23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Plans for the Kingdom
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Better yet, ask someone to read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 14:25-33 In the Gospel for...
top of page
After more than three years, something new!
The Better Part Podcast
Listen to weekly reflections prior to Sunday Mass!
Plan of God
thebetterpart
- Mar 12, 2022
- 4 min
2nd Sunday of Lent (Ages 9-12): Connect the Dots
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 9.28b-36 Every...
18 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Dec 17, 2021
- 3 min
4th Sunday of Advent (Ages 6-9): She Says Yes
(Adults, you could begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to...
26 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Dec 17, 2021
- 4 min
4th Sunday of Advent (Ages 9-12): At the Sound of Her Voice
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 1.39-45 This...
19 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Nov 24, 2021
- 3 min
1st Sunday of Advent (Ages 6-9): Lift Us Up
(Adults, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the reflection.)...
30 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Oct 21, 2021
- 4 min
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Living the Miracle
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Mark 10.46-52 Often,...
51 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Sep 29, 2021
- 4 min
27th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Healing from God
(Adults, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the reflection.)...
13 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Aug 18, 2021
- 4 min
21st Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Spirit and Life
(Adults, the Bread of Life discourse concludes this week. It is complicated--for adults as well as for children :) You could begin by...
20 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Aug 11, 2021
- 3 min
Assumption of Mary (Ages 6-9): She Believes
(Adults, you could begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to...
13 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- May 28, 2021
- 3 min
Trinity Sunday (Ages 6-9): Sure of Love
(Adults, begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child, unless the child is a very fluent reader.) Matthew 28.16-20 For fifty days, we...
29 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Apr 22, 2021
- 3 min
Good Shepherd Sunday (Ages 6-9): The Gift that Gathers
John 10.11-18 (Adults, you could begin by reading the whole scripture passage to the child.) For many of us, the parable of the Good...
40 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Mar 18, 2021
- 5 min
5th Sunday of Lent (Ages 9-12): Jesus' Vision
(If your parish is using the readings from year A, please click here for reflection.) John 12.20-33 We have been in the season of Lent...
31 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Mar 10, 2021
- 5 min
4th Sunday of Lent (Ages 9-12): Time to Become
(If your parish is using the readings from year A, please click here for reflection.) John 3.14-21 In the Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus...
25 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Dec 23, 2020
- 4 min
Feast of the Holy Family (Ages 6-9): Ordinary and Extraordinary
(Adults, you may want to use this reflection instead, written for the Feast of the Presentation in the Temple, Feb. 2nd, 2020.) Luke...
24 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Nov 12, 2020
- 4 min
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Entrusted to Create
(Adults, begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to the...
53 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Oct 28, 2020
- 3 min
Feast of All Saints (Ages 3-6): Poor in Spirit
(Adults, you may have noticed that I keep converting "kingdom of heaven" to "kingdom of God." The phrase that is used in the Bible can be...
54 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Oct 28, 2020
- 4 min
Feast of All Saints (Ages 6-9): Emptying and Filling
(Adults, you may have noticed that I keep converting "kingdom of heaven" to "kingdom of God." The phrase that is used in the Bible can be...
287 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Sep 30, 2020
- 2 min
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): The Lord's Doing
(Adults, I don't mind saying that it was EXTREMELY difficult for me to find in this Sunday's Gospel the face of God that the youngest...
42 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Sep 30, 2020
- 4 min
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Fruit for Joy
(A warning this week: the parable in the Gospel is a difficult one. Read it first, or ask someone to read it to you. The Word is meant to...
24 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Aug 29, 2020
- 4 min
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): What Will They Give in Return for Their Life?
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Matthew 16.21-27 Last...
15 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jul 11, 2020
- 3 min
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Preparing the Soil
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Better yet, have someone read it to you. This particular Gospel has some great visuals. Close your eyes and...
14 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jun 6, 2020
- 4 min
Trinity Sunday (Ages 9-12): The Syrup of God
Trinity Sunday, Year A 9-12 year olds (Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is...
29 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Apr 4, 2020
- 5 min
Passion (Palm) Sunday (Ages 9-12): The Prayer of Jesus
Passion Sunday, Year A 9-12 year olds (Begin by reading the portion of the Gospel provided. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it...
29 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Mar 20, 2020
- 4 min
4th Sunday of Lent (Ages 9-12): Signs and Siloam
4th Sunday of Lent, Year A 9-12 year olds John 9.1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38 (full reading: John 9.1-41) In the Gospel reading for this Sunday,...
55 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Feb 29, 2020
- 4 min
The Way of God
Matthew 4.1-11 1st Sunday of Lent, Year A 9-12 year olds On Wednesday, the church entered a new season called Lent, the time of...
15 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Feb 29, 2020
- 3 min
Gathered into Love
Matthew 4.1-11 1st Sunday of Lent, Year A 6-9 year olds We have entered a new season in the church called Lent, a time of preparation for...
14 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Feb 29, 2020
- 2 min
Listening Only to the Voice of God
Matthew 4.1-11 1st Sunday of Lent, Year A 3-6 year olds You will notice at church this week that the colour has changed! Instead of...
27 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Feb 1, 2020
- 3 min
Living the Law of the Lord
Luke 2.22-40 Presentation of the Lord 9-12 year olds This Sunday, February 2nd, is exactly 40 days after Christmas. (You can check this...
24 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jan 11, 2020
- 3 min
What is John the Baptist's problem?
Matthew 3.13-17 BAPTISM OF THE LORD – YEAR A 6-9 year olds We are coming to the end of the Christmas season. Most people think Christmas...
17 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Dec 28, 2019
- 2 min
Out of Egypt, I have called my Son
Matthew 2.13-15, 19-23 FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY SUNDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS – YEAR 9-12 year olds Last week, we thought about...
17 views0 comments
bottom of page