Liturgical Year
If you have questions about any of these resources click here. Please include the Reference Number listed.
Advent, Christmas, Lent or Easter.
General:
1) Following Jesus through the Church Year: Christian Corner. Mystic, Connecticut: Twenty-Third Publications, 1991. 10 min.
“Krispin travels to Damascus. He meets Ananias, who is sent to receive and baptize Paul. Paul tells the story of his conversion, and is filled with zeal to proclaim and spread the gospel. Peter and Krispin go to Antioch, and Peter is arrested for being a follower of Jesus. In the night however, God releases Peter from the cell and brings him back to the community.”
Reference Number: 00441
2) Following Jesus through the Church Year: Witness Way. Mystic, Connecticut: Twenty-Third Publications, 1991. 11 min.
“Krispin travels with Paul on his journeys, as he preaches and heals a crippled man. Christians are divided on observance of Jewish law for gentile converts. At the meeting in Jerusalem, Peter releases converts from the requirement of these practices. Paul and Krispin are put in jail, but God sets them free. Krispin is finally baptized into the Christian community. He has found Jesus, and will carry on the good news. He leaps for joy!”
Reference Number: 00446
1) Advent a Time of Hope. Mystic, Connecticut: Twenty-Third Publications, 1991. 20 min.
“Family activities, such as Christmas shopping and card writing, reveal a spirituality that can teach us about Advent. We live in a hectic world, and Christmas is a busy time, but God calls us from within this world to witness to the presence of Christ. Family life can provide signs and symbols of hope as we wait for the coming of he Kingdom of God.”
Reference Number: 00447
2) The Angel’s Advent Lesson. Mystic, Connecticut: Twenty-Third Publications, 1995. 11 min.
“Danny is happily making our his Christmas list—adding more and more toys and games—when his Guardian Angel, Theophane, suddenly appears. It is very obvious to Theo that Danny has forgotten the real meaning of Christmas. Together they review practices like the Advent wreath, reciting daily prayers at home and doing daily acts of kindness. They also recall many of the great Scripture characters from the Advent readings: Mary and Joseph, Elizabeth and Zachary, Isaiah and John the Baptist…Does Danny have a change of heart? Does he remember that Jesus is the reason for the Christmas Season? Is he happy or sad with Theo’s message? What does his family think of his drawings? Watch the video and learn the answers—and share its message with the children in your classes (grades 2 through 8).”
Reference Number: 00449
3) Celebrating the Church Year for Children: Advent. New York, New York: Paulist Press, 1989.
“Advent is a time of anticipation and expectation, a time of joy and hope, a time of waiting. This video looks at liturgical practices and Christian family customs which capture that hope for the Messiah. Children aged 8-12 will discover here the deep meaning of this season.”
Reference Number: 00451
4) Preparing for Christmas: An Advent Program for the Family. Los Angeles, California: Franciscan Communications, 1986. 59:49 min.
“Christmas is a special time of year…family reunions, the gifts, the music, the joy of togetherness. But the true meaning of Christmas is much more than these things. That is what this new Franciscan Communications Home Video Program is all about. Your host, Father Anthony Scannell, O.F.M., Capuchin, president of Franciscan Communications and of UNDA International, guides you (in his easy going style) through the scriptures, stories and music with warmth and charm. The themes for the weeks of Advent are: I Waiting, II Hoping, III Preparing, IV Giving and Receiving…By spending a few minutes each week to make Advent the “Waiting in faith” time that it is meant to be, this Christmas can be very “special” indeed.”
Reference Number: 00452
5) Preparing for Christmas II: An Advent Program for the Family. Los Angeles, California: Franciscan Communications. 56 min.
“A charming series of 4 separate programs; each one developing a special aspect of God’s promise to send us a Savior and of the wonder of Jesus’ coming. Through music and drama and narrative, Father Anthony Scannell draws adults and children into the experience of hope and joy that mark the Advent season and the glory of Christmas. In Part One, Father Tony takes us through a series of brief vignettes that show us how everyday life is a constant reminder of what Jesus’ becoming human means to us. In Part Two, we meet a very special person who spends his life “Santa Clausing.” We follow Father Declan Madden, a “natural” Santa Claus, as he brings to seniors and children his own loving presence and gift for helping them realize their own specialness. In Part Three, we witness a touching story of the power of a child’s faith as she prays for and gets a “Christmas daddy” for just one day. It is a story of simple, hard pressed people transformed by the spirit of Christmas and a child’s love. In Part Four, Father Tony leads us through the adventures of Aaron, the donkey belonging to Mary and Joseph. Through this gentle beast’s eyes we witness, in picture and sound, the events leading up to and following Jesus’ birth. From the call for a census and the mystery of Annunciation, we go with Aaron to Elizabeth’s and on the eventful journey to Bethlehem and experience all that happened there. Here is a wondrous Advent calendar brought to life.”
Reference Number: 00454
1) Behold this Child: The Christmas Stories of Matthew and Luke. Los Angeles, California: Franciscan Communications. 33 min.
“Hosted and narrated by Father Anthony Scannell and brought alive in vivid color through the artwork of Kathryn Shoemaker, this set of 4 programs is a theologically insightful and deeply spiritual presentation on the birth of Jesus as recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Part One: The Christmas Story-An Introduction looks at the differences in Matthew’s and Luke’s stories of the birth of Jesus and gives background information about the beliefs and traditions behind these Gospels. Part Two: The Promise Fulfilled-The Annunciation Stories explores the genealogy of Jesus and the meaning of Joseph’s annunciation dream as told by Matthew, as well as the angelic annunciations to Mary and Zachary recorded in Luke. Part Three: And it Came to Pass-The Birth of the Messiah provides deeper insights into the details of Jesus’ birth as recorded by the evangelist: the underlying significance of the name “Jesus,” the journey to Bethlehem, the manger, and the angelic proclamation to the shepherds. Part Four: What Child is This?-The Messiah is Recognized treats the incidents following upon Jesus’ birth: the Magi, the slaughter of the Innocents, the flight into Egypt, and the meeting with Anna and Simeon in the temple-all a foreshadowing of the ministry of Jesus.”
Reference Number: 00459
2) Celebrating the Church Year for Children: Christmas. New York, New York: Paulist Press, 1989.
“Why do we put up special lights and trees and Nativity scenes at Christmas? What does the Christmas celebration really mean? Viewers aged 8-12 will discover here the answers to those questions and what they mean about life and faith. The meaning of he Incarnation is expressed in an original children’s story and in the celebration of the Church.”
Reference Number: 00460
3) Christmas Eve on Sesame Street. Random House Home Video. 60 min.
“Everyone is getting ready for a merry Christmas on Sesame Street, when Oscar the Grouch asks Big Bird a very disturbing question: How does Santa Claus, “who is build like a dump truck” get down all those skinny little chimneys? With the help of all his Sesame Street Friends, Big Bird attempts to solve the Santa Claus riddle, and in the process discovers that the true miracle of Christmas is the spirit of loving and sharing.”
Reference Number: 00461
4) Christmas is…. St. Louis, Missouri: Family Films. 22 min.
“Benji isn’t very excited about playing the second shepherd in the school Christmas play, that is until he meets the real second shepherd…Join Benji and Waldo as they discover the real meaning of Christmas.”
Reference Number: 00462
5) The Christmas Story. Kansas City, Missouri: Sheed & Ward, 1988. 15 min.
“From Puerto Rico to Portugal and Austria to Sweden, the nations of the world have their own special customs to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Through colorful paintings and lively story-telling, this program invites children to become part of the Christmas story.”
Reference Number: 00463
6) The City that Forgot about Christmas. St. Louis, Missouri: Family Films, 1987.
““Sometimes I wish there wasn’t a Christmas,” Benji declares because the bustle of Christmas has caused his parents to become a bit irritable. But Grandfather knows that Benji’s outlook on Christmas is only “fogged” by its commercialism and frenzied activities. He shares a story that will teach you and your family that it isn’t the decorations and celebrations that make Christmas important, but the love of God who sent the baby Jesus. No one in the sad, gloomy city Grandfathers tells about even realized their need for change—until Matthew the carpenter came to town. More than words, the things he did made people notice him. It was nearing Christmas when he shared with a group of children what made him different…Jesus, “who became like one of us, a baby soft and warm.” The joy of Jesus isn’t something the children can contain—it spreads to all their families, and together they plan a citywide Christmas celebration—the first in many years. The hardhearted mayor doesn’t understand the changes taking place—he wants to stop Christmas. “You can’t have Christmas without the baby,” the mayor remembers Matthew once said, so he steals the wooden baby from the manger scene that the whole city had helped prepare. Was that the baby Matthew meant? No! On Christmas Day, the city celebrates without the missing baby Jesus. And that’s a message for all of us to remember as we joyously prepare for the coming of the Christ child.”
Reference Number: 00464
7) Following Jesus through the Church Year: Christmas Crossroads. Mystic, Connecticut: Twenty-Third Publications, 1991. 8 min.
“Krispin is lost in the crowded streets of Bethlehem. The census is on, and there is no room for him to stay at the inn. Aaron, a shepherd, brings Krispin to the stable where he says Jesus was born. Aaron tells him about the birth, a story about a bright light, an angel’s message, and a visit by three foreign kings who bring strange gifts. Jesus is no longer here, though, and so Krispin must travel to Nazareth to find him.”
Reference Number: 00442
8) A Good & Perfect Gift: A Christmas Story. Los Angeles, California: Franciscan Communications. 25 min.
“A story of a small Christmas miracle. Set in the Southwest Unite States, it tells the story of a child’s faith that God will answer her prayers for a “Christmas daddy,” and of the power of that faith to transform the adults who respond to her confidence not just in prayer but in themselves. Six year old Manuelita lives with her widowed mother in the mountains of New Mexico. Manuelita’s mother is ill and their tiny home is cold as Christmas approaches. There are few gifts, but Manuelita insists on praying to God to send her a “Christmas daddy”—“just for a day”! When mother and child attend Christmas Mass, Manuelita is really sad and a bit “mad” at God, seeing all the other children with their fathers. But when they arrive home, there is a stranger in their house. He is a fugitive from the law, whom Manuelita’s mother recognizes from reports on the radio. But to Manuelita he is her “Christmas daddy.” The fugitive asks for a place to rest just for the day; and rather that risk harm to her child Manuelita’s mother agrees. It is then that Manuelita’s faith inspires the fugitive to trust. He repairs the chimney and gives them a rabbit to cook for dinner, later revealing that he is more innocent than guilty of the crime for which he is being hunted. Manualita’s loving faith melt him completely. For her he carves a “nacimiento” (crèche) and shows her how to use the shavings to trim the forlorn little Christmas tree. When he departs after Manuelita has gone to sleep, the fugitive leaves a not quiet completed figure of San Jose and a sense of a small miracle that has transformed them all.”
Reference Number: 00465
9) Grandma’s Ornament. Mystic, Connecticut: Twenty-Third Publications. 14 min.
“What to do about Amy? She’s a clumsy child who spills and trips and bumps into things. And this year, it’s her turn to hang the special decoration on the tree. Grandma brings a new ornament every year; and this year’s decoration is a prized heirloom, a fragile handmade Christ child resting in a delicate manger. Amy, understandably, is not looking forward to the event. How she overcomes and wins out over her clumsiness makes for a very winning and delightful story.”
Reference Number: 00466
10) Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”. Baltimore, Maryland: Mass Media Ministries. 17:50 min.
“Alternatives, a non-profit organization that provides resources for responsible living, had created this timely video to teach children and remind parents why we celebrate Christmas. It offers practical solutions for simpler, non-materialistic yuletide celebrations that stress Christ’s message for peace, justice and care for our world and its people. Recommended for church and community programs, as well as for home viewing by children and adults, during the months leading up to Christmas.”
Reference Number: 00467
11) Keeper of the Peace: A Christmas Story. Brewster, Massachusetts: Paraclete Press, 1999. 22 min.
“Five time Emmy Award-winner Michael Rhodes brings powerful direction to Keeper of the Peace, a fresh, life-changing look at Christ’s birth. The familiar Christmas story is taken a step further as this drama unfolds in another stable in Bethlehem on that holy night. Marcus, a young Roman soldier, and Ruth, an old Jewish woman, stumble upon each other, unaware that this chance encounter will change both their lives. The birth of Christ is the greatest gift of all time, but only through forgiveness and reconciliation can Marcus and Ruth find the true Keeper of Peace.”
Reference Number: 00468
12) Mary Had a Baby. Amen!. Liguori, Missouri: Liguori Publications. 15 min.
“As told by Simon the rhyming mouse, this animated video for preschoolers to third-graders presents the delightful story of the birth of Christ. Simon invites youngsters to travel back in time with him to experience the first Christmas. Children can relive all the events of that glorious night—Mary and Joseph finding refuge in the stable, angels and shepherds worshiping the baby Jesus, the three wise men bearing gifts, and the Star of Bethlehem leading they way. It’s a story children will want to experience time and time again. Great for the classroom or home viewing. Amen! Based on the book by Mary Murphy”
Reference Number: 00469
13) Noel: A Christmas Story for all Generations. 25 min.
“Noel is the tale of a magical Christmas tree ornament that come to life through the magic of his glassblower creator’s love. His “happiness” warms the Christmas season in the home of his family year after year. Noel becomes that one special ornament that is passed down through the years from generation to generation, and through him we see wonder of joy and spirit of Christmas unfold.”
Reference Number: 00470
14) Rough Edges. Nashville, Tennessee: EcuFilm. 24 min.
“Two, lives, worlds apart, one with plenty and one without, meet by chance on a wintery night and share a park bench and a small portion of their lives. The exchange is more than words—hope is given that the real meaning of Christmas can be brought back into the heart and in turn help a troubled family. A vandalized Nativity scene and a park bench set the stage for a poignant drama that forces the two women to look beyond the “wrapping” to where the true wealth of the spirit of Christmas thrives.”
Reference Number: 00471
15) Santabear’s First Christmas. Dayton-Hudson Corporation, 1986. 25 min.
“Santabear, Americas favorite hero, is back in an all-new, heartwarming adventure that recounts the story of how he earned his name.”
Reference Number: 00472
16) Songs of Christmas. Los Angeles, California: Franciscan Communications. 48:30 min.
“This video tells the stories behind some of our most popular Christmas carols. The circumstances that led to the writing of these classics are portrayed in inspiring historical dramatizations. The carols include: O Come All Ye Faithful, Silent Night, O Come, O Come Emmanuel, O Christmas Tree, Rise Up Shepherd and Follow, Jolly Old St. Nicholas, O Holy Night, Peace on Earth, and Joy to the World.”
Reference Number: 00473
17) The Stableboy’s Christmas. St. Louis, Missouri: Family Films, 1979.
“Ten year old Tammy hopes to keep the doll under the Christmas tree that is meant for her cousin. Through a fantasy, we are taken back to Bethlehem to see the little stable boy’s act of unselfish love when he gives the Christ Child his pet lamb. Tammy then realizes how sharing presents with others is a way of sharing God’s love at Christmas.”
Reference Number: 00474
18) Star for Jeremy. 22 min.
“The night before Christmas, a young boy named Jeremy has a dream: God is assigning places in the sky for all the stars, except one. That star, the tiniest of them all, must remain behind to await a very special event—the birth of Christ. It’s the little star’s chance to shine! But will he be able to see the Christ Child?”
Reference Number: 00475
19) Stories of Faith for Children: Christmas Story. New Rochelle, New York: Don Bosco Multimedia. 15 min.
“From Puerto Rico to Portugal and Austria to Sweden, the nations of the world have their own special customs to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Through colorful paintings and lively story-telling, this program invites all children to become part of the Christmas Story.”
Reference Number: 00476
20) The Story Tree Video Series: Holidays/Colors. Allen, Texas: Tabor Publishing, 1987. 8 min.
“By way of charming animation and delightful stories, this series explains the religious meaning of holidays and teaches children to see color as a beautiful gift from God.”
Reference Number: 00477
21) Welcome the Stranger. St. Louis, Missouri: Concordia Publishing House, 1985. 18 min.
“You, too, will welcome the baby Jesus along with two wistful children who are themselves strangers in an alien land. The music of “What Child is This” flows softly throughout the story and adds to the enjoyment of this fine videotape. But your greatest joy will be watching Dave Pavelonis’ lovable, lifelike Pepercorn puppets present the “new-old” story of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. The two children, friendless and alone in the world, are frightened, hungry, and tired from walking a long distance. Suddenly they are thrilled to be witnesses to the angels’ appearance and hear the angels’ song on that first Christmas Eve. How this experience changes their lives unfolds in the story. They not only find the baby Jesus but they find a friend as well. The wonder and excitement of the children guides you to the manger of the Christ Child.”
Reference Number: 00478
22) Why Christmas Trees aren’t Perfect. 25 min.
“Share the story of a young tree named Small Pine who had big hopes. One very special Christmas he and his friends Wrenifred, the bird; the rabbit, Harrison Carter Rutherford III; Doemenique, the deer; and the Princes Arabella learned that the real joy comes from giving of ourselves to help others.”
Reference Number: 00479
Lent:
1) The Angel’s Lenten Lesson. Mystic, Connecticut: Twenty-Third Publications, 1995. 14 min.
“It’s not enough having to attend religion classes…no Danny has to complete a take-home quiz on Lent, and he’s not happy about it! He’s lived through seven Lenten seasons but is having trouble remembering the meaning of Lent: Why the ashes? How do we pray during Lent? What’s the purpose of fasting? Danny is struggling with the quiz when he is suddenly surprised by and unlikely visitor, his guardian angel, who helps him remember what the Lenten season is all about, and…they have fun doing it. Danny comes to realize the importance of Lent in the Church and in his own life through an encounter he will not soon forget. (Nor will your students!) This video is perfect for children in grades 3 through 8—those with little background and those who just need their memories jogged.”
Reference Number: 00480
2) Celebrating the Church Year for Children: Lent. New York, New York: Paulist Press, 1989.
“Catholics perform many special actions in Lent. We put ashes on our heads. We fast. We pray the Stations of the Cross. We dedicate ourselves to repentance and turning to New Life. But what do all these actions mean in the life of a child? This video conveys the meaning of Lent in a manner children aged 8-12 will appreciate.”
Reference Number: 00483
3) Celebrating the Church Year for Children: Pentecost. New York, New York: Paulist Press, 1989.
“At the first Pentecost, the apostles experienced the power of the Holy Spirit within—a spirit which sent them forth to proclaim the Good News. This video looks at liturgical practices and Christian family customs which convey that spirit for children aged 8-12.”
Reference Number: 00440
4) Following Jesus through the Church Year: Holy Week Crossing. Mystic, Connecticut: Twenty-Third Publications, 1991. 9 min.
“Krispin meets a little girl, who tells him of that joyful day when Jesus entered Jerusalem on the donkey. He is welcomed by Nathaniel, a disciple, who is still confused about the meaning of a Passover meal that Jesus celebrated. Krispin walks with a soldier to Gethsemani, and hears about Jesus’ arrest, trial, crucifixion and burial. Krispin thinks that Jesus is dead, and that his mission to find Jesus is over. He stands before the tome, which is now open and empty, but he does not understand.”
Reference Number: 00443
5) Following Jesus through the Church Year: Pentecost Passage. Mystic, Connecticut: Twenty-Third Publications, 1991. 11 min.
“Krispin attends a meal with Peter and the followers of Jesus, which they share in remembrance of all Jesus did. Krispin listens to the story of Pentecost: rushing wind, tongues of flames, bold preaching to all the people in many languages. Krispin goes out with Stephen, the deacon, to visit the lonely and feed the hungry, in the name of Jesus. On the way, Stephen is arrested and stoned, and Paul of Tarsus vows to stop all the followers of Jesus.”
Reference Number: 00444
6) Journey to Easter A Lenten Program for the Family. Los Angeles, California: Franciscan Communications. 90:00 min.
“Easter, the feast of the Resurrection, is a celebration of eternal life…of our faith in the promises of Jesus. It is a time to rejoice in the newness in our hearts and in the earth. This new life was bought for us at great commemorate this mystery during the 40 days preceding Easter which we call LENT. Franciscan Communications has prepared this video program to help you on your Lenten journey toward Easter with greater insight and participation. Your host is Father Anthony Scannell, Capuchin, President of Franciscan Communications and UNDA International. Father Scannell guides you, in his warm, informal way, through scripture, drama, story and music to a more personal and prayerful understanding of what Lent and Easter are all about.”
Reference Number: 00484
7) The Gospels for Lent (Cycle B): The Anointing at Bethany. Mystic, Connecticut: Twenty-Third Publications, 1994. 15 min.
“Simon, the leper, has invited Jesus for dinner along with a couple of his disciples. As the meal is about to be served, a woman enters, looking for Jesus. Although Simon objects to the intrusion, the woman remains and anoints Jesus with precious oil. What is the significance of this gesture? Why do the disciples protest to strongly? Everyday language and live-action video combine to make The Gospels for Lent a series that is challenging, inspirational, and informative. Geared for children in grades 4 through 8, these videos are excellent for use with all religious education programs, and a bonus for lectionary-based curricula. Each gospel presentation is introduced by a narrator who gives a preview of what the children are about to see. Concise study guides accompany each video and offer background information, questions for discussion, and related activities that will enhance the meaning of the gospels for young people today.”
Reference Number: 00486
8) The Gospels for Lent (Cycle B): The Cleansing of the Temple. Mystic, Connecticut: Twenty-Third Publications, 1994. 12 min.
“Eleven-year-old Amos and his father travel to Jerusalem to give sacrifice in the Temple. As they near the city, the pair hear a great commotion; a woman passing by relates that a man called Jesus is the source of the uproar. Who is this man Jesus? Is he a prophet or a fool? Why has he challenged the money changers in the Temple? Everyday language and live-action video combine to make The Gospels for Lent a series that is challenging, inspirational, and informative. Geared for children in grades 4 through 8, these videos are excellent for use with all religious education programs, and a bonus for lectionary-based curricula. Each gospel presentation is introduced by a narrator who gives a preview of what the children are about to see. Concise study guides accompany each video and offer background information, questions for discussion, and related activities that will enhance the meaning of the gospels for young people today.”
Reference Number: 00487
9) The Gospels for Lent (Cycle B): God so Loved the World. Mystic, Connecticut: Twenty-Third Publications, 1994. 12 min.
“The Johnson family is going on a hike in the woods. Sam and Rose Pellegrino, owners of the Inn where the Johnsons are staying, offer to have their son act as guide. But George Johnson wants to use an old map given him by his brother, even though the Pellegrinos warn that the trails have changed and some are unsafe to travel. Will George Johnson choose the right path for himself and his family? Everyday language and live-action video combine to make The Gospels for Lent a series that is challenging, inspirational, and informative. Geared for children in grades 4 through 8, these videos are excellent for use with all religious education programs, and a bonus for lectionary-based curricula. Each gospel presentation is introduced by a narrator who gives a preview of what the children are about to see. Concise study guides accompany each video and offer background information, questions for discussion, and related activities that will enhance the meaning of the gospels for young people today.”
Reference Number: 00488
10) The Gospels for Lent (Cycle B): The Grain of Wheat. Mystic, Connecticut: Twenty-Third Publications, 1994. 10 min.
“It is the 1940’s and an angry group of men is waiting with lit torches outside the home of a black family. Inside, Silas, the father of the family, tries to decide whether to confront the men or remain inside. He tells his family that he must defend what is right. But is taking a stand worth Silas risking his life? Everyday language and live-action video combine to make The Gospels for Lent a series that is challenging, inspirational, and informative. Geared for children in grades 4 through 8, these videos are excellent for use with all religious education programs, and a bonus for lectionary-based curricula. Each gospel presentation is introduced by a narrator who gives a preview of what the children are about to see. Concise study guides accompany each video and offer background information, questions for discussion, and related activities that will enhance the meaning of the gospels for young people today.”
Reference Number: 00489
11) The Gospels Live (Lent Cycle C): The Adulteress, The Trial. Mystic, Connecticut: Twenty-Third Publications, 1995. 19.5 min.
“The Adulteress: John 8:1-11, The Trial: Luke 22:24 thru 23:56. This live-action contemporary video series will help adults and teenagers focus on the significance of the Lenten gospels to our lives today. The drama is introduced and explained by a narrator, who returns at the end of the gospel presentation to pose questions for individual or group reflection. Concise study guides help session leaders enhance the visual experience with related activities, topics for discussion, and comprehensive resources listings.”
Reference Number: 00490
12) The Gospels Live (Lent Cycle C): The Fig Tree, The Prodigal. Mystic, Connecticut: Twenty-Third Publications, 1995. 18 min.
“The Fig Tree: Luke 13:6-9, The Progical: Luke 5:11-32. This live-action contemporary video series will help adults and teenagers focus on the significance of the Lenten gospels to our lives today. The drama is introduced and explained by a narrator, who returns at the end of the gospel presentation to pose questions for individual or group reflection. Concise study guides help session leaders enhance the visual experience with related activities, topics for discussion, and comprehensive resources listings.”
Reference Number: 00491
13) Lenny Learns about Lent. Mystic, Connecticut: Twenty-Third Publications. 11 min.
“This video for primary/intermediate grade children creates a sense of awareness, anticipation, and appreciation for the season of Lent. Parents will also identify with the programs as they recall their own experiences. In Lenny Learns about Lent, children are taught the significance of Ash Wednesday the meaning of the Stations of the Cross, and the highlights of the celebrations of Holy Week.”
Reference Number: 00492
14) Lent a Time to Forgive. Mystic, Connecticut: Twenty-Third Publications, 1991. 20 min.
“Lent allows us to slow down and realize that we are loved for who we are, not for what we do. Parents can accept and love their children, despite their mistakes. The sacrament of Reconciliation offers us this same gift of forgiveness. We can learn to forgive and accept ourselves as God does, and then offer forgiveness to others.”
Reference Number: 00494
15) The Passover. Muskegon, Michigan: Gospel Films, Inc. 31:45 min.
“This unusual and delightful presentation welcomes you into a Jewish home for the festival meal celebrated on the first night of the Passover. With Zola Levitt in a captivating performance as the grandfather, this unique film promotes a new understanding between Jew and Gentile, making each aware of their ties with the other. Three generations of a family are portrayed in The Passover. The grandfather and grandmother are East European-Slavic Jews. The father, mother and children are considered modern American Jews. In The Passover the old speaks to the new. One generation teaches making the next generation aware of its heritage. Filmed in Dallas, Texas, in a home designated for historical preservation, The Passover has a timeless feeling that both Jew and Gentile will not only find helpful by enjoy. A hauntingly beautiful music score by the Liberated Wailing Wall, adds to the story as the surprise ending reveals the true significance of the meal’s symbols and the true Messiah to whom these symbols point.”
Reference Number: 00496
16) Stations of the Cross for Children. Mystic, Connecticut: Twenty-Third Publications, 1997. 15 min.
“Children are guided in this video by Father Stan, a priest who often spends time in church to think and pray. He invites young viewers to accompany him as he makes the way of the cross. Each station is described in simple and clear language (and beautifully illustrated), so that children can reflect on what happened there. Descriptions are based on biblical images and stories from tradition. Father Stan then reflects on each station by inviting children to apply it to situations they face at home and at school. He particularly emphasizes courage and conviction as fitting responses to contemporary injustices. He invites children to think about how to follow Jesus and he emphasizes the Catholic belief that Jesus is present, here and now, and is inviting us to share his presence with others. The primary goal of this video is to help children, ages 7-12, view the stations of the cross as an opportunity to follow Jesus more closely. It emphasizes what children can do today to be more Christ like after reflecting on what happened to Jesus at each of his fourteen stops of the way to Calvary.”
Reference Number: 00497
17) Walking with Jesus. Mystic, Connecticut: Twenty-Third Publications. 8 min.
"Presents the story of the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus on the stations of the Cross. It not only acquaints children with this traditional devotion as an event from the past (art), but also depicts scenes from contemporary life that parallel the passion experience of Jesus."
Reference Number: 00498
18) Were You There? The Living Way of the Cross. Worcester, Pennsylvania: Vision Videos, 1990. 28 min.
"Re-Live the events of Christ's Passion with startling portrayals of Pontius Pilate, Mary Magdalen, Simon of Cyrene, Mary the Mother of Christ and others, as they give stirring interpretations of the events of that day."
Reference Number: 01067
1) Celebrating the Church Year for Children: Easter. New York, New York: Paulist Press, 1989.
“Easter—a time of New Life offered to all through the power of the resurrected Jesus. As a community of believers, we celebrate this event with numerous meaningful liturgical signs and family customs. In this video the dynamism of Easter is communicated for children aged 8-12.”
Reference Number: 00499
2) Easter Season a Time to Remember. 20 min.
“Parents experience a “letting go” as their children grow into adulthood and begin a new life. But parents also learn that memory will hold a family together, despite moves or transitions. And so family experience can teach us about the Eucharist, in which we remember Jesus’ passion and death and celebrate his new life in the resurrection.”
Reference Number: 00500
3) Following Jesus through the Church Year: Resurrection Road. Mystic, Connecticut: Twenty-Third Publications, 1991. 9 min.
“Krispin visits Mary, the mother of Jesus, who is ecstatic. She tells him about the morning when the women went to the tomb, and heard an angel announce that Jesus is risen. Krispin walks with two disciples, who share how they met the risen Jesus on the road to Emmaus. Krispin meets Peter, who tells him that Jesus continues to be with his followers through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is alive, not dead, and Krispin has found him—within his own heart!”
Reference Number: 00445
4) The Wall. Orleans, Massachusetts: Paraclete Video Productions, 1999. 40 min.
“In the early hours of Good Friday morning two thieves, awaiting their crucifixion, agonize in a lonely prison cell. As he stars go out one by one, these two men grapple with fear their impending death. Through a small hole in the stone cell wall, they can glimpse another prisoner who will be crucified with them. Together they argue about who this man is, and wonder if he had the power to save their souls.”
Reference Number: 00502