http://www.echoingtheword.com Echoing the Word is an exciting resource in religious education and faith formation, providing for the Christian growth of people ministering in the faith development of children. Formative, practical, contemporary approach to catechesis. en-au Copyright 2002-2004 Pauline Electronic Publishing 20 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +1000 20 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +1000 Echoing the Word http://www.echoingtheword.com/images/logo_news.jpg http://www.echoingtheword.com info@echoingtheword.com (Sr Joanna Coleiro, fsp) Editorial http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=953 Joanna Coleiro, fsp
We bring you this issue of Echoing the Word even as we approach International Women's Day on 8 March. Familiarising students with the stories of women in the Old and New Testaments is not something suitably relegated to secondary school. From their earliest years children should be given the opportunity to become familiar with those women who have shaped our religious story, just as they do the stories of Abraham and Moses, David, the prophets, Paul and the apostles. Vol. 11 No. 1, 2012 Women in Scripture info@echoingtheword.com (Pope Benedict XVI) Featured Articles http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=969 On Sunday 13 May the Church celebrates its annual World Communications Day. The Holy Father, Benedict XVI, focuses his 2012 message on the importance of providing spaces for silence and reflection in our lives so that we can live meaningfully in a world immersed in a plethora of messages and online social interactions. Vol. 11 No. 1, 2012 Women in Scripture info@echoingtheword.com (Erin Wedge) Featured Articles http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=954 Erin Wedge’s feature article provides a valuable re-reading of the story of the Samaritan Woman found in John’s Gospel. Drawing on contemporary scholarship, Erin breaks down old Jewish-Christian stereotypes to reveal a truly Christian purpose to this Johannine story about a woman who comes to belief in Jesus and who, in turn, witnesses to Christ in her community. Vol. 11 No. 1, 2012 Women in Scripture info@echoingtheword.com (Maurice Ryan) Scripture http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=952 Well-known author and lecturer, Dr Maurice Ryan, gives us valuable insight into the New Testament story commonly called the cleansing of the Temple. This story, which is one of the Sunday gospel readings for Lent, is often hard for teachers and students alike to understand as it seems to show Jesus acting out violently and unreasonably. Vol. 11 No. 1, 2012 Women in Scripture info@echoingtheword.com (Jan Grajczonek) Reviews & Resources http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=967 Jan Grajczonek reviews A Bus Called Heaven by Bob Graham; The Jewel Fish of Karnak by Graeme Base; and The Dog on the Tucker Box written by Corinne Fenton and illustrated by Peter Gouldthorpe. Vol. 11 No. 1, 2012 Women in Scripture info@echoingtheword.com (Paul Taouk) Reviews & Resources http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=968 Paul Taouk reviews Journey to the Heart: Centering Prayer for Children by Frank Jelenek; Simon and the Easter Miracle by Mary Joslin; and What’s New about the Mass by Maureen Kelly. Vol. 11 No. 1, 2012 Women in Scripture info@echoingtheword.com (Tony Densley) Theology http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=951 Tony Densley starts from Pope Paul VI’s apostolic exhortation, Marialis Cultus, to reflect on the importance and role of women as heroes of faith throughout Salvation History. He invites us to find parallels between the stories of women told by contemporary culture (in films or on television) and the biblical women whose stories have come down to us through the generations. Vol. 11 No. 1, 2012 Women in Scripture info@echoingtheword.com (Jennifer Callanan) Liturgies & Activities http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=959 In this Lenten activity Jennifer Callanan invites students to participate in Lent by considering what it is that they need to 'weed out' of their lives and what 'seeds' they need to 'plant'. This life-affirming Lenten activity could be used to stimulate class discussion followed by personal reflection. Vol. 11 No. 1, 2012 Women in Scripture info@echoingtheword.com (Anne Victor) Liturgies & Activities http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=956 In this activity for early year’s students, Anne Victor draws on the children’s own experience of the women around them to teach them about the loving relationship between Mary and her cousin Elizabeth. Vol. 11 No. 1, 2012 Women in Scripture info@echoingtheword.com (Anne Victor) Liturgies & Activities http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=955 Anne Victor’s activity for young students invites them to learn about Miriam, Moses’ sister who saves her baby brother from certain death. Vol. 11 No. 1, 2012 Women in Scripture info@echoingtheword.com (Beth Nolen) Liturgies & Activities http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=957 Beth Nolen’s activity explores the New Testament woman disciple, Prisca and asks students to discover the other women missionaries who were prominent in the early Christian community and who we know of through the Pauline Letters. Vol. 11 No. 1, 2012 Women in Scripture info@echoingtheword.com (Beth Nolen) Liturgies & Activities http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=958 Beth Nolen invites older students to become 'scripture detectives' to uncover Junia, the woman apostle of the early Christian community described by Paul as 'outstanding among the apostles' who is often lost in biblical translations. Vol. 11 No. 1, 2012 Women in Scripture info@echoingtheword.com (Jennifer Callanan) Liturgies & Activities http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=960 This classroom ritual from Jennifer Callanan encourages students to understand Lent as a call to action – a time for ‘giving up’ negative attitudes and behaviours (rather than particular foods) and a time for taking up positive attitudes and behaviours. Vol. 11 No. 1, 2012 Women in Scripture info@echoingtheword.com (Peter Arndt) Social Justice http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=962 Peter Arndt starts from Mary’s biblical hymn of praise, the Magnificat, to explore the many and grave forms of injustice and oppression faced by women around the world today. As we mark International Women’s Day on 8 March, Peter invites students to participate in worthy projects as part of their class Lenten practice. Vol. 11 No. 1, 2012 Women in Scripture info@echoingtheword.com (Ann Maree Whenman) For the Catechist http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=965 Ann Maree Whenman’s Catechist’s Tip uses the story of Martha and Mary, friends of Jesus, to provide ideas for how catechists can use the visual arts to help students better engage with scripture. Vol. 11 No. 1, 2012 Women in Scripture info@echoingtheword.com (Ann Maree Whenman) For the Catechist http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=964 In this article for catechists, Ann Maree Whenman points out that of the 1425 people named in the Old Testament, only 111 of them are women. Ann Maree suggests ways in which catechists can make students familiar with these inspiring biblical women. Vol. 11 No. 1, 2012 Women in Scripture info@echoingtheword.com (Jan Grajczonek) Religious Literacy http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=963 Jan Grajczonek highlights the importance of introducing both boys and girls from their earliest years to the often unknown female biblical characters and the important roles they play in both the Old and New Testaments stories. Vol. 11 No. 1, 2012 Women in Scripture info@echoingtheword.com (Jan Epstein) Movies http://www.echoingtheword.com/member/article_view.cgi?aid=961 Jan Epstein reviews the movie War Horse set during World War I. This is a movie that uses the relationship between people and horses to highlight the devastating nature of war for all creation. Vol. 11 No. 1, 2012 Women in Scripture