Opening Prayer
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary;
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried.
He descended into hell;
the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church,
the communion of Saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.
Amen.
Additional resources:
Catechism 2211, 1907, 1738, 2106-2109
Vatican II – Dignitatis Humanae (religious freedom)
USCCB Religious Freedom Prayer Campaign (En / / Es)
Immaculate Conception religious liberty prayer ( En / Es)
Guadalupe religious liberty prayer ( En / Es)
Scripture Reading:
Responsorial Psalm – June 24, 2018 – Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist – Vigil
Catechesis video
Catechesis video questions:
Grades K-6
- What does religious liberty/freedom mean according to the Catholic Church?
- Who has a right to religious freedom? Do people who are not Catholic have religious freedom?
- Can you name some other religions that we must protect their religious freedom?
Domestic Church
- What is religious freedom?
- How are we supposed to treat people of other faiths? (Other Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, etc.)
- How can we make sure that everyone’s religious freedom is respected?
Witness Video
Witness video questions:
Grades K-6
- St. Charles Lwanga and companions faced persecution for their faith. What lessons can be learned by his choice to remain faithful?
- It is one thing to defend your own right to religious freedom but another to defend others’ freedoms. In what ways might you defend the rights of other faiths, including non Christian faiths, in your school, community, state, nations?
Domestic Church
- How can your parish help to promote and ensure religious liberty for all in your community?
- St. Charles Lwanga and companions gave their lives for their faith. What are the challenges to fulfilling one’s own faith in the face of opposition or oppression?
- Are there people within your own community who are facing infringements on their religious liberty (including non Christians)?
Action Steps
Grades K-6
- Pray for your community and government leaders that religious liberty is safeguarded for all.
- Reach out to people of other faith traditions and discover if their religious liberty has ever been attacked or infringed upon.
- Become more active in your parish and learn more about your faith. Choose a parish ministry to get involved with and dedicate time to it.
- Hold a group discussion on religious liberty, possibly inviting people from other faith traditions, including non-Christian faith traditions to join in on the discussion.
Domestic Church
- Pray a rosary, spend an hour in adoration, silent prayer, or singing for religious liberty in the USA and around the world.
- Talk with others about the need to safeguard religious liberty for people of all faiths, not just the Catholic faith.
Closing Prayer
Almighty God, Father of all nations,
For freedom you have set us free in Christ Jesus (Gal 5:1).
We praise and bless you for the gift of religious liberty,
the foundation of human rights, justice, and the common good.
Grant to our leaders the wisdom to protect and promote our liberties;
By your grace may we have the courage to defend them, for ourselves and for all those who live
in this blessed land.
We ask this through the intercession of Mary Immaculate, our patroness,
and in the name of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
with whom you live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(excerpt prayer from “Our First, Most Cherished Liberty”, USCCB)
