The Heartbeat of Faith 59 Poems, Fingerplays, and Prayers

A resource for preschool and early elementary • Great for circle time, with or without parents present

Have you ever considered that the steady rhythm of poetry can remind children of their mother’s heartbeat? Sister Kathleen Glavich knows it’s true.

Children seem to be born with an appetite for rhyme, rhythm, and repetition. In her many years in the classroom, Sister Kathleen has used popular and original songs and poems to teach her youngest students how to pray, share, respect one another, and discover they are lovable—concepts that build a strong foundation for knowing, loving, and serving God. Poetry is a way to introduce preschoolers to the wonders of the natural world and the treasures of our Catholic faith.

The Heartbeat of Faith includes poems and prayers on “Me and My Family,” “God and God’s Family,” “The World,” “Bible Stories,” “Special Days,” and “My Prayers.” Share a poem each day and take a few minutes to engage your children in discussion using the “We Talk” questions. You’ll be surprised their ability to remember and how much your family life will be animated by “the heartbeat of faith.”

MARY KATHLEEN GLAVICH, a Sister of Notre Dame and noted religious educator, is the author of more than seventy books on faith formation, including the award-winning books The Catholic Companion to Jesus and The Confirmed Catholic’s Companion. She has also written Why Is Jesus in the Microwave? Funny Stories from Catholic Classrooms; Totally Catholic: A Catechism for Kids and Their Parents and Teachers; and her first novel, The Fisherman’s Wife: The Gospel According to St. Peter’s Spouse. Mary Kathleen blogs at www.kathleenglavich.org.