Creative Activity on “Full, Active, Conscious” Participation in the Liturgy

Here is a wonderful idea from Rocio M. for an activity to teach about “full, active, and conscious” participation in the Liturgy (as per the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 14). Thanks for sharing Rocio!

Hi Joe,

First, I want to thank you for all the support and materials you have shared with us.
I teach Confirmation (8th grade) and I want to share with you an activity I recently did with my class. My objective was to explain to my students the importance of having a full, active and conscious preparation to receive the Eucharist. I had a bag of regular M&M’s but I separated the green colored ones. When they got to class I offered them one M&M from the bag, then I told them that I had a treat for them and that I would give them a special kind of M&M. They shouldn’t just eat it, they should see it, put it on their tongues, be aware of the texture, feel the first layer melt, savor it slowly trying to perceive all of the flavor of this special M&M. They did and some of them even said that those were dark chocolate M&Ms! Then I asked how had it been a different experience from the first M&M they had taken, what was different? The first M&M they took almost without thinking. I told them then, that the M&M were the same, just different color BUT what was different was their attitude, their preparation to receive it, their conscious and active involvement that had changed the experience of receiving it. All communication has two sides, God is always there trying to communicate with us. We have to do our part and respond to this beautiful, life changing experience with Jesus.
Any way… I thought this might help some of our fellow catechists.
Best regards,
Rocio Munoz
P.S. I’ll be using your Lent Power Point on my next class. The one about Advent was excellent and the kids responded very well to it.
About Joe Paprocki 2758 Articles
Joe Paprocki, DMin, is National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press, where, in addition to his traveling/speaking responsibilities, he works on the development team for faith formation curriculum resources including Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts and God’s Gift: Reconciliation and Eucharist. Joe has more than 35 years of experience in ministry and has presented keynotes, presentations, and workshops in more than 100 dioceses in North America. Joe is a frequent presenter at national conferences including the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, the Mid-Atlantic Congress, and the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership. He is the author of numerous books, including the best seller The Catechist’s Toolbox, A Church on the Move, Under the Influence of Jesus, and Called to Be Catholic—a bilingual, foundational supplemental program that helps young people know their faith and grow in their relationship with God. Joe is also the series editor for the Effective Catechetical Leader and blogs about his experiences in faith formation at www.catechistsjourney.com.

3 Comments on Creative Activity on “Full, Active, Conscious” Participation in the Liturgy

  1. Great idea. I am going to use it in my family day – I think it is an analogy the adults will grasp as well as the teens. Might be over the little ones heads, but they will just get a kick out of the M and M’s. Thanks for sharing.

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