Introducing The Program

FORCATECHISTIntroducing the Program1 Before You Read AloudIn advance, visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop’s website andstudy the Two Feet of Love in Action program: www.usccb.org/twofeet.When you gather the children, say: As Catholics, we try to live as Jesustaught us. We are his disciples. We follow his teachings. We walk in hisfootsteps and try to live as he did. Explain that walking in Jesus’ footsteps hastwo parts. One part has to do with knowing what is right and fair and then usingthat knowledge to find solutions to problems on a local, national, or even globalscale. The other part has to do with showing people that you care about them byoffering help and aid.Explain that disciples must take both steps to walk the path of love. Explain thatthe Church teaches us that to work for foundational change is social justice and tooffer help to others when they are in need is doing charitable works. Both of theseprinciples flow from our response to God’s love. When we do this, we are puttingthe Gospel into action.2015 The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in partnership with(Continued on Page 2)W1382Two Feet of Love in Action Program Introduction for Catechists Page 1

FORCATECHIST2 ConnectGive examples of the two parts of Two Feet of Love in Action. To do so, you maydisplay and explain the following chart:IssueCharitable WorkSocial Justice(Short Term, Meet Immediate Need)(Long Term, Address Root Cause)HungerVolunteer at your local soupkitchen.Write a letter to one of your elected officialstelling him or her that you care aboutpoverty and want the U.S. government tohelp people in need overseas.DiseaseHelp your parents pick up anddeliver medicine for someonewho is sick. Visit the sick personwith your parents.Donate your allowance to help CatholicRelief Services provide education and free,accessible medical care.WaterParticipate in a shore cleanup inyour area.Join a group that works to educate peopleabout ways to care for God’s creation, suchas turning off the faucet while you brushyour teeth and turning off the light whenyou leave the room.2015 The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in partnership with3 StoriesSay: The stories that we will be reading are about disciples just like you.Explain that the characters in these stories experience or learn about an issue thatneeds to be addressed. They find a way to change the situation and get to work tomake the change happen.Children will understand what inspires these characters, and they will see howthe characters’ actions make a difference. As you read each story, ask: Who walkswith the “charitable works” foot in the story? (In Green Street Park, Philippicks up trash and pulls weeds. In Drop by Drop, Mr. Mike gives Sylvie’s family awater cart.) Then ask: Who walks with the “social justice” foot in the story?(In Green Street Park, the children write the mayor to ask for help and gather thewhole neighborhood to fix the park. In Drop by Drop, Mr. Mike helps build a wellso Sylvie and other girls can go to school. The children in the United States raisefunds to build wells in Burkina Faso.)4 Moving OnOnce children have read the stories, work with them to complete the activitiesand worksheets. Help them see how they can use their own “two feet of love inaction” to find big and small solutions to problems. Remind children that two feetof love in action can become the path they walk in their own lives, empoweredwith God’s love, to make just and compassionate decisions.W1382Two Feet of Love in Action Program Introduction for Catechists Page 2

Name �            Date Disciples Help Peoplein NeedFollowers of Jesus are called disciples. Disciples work to make theworld a better place. They turn the lessons they learn from Jesus’ lifeand teachings into action. Through these actions, disciples find ways tohelp people in need and to end suffering all over the world.When the children in Sister Mary Jerome’s class heardSylvie’s story, they wanted to help. They made and soldpins. What are some other ways to get donations or to raisefunds for school supplies, shoes, warm coats, canned goods,and other things that help people in need? In the spacebelow, make a poster to advertise your idea.2015 The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in partnership withThis is the cause I would like to help: �       .I can help people in need by W1391Grade 2 Drop by Drop Children’s Page

FORCATECHISTDisciples Help Peoplein Need1 Begin3 CloseSay: Jesus’ followers are called disciples.As Catholics, we are disciples of Jesus.Disciples use the example set by Jesus todo good works.Invite children to share their drawings andsentences. Encourage the class to followthrough with one of their ideas to put their“two feet of love into action.”Distribute an activity sheet to each child. Havevolunteers read the introduction. Talk withthe children about helping people in need,either from your parish or all the way aroundthe world.Write the following prayer on the board. Praythe Sign of the Cross. Then pray aloud as thechildren pray with you: Thank you, Jesus,for inviting us to put our love into actionas your disciples. Help us learn to useour gifts to help people in need. Close bypraying the Sign of the Cross.2 Connect2015 The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in partnership withHave volunteers retell the main events in Dropby Drop. Ask: How did the students in SisterMary Jerome’s class respond to the storyabout Sylvie? (Possible answer: They wantedto help people like Sylvie by raising money fora well.)NameDateDisciples Help Peoplein NeedThen read aloud the activity directions. Havechildren discuss ideas as a group before theycomplete the activity.Followers of Jesus are called disciples. Disciples work to make theworld a better place. They turn the lessons they learn from Jesus’ lifeand teachings into action. Through these actions, disciples find ways tohelp people in need and to end suffering all over the world.When the children in Sister Mary Jerome’s class heardSylvie’s story, they wanted to help. They made and soldpins. What are some other ways to get donations or to raisefunds for school supplies, shoes, warm coats, canned goods,and other things that help people in need? In the spacebelow, make a poster to advertise your idea.2015 The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in partnership withThis is the cause I would like to help:W1392I can help people in need bykids in need.Shoe Drive.inviting people to donate shoes forGrade 2Grade 2 Drop by Drop Drop by Drop Children’s PageCatechist’s Page

Name �            Date Disciples Help Peoplein NeedPeople who follow Jesus are called his disciples. Disciples use Jesus’teaching to help them act with love and care. Helping people in needis one of the ways that disciples make the world a better place.When the disciples in Sister Mary Jerome’s class heard Sylvie’sstory, they wanted to help. All people need safe water andfood. They need shelter and clothing. They need doctors andteachers. But many people don’t have any of these things andhave no way to get them. Draw a picture of a problem thatpeople face. How can you help?2015 The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in partnership withI heard about this.Here’s how I might help.I want to help people in need by W1393Grade 3 Drop by Drop Children’s Page

FORCATECHISTDisciples Help Peoplein Need1 Begin3 CloseSay: Jesus’ followers—Catholics like youand me—are called his disciples. Disciplesare guided by Jesus’ teachings. Disciplesoffer support and compassion to peoplein need.Invite children to share their drawings andsentences. Encourage children to discuss howthey can follow through with their ideas to puttheir “two feet of love into action.”Write the following prayer on the board. Praythe Sign of the Cross. Then pray aloud as thechildren pray with you: Thank you, Jesus,for inviting us to put our love into actionas your disciples. Help us learn to use ourgifts to help people who are in need. Closeby praying the Sign of the Cross.Distribute an activity sheet to each child. Havea volunteer read aloud the introduction. Talkwith the children about helping people meettheir most basic needs, the needs that many ofus take for granted.2 ConnectExplain that it is good to try to find solutionsthat make a difference not just for now, butfor the future as well. For example, explainthat in the story, the water cart made Sylvie’sjob easier, but the well was a better longterm solution. Discuss how the well answeredSylvie’s prayer to be able to go to school. Nowthat Sylvie goes to school, she can learn toread and do math. When she is older, she willbe able to have a job that can help her familyand others.Read aloud the activity directions. Havechildren complete the two-column chartand sentence.W1394NameDateDisciples Help Peoplein NeedPeople who follow Jesus are called his disciples. Disciples use Jesus’teaching to help them act with love and care. Helping people in needis one of the ways that disciples make the world a better place.When the disciples in Sister Mary Jerome’s class heard Sylvie’sstory, they wanted to help. All people need safe water andfood. They need shelter and clothing. They need doctors andteachers. But many people don’t have any of these things andhave no way to get them. Draw a picture of a problem thatpeople face. How can you help?I heard about this.2015 The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in partnership with2015 The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in partnership withHave volunteers retell the main events in Dropby Drop. Ask: What did Sylvie need? (Possibleanswers: Sylvie needed an education so that shecould help people, but she also needed to helpher family get water.)I want to help people in need bymath test.Here’s how I might help.helping a classmate study for theGrade 3Grade 3 Drop by Drop Drop by Drop Children’s PageCatechist’s Page

Name �            Date Disciples Help People inNeed Around the WorldJesus’ followers are called disciples. Disciples use Jesus’ life andteachings to guide them. They find ways to help people in need.Disciples work to make the world a better place, just as Jesus did.The children in Sister Mary Jerome’s class heard about howMike helped bring water to Sylvie’s village in Burkina Faso.They wanted to help too. Finding out about people in needmakes disciples like you want to take action. Research thework of Catholic Relief Services in a country or region otherthan the United States. Design a poster in the space belowto help spread the word.I learned about the work of Catholic Relief Services in the2015 The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in partnership withcountry of �        .Here is a fact I learned about people in need.W1395Grade 4 Drop by Drop Children’s Page