Printable Catholic New Year's Resources for Religious Education Programs and Families
We can ask God’s blessing on a new year and pray together as it begins. We can consider where we want to take our religious education programs in the New Year and incorporate new ideas and projects. We can take time to make our own spiritual lives and service to others a renewed priority.
Engage your family, class, or community in a discussion about their expectations for the New Year. Challenge them to expand their hopes beyond wishful thinking in order to ground each one in the grace and love of God!
Reflections & Prayers for a New Year
January Psalm Reflections
January is, for some, a dark and cold time of year. The start of a new year and the quiet of winter, however, is a lovely time for contemplation and a replenishment of the soul. Download January Psalm Reflection Cards and use them in your home, school, or parish to deepen your awareness of God’s presence at this time of year.
New Year of Favor
Start the new year with Scripture. “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me… because he has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted… to bind up the brokenhearted… to announce a year of favor from the Lord” (Isaiah 61:1-2). Share a New Year of Favor Reflection with suggestions for reflection inspired by the passage from Isaiah.
Hope for a New Year Prayer
Begin the new year with hope, grounded in the grace of God! Download a Hope for a New Year Prayer Card and share it with the families in your religious education program.
Religious Education New Year's Kit
We have compiled a few Sadlier resources that will help you prepare to tackle the joys and challenges of religious education in 2021 head on! In the New Year's Kit, you will find the following helpful resources, designed especially:
For Primary Students
Help students resolve to be better people in the near year with A New Year’s Resolution Mini-Lesson, written by a catechist. After learning about resolutions, children will consider and depict ways that they can be kind to self, peers, family, and community. As an extension, a bulletin board of resolutions can be created to help achieve kindness goals!
For Intermediate and Junior High Students
Help students ask God’s blessing on 2019 with the New Year’s Blessing Prayer Service. The prayer service combines Scripture, reflection, and writing with prayer and was written by a high school teacher.
For Parish Catechetical Leaders and Catechists
A new calendar year is a good time to consider the goals of our Religious Education programs in the coming year. The Religious Education Resolutions eBook contains five suggestions for resolutions to help build up your program and the Kingdom of God in the New Year and was written by a parish catechetical leader.
In Summary
Within our New Year's Kit, Catholic administrators, catechists, and parents will find resources to help prepare for and celebrate the new calendar year. In 2021, we resolve to continue to bring you timely resources to support your ministry and your catechetical programs! Happy New Year from the Sadlier Religion Blog!
