Children’s Liturgy of the Word (older version 7-11 year olds)
7th Sunday of Easter (Year A)
Theme: Jesus Prays for His Church
1. Welcome & Gathering
Leader:
Today we hear something very special.
We hear Jesus praying.
And do you know who He is praying for?
His disciples.
His Church.
Us.
Before Jesus returns to the Father,
He prays for His people.
Let us begin with the Sign of the Cross.
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Leader:
Jesus,
keep us close to You
and help us stay faithful.
Amen.
2. Introduction
Ask:
Has someone ever prayed for you?
How did that feel?
(Take answers)
Now say:
Today in the Gospel,
Jesus prays for His friends.
He knows life will sometimes be difficult.
He knows they will need strength.
And so He prays for them.
3. Gospel (Simplified)
Leader:
Jesus looked up to heaven and prayed:
“Holy Father, keep them safe.
Help them stay close to You.
Your word is truth.
I send them into the world.”
Leader:
The Gospel of the Lord.
Children:
Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.
4. Reflection
Imagine this.
Jesus knows He is going to return to the Father.
The apostles are frightened.
Everything is changing.
And what does Jesus do?
He prays.
That matters.
Because prayer is not the last thing we do.
It is the first.
And what does Jesus pray for?
Not that life will be easy.
Not that the apostles will never struggle.
He prays that they stay faithful.
That they stay close to God.
Then Jesus says:
“Your word is truth.”
That means:
God tells us what is true.
Not the internet.
Not crowds.
Not whatever everybody else says.
God.
And Jesus teaches us the truth
through the Church.
Now that is important.
Because sometimes people say:
“You can believe whatever you want.”
But Jesus does not say that.
He says:
“Your word is truth.”
Truth is real.
And the Church helps us know it.
Then Jesus says something else:
“I send them into the world.”
That means:
We do not hide our faith.
We live it.
At school.
At home.
With friends.
So what does that look like?
It means:
- telling the truth
- being kind
- praying even when busy
- standing up for what is right
- coming to Mass
Even when others do not.
And then we hear in the first reading
what the apostles do after Jesus ascends into heaven.
They gather together.
And what are they doing?
Praying.
Together.
With Mary, the Mother of Jesus.
That is beautiful.
The Church begins in prayer.
Not noise.
Not rushing.
Prayer.
And that teaches us something important.
If we want to stay close to Jesus,
we must pray.
Not only when things are difficult.
Regularly.
Because prayer keeps us close to God.
And where do we stay closest to Jesus?
At Mass.
Because Jesus is truly here.
Not far away.
Not absent.
Present.
Especially in Holy Communion.
So remember today:
Jesus prays for you.
Jesus wants you close to Him.
And Jesus gives you the Church
so you can stay strong in faith.
5. Quiet Prayer
Leader:
Close your eyes.
Jesus,
thank You for praying for us.
Pause.
Help us stay close to You.
Pause.
Help us know what is true.
Pause.
Help us stay faithful.
6. Living the Gospel
Leader:
This week:
- take time to pray each day
- tell the truth
- be kind even when difficult
- remember Jesus is with you
And when life feels hard, pray:
“Jesus, keep me close to You.”
7. Closing Prayer
Leader:
Lord Jesus,
You prayed for Your Church.
Help us stay faithful,
stay truthful,
and stay close to You.
Amen.
8. Sending Back
Leader:
Today we heard that Jesus prays for His people.
Let us go back to Mass
and stay close to Him.
Optional Activities
1. “Who Helps You Stay Strong?”
Best after introduction
Ask:
“What helps you stay strong in football or school?”
Practice.
Listening.
Training.
Then connect:
Prayer helps us stay strong in faith.
2. Truth Sorting
Best after “Your word is truth”
Read statements:
“Being cruel is good.”
Children: NO
“Helping others matters.”
YES
“Lying is okay if nobody notices.”
NO
Connect to Jesus teaching truth.
3. Circle Prayer
Best after Acts reading
Children stand in a circle quietly.
Explain:
“The apostles gathered together to pray.”
Short silence together.
Then:
“That is what the Church does.”
4. Faith at School Scenarios
Best mid-reflection
Ask:
“What would Jesus want you to do?”
- Someone left out
- Someone being laughed at
- Someone upset
Keep answers practical.
5. Invisible Strength
Best before quiet prayer
Ask:
“Can something be real even if you cannot see it?”
Wind.
Love.
Prayer.
Then explain:
God’s grace is real too.
6. Anchor Activity
Best before sending back
Pretend to hold a rope or anchor.
Leader:
“What keeps us close to Jesus?”
Children answer:
- Prayer
- Mass
- Truth
- The Church
Explain:
These keep us steady when life gets difficult.
Children’s Liturgy of the Word – Under 8s Version
7th Sunday of Easter (Year A)
Theme: Jesus Prays for Us
1. Welcome
Leader:
Hello everyone!
Today we hear something beautiful.
Jesus prays for His friends.
And that means:
Jesus prays for us too.
Let us begin with the Sign of the Cross.
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
2. Quick Starter (Movement)
Leader:
When I say:
“Who loves you?”
You say:
“Jesus!”
Practice twice with energy.
Then:
When I say:
“Who prays for you?”
You say:
“Jesus!”
3. Gospel (Very Simple)
Leader:
Jesus looked up to heaven and prayed.
He said:
“Father, keep my friends close to You.
Help them stay strong.
Help them stay together.”
Leader:
The Gospel of the Lord.
Children:
Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.
4. Reflection Part 1
Leader:
Imagine this.
Jesus knows He is going back to heaven.
And before He goes—
He prays for His friends.
That is important.
Because when we love someone,
we pray for them.
And Jesus loves us very much.
5. Activity – Prayer Circle
(2 mins)
Children stand in a circle.
Leader:
The apostles prayed together.
Let us do the same.
Everyone hold hands quietly.
Short silence.
Then pray slowly together:
“Jesus, keep us close to You.”
Repeat 3 times.
Sit down.
6. Reflection Part 2
Leader:
Jesus prayed:
“Keep them close.”
That means:
Jesus does not want us far away from Him.
So how do we stay close to Jesus?
(Take answers)
Help them toward:
- prayer
- Mass
- kindness
- listening
7. “Close or Far?” Activity
(Movement game – 3 mins)
Leader says situations.
Children step FORWARD if it brings us closer to Jesus.
Step BACK if it takes us away.
Examples:
- Being kind → forward
- Hurting someone → back
- Praying → forward
- Lying → back
- Helping at home → forward
- Ignoring people → back
Then say:
Jesus wants us close to Him.
8. Reflection Part 3
Leader:
After Jesus went to heaven,
the apostles stayed together.
And do you know what they did?
They prayed.
With Mary, the Mother of Jesus.
Because when we pray together,
God makes us strong.
9. Quiet Moment
(1–2 mins)
Leader:
Close your eyes.
Jesus is with us now.
Pause.
Jesus loves us.
Pause.
Jesus prays for us.
Pause.
Jesus, keep us close to You.
10. “Jesus Helps Me” Activity
(2 mins)
Leader asks:
“What helps you stay close to Jesus?”
Children answer:
- prayer
- Mass
- kindness
- helping
- listening
After each answer say:
“Yes — that keeps us close to Jesus.”
11. Final Teaching
Leader:
Sometimes life is hard.
Sometimes we get things wrong.
Sometimes we feel worried.
But remember this:
Jesus prays for you.
Jesus loves you.
And Jesus wants you close to Him.
12. Closing Prayer
Leader:
Jesus,
thank You for loving us.
Thank You for praying for us.
Help us stay close to You
every day.
Amen.
13. Sending Back
Leader:
Today we heard that Jesus prays for His people.
Let us go back to Mass
and stay close to Him.
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 