, and everything will be so much better than we can imagine.
- Amen means I believe!
Teaching worksheet
HW - to be done over two family meals
April: I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church...
- Points to hit this month:
- Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
- The Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to have courage to spread God's love to the whole world.
- The Church has existed since Jesus died on the cross
- The Church is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.
Teaching worksheet
- April Teaching Worksheet
- Holy Spirit Supplemental Worksheets
- Holy Spirit & Church Supplemental Worksheets
HW - to be done over two family meals
Independent Family Small Group
- All PREP Mass at 6pm
March: He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the father almighty. From there he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
- Points to hit this month:
- Jesus rose from the dead, was on earth 40 days, and took himself up to heaven. (He can do that because he is God.)
- Jesus gave us all a mission when he left: go make disciples of all nations
- Jesus sent us his Holy Spirit to help us. The Holy Spirit is God and has His power, but we can't see Him.
Teaching worksheet
HW - to be done over two family meals
Independent Family Small Group
- Only option: join us for our parish mission on Wednesday at St. William at 6:30pm.
February: He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again from the dead.
- Points to hit this month:
- There are three parts to the Church: earth (militant), purgatory (suffering), and heaven (triumphant).
- There are three options of where you go when you die: hell, purgatory (washing station before heaven), or heaven.
- Jesus was really dead. He rose again three days later so that we can go to heaven with him.
- We need to pray for sinners - so they don't go to hell, and for those in purgatory - so they can get to heaven faster.
Teaching worksheet
HW - to be done over two family meals
Independent Family Small Group
- Have a heaven party: bring all your deceased family members' pictures and pray and celebrate in their honor!
- Remind the kids they are in God's army here on earth. Have them go through "basic training"
January: Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, & was buried.
- Points to hit this month:
- Jesus died for our sins because there was nothing we could do to save ourselves.
- Jesus suffered a lot for us, and bore a ton of pain because he loves us so much.
- Jesus died on the cross for us. Now we must choose to follow him or not.
- Our conscience helps us to follow Jesus.
Teaching worksheet
HW - to be done over two family meals
Independent Family Small Group
- Confession as a group!
December: Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary.
- Points to hit this month:
- Jesus' dad is God through the Holy Spirit. Jesus' mom is Mary. Jesus' adopted dad is Joseph.
- Mary is very special. We honor her in a big way, and she helps us a lot. She is our mom too.
Teaching worksheet
HW - to be done over two family meals
Independent Family Small Group
- Interactive Advent Youth Vigil for the kids and Mass!
November: Creator of Heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ His only son, our Lord.
- Points to hit this month:
- Creator
- The story of creation and the fall
- Jesus came to save us from the fall
- Jesus is God and existed from all time, but was born with a human nature on Christmas
- Jesus is one with God the Father and the Holy Spirit
Teaching worksheet
HW - to be done over two family meals
Independent Family Small Group
- Go to adoration at St. Mary of the Woods and have an "Adoration Tailgate" in the grassy area before or afterwards
- Have a Thanksgiving Party! Write down all the things you are thankful for!
- Go on a nature walk to show children amazing things of nature. They can be amazed by the smallest things, moss, bugs, dead leaves, trees, stars and the moon, etc.
- Go star tipping.
- Do another creation adventure activity to show the wonder of God's creation!
October: I believe in God, the Father almighty
- Points to hit this month:
- I believe - what does it mean to believe
- Who is God?
- What makes a good Father?
- What does almighty entail?
- The Trinity
Teaching worksheet
HW - to be done over two family meals
Independent Family Small Group
- Do a trust walk (if you need blindfolds, let me know). You can also do a trust walk in a set space that has "land mines" the person cannot step on.
- If you need anything bought for this or any materials, let me know!
- Hula Hoop Circle
- Catholic Trivia (kinda random)
- Egg Drop Challenge (I believe in gravity!)
September: Circle of Grace and the Domestic Church
- Points to hit this month:
- We are temples of the Holy Spirit
- We must treat ourselves and others with the respect due to God's temple
- Circle of Grace curriculum
Activites
- Circle of Grace Activities
HW - to be done over two family meals
Independent Family Small Group
- Yellowcreek Park Sign Scavenger Hunt: front of park - longer and harder; lesson: signs have meaning
- Yellowcreek Park Sign Scavenger Hunt: back of park - shorter and easier; lesson: signs have meaning
- Or do both!
- Church Scavenger Hunt
- Church Scavenger Hunt Answer Key
- Icebreaker: Blind Dodgeball; lesson: even though you can't see it doesn't mean it's not real
- Icebreaker: Blind, deaf, and dumb; more complicated; lesson: even though you can't see it doesn't mean it's not real
- Icebreaker: Blind Dodgeball;
- Icebreaker: Blind, deaf, and dumb; more complicated
- Icebreaker: Roaming Pictionary;
- Icebreaker: Family team relay races
- Icebreaker: Empire; must be able to use your memory over the whole game; not for very young children
- Icebreaker: Skit Fest
- Icebreaker: Shaving Cream Wiffleball
2021 PREP Materials
May: Review of Sacraments & Community Building
- Points to hit this month:
- Our growth in faith doesn't stop when PREP stops. How can we keep growing?
- Review from the year
Prayer
Story
- The Lord is my Shepherd - knowing God
- Choose any previous story or pick a new one:
- The Deer and the Hound - faithfulness
- The Cracked Pot - God will use us in our weakness
- The Snake and the Saw - forgiveness
- Donuts and Pushups - God's love
- The Two Friends in the Desert - forgiveness
Activites
- Have each family make goals for the summer
- Review the family crest, values, and/or mission statement that was made in September
- Have each family give a presentation of what they learned or how they grew this year in PREP; maybe what was their favorite sacrament?
- Review how the home altars went; do they need to be revamped?
- Sacrament review page going over all the lessons!
- Sacrament Jeopardy!
HW
- Be on the lookout for PREP registration in the fall!
Independent Family Small Group
- Yellowcreek Park Sign Scavenger Hunt: front of park - longer and harder; lesson: signs have meaning
- Yellowcreek Park Sign Scavenger Hunt: back of park - shorter and easier; lesson: signs have meaning
- Or do both!
- Church Scavenger Hunt
- Church Scavenger Hunt Answer Key
- Icebreaker: Blind Dodgeball; not super socially distanced; lesson: even though you can't see it doesn't mean it's not real
- Icebreaker: Blind, deaf, and dumb; socially distanced, more complicated; lesson: even though you can't see it doesn't mean it's not real
- Icebreaker: Blind Dodgeball; not super socially distanced
- Icebreaker: Blind, deaf, and dumb; socially distanced, more complicated
- Icebreaker: Roaming Pictionary; socially distanced
- Icebreaker: Family team relay races
- Icebreaker: Empire; must be able to use your memory over the whole game; not for very young children
- Icebreaker: Skit Fest
- Icebreaker: Shaving Cream Wiffleball
April: Holy Orders and Marriage
- key concepts this month:
- Vocation: what is God calling you to do? Don't ask, what do you want to be when you grow up, but what does God want you to be?
- 3 levels of vocation
- 1. everyone is called to holiness; to get to heaven!
- 2. marriage, priesthood, religious brother/monk or sister/nun, or consecrated single life (right now all the kids are single and this is a vocation!)
- 3. career, job, or contributions to the world (this is school for them now probably)
- Marriage and Holy orders are two sacraments that confirm us in our vocations and give us extra grace
- The Bible both begins and ends with marriage: Adam and Eve in the beginning and Jesus and the Church in heaven at the end.
- Power Point
- Videos: both are very good!
- Marriage Sketchpad video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjwPsZaK4Do
- Holy Orders video:
Prayer
Story
- A Rose-a story about marriage
- Crazy Love -a story about priesthood/religious life
- A Choice and A Habit - a reflection on love as a choice
- Makeover story - this was used to describe a sacrament, but also shows love in a marriage well
- The Gift of the Magi- a story about sacrificial love in marriage
Activites (interchange with independent small group activities)
- Make a list of the pros and cons of both marriage and religious life/the priesthood
- Have younger kids choose a vocation and draw themselves in marriage or religious life/priesthood and what they will do, where they will live, etc. Older kids can choose a vocation and write down characteristics that make a good spouse/religious/priest and choose ways to grow in those virtues.
HW
- car conversations
- 3 out of 6 Holy Orders activities
- 3 out of 5 Marriage activities
Independent Family Small Group
- Interview a priest or religious sister and ask them about their vocation
- Collect albums and memorabilia from your parent's wedding day and ask them about their marriage, where they met, their engagement story, how they chose who to marry, etc. This may be more fun with grandparent weddings too. Share with your group.
- Have a mock wedding or ordination. This can be really fun with the boys lying prostrate for ordinations. They usually think it is really cool!
- Wedding rite: I would use just the vows and exchange of rings. Ask them what do these vows mean?
- Ordination rite: I would emphasize the promises made to the Bishop (obedience and celibacy) and the laying down of their life as indicated by lying prostrate. Also the anointing with sacred Chrism. This creates an indelible/un-removable mark on you, the same as at Baptism and Confirmation.
March: Anointing of the Sick
- key concepts this month:
- we will always experience suffering in this world, but it has meaning
- it unites us to Christ on the cross and we can offer it up for the redemption of others
- 5 effects of anointing of the sick
- sick person united to Christ on the cross
- gives strength, peace, and courage to endure the sufferings
- forgiveness of sins if the person was unable to celebrate Reconciliation
- heals your health if that will help your soul get to heaven
- prepares you to die and enter heaven
- Ways to help the sick and suffering
- visit them
- pray for them
- write them cards
- Holy Week and Easter are coming up! - interactive stations of the cross for kids!
- Power Point
Prayer
Story
Activites
- make an anointing of the sick craft kit. If you need construction paper let me know, I have tons.
- Have a mock anointing of the sick. All you need is some oil.
- Have the kids pick 7 people - one for each day of the week- and offer their day and sufferings up for that person each week to bring meaning to their suffering
- Use any Independent Family Small Group Activities
HW
- car conversations
- 3 anointing of the sick activities
- 2 weeks before Easter the Church veils all crucifixes, statues, and images. Use a cloth or towel to cover all your crucifixes, statues, and images on your altar or in your house until Easter!
Independent Family Small Group
- Have a craft party! Write notes to our fellow parishioners in nursing homes. Color them a picture, tell them what you are learning, and pray for them! They will be so happy to hear from you! Here is a list of names and addresses.
- Make a hug you can mail! Measure the child's arm span and cut out hands connecting them with a string the same length. Then mail the hug and a note to fellow parishioners in rest homes or other elderly or lonely folks you know.
- Use any activities mentioned above
February: Reconciliation
- key concepts this month:
- Sacraments of healing
- When we sin, we turn away from God. Reconciliation means "eyelash to eyelash." When we go to Reconciliation, we turn back to God and again become closer to Him.
- We can never undo our sins, but Jesus forgives them! He died on the cross to take away all our sins.
- Jesus heals our bodies and souls
- Mortal vs. venial sin
- We must go to Reconciliation at least once a year, but monthly is recommended!
- Power Point
Prayer
Story
- The Broken Mirror: about the beauty God can make out of our messes/sin
- St. Faustina: about the reality of Jesus completely forgiving our sins
- Napolean and the Traitor: about the meaning of Mercy
Activites
- Iodine and Bleach experiment: take a glass of water; pour Iodine (our sins) into it while naming off common sins and the water becomes all dirty and sinful; pour a little bleach (going to Reconciliation) into the mixture and it becomes completely clear again because Jesus takes away our sins
- Shaving Cream mania: take a bottle of shaving cream and a glass or cup; the shaving cream bottle fits nicely in the glass, so all this really nice cool shaving cream should fit in there too! Start emptying the shaving cream bottle without paying attention to the mess you're making (the kids go crazy over this); when you finish talk about how much the shaving cream expanded; this is like God's love, especially in the sacrament of Reconciliation; it cannot be contained!
- Practice mock confessions; this is really great for any kids who get really nervous to go! The little ones really love this one too. Make sure to use fake sins! Here is a guide to confession.
- Mad Lib retelling of the Good Shepherd/Lost Sheep
- Accident vs. Sin game to help understand the difference
- Make bread and toothpick crown of thorns. Anytime your child does something good during Lent, they can take away a toothpick from the crown of thorns.
HW
- car conversations
- 1 sacraments of healing activity
- 4 Reconciliation activities
- We celebrate Candlemas on February 2nd. Get a candle blessed- or ask for used ones from your church, and add your candle to your prayer table. It can be real or fake - it can be a fire safety lesson too! Light it everytime you pray as a family.
Independent Family Small Group
January: Eucharist and Mass
- key concepts this month:
- The Eucharist is truly the body, blood, soul, and divinity of the living Jesus
- The Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith
- The Eucharist was prefigured in the Old Testament with the Manna from heaven with Moses
- The Mass is the highest form of prayer
- Power Point for this month
Prayer
- Bread of Life- The Eucharist is the body of Jesus-more intellectual
- Last Supper-recommended, more visual
Story
- The Weight of the Mass - fun storybook story about offering up your Mass for others and the power of the Mass
- The Blind Boy- interesting story about reverence for the Eucharist
- Blessed Imelda's First Holy Communion - saint story about receving Jesus in the Eucharist
- Pope John Paul II and the dog - short story about the Eucharist really is the person of Jesus
Activites
- holy card activity pg.77 in the activity book
- sing the Life Without Jesus is like a Donut song: (Life without Jesus is like a donut, is like a donut, is like a donut. Life without Jesus is like a donut, cause there's a whole in the middle of your heart. - Make up motions to go with it) Click for a youtube video.
- Look up Eucharistic Miracles . Here is a website with a few of them.
HW
- choose 2 Eucharist activities
- choose 1 Mass activity
- put a statue of Mary on your home altar and learn a Marian hymn. Some are very easy (I suggest Sing of Mary, Pure and Lowly; Hail Holy Queen; Immaculate Mary; Gentle Woman; My Soul is Filled with Joy). For those who want a challenge, learn one in latin! Click here for Latin
- car conversations
Independent Family Small Group
- Have a mock Mass with your group. Assign different roles to different kids.
- Plan a trip to adoration (St. William has it from 8:45am-5pm on first Fridays; St. Mary of the Woods has it 24/7).
- Have a Meditation on the Eucharist in the Church with music
December: Confirmation
- this month's supplement sheet
- key concepts this month:
- Confirmation is the sacrament that Confirms, or completes the grace of Baptism
- In Confirmation we receive the final portion of the Holy Spirit
- Confirmation gives us gifts of the Holy Spirit
- St. Stephen Martyr - the first martyr
- Advent
- We are all called to be missionaries. Confirmation enables us to be effective missionaries.
Prayer
- Pentecost - very imaginative for all kids
- 1 Corinthians 13 - an examination if you are letting the Holy Spirit live in you, for older kids
Story
- Michael Jordan - explains how the Holy Spirit works in us
- Mound Key Story - emphasis on we are missionaries; missionaries in Florida story
Activites
- Acquire a map and have children research or discuss where they would want to be a missionary. Where they would want to be sent with the Holy Spirit.
- Chocolate Milk Activity - Make chocolate milk. The milk is us. Pour the syrup in, but do not stir. That is us receiving the Holy Spirit in Baptism. Now stir it up. This is the stirring up and extra graces of the Holy Spirit we receive in Confirmation. Now drink and enjoy!
- Soap in the microwave activity - Put a bar of soap in the microwave Ivory works best. The soap is us. The air inside the soap is the Holy Spirit. When we "ignite" (heat up) this Holy Spirit, it cannot be contained! No flames are involved.
HW
- choose 3 Confirmation Activities
- Pick a patron saint as a family. This will be your saint for the year. Put a picture of your patron saint on your home altar and ask for his/her intercession.
- Put up an Advent wreath. It can be on your altar or maybe your kitchen table. Light the candles while eating supper or praying together.
- Car conversation
Independent Family Small Group
- Feel free to use ideas from the activities column too
- Bonfire - a coal is really hot, but if you take it out of the heat, it will cool down quickly. The same are true of Christians. If a Christian has no one around pushing them to grow, pushing them to be holier, they will cool off quickly and lose the flame of the Holy Spirit. If you have some good hot coals together, a huge fire can be created, sometimes it can not even be contained - like all the wildfires out west this year. We need to be Christians like that.
- It's on a Monday, but come to our interactive Youth Advent Vigil Service. December 14 at 6pm at St. William Church. The pamphlet gives you an idea of what we will be doing.
November: Baptism & Initiation
- this month's supplement sheet
- key concepts this month:
- initiation means we are adopted and belong in God's family, the Church
- vocation means we all have a unique calling only we can fill
- evangelization means we should try to bring as many people to heaven with us
- St. Catherine of Alexandria
- Baptism
- Holy Water
Prayer
Story
Activites
- The Gateway to heaven activity on p. 65 & 77 parent book
- Renew Baptismal promises
- Go over 3 characteristics of Christ: priest, prophet, king
- Decorate a Holy water bottle for each child to have one
HW
- choose 1 initiation activity
- choose 3 Baptism activities
- Set up a Holy Water font or bowl on your altar or somewhere in your house. Click here for the assignment.
- Here is a pretty cool description of Holy Water. I can print some out if you would like. I will give each family a small bottle of Holy Water.
Independent Family Small Group
- Have a mock Baptism.
- Here is an in-depth set-up that looks really cool
- Additional mock Baptism resource: I can make copies of the worksheets
October: Sacrament
- feel free to use resources from previous months
- key concepts this month:
- humans are both body & soul
- we are created very good
- Sacraments are signs instituted by Christ to give grace
- St. Therese of Lisieux
- Circle of Grace Safe Environment Training
Prayer
Story
- The Castaway: How God uses physical things to show his love
- The Makeover: How our bodies are sacraments
- St. Therese of Lisieux
Activites
- Charades pg 35-37 in the parent book: charades uses signs to convey a meaning. This is what God does with Sacraments. The signs are effective. They have action, a reality, attached to them.
- Circle of Grace individual lessons with parents
HW
- 2 lessons in the parent book
- 3 out of 5 activities in the activity book
- create a gratitude journal to write one thing you are thankful for everyday: St. Therese said, "Whenever I ceased being grateful, graces stopped flowing." Keep your gratitude journal on your prayer table.
- car conversations
- Circle of Grace Safe Environment Training
Independent Family Small Group
- Yellowcreek Park Sign Scavenger Hunt: front of park - longer and harder; lesson: signs have meaning
- Yellowcreek Park Sign Scavenger Hunt: back of park - shorter and easier; lesson: signs have meaning
- Or do both!
- Church Scavenger Hunt
- Church Scavenger Hunt Answer Key
- Icebreaker: Blind Dodgeball; not super socially distanced; lesson: even though you can't see it doesn't mean it's not real
- Icebreaker: Blind, deaf, and dumb; socially distanced, more complicated; lesson: even though you can't see it doesn't mean it's not real
September: Domestic Church
- Ignatian Meditation Prayer: Walking on Water
- Story: Small Slavic Village with no Divorce
- Activity: Family Coat of Arms/Crest
Additional
- Ignatian Meditation Prayer: Raising of the Widow's Son; more for older children
- Story: St. Lawrence's Martyrdom
- Story: A Mother and 7 Sons' Martyrdom
- Story: St. Denis' Martyrdom
- Story: POW and Japanese Traitor
- Activity: Family Mission Statement
HW
- 2 Lessons in the parent book
- Choose 2 activities from the children's book
- Set up a home altar
- Choose prayers to practice
Independent Family Small Group
- Check-in on homework
- Begin and end in prayer
- Icebreaker: Blind Dodgeball; not super socially distanced
- Icebreaker: Blind, deaf, and dumb; socially distanced, more complicated
- Icebreaker: Roaming Pictionary; socially distanced
- Icebreaker: Family team relay races
- Icebreaker: Empire; must be able to use your memory over the whole game; not for very young children
- Icebreaker: Skit Fest
- Icebreaker: Shaving Cream Wiffleball