Theme: “Keep on praying — God always listens.”
Welcome & Gathering
Gather the children near the prayer space.
Light a candle if possible.
Leader:
“Good morning, everyone! Today Jesus teaches us something very important — to keep on praying and never give up. Even when things are hard, even when it seems like nothing happens, God always listens.”
Make the Sign of the Cross together:
“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
Optional short opening prayer:
“Lord Jesus, You are always ready to listen to us.
Teach us to pray with faith, to trust Your love,
and never to give up hope. Amen.”
Introducing the Gospel
Leader:
“In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells a story — a parable — about a woman who keeps going to a judge, again and again, asking for help.
The judge isn’t kind, he isn’t fair, but because she doesn’t stop asking, he finally gives her what she needs.
Jesus tells this story to show us what it means to pray — to keep talking to God and never lose heart.”
Make the Sign of the Cross on forehead, lips, and heart and say together:
“May the Word of God be in my mind, on my lips, and in my heart.”
Gospel (Simplified)
(Luke 18:1–8 paraphrased)
Leader reads slowly and clearly:
Jesus told His friends a story to show them that they should always pray and never give up.
There was once a judge who didn’t care about people or about God.
In that same town there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying,
“Please give me justice — someone has treated me unfairly!”
For a long time the judge refused to listen.
But she came back every day.
Finally he said to himself,
“I don’t care about God or anyone else,
but this woman keeps bothering me — I’ll help her so she’ll stop coming!”
Then Jesus said,
“If an unjust judge can listen in the end,
how much more will your heavenly Father listen to His children who cry out to Him day and night!
God will see that justice is done for them quickly.
But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”
Leader:
“The Gospel of the Lord.”
Children: “Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.”
Reflection & Discussion
Ask:
“Who are the two people in Jesus’ story?”
(The widow and the judge.)
“What did the widow keep doing?”
(She kept asking — she didn’t give up.)
“Did the judge care about God?”
(No.)
“But did he finally listen?”
(Yes — because she kept asking!)
Say:
“Jesus told this story so we would learn to pray like that widow.
To keep praying — even when we don’t get what we want right away.
Prayer isn’t magic. It’s trusting that God knows what’s best and loves us all the time.”
Link to First Reading (Moses and the battle)
Leader:
“Remember the first reading today? Moses stood on a hill while God’s people were fighting a battle.
When Moses held up his hands in prayer, they were winning.
When he got tired and his hands dropped, they started losing.
So two friends came and helped him hold up his arms until the battle was won.
That’s what prayer is like!
Sometimes we get tired, but others can help us.
When you pray together — with your family, your class, at Mass — you help one another keep your hearts lifted to God.”
Illustration idea:
Show a picture of Moses with helpers or act it out: one child as Moses, two others holding up his arms.
Ask, “What happens when they help him?” — “They win!”
Real-Life Connection
Leader:
“Sometimes our prayers seem to take a long time to be answered.
Maybe you’ve prayed for someone who’s sick, or for peace, or for a friend to be kind again.
God always hears, even when the answer takes time.
Every prayer is like a seed planted in God’s garden — it will grow in the right season.”
Short Story Illustration:
“A little boy once planted a sunflower seed. He looked every day, but nothing happened. He nearly gave up. Then one morning a green shoot appeared! He was so glad he hadn’t stopped watering it. Prayer is like that — you can’t see it growing, but God is at work.”
Activity Options (choose one or two)
a. Prayer Hands:
Trace each child’s hand on paper. In each finger write one thing or person to pray for this week (family, friends, sick, poor, the world, parish).
b. Keep-Going Game:
Have children bounce a ball or pass it around without letting it drop — each bounce or pass is “a prayer.” If it drops, say “Begin again!”
Explain that prayer means starting again when we forget.
c. Moses Arms Drama:
Three children act as Moses, Aaron, and Hur. Everyone cheers them on: “Keep going! Don’t give up!”
Profession of Faith (Child-friendly)
Leader:
“Let us tell God what we believe.”
“Do you believe in God the Father who made the world and hears every prayer?”
Children: “Yes, I believe.”
“Do you believe in Jesus, His Son, who teaches us to trust and never give up?”
Children: “Yes, I believe.”
“Do you believe in the Holy Spirit who helps us to pray from our hearts?”
Children: “Yes, I believe.”
Intercessions (Simple Prayers)
Leader:
“Let us pray together to our loving Father.”
- For Pope Leo, our bishops and priests, that they may teach us to pray with faith.
Lord, hear us. → Lord, graciously hear us. - For people who are tired, sick, or sad — that they may not lose hope, knowing God loves them.
Lord, hear us. - For peace in the world, and for everyone who works for justice.
Lord, hear us. - For our families and our parish, that we may keep praying for one another like Moses’ friends helped him.
Lord, hear us.
(Optional: Hail Mary)
Leader:
“Lord Jesus, help us to pray and never lose heart.
Teach us to trust You always, even when we have to wait. Amen.”
Closing Prayer
“Loving Father,
You always listen to us when we pray.
Help us to be patient, to keep talking to You,
and to trust that You are working for our good.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Make the Sign of the Cross together.
Memory Line
All together:
“Keep praying — God always listens!”
Send-Out
Leader:
“Let’s go back to church now and tell everyone:
Jesus says, ‘Pray always and never give up!’
So this week, when you pray before bed or before meals,
remember the widow, remember Moses — and keep going!”
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 