Summary of CCD Curriculum - from the Guidelines for Catechesis Archdiocese of New York Revised - 1996

  Grade Two Curriculum

  Theme:

  Jesus nourishes us, and strengthens God's life, grace, within us.

  Objective:

  To present Jesus as the model for Christian living, and to introduce the
  sacraments of Baptism, Penance and Eucharist.

  Basic Teachings Core Content -

  God the Father gives us the gift of Jesus.

  Jesus, the Son of God, who existed from all eternity, "was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary".

  Mary is the mother of Jesus and our mother.

  Joseph is the foster father of Jesus.

  Jesus came to save all.

  Jesus was always obedient to God his Father, and he expects the same of us.  When we are disobedient to God's law, we sin.

  Jesus is our model of love and goodness.

  Jesus died for us on the cross: Crucifixion.
  He rose from the dead on Easter Sunday: Resurrection.

  Jesus returned to His Father in heaven (Ascension) and sent the Holy
  Spirit to be with us always (Pentecost).

  Jesus is present:
    - within each of us by the life of grace,
    - in the community of the Church,
    - when we gather in his name to pray together,
    - in his Word (Sacred Scripture),
    - in all the sacraments and in a special and unique way
      in the sacrament of the Eucharist.

  There are seven sacraments.  The sacraments are signs -- words and actions --   we perceive through our senses.  They show us Jesus' love for us.  They give us his grace.

  Three of the sacraments are:

  - Baptism by which we are freed from sin,
    share in God's life, grace, and become members of God's family,
    the Church.

  - Penance and Reconciliation by which we receive and celebrate God's
    forgiveness. In this sacrament we express sorrow for our sins, and
    are reconciled with the Church.

  - Eucharist by which we receive the gift of Jesus' Body and Blood which
    he shares with us at Mass as he shared them with the apostles at the
    Last Supper.

  The Sacrament of Penance is a celebration which makes clear:
    - that God has given us free will to choose between what is good
      and what is evil,
    - that God gives us the Spirit to empower us to make loving choices
      of what is good,
    - that God continues to love us even when we sin,
    - that God calls us always to be sorry for our sins and to accept
      his forgiveness.

  The reception of Communion nourishes and strengthens our relationship
  with Christ begun in Baptism and continued throughout our lives.

  At the Mass we gather together as God's family for:
    - the Liturgy of the Word, when we listen to God's message to us so
      as to put it into practice in our lives.
    - the Liturgy of the Eucharist, when we offer with the priest
      the gifts of bread and wine.  The bread and wine are changed
      into the the Body and Blood of Jesus (transubstantiation).
      In the Eucharist Jesus gives himself as the bread of life
      and the cup of salvation.

  Profession of Faith:

  Continue to teach the Apostles's Creed up to "...and the dead."

  Words to be taught:

  Ascension, Blessed Sacrament, Crucifixion, Charity, Grace, Heaven,
  Hell, Holy Day, Holy Week, Liturgy of the Word, Liturgy of the Eucharist,
  Pentecost, Prayer, Rite of Penance, Resurrection, Sacrament of the Eucharist, Sacrament of Penance.

  Liturgical symbols and gestures to be taught:

  Reconciliation room
  Confessional

  Prayers to be taught:

    Act of Contrition
    Simple responses at Mass.

  Prayers to be encouraged:
    Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament

END of Grade Two