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Option for the Poor and Vulnerable Lesson Plan: the Philippines option for the poor and vulnerable COUNTRY SPOTLIGHT: THE PHILIPPINES LESSON PLANS GRADES 1–8 CONTENTS Option for the Poor and Vulnerable, and Catholic Relief Services Overview . .. 2 The Lebans’ Story . .. 3 Lesson Plans and Activity Sheets Grades 1–3 . 4 Grades 4–6 . 7 Grades 7–8 . 9 Photo by Jim Stipe/CRS ©2015 Catholic Relief services . All Rights Reserved . US1597 background information for session leaders OPTION FOR THE POOR AND VULNERABLE In the Gospel of Matthew (25:31–46), Jesus describes the last judgment, saying that we will be judged based on how we treat the poorest and most vulnerable members of society . Throughout the Scriptures, Jesus spends time with the sick and outcast, revealing a special love for those most in need . The Catholic social teaching principle Option for the Poor and Vulnerable (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) encourages us to imitate Christ’s love for the poor by working to create a society where the needs of the poor are always considered first . The Church teaches that “those who are oppressed by poverty are the object of a preferential love on the part of the Church which, since her origin and in spite of the failings of many of her members, has not ceased to work for their relief, defense and liberation through numerous works of charity which remain indispensable always and everywhere ”. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no . 2448) We are invited to be a part of a long tradition that continues to live out a love for the poor through works of mercy . CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States . We are motivated by the example of Jesus The poor are the most vulnerable Christ to assist poor and suffering people in more than 100 countries on the to natural disaster . This photo shows the destruction to basis of need, without regard to race, religion or nationality . Founded in 1943, homes after a typhoon in the CRS reaches 85 million of the world’s poorest people each year with innovative Philippines . Photo by Jennifer Hardy/CRS solutions to poverty, hunger, drought, disease and emergencies . CRS works in close partnership with the Catholic Church around the world, and with local, national and international organizations that share our commitment to finding ways to meet immediate needs while empowering communities for the long term . OPTION FOR THE POOR AND VULNERABLE, AND CRS CRS carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas . We live out the Option for the Poor and Vulnerable through our work around the world . In the case of natural disaster, for example, CRS responds to the community’s immediate needs . Then we work with poor and vulnerable people in the affected area to rebuild their community . COUNTRY SPOTLIGHT: option for the poor and vulnerable THE PHILIPPINES 2 ©2015 Catholic Relief Services. All Rights Reserved. US1597 the Lebans’ story Annaliza and Danilo Leban live in the town of Baganga in the Philippines . In December 2012 they were in a hospital several hours PHILIPPINES away from home, waiting for Annaliza to give birth to triplets . And then a major typhoon struck Baganga . The Lebans were relieved to hear that their five older children made it safely though the storm . Luzon But when they returned, they found their home and the whole town South China destroyed . Danilo built a shelter from what was left of their home, ManilaCabanayuan ValenzuelaPhilippine Angeles Sea CaloocanSea but it could not protect the family Olongapo Quezon City MANILA SOUTHMindoro Pasig Samar PHILIPPINE from the heat, rain and mosquitos . SEA CHINA Bantangas SEA The newborn babies grew sick . Panay Leyte Palawan Cebu Then Catholic Relief Services arrived Negros Sulu Iloilo to help them build new homes . The Mindanao Sea Cebu townspeople held a meeting to plan Davao how they would rebuild their town— Celebes MALAYSIA SULUSea SEA and to vote on which family should Iligan receive the first new house . All of the INDONESIA Davao 150 km Zamboanga homes in Baganga had been destroyed, Map Sources: UNCS, ESRI, Gov’t. of USA. The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official but every person in the meeting endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. Map created in Sep 2013. MALAYSIA CELEBES SEA voted that Annaliza and Danilo should receive the first new house . Top: CRS helped the Leban “This is a good house,” says Annaliza, “and a community full of good people who family, desperately poor and with newborn triplets, build a new waited for their own homes because they believed our family needed a dry place home after a terrible typhoon . the most ”. Above left: The Philippines are made up of a more than 7,000 islands in the Pacific Ocean . They Danilo and other community members were hired to build the new houses . Danilo are prone to natural disaster, especially typhoons . Above right: was proud to help his neighbors, who had been so generous to his family . A child poses in a shelter built by CRS after Typhoon Bopha struck the Philippines . OPTION FOR THE POOR AND VULNERABLE Map credit: OCHA. Top photo Jesus always spends time with those who are most in need, including the sick or those by Jim Stipe/CRS. Above right photo by Jennifer Hardy/CRS. who are considered outcasts . We are invited to follow Jesus’ example and show a special care for people, especially the poor, who are most in need . COUNTRY SPOTLIGHT: option for the poor and vulnerable THE PHILIPPINES 3 ©2015 Catholic Relief Services. All Rights Reserved. US1597 option for the poor and vulnerable COUNTRY SPOTLIGHT: THE PHILIPPINES LESSON PLAN GRADES 1–3 45 Minutes OBJECTIVE 4 . Emphasize Annaliza’s quote: “This Students will learn about the Catholic is a community full of good people social teaching principle Option for the who waited for their own homes Poor and Vulnerable (United States because they believed our family Conference of Catholic Bishops, Seven needed a dry place the most ”. Share that other families practiced the Themes of Catholic Social Teaching) principle Option for the Poor and through the story of the Leban Vulnerable by choosing to give family, who live in the Philippines . the Lebans the first house, since they were in the most need . MATERIALS Coloring supplies 5 . Discuss with students: Have you ever given up something you Option for the Poor and needed or really wanted to help Vulnerable Activity Sheets, Grades someone else? Was it hard to 1–3, printed double-sided give this up? How did it feel? Pens or pencils ACTIVITY (20 MINUTES) The Lebans’ Story 1 . Invite each student to think about World map how they can live out the Option for the Poor and Vulnerable in DISCUSSION (20 MINUTES) their own lives as they design 1 . Explain that the class will reflect on a Generosity Booklet . the Catholic social teaching principle 2 . Hand out the Option for the Poor Option for the Poor and Vulnerable and Vulnerable Activity Sheets, by learning about the story of the Grades 1–3, and coloring supplies Leban family in the Philippines . to each student . Invite them to use 2 . Explain that the principle of the pictures and words in their booklets . Option for the Poor and Vulnerable means that God invites us to care CLOSING PRAYER (5 MINUTES) in a special way for those who Invite students to share prayer need the most help . Share that intentions for someone they have in the Scriptures, Jesus is always helped or who has helped them . spending time with the sick and those who are cared for the least . Gracious God, you show yourself in the 3 . Locate the Philippines on the faces of the people we meet each day. map . Read the Lebans’ Story . Help us to remember that each time we help someone, we show our love for you. TAKING IT HOME Encourage students to share their Generosity Booklet with their families and to go out of their way to help someone in need this week . COUNTRY SPOTLIGHT: option for the poor and vulnerable THE PHILIPPINES 4 ©2015 Catholic Relief Services. All Rights Reserved. US1597 my generosity booklet HOW DOES IT FEEL BY: TO HELP OTHERS? Loving God, We thank you for the many gifts you have given us. Bless our prayers and sacrifices. May we share our gifts with others, especially with the poor. Amen. HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE HELPED? option for the poor and vulnerable COUNTRY SPOTLIGHT: PHILIPPINES ©2015 Catholic Relief services . All Rights Reserved . US1597 DRAW A PICTURE OF A TIME YOU HELPED ANOTHER PERSON. DRAW A PICTURE OF A TIME SOMEONE HELPED YOU. 2 3 option for the poor and vulnerable COUNTRY SPOTLIGHT: THE PHILIPPINES LESSON PLAN GRADES 4–6 45 Minutes OBJECTIVE ACTIVITY (25 MINUTES) Students will learn about the Catholic 1 . Share that students will make a social teaching principle Option for the graphic representation of the story of Poor and Vulnerable (United States the Leban family in 10 individual story Conference of Catholic Bishops, Seven frames . Distribute the Option for the Themes of Catholic Social Teaching) Poor and Vulnerable Activity Sheets, through the story of the Leban Grades 4–6, to each student and family, who live in the Philippines . allow them time to complete them . 2 . Read Mark 2:1–5 . Ask students MATERIALS to compare the friends of the Bible paralyzed man to the families in Baganga who put the Leban Option for the Poor and Vulnerable family’s needs ahead of their own .
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