Catechesis: Grades 1 and 2

WE ENCOUNTER God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

• The Bible is made up of two parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. 
• God’s creation (the world) is filled with signs of God’s goodness and love. 
• Jesus is the Son of God.  He became human so that we could know God how much God loves us. 
• Jesus lived and died for the sins of everyone. 
• Jesus used parables to tell us about God and the way God wants us to live. 
• Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to help us make good decisions and to live the way Jesus did. 
• We call the power to live the way God wants us to live grace. 

WE ARE FORMED in one, holy, catholic and apostolic church. 

• Mary is the Mother of Jesus; she is also called the Mother of the Church, and is the greatest of all saints. 
• The Church is the family of God’s people; it is the Body of Christ on earth. 
• The Church remembers and celebrates the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus throughout the Church Year and at every Mass.  
• The Sabbath is a special day to worship God. Catholics celebrate the Sabbath by going to Mass on Saturday night or Sunday. 
• The Church honors Mary and the saints throughout the Church Year. 

WE LIVE as disciples of Christ helping to build the Kingdom of God. 

• Being a good steward means using one’s talents and gifts to serve God and help others. 
• We learn about God’s great love and forgiveness in our families. 
• Sin is a bad word, thought, or action that we do on purpose.  Sins are bad because they hurt other people or ourselves, or because they harm our relationship with God and others. 
• A conscience is like an inner voice that helps us know what is right or wrong. 
• The Ten Commandments are God’s laws; they tell how to love God, other people and ourselves. 
• God forgives our sins through Baptism, the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. 
• The Mass is also called the Eucharist; Eucharist means giving thanks. 
• The two main parts of the Mass are the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. 
• Catholics believe that Jesus is truly present in the bread and wine which is blessed at Mass. The bread and wine become Jesus’ Body and Blood. 
• We call the Body and Blood of Jesus Holy Communion. 
• There are certain rules for receiving Holy Communion. 
• Family relationships and friendships need to include listening, sharing, forgiveness and trust. 
• Following good health and safety rules helps us provide for the goodness of our body and spirit. 
• It is important to remember God’s forgiveness and our need for God’s love, forgiveness and grace. 
• We can pray by using our own words (spontaneous prayer), by using prayers or rituals we learn from our families, and by praying the Act of Sorrow (or Act of Contrition) 
• We should learn and follow: the Ten Commandments and the rules for receiving Holy Communion