Guidelines for 4th Quarter Prayer Service

As the school year draws to a close, we look back at our journey of experiencing God's love through the mission and message of Jesus, the celebration of the Sacraments, and our role as members of the Church. We also thank God for letting us experience Him more concretely through our classmates, friends, and loved ones. We then look forward to our well-deserved break this summer as well as the opportunities awaiting us next school year as we live God's love through discovering the Christian moral way of life.

Hence, it is but fitting to conclude this school year through a simple yet meaningful class prayer service. For this concluding prayer service, we shall focus on your class saint and how we can relate to and emulate his exampleof holiness as well as the struggles present therein.

In your class, please appoint five point persons, who will form the Steering Committee, in-charge of overseeing
a. the prayer text
b. the music
c. logistics (decoration, physical arrangements, reservation of facilities and venue)
d. presentation and invitation (powerpoints, saint presentation, invitation to adviser/mentors)
e. the symbolic gesture.
The class president heads the steering committee.

Below is a suggested format for the Prayer Service:

Theme: A Year of Journeying with our Class Patron Saint

1. Opening Song or Video – A familiar gathering song to set an atmosphere for prayer which can be sung by the class led by selected instrumentalists.

2. Introduction to the Celebration - to be delivered by the class beadle

3. Our Class Patron Saint - A creative presentation on the life of the class patron saint. It may be in the form of a short video presentation or live dramatization highlighting important events on the life of the patron saint.

4. Gospel Reading: John 21:15-19 (Jesus and Peter) - to be read by the class porter

5. Symbolic Gesture– Moved by the life and message of the class patron saint, the students will decide on a symbolic gesture as a focal point of their prayer service. This symbolic gesture must highlight and thus be closely related to an important virtue/value that the class patron saint possessed.

The symbolic gesture is to be proposed and discussed by the Class Officers to the CLE teacher, subject to his recommendations and final approval by Wednesday, 3 March 2010.

6. Intercessions – Intercessory prayers to be offered for various intentions. The following are especially recommended intentions: a. for the Church b. for the nation c. for the less fortunate d. for Xavier community. e. for the class

7. Final Prayer – The prayer service ends with the singing of the Lord’s Prayer and a short final prayer for the class to be led by the Class President.

8. Closing Hymn – A fitting song may be sung to end the prayer service.

This Prayer Service will be rated as part of the students’ fourth quarter prayer service grade in CLE. Part of the grade will be based on a copy of the text for the entire prayer service to be submitted by the Class President to the CLE teacher and part will be based on the actual prayer service. The class adviser or mentor(s) who are present in the celebration shall be asked to assess their prayer service.

PRAYER SERVICE DATE: 5 MARCH 2010 (FRIDAY)

4th Quarter Reflection Paper: Church History through the lives of Saints

CHURCH HISTORY THROUGH THE LIVES OF SAINTS

You are expected to accomplish these task individually.

After three quarters of studying about Jesus Christ and the Sacraments, it is but fitting to “continue” the story of Jesus by going through the growth and expansion of the movement founded upon His teachings and organized by His followers and so have a glimpse of how the Church that we now know it saw herself and how she lived the faith she professed early on.

PART 1: KNOWING MY SAINT
1. Review your lessons on Church History and choose one (1) Catholic Saint in the post-apostolic era

• Choose one (1) saint. The saint can either be male or female. A "blessed" may be also be chosen for your reflection.
• The APOSTLES, whether from the TWELVE or the three SPECIAL APOSTLES, may NOT be chosen
• As usual, avoid using saints that you have been accustomed to as Xavier students (i.e. Francis Xavier, Ignatius of Loyola, Peter Faber may NOT be used).
• The saints used in your SAINT REPORT from last quarter may NOT be used. FYI, your teacher actually took note of your patron saints during your confirmation. Using the same saint would merit a 50% deduction on the score (since you already had a previous research about him/her).
• To help you out, you may use the following resources for your research:
• Books like lives of saints
• The internet through Catholic websites like
• http://www.catholic.com/saints
  
• http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/ncdsaints.html
• http://saints.sqpn.com
• http://www.newadvent.org
  
• http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/byname.aspx#
• Wikipedia may be used to jumpstart your research but NEVER as a PRIMARY SOURCE.
• It is recommended that you use AT LEAST one book source and the rest may be internet sources. Remember to cite tour sources in this paper.
  

2. Make a one page biography of your chosen saint.

• These should be highlighted in this biography:
• Basic information about the life of the saint
• Important contribution to Church history like important writings, works/deeds, etc.
• Key events in the life of your chosen saint that paved way to his contribution to Church history
• Make sure that you use formal language in writing this biography. Avoid subjective or personal sentiments or interpretations.
• RULE OF THUMB: Make sure that you do not commit plagiarism or passing off of others' ideas or works as your own in writing the biography. Do not forget to properly cite your sources in this paper.
• Indicate your sources (books, internet addresses, etc.) at the upper side of the back page of part 1.
  

3. Proper paper format for Part 1

• Short bond paper (8.5 x 11)
• 1 inch margin on all sides
• 1.5 spacing
• Times New Roman, size 11
• Alignment: Justified
• Indent every first line of a new paragraph
• Title: Name of chosen saint/blessed
• No subtitles or double spaces in between paragprahs
• Minimum and maximum of ONE FULL PAGE
• Identification marks at the LOWER BACK SIDE of the paper.
  

PART 2: REFLECTION
1. Write a TWO-PAGE REFLECTION PAPER about your chosen saint and his/her contribution to the Church
2. Guide questions:

• Who is your chosen saint and why did you choose him/her?
• What particular qualities or events in his/her life, or saying or idea of his/her that struck you the most? Why?
• What problems or difficulties did your saint encounter that you can actually relate with? Why?
• How did your saint contribute to the growth of the Church during his/her era in history?
• How did your saint emulate the life of Christ? What essential characteristics do you perceive in your saint that you can actually relate with the person of Christ?
  

3. Conclude your reflection paper with a short but substantial personal prayer to your saint, thanking him/her for his contribution to the history of the Church and seeking his/her intercession to help you become a better Christian believer.

• Separate this from the rest of part 2 by skipping a whole line from the reflection part.

3. Proper paper format for Part 2

• Short bond paper (8.5 x 11)
• 1 inch margin on all sides
• 1.5 spacing
• Times New Roman, size 11
• Alignment: Justified
• Indent every first line of a new paragraph
• Title: Name your own creative, attractive title
• No subtitles or double spaces in between paragprahs
• Minimum: ONE AND A HALF PAGES, Maximum: TWO FULL PAGES
• Identification marks at the LOWER BACK SIDE of each page.
  

COMPILATION AND SUBMISSION
1. Staple everything together in the following order: 1 page biography in front, followed by two-page reflection. Make sure that each paper has the proper identification marks on the lower back side of the pages.
2. SUBMISSION: 1 MARCH 2010 ON OR BEFORE 4:00 PM

4th Quarter Creative Synthesis

Shalom, guys!

Here are the guidelines for our Creative Synthesis for this quarter.

Consider Catholic Christianity
(in .pdf format, click here to download)

Take note that I will discuss this in greater detail on our next session. You may now start forming your respective groups (NOTE: There will be a total of 7 groups: 6 groups with 5 members each and 1 group with 4 members only).

Catholic Rite of Ordination to the Priesthood

Shalom, guys!

Please read this article entitled "Catholic Rite of Ordination to the Priesthood." I discussed this during our lesson on the Sacrament of Holy Orders, and this article serves as an explanation about the points I raised in class.

Catholic Rite of Ordination to the Priesthood
(in .pdf format, click here to download)

Please be reminded that this shall be part of our quiz this coming meeting.

Assignment: Priests in my life

You are expected to accomplish this task individually.

Carefully reflect and answer the following questions:

1. Who among the priests/pastors you know have had the most significant impact/influence in your life?

2. How has he made an impact in your life?

3. What personal qualities of this priest do you admire the most? Why?

Write your answers on a S2 paper. Submission will be on our next meeting.

4th Quarter Mini Reflection 1: Modern-day attitudes towards Matrimony

You are expected to accomplish this task individually.

React and reflect on the article from the Philippine Star entitled "Women's group wants expiry date on marriage."

Click here for the link to the article

Based on your learning on the Sacrament of Matrimony, answer the following questions:

• Are there potential benefits/harms to the proposed law? Identify and explain two (2) possible benefits and two (2) potential harms that such legislation may entail.
• Are you in favor of this proposed law? Why/why not? Kindly discuss your thoughts on the effects of this law on marriage and family life in the light of Church teachings.
  
• How does this law reflect the modern attitudes towards man-woman relations?
• On a personal note, which of the three attitudes towards Marriage do I seem to be exhibiting most? How can I work against it so I can be better prepared for marriage?

PRACTICAL GUIDELINES

• SHORT Bond Paper
• Minimum ONE FULL PAGE
• Computerized, Double spaced
  
• Font: Times New Roman, size: 12
• Margin: 1 inch per side
• Write the title of the reflection paper on the first line. Title must be in BOLD and UNDERLINED.
• Write proper identification marks at the back of paper (handwritten may do)
• Rules on reflection papers apply! (Grace period of one day with 20% deduction, any work submitted beyond this date merits a ZERO)
  

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: 19 JANUARY 2010 (TUESDAY) ON OR BEFORE 4:00 PM

Current attitudes towards Matrimony

Because of its permanence, which can become very difficult to maintain, the present generation, marked by three phenomena of narcissism, pragmatism and restlessness seems to be averse to the idea of marriage and settle for common-law relationships, which are transient and temporary, and inclined towards divorce.

Narcissism – Modern persons seem to be very self-centered. Their orientation is centered on the self and not on others. Hence, they see marriage as a source of self-satisfaction, fulfillment and pleasure. If the self is not satisfied in a relationship, they do not see a reason to continue in it. There is a tendency to define relationships as merely pleasurable.

Pragmatism – Modern persons are used to having things that work and also discarding things that no longer work. When a relationship does not “work” anymore, they lean towards discarding it—the easy way out—rather than making it work. There is a tendency to define relationships as merely disposable.

Restlessness – Modern persons are rarely content and obsessed with innovation. Even in relationships, they tend to despise permanence and stability in favor of variety and change. When a relationship does not excite anymore and starts to become boring, they tend to look for another, more exciting, even if fleeting relationships. There is a tendency to define relationships as merely a source of excitement.

Marriage for the Church however is not just a disposable source of pleasure and excitement but an enduring commitment even when it hurts and demands a lot of effort, sacrifice and fidelity. It is an imitation of the love of Christ, who loved us even unto death, death on the Cross.