Introduction
The main aim of this topic is to help students examine the Eucharist as Christ’s sacramental action in the church within catholic confines. In effect, the topic will serve as an eye opener to the students for them to realize that Eucharist is the source of summit of the life of Christians.
This paper will seek to develop a topic that will help students in understanding the Eucharist through Jesus’ fellowship as well as the last supper. Furthermore, the topic will include elements that will help reinforce in students the secrecy of the memorial meals and sacrifice associated with praise and thanksgiving. The paper will be composed of two parts.
The first will emphasize the elements of the topic that are essential and crucial to explicit curriculum while the second will include elements that the author believes should be left out on purpose in the design of this Eucharist topic.
The second part of the paper will mainly centre on the implicit curriculum aspect of the topic. There will b a concerted effort to include though subtly in the justifications of the importance of phenomena such as heroism, liturgy, the position of Mary in catholic teaching and the importance that teaching holds in the advancement of the catholic ideas and Christianity in general. It’s important to note that the implementation of the topic will critically rely on teachers input.
According to Rymarz (2007, pp.12-15), teachers in Australia have a great attitude especially when it comes to teaching about Jesus. They therefore will be relied upon in the successful teaching of this Eucharist topic.
Explicit Curriculum
Significance attached with the celebrations Jesus held with sinners
This particular part will introduce to students the importance of Jesus’ ministry. This part is particularly important given that it will be demonstrating the free association of Jesus with people of all kinds especially the poor and societal outcasts. The students will be tasked to identify who the poor and outcasts in today’s world are.
This point will be helpful to students in unravelling how Jesus was the sacrament of God especially through role plays. The book of Luke will be very critical in analyzing the last Supper and in helping students understand the role that the Passover played among the Jews. Students will also be tasked to explore other Christian denomination’s beliefs about Eucharist and what it means to them.
Though finely the symbolic value of Eucharist will be compared the one held by Mary. According to Carroll (2005, p. 10) the symbol of Mary serves to highlight the life of faith as shown through her encounter with a gracious God. Eucharist’s symbolism can be compared o the above.
Reflection and explanation of the significance of the Eucharist to Catholics
This part will emphasize on the meaning of the Eucharist to Catholics especially as a memorial meal and sacrifice. Remembrance will be touted throughout this section. According to Ryan (2004, p. 175), the Catholic Church relies on historical events and people like prophets like Elijah and more importantly on Jesus Christ to deliver its teachings to people.
Precisely, this aspect will help students to discuss and understand the memorials that Jesus may have left behind. Furthermore, it will help students to keenly study and analyze the powerful words of Jesus “do this in memory of me”. Additionally, it will help them explore the other things apart from a simple meal that he may have instructed them to do for his remembrance.
One of the most important things that this aspect will give to students is the ability to summarise the four fold action associated with the Eucharist i.e. take, bless and break while linking them with the parts of the Eucharist Liturgy as enshrined in the Catholic doctrine.
Description of the presence of the spirit of Christ through Eucharist celebration
This aspect will help students to explore the concept of the spirit. Through examples of late relatives and friends or those that life far off, students will be tasked to relate it to the absence of Christ. Under this aspect, students will be required to explore Luke’s account of the Road to Emmaus and how the apostle’s recognition of Jesus is can be used recognise the presence of Christ in the present day Eucharist celebrations.
The importance of Christian symbols of the word, bread and wine within the catholic context and how they signify the presence of Jesus in a Christian assembly will be discussed. Perhaps important is the links that is perspective helps make by showing how Jesus is the sacrament of God and how the church is the sacrament of Jesus.
Additionally, the role of the priest in articulating Jesus’ position in the church will be considered under this perspective. This section will also be used to highlight the importance of prayer as Jesus emphasised. He always prayed to Abba his father after ministering and healing people (Gascoigne, 2006, p. 1).
Identification of ways through which Catholic students can reach out to others
The concept of the church as the sacrament of Jesus will especially be explored through this aspect. Under this perspective, students will reflect in what they have learnt through out the topic and how that will help them build concern for others. Values such as compassion, trustworthiness, understanding and tolerance help students to treat their colleagues fairly as emphasised through Catholic principles especially through Eucharist (Lennard, 2007, p. 32).
In this section, the reflection will largely focus on engaging students to explore ways through which they can reach out to others and to prove to them that they are just as important as Christ did with the sinners and the tax collectors. The learning here will involve the use of role plays and home assignments which will emphasise on the importance of applying Christ’s Eucharist principles in everyday life. This section may also be used to help students put to use in real life the themes of Eucharist as taught by the Catholic denomination.
Implicit Curriculum
Reflection and deliberation of how particular organizations and individuals implement Eucharist principles
There will be no need of engaging in particulars especially after the students have done enough of real life reflection of the Eucharist principles. Additionally, real life examples involving particular organizations and individuals may necessarily not be advisable as they may help in conjuring lasting images in the students about the subjects.
The images and opinions may be subjective thus negating the very essence of teaching Eucharist principles. Additionally, a section like the above will not be advisable as it may lead student in identifying people they believe are on the fringe of society. This if not carefully dealt with may lead to stereotyping.
Discussion of the Catholic’s Eucharist mass rituals
Despite the focus being on catholic students its may not be advisable to emphasise explicitly on the catholic approach to Eucharist celebration. This is in consideration of the fact that the there are other Christian denominations that also have Eucharist celebrations and despite the variations in beliefs, their ideas too are valid.
References
Carroll, S. (2005). Teachers, Spirituality and Mary: An Exploration of Mary as Person and Symbol. Journal of Religious Education 53 (4) 2005.
Gascoigne, R. (2006). In Freedom and Responsibility. Echoing the Word Vol.5 No. 4, 2006.
Lennard, T. (2007). The use of the Harry Potter Series in Teaching Values in Religious education. Journal of Religious Education 55(4) 2007.
Rymarz, R. (2007). At the Coalface: The Teaching about Jesus. Journal of Religious Education 55(1) 2007.
Ryan, M. (2006). The Catholic Tradition and the Classroom Religion Program. Religious Education in Catholic Schools.