Nov. 10 St. Leo the Great: Only two popes have
November 11 Lesson PreK
**Remember to pray for your seminarian**
Their picture should be located by the
crucifix/door in your classroom. Feel free to send
cards and letters throughout the year
Prayer for Holy Vocations
Heavenly Father, make us more holy
each day, we pray.
Help us to embrace the way of life
You planned for us, our call;
And as priests, deacons, religious sisters or brothers,
married couples or chaste singles, help us to find joy
in giving You our most, our best, our all!
This we ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.
** Maybe bring in an Advent wreath to begin
explaining the season of Advent**
Welcome:




Play gathering music softly.
Have children color the picture provided of John the
Baptist/Jesus’ Baptism
Encourage children to talk about themselves and to
the others sitting nearby.
Announce that when the music gets softer the
children should meet you in the prayer space
Prayer:



Have the children quiet themselves and “center”
themselves to talk God.
Welcome the children. Say: Today we are going to
hear a story about Jesus’ cousin. Who has a cousin
that is a friend too? Allow responses. Do you spend
time with your cousin? Do you see each other at
holidays? Close your eyes and imagine Jesus with his
cousin, Saint John the Baptist. Let us pray:
Assist children with the Sign of the Cross
earned the title Great—Gregory I and Leo I. In 452,
the Huns, led by Attila, marched toward Rome to
destroy the city. Pope Leo went out to meet Attila
and was able to stop him by agreeing to pay tribute
to him every year. Leo is often remembered for his
writings and explanations of the faith, especially
during the Council of Chalcedon in 451. His words
were so powerful that the 600 bishops gathered there
felt they had heard Saint Peter speaking through
Leo.
Nov. 11 St. Martin of Tours: One wintry day, young
Martin, soldier and catechumen, met a shivering
beggar in the street. He cut his cape in two, giving
half to the man. That night in a dream St. Martin saw
Jesus wearing it and heard him say, “Martin is still
only a catechumen, but has covered me with this
garment.” Stunned, soon afterward Martin presented
himself for baptism. Martin was renowned as a
miracle worker, performing many cures and even
raising a dead man. Once, for example, he healed
St. Paulinus of Nola’s diseased eye by touching it
lightly with a fine paintbrush. Martin died on
November 11, 397. Because of his reputation, he
became one of the most admired saints of the Middle
Ages.
Nov. 12 St. Josaphat: Saint Josaphat became a
bishop and found the diocese in terrible condition.
He saw much unrest among the people. There were
strong groups, however, who opposed Rome and
Latin rule. These people named their own bishop.
Disturbances broke out as people took sides.
Josaphat decided to go to the center of the
disturbance. While Josaphat was there, a priest
named Elias kept shouting insults at him. A deacon
had the priest locked up. The mob rioted and
demanded the release of Elias. He was released, but
the angry mob broke through all barriers until they
made their way to Bishop Josaphat. They beat him
and then shot him to death on November 12, 1623.
The man who had worked for unity all his life was
killed by a violent mob. People were shocked, and
much honor was paid to his memory.
Nov. 13 St. Francis Xavier Cabrini: By the late 1880s,
Mother Cabrini became interested in a new problem.
Hundreds of thousands of Italians moved to America,
seeking a way out of the poverty of their new land.
Very few of these immigrants were successful right
away. Most lived in worse poverty than they’d
endured back in Italy. They lived in crowded and dirty
apartments, lived on scraps, and were unable to find
work. Sad stories traveled back to the home country,
right to Mother Cabrini. So Mother Cabrini set out on
the long trip to America. Over the next thirty-seven
years, Mother Cabrini was constantly on the move,
starting schools, orphanages, and hospitals for Italian
immigrants. After having a dream in which she saw
Mary tending to the sick lying in hospital beds,
Mother Cabrini started Columbus Hospital in New
York City. After she founded the hospital, Mother
Cabrini made trips back to Italy to organize more
nuns for work in America. By the time she died, fifty
houses of sisters were teaching, caring for orphans,
and running hospitals. Her order had grown to almost
a thousand sisters in all. Mother Cabrini was
obviously a very holy woman, and the church
recognized her holiness by canonizing her in 1946 as
the first American citizen to become a saint
Dear God, thank you for the love Saint John the Baptist showed his
cousin Jesus. Thank you for leading Saint John the Baptist to
baptize people and show them the way to Jesus. May we do the
same.
Ask children if they have prayers to add
Amen

Assist children with the Sign of the Cross
Discovering:









Say: Today’s Scripture story is about Jesus and a special friend of his. Listen to the story first,
and then we will act it out.
John was Jesus’ cousin. John lived in the desert. John’s life was simple. He ate what was handy.
Matthew, the Scripture writer, says the John ate locusts, a kind of bug. John also ate honey.
Who likes honey?
John’s clothes were simple, too. His clothes were made of camel hair. He used a leather strap
for a belt.
All of those things are interesting to know about John, but they are not as important as John’s
work. John taught people about God.
Even though John lived a simple life, people found out about him. They traveled into the desert
to hear him. He gave them important messages.
He told people how to honor God. Ask: How can we honor God? Allow responses. John told
people to change their heart to do good things. He told them how to be better people. Ask:
What can you do to help this week? Allow responses
John also baptized people. He didn’t have a church to baptize them in. He baptized them in a
river called the Jordan River. The people talked about the things that they had done that were
wrong to do. John told them to show that they were sorry. Ask: How can you show that you
are sorry? Allow responses.
John knew that Jesus would be teaching soon. He told people that another teacher would
come. John said, “The new teacher is greater than I am. I baptize you with water. He will
baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Let’s act out the story of John. Read the following for students to pretend they are John. Guide
children with appropriate actions if needed.
John was Jesus’ cousin. He lived in the desert. He ate bugs and honey for his food. He
wore clothes made of camel’s fur. John taught people about God. They came from
many miles around to hear him. They listened to his words. John told people to change
their hearts to do good. John also baptized people in the Jordan River. John knew
Jesus was coming. He told people,” A new teacher will be greater than I. I baptize with
water, he will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.” John wanted people to listen to
Jesus.

Let’s remember what John taught us: We should be good. We should watch for Jesus. We
should be ready to listen to Jesus.
Activity: Play John Says…../Create Advent Wreaths
Materials: Copies of Advent Wreath, crayons or markers



John Says is similar to Simon Says. Consider giving commands for gross motor skills but for kind
behaviors, such as, “John says smile because God loves you!” and “John says jump for joy
because Jesus is coming!”
Pass out copies of the Advent wreath
Have children color one candle purple
Sending/close:




Play music while children clean up and gather the things. As music gets softer they should join
you in prayer space.
Allow children to center themselves.
Explain that that it was a wonderful time to be with friends and teachers. Explain: John the
Baptist is one of my favorite people. He is Jesus’ cousin, a man that lived in the desert. John ate
locusts and honey-YUM! John tells us to get ready for Jesus. Are you ready for Jesus? Listen
and you will hear. God gives us some rules to follow, so we can stay safe and happy. These
rules help us be good girls and boys, the way God created us to be. Let us pray:
Practice the Sign of the Cross
Dear Jesus, we are ready and waiting for you!
Amen


Complete with the Sign of the Cross (assist children if needed)
Pass out any information/ materials/projects needed for families
7:30 Dismiss Children at school’s main doors