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about the author |
Principle: Called to Live in Family and Community
(Adults’ definition) Humans are social beings. It is only through community experiences that we come to know ourselves. It is through the community that we understand our dignity and exercise our rights. For most people, community begins with family. Gradually, we move further into the greater community. Within these levels of community, we have both rights and responsibilities regarding the community, just as the community has rights and responsibilities regarding individuals.
(Children’s definition) Jesus knew that people need other people. We all need our family, friends, and neighbors. He tells us it is right that in our lives we should have these important people who help us. And, Jesus says, we must work to help them, too.
Book recommendation: Chicken Sunday written and illustrated by Patricia Polacco
This is an autobiographical picture book showing the unfolding of love and happiness as people reach out to one another. When young Patricia makes friends with two neighbor children, they appear to have little in common: Winston and Stewart are boys, African-American and Baptist, and Patricia, who is a white girl, comes from an Eastern Church tradition. But after Patricia’s beloved babuska dies, the boys’ grandmother, Miss Eula May, takes Patricia into her heart. In their affection for Miss Eula, her three “baby dears” hatch a plan to buy her an Easter bonnet. But a series of events lead them to confronting their fears and other’s hatred, sharing the folk art tradition of Patricia’s family, and bringing joy to a Jewish man—all before they acquire the hat. This story clearly shows the process of giving dignity and respect within the family and community circles.
Discussion starters: Have children name some of important people in their lives who are family members, friends, or neighbors. Explain that ‘neighbor’ does not just imply people who live next door, but a great many others, too. Then name the family, friends and neighbors in Chicken Sunday. How did they need and help one another?
Big Book ideas: You will need family photos, and if this is a school project, take pictures of the children in the classroom. Parishioners that children know, or other people, such as school staff, can be included in this also. Place these pictures on a page, along with the words, “We have a right to love, with family, friends and neighbors. We have a responsibility to love them too.”
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