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Grade 4 Dear Parent/Guardian, We welcome your child to our Faith Formation Program. Your child’s text is part of the We Believe series published by Sadlier. Each week your child will bring home the pages that were covered in class that day. Please review them with your child and consider doing the activity on the “Take Home” section of the Project Disciple page at the end of each chapter. Visit the web site, www.WeBelieveweb.com, for lots of additional information, resources, and activities for the entire family. The following is an overview of what your child will be learning this year. Book Title: God’s Law Guides Us What Your Child Will Learn in Unit 1 The first unit of Grade 4 invites the children to focus on the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, who is the center of our faith. The children come to understand that Jesus is both human and divine, the second Person of the Blessed Trinity who became one of us. They comprehend the need for Jesus as our Savior and become more aware of their life of grace begun at Baptism and strengthened by the Holy Spirit. All this leads to a presentation of becoming a disciple of Jesus. The children are helped to understand the true meaning of the Beatitudes. Next, the reality of sin is presented. This is followed by a thorough discussion of our conscience, our guide in making decisions that keep us close to Christ. As the unit ends, the children learn the need for reconciliation as celebrated in the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. What Your Child Will Learn in Unit 2 Unit 2 presents the beginning of the discussion of the Ten Commandments. Each commandment is given a full chapter so that the children can learn not only the commandment but also what it means to live out this commandment. The children are introduced to the Great Commandment and its call to love God and to respect the human rights of all people. The children grow in their understanding of the first commandment by learning to keep God first. The second commandment is presented with many of God's beautiful titles and blessings of God introduced. The third commandment is the basis for discussions about our Sunday obligation, holy days of obligation, the need to rest on the Lord's Day, and the opportunity the Lord's Day gives us to love and serve others. The unit concludes with a chapter that outlines the four parts of the Mass. The children are encouraged to participate at Mass and to find strength and comfort in the Eucharist. What Your Child Will Learn in Unit 3 Unit 3 continues the presentation of the Ten Commandments with the fourth through the eighth commandments. In this unit, the children learn the need for being a responsible member of their family and society in general. Family responsibilities and respect for authority are highlighted as is the sacredness of all human life. Children are encouraged to commit themselves to protecting life, respecting their bodies, and working for the dignity of all human beings. The children are called to appreciate that they are made in God's own image. The meaning of virtue and specifically the meaning of chastity and what it entails are next explained. The joys of friendship, married love, and faithfulness in all relationships are also highlighted. The meaning of justice and respect for the property of others is stressed. Respect for creation, caring for the poor, and appreciating the Works of Mercy are included here. The unit concludes with an emphasis on God as the source of all truth, the importance of giving witness to the truth, telling the truth, and respecting the truth. What Your Child Will Learn in Unit 4 This last unit of the Grade 4 We Believe program is meant to inspire the children to live out the Ten Commandments in their daily lives. It begins with a presentation of the ninth commandment as the children become more aware that they are growing up and experiencing all kinds of feelings. God creates all of us to share love and relationships. This discussion leads to the benefits of purity of heart and the virtue of modesty. The tenth commandment is presented in the context that trust in God counters greed and envy while promoting generosity of heart. The Ten Commandments are summarized as the children are called to grow in holiness, to be the Church, and to be disciples of Jesus. As members of the Church, they are called to respect the laws, or precepts, of the Church as well as Church leaders who guide and help them. The children end their Grade 4 textbook with an inspiring call to discipleship. Here, the Blessed Virgin Mary is presented as our model of discipleship. Litrugical Lessons: The Church Year, Ordinary Time, Advent, Christmas, Lent, Triduum, Easter Web Site: www.WeBelieveweb.com Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions, concerns, and suggestions. Jonathan Galo Director of Faith Formation Phone: 508-548-3515 Email: [email protected] Glossary of Terms: Absolution: God's forgiveness of sins through the words of the priest assembly: the community of people gathered to worship in the name of Jesus Christ Beatitudes: teachings of Jesus that describe the way to live as his disciples bishops: leaders of the Church who continue the work of the apostles bless: to dedicate someone or something to God or to make holy in God's name Blessed Trinity: the three Persons in one God: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance chastity: the virtue by which we use our human sexuality in a responsible and faithful way Church: the community of people who are baptized and follow Jesus Christ conscience: the ability to know the difference between good and evil, right and wrong consecration: the part of the eucharistic prayer when, by the power of the Holy Spirit and through the words and actions of the priest, the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ Corporal Works of Mercy: things that we do to care for the physical needs of others covenant: a special agreement between God and his people covet: to wrongly desire something that is someone else's deacon: serves the parish by preaching, baptizing, and assisting the pastor diocese: a local area of the Church led by a bishop disciples: those who said yes to Jesus' call to follow him domestic church: the church in the home, which every Christian family is called to be envy: a feeling of sadness when someone else has the things we want for ourselves eucharistic prayer: the Church's greatest prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God examination of conscience: the act of determining whether the choices we have made showed love for God, ourselves, and others free will: the freedom to decide when and how to act fruits of the Holy Spirit: the good things people can see in us when we respond to the gifts of the Holy Spirit gifts of the Holy Spirit: the seven gifts which help us to follow God's law and live as Jesus did grace: the gift of God's life in us greed: an excessive desire to have or own things holy day of obligation: a day that is set apart to celebrate a special event in the life of Jesus, Mary, or the saints homily: a talk given by the priest or deacon that helps us to understand the readings and to grow as faithful followers of Jesus human dignity: the value and worth each person has from being created in God's image human rights: the basic rights that all people have idolatry: giving worship to a creature or thing instead of God Incarnation: the truth that the Son of God became man justice: respecting the rights of others and giving them what is rightfully theirs Kingdom of God: the power of God's love active in the world liturgy: the official public prayer of the Church Liturgy of the Eucharist: the part of the Mass in which the death and Resurrection of Christ are made present again; our gifts of bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ, which we receive in Holy Communion Liturgy of the Word: the part of the Mass when we listen and respond to God's word martyrs: people who die rather than give up their belief in the risen Jesus Mass: the celebration of the Eucharist mission: the work of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and spreading the Kingdom of God modesty: the virtue by which we think, speak, act, and dress in ways that show respect for ourselves and others mortal sin: very serious sin that breaks a person's friendship with God original sin: the first sin committed by the first human beings parish: a community of believers who worship and work together pastor: the priest who leads the parish in worship, prayer, and teaching peace: the freedom that comes from loving and trusting God and respecting all people penitent: the person seeking God's forgiveness in the sacrament of Reconciliation poor in spirit: those who depend on God completely pope: the bishop of Rome, who leads the whole Catholic Church prayer: listening and talking to God with our minds and hearts precepts of the Church: laws to help us know and fulfill our responsibilities as members of the Church psalm: a song of praise to honor the Lord reverence: honor, love, and respect Sabbath: the day of rest set apart to honor God in a special way sacrament: a special sign given to us by Jesus through which we share in God's life sacred: another word for holy Savior: a title given to Jesus because he died and rose to save us from sin sin: a thought, word, action, or omission against God's law Spiritual Works of Mercy: things that we do to care for the minds, hearts, and souls of others stewards of creation: those who take care of everything God has given them synagogue: the gathering place where Jewish people pray and learn about God temptation: an attraction to choose sin Ten Commandments: the laws of God's covenant given to Moses on Mount Sinai theological virtues: faith, hope, love venial sin: less serious sin that hurts a person's friendship with God virtue: a good habit that helps us to act according to God's love for us witnesses: people who speak and act based upon what they know and believe about Jesus worship: giving God thanks and praise