Children's Liturgy Guide

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year C · Ordinary Time

Jesus Calls the Fishermen

Reading: Luke 5:1-11

Leader Prep

Don't worry about doing this perfectly. If the children hear one good idea about God, Jesus, prayer, kindness, forgiveness, or the Gospel, this time has been worthwhile.

Summary

Jesus asked some fishermen to let him use their boat. After they caught so many fish their nets almost broke, Jesus invited them to follow him and help gather people to God. They left everything behind and went with Jesus.

Key Points

  • Jesus used Simon Peter's ordinary boat to do something extraordinary
  • The huge catch of fish showed the fishermen that Jesus was special and powerful
  • Simon Peter felt unworthy but Jesus still called him
  • Following Jesus means trusting him even when we do not understand everything
  • Jesus invites ordinary people to help with his important work

Background

This passage marks the formal call of the first disciples in Luke's Gospel. The miraculous catch demonstrates Jesus' divine authority over nature and foreshadows the apostolic mission of gathering souls. Simon Peter's response, falling at Jesus' knees and confessing his sinfulness, echoes Isaiah's reaction to divine glory in the first reading. Jesus' words 'Do not be afraid' are a typical biblical response to theophany, reassuring the terrified human. The Greek for 'catching people' literally means 'catching alive,' implying rescue rather than capture. For children, emphasize that Jesus chose regular working people and asked them to help him, and that when Jesus asks us to do something, he helps us do it. Set aside the theological depths of Peter's confession of sinfulness and the precise meaning of apostolic calling.

Session Flow

Opening Prayer

Invite the children to pray with you, then read the opening prayer below. If many don't know the sign of the cross, teach the whole group.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Dear Jesus, thank you for calling ordinary people to be your helpers. Help us to listen when you call us and to follow you with brave hearts. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Warm-up

Ask the warm-up question before the reading. There are no wrong answers; this is just to help the children connect today's reading to their own lives.

Have you ever tried really hard to do something but it just did not work, and then someone came to help you and it suddenly worked?

Example: I was trying to tie my shoes and I kept messing up, but then my dad showed me a new way and I finally did it all by myself.

Bridge to the reading: Sometimes we need help to do things we cannot do alone. In today's reading, some fishermen worked all night but caught nothing. Then Jesus came and helped them do something amazing.

Read the Scripture

Read the day's selected passage aloud. The full Scripture text is not included here. Use a Children's Lectionary if your parish has one available. A children's Bible may also be helpful for younger children. Otherwise, read from a standard lectionary, Bible, or USCCB.org. Read slowly, with short pauses.

Reading Questions

Ask the questions conversationally. You do not need to use every question if time is short. The example answers are for leader preparation, not scripts or required answers.

  1. What did Jesus ask Simon Peter to do with his boat?

    Example: Jesus asked Simon Peter if he could sit in the boat and push out a little from the shore so he could teach all the people.

  2. What happened when Simon Peter put the nets into the water like Jesus told him?

    Example: They caught so many fish that their nets started to break and they had to call their friends to come help them with all the fish.

  3. How did Simon Peter feel when he saw all those fish, and what did he do?

    Example: Simon Peter felt amazed and he fell down on his knees in front of Jesus and said he was not good enough to be near Jesus.

  4. What did Jesus tell Simon Peter he would be doing from now on?

    Example: Jesus told Simon Peter not to be afraid and that from now on he would be catching people instead of fish, like helping bring people to God.

Application Questions

Use these questions to help the children connect the reading to their own lives this week. Simple, concrete answers are best.

  1. How do you think the fishermen felt when they left their boats and nets to follow Jesus?

    Example: I think they felt a little scared because they did not know what would happen, but also excited because Jesus was so amazing and special.

  2. Jesus asks us to help him too, like telling others about his love. Who is someone at school you could be extra kind to this week?

    Example: There is a kid in my class who sits alone at lunch sometimes, and I could go sit with him and be his friend.

  3. When we pray, we are listening for what Jesus wants us to do. What is one way you could listen to Jesus this week?

    Example: I could be really quiet during bedtime prayers and think about what Jesus might want me to do the next day to help someone.

Recap

Today we heard how Jesus asked some fishermen to help him. They had worked all night and caught nothing, but when Jesus told them to try again, they caught so many fish their nets almost broke. Jesus invited them to follow him and help bring people to God. They left everything and followed him. Jesus calls us to be his helpers too.

Prayer of the Faithful

Before returning to the assembly, invite the children to share their own prayer intentions. Their prayers may be serious, simple, funny, or very specific. After each child's prayer, the group may respond: "Lord, hear our prayer." Lastly, include the suggested prayer below.

For children who feel unsure about trying something new, that Jesus will give them courage to say yes like the fishermen did, we pray to the Lord.

Mass Connection

If time allows, point out this connection just before returning to Mass. This helps children see that Children's Liturgy is still part of the Mass.

When we pray 'Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof' before Communion, we echo Simon Peter falling before Jesus and saying he was not worthy. Just like Peter, we come to Jesus even though we are not perfect, and Jesus welcomes us.

Closing Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Thank you, Jesus, for choosing ordinary people like us to be your helpers. Give us brave hearts to follow you and share your love with everyone we meet. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

ChildrensLiturgy.org

Jesus Calls the Fishermen

Luke 5:1-11

Word Search

Optional activity: use the word search after the discussion if you have time, or send it home with the children. The words relate to today's Children's Liturgy Scripture passage.

E S C V N A O L G Z K L B R F
I K G A O H C T A C S N V O Q
R E P L E H U A Q K M Z L D Z
E H R S K C S M T H N L H B S
T K D R Z L A H E A O E U I Y
A M A B A A C R A W Y A V J A
Z C T L D Y X O I P Q M C Y P
Z J U Q E R O H S W E P S S H
X E G A B M U N Z N W T D V X
N S V B O N H Z T J E L E I X
P U R T A W A Q T N R Y T R Q
D S Q D T Q A L N R O X J M G
F I S H Y X G T D O U X J J P
K F O B Y M C N E N J S O V E
S K O J K C Z I H R H G T G P

Words to find

  • Jesus
  • Peter
  • boat
  • fish
  • nets
  • follow
  • catch
  • lake
  • trust
  • helper
  • water
  • shore

ChildrensLiturgy.org