The Holy Trinity

Fox and Chickens Tag (Game for Youth Ministry or VBS)

This is a variation on tag which the person who is it tries to tag the last person in line. The people at the front of the line try to protect the last person.

This game could be used with a theme of how God protects us and loves us even better than a mother hen protects her chicks. Or it could be used for a social justice theme about protecting the marginalized.

Add some humor to this game

Fox and Chickens Tag

This game is appropriate for most ages, so it would work well for VBS, youth group, or youth ministry.

Active Time 15 mins

Total Time 15 mins

Keyword active games

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Ingredients

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Instructions

Choose one person to be the Fox (it).
Line up the rest of the group in a single file line.
Each person holds the waist of the person in front of him or her.
The person at the front of the line is the Mother Hen and the rest are the Chicks.
The Fox stands in front of the line.
On signal, the Fox starts around the line, trying to tag the very last Chick. The Mother Hen flaps her wings and follows the Fox to prevent him from catching the Chicks. The others keep in line with the leader and turn away from the Fox.
If the last Chick is caught, he falls behind the Fox and the game continues until all Chicks are caught.

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Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name… (The Lord’s Prayer)

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Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

– Matthew 6:9-13

The Our Father is what many consider one of the “big three prayers” for Catholics, along with the Hail Mary and the Glory Be. It is the first prayer many Catholics remember learning as a child. But since we have been saying it for so long, sometimes we feel like it is too familiar. A challenge when we say the Our Father is to not say it automatically, without thinking. Instead when we pray it, try to see which phrase stands out the most. It will vary from day to day. Maybe that’s what God wants us to focus on in that moment.

Gaze Upon a Crucifix and Know You Are Loved

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Are you familiar with the movie It’s a Wonderful Life? In it, George Bailey is facing financial ruin, largely because of his generosity to others. He wishes he had never been born. An angel grants him his wish and he sees the impact he has seen on others. He takes back his wish, but he is still in deep trouble. He returns home, and his wife is overjoyed. She has spread the word that they need help, and the whole town turns up to help him. This act of love can bring tears to the eyes of the sentimental.

Why? Because deep down, what we all need to know more than anything, is that we are loved. It is what our hearts seek. Sometimes it seems like if we really, truly, 100% believed that God loved us, we would not sin. We would be so secure in that love that nothing else would drive us. But we are flawed and we often falter and doubt.

Meditations at the foot of the cross

So as an activity, spend some time gazing at the crucifix. Think about the tremendous love that our Lord has for us, and for you individually. Consider the thought, “If you were the only person in need of salvation, Jesus still would have died for you.”

Hear our Lord call you “Beloved”. Be confident in His great love for you. Just gaze at Him and love him back. And let that be your whole world for a few moments.

Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

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Friday, June 11, 2021

The Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated by Catholics to remember Jesus Christ’s tremendous love for all of humanity. The Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated 19 days after Pentecost.

Mass readings for the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Mass readings for the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus for Year A:

First reading – Deuteronomy 7:6-11: “It was not because you are the largest of all nations that the LORD set his heart on you and chose you”
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 103: “The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.”
Second reading – 1 John 4:7-16: “Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.”
Gospel – Matthew 11:25-30: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart”

Learn more about the Sacred Heart devotion

Mass readings for the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus for Year B:

First reading – Hosea 11:1, 3-4, 8c-9: “My heart is overwhelmed, my pity is stirred.”
Responsorial Psalm – Isaiah 12:2-3, 4, 5-6: “You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.”
Second reading – Ephesians 3:8-12, 14-19: “and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength”
Gospel – John 19:31-37: “but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out.”

Mass readings for the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus for Year C:

First reading – Ezekiel 34:11-16: “The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal”
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.”
Second reading – Romans 5:5b-11: “But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.”
Gospel – Luke 15:3-7: “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance”

Resources for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque was a 17th century mystic. She was a Visitation nun. When she started having visions of Jesus, members of her order and theologians did not believe her. Eventually her visions were accepted.

First Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

When Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, he promise several graces to those who devoted themselves to his Sacred Heart. They would show their devotion by receiving communion on nine consecutive first Fridays.

The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Immaculate Heart of Mary is a devotion to our blessed Mother which helps us reflect on her love of God. By saying “yes” to God our Father and agreeing to be the mother of our Lord, she showed that she was entirely willing to cooperate with God’s plan for our redemption. Her heart experienced both joy and sorrow as a result of her “fiat” (“let it be”).

Gaze Upon a Crucifix and Know You Are Loved

Deep down, what we all need to know more than anything, is that we are loved. It is what our hearts seek. Sometimes it seems like if we really, truly, 100% believed that God loved us, we would not sin. We would be so secure in that love that nothing else would drive us. But we are flawed and we often falter and doubt.

The Holy Spirit Is Like the Wind (Kite Activity)

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This activity is to show children how the Holy Spirit is like the wind. We can’t see the Holy Spirit directly, but we can see the work of the Spirit.

You will need one or more kites and an outdoor location to fly them.

The Holy Spirit Is Like the Wind Kite Activity

Explain that the Holy Spirit is compared to the wind in scripture:

The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. – John 3:8

More springtime activity ideas

And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. Acts 2:2-4

Name some things which show the effects of the wind:

tree branches
flags
laundry on a line
leaves
windmills
kites

Go fly a kite. Let each youth take turns flying if necessary. Then follow up with these questions.

Could you feel the wind pulling on the kite?
How this can be like the Holy Spirit pulling you in a certain direction?
If you did not pay attention to the way the wind was pulling, what happened? (Usually the kite falls if you pull the wrong way.)
Have you ever felt the Holy Spirit pulling you to do something?

Make an Origami Dove

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Pentecost is right around the corner. Since the dove is often used as a symbol of the Holy Spirit, making origami doves can be a fun craft for kids on this holy day. Follow the link at the bottom of this post for instructions.

Make origami figures for Bible stories

You can make several and make your own Pentecost mobile by hanging them in a room. Add some “fire” with red, yellow, and orange streamers.

This is also a good opportunity to teach youth why the dove is used as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. At the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan, the Spirit took the visible appearance of a dove. See Luke 3:22:

… and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

See the instructions at Origami Way

The Holy Trinity

Fox and Chickens Tag

Ingredients 1x2x3x

Instructions

Mass readings for the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Resources for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

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