Activity 

1. Have students bring a picture of a loved one who has passed away along with a half sheet of poster board.

2. Have students complete the pre-reading questions and discuss answers as a class.

3. Read the Gospel to the students and lead them in a short discussion

4. Have students create a poster celebrating the life of their loved one. Have them put the picture on the poster.

5. Lead students in offering prayers for all their loved ones who have passed away and for all the poor souls in Purgatory. Encourage students to remember all those who have passed on in their prayers daily.

Answer Key:

1. We were made for life with Christ. Christ will not reject anyone who comes to Him willingly and openly.

2. No matter who we are or what we have done, Christ is waiting for us with open arms. If we truly desire and strive to love and follow Him, He will not reject us. At our Baptism, we became the Father’s, and anyone who belongs to the Father belongs to Jesus.

3. Jesus came to do the Father’s will. The Father’s will is for all of us to rise with Jesus on the last day. Jesus came to ensure that we would return to the Father when this life ends.

4. This means that we have Heaven as our goal. This life is temporary and so we need to live that way – be in the world, but not of it. Earthly pleasures should not be treated as the source of our happiness.

5. Trust in Jesus, follow His teachings and commandments, love our neighbor, spend time in prayer, receive the Sacraments, be detached from material goods. Accept additional reasoned answers.

6. It is perfectly natural to mourn the death of those we love and experience sadness. We should go through a grieving process. However, if we truly see Heaven as the ultimate goal, there should also be a sense of joy for the person we love because they have achieved their final destination. We should also hope in the promise that we will be united with them again one day in Heaven. We should also pray for the repose of their souls so if that they are in purgatory they will be cleansed and released quickly

Closing Prayer

• If you can, take students to a church or chapel. If not, try and create a sacred space in your classroom and have students gather around it. 
• Have students place the posters of their loved ones at the foot of the table or on the steps to the altar. Light a candle.
• Take a moment of silence to reflect on the gifts of life, love, and friendship.
• Re-read the Gospel passage.
• Give each student the opportunity to pray out loud by name for their loved one: Father, I entrust to you __________. May he/she rejoice in your presence and intercede for us here on this earth that we too may join him/her in eternity.

Conclude by praying the following prayer as a class:

Merciful Father, hear our prayer and console us. As we renew our faith in Your Son, whom You raised from the dead, strengthen our hope that all our departed brothers and sisters will share in His Resurrection, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen Eternal Rest grant unto them. O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace.