Several years ago, my friend Victor Valdez provided us with Lenten Calendars (40 Crosses). Sadly, Victor passed away in 2013. In honor of his memory, we have updated his calendars in English and Spanish. Thank you again, Victor. Rest in peace, good friend!
Hard to believe that Lent is just a few weeks away!
Here are the links to the calendars:
Lent is a time for us to declare our independence from sins that have been impinging on our freedom and to declare our DEpendence on God! Prepare your own “parchment” to use as a Declaration of DEpendence. Here is a picture of one I prepared next to a replica of the real thing. Any sheet of white newsprint will do. The thinner the paper, the better. I like to use a sheet from an easel […]
This Lenten activity focuses on the celebration of the rites called the Scrutinies which are celebrated with the catechumens (those to be baptized on Holy Saturday, now referred to as the Elect) on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of Lent. To scrutinize means to examine something very closely. When we celebrate the Scrutinies at Mass, we are not scrutinizing the Elect. Rather, they are scrutinizing their own lives before God and we are called […]
After a successful session with Advent Bingo, a catechist asked me whether Lent Bingo existed. While I don’t have a formal game board for that, there’s no reason we catechists can’t play Lent Bingo and other Lenten-themed games with our groups. While Lent is seen as a more solemn season than others in the liturgical year, and rightly so, there’s no reason we can’t lighten the mood in our classrooms with a game, even as […]
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I loved the Lenten Calendars; they’re a great way to help our little ones. Thank you! If you don’t mind; perhaps the Spanish one can be revised (two of the directions):
Yo rec –> Yo hice una oraci n extra.
Yo hice algo bueno que fue dif cil –> Yo hice algo bueno que fue dificil de hacer para m .
Again, thank you for sharing! Blessings!!! 🙂
Thanks so much Gigi!
Thank you for 40 Day Cross Calendar. I just printed them for my students.
What an awesome idea for the students to do something on their own during the Lenten season.
Glad yo put up the 2013 40 day calendar.
I thought maybe I was a bit lost in reality with all goingon.
I love it because it makes them choose what they want to do.
love it ! , tks for this idea, its time to get involved each day with our faith….Blessings
Glad you find it helpful, Martha!
Thanks for sharing this. What a great idea!
You’re welcome, Francine!
hi this is great – will share it with the chidlren and catechists.
Perfect – thank you!
Thank you for the idea for Lent. This is one more time when you have given us a good idea which is practical and very user friendly. Marie
love the crosses idea for lent. Thank you for sharing with us
Thank you for this calendar. I have been looking for something to do with my middle school students and this is a great idea.
Thank you for the calendar. It’s a simple way for students (and teachers) to pause each day and consider what we did to bring us closer to Jesus and to prepare for the celebration of Easter. I noticed that with the crosses on Sundays that makes 46 crosses rather than 40!
6 free bonus crosses!!! 🙂
thank you for the idea. that’s excellent reflection for kids during lent session
May Good Bless You
I love this idea. Any chance you’ll update it for 2012?
I surely hope to do so! Thanks, Beth.
any change we will see a 2013?
An updated version will be coming very soon! Stay tuned!
Can you post a second page for the English 40 Crosses? I only see 1 pg. thanks!
Kay, the 40 crosses are all on one page, so I’m not sure what you’re looking for. If you need more help, please contact us here: https://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/contact-me/.
Denise
Catechist’s Journey Editor
Joe,
I teach 4th grade CCD. I love your 40 crosses calendar. Have you made one for 2013?
Coming soon!
Have you completed a my 2013 Lenten Calendar – 40 crosses?
Yes, I posted them on 2/6/13: https://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/2013/02/06/a-taste-of-lent/
Thank you so much! Do you know of any good calendars for adults that are free? I’m doing a family gathering and want to think of some faith enrichment ideas for adults.
I love this calendar for kids- it’s one of my favorites every year!
**THANK YOU** and God Bless! a Beautiful way to encourage our children to be involved with Lent no matter what age and also to Honor Victor!!
Will you please update the calendar again? It is a great resource for students of all ages.
Hi Sr. Pat. Yes, the 2015 Lenten crosses calendar will be available soon as will my popular 40 Ideas for 40 Days of Lent page. Thanks for asking.
Hi Joe, Thanks for all of the work you do for all of us. I’m a volunteer youth minister at Our Lady of Perpetual Help church here in Corpus Christi, Tx and I’m overwhelmed sometimes with coming up with a talk or program for our Wednesday night high school youth group meetings. In researching the internet for ideas surrounding Lent, I came across your site. Since we meet weekly, your 7 ideas for each week of Lent might be of great help. Can you tell me where to access them? Thanks again.
Hi Luis and thanks for your comments and for all you do working with our youth. Look for a downloadable free e-book on 7 Ways to Practice Lent on January 28!
Am looking forward to the updated Lent 2015 calendar! it is such a great idea!
Since the 2015 calendar is not out yet, have you ever considered to include in the good deeds something relating to fasting so we could encourage the 3 traditional Lenten observation of praying, fasting and almsgiving? For the children, it is easy to the extend the almsgiving to doing something nice for others. I have been tempted to use your calendar in previous years but passed on it because I thought it would just be confusing when teaching them pray/fast/give alms but only to give them a calendar that let them record pray/give.
Thank you for the 2015 update!! I love using this each year. We appreciate the time you spend to share this wonderful resource with all of us! May God shower you with even more blessings 🙂
Thank you for the 40 crosses. I am going to use it for my personal lenten journey and share it with my students as well.
Blessings,
Sr. Josephine
Thank you so much for keeping this Lenten Calendar up-to-date! I found this about 3 years ago and have been happily using it since. Lots of positive remarks from parents (yeah!). Small suggestion: would it be possible for you to add the Triduum to your next update? It would look so much better than me penciling the these days.
I enjoyed a most wonderful Saturday morning on Jan 20 in San Diego., CA Thank you for coming to our diocese and sharing your talents with us. I hope your wife had a lovely birthday!
Thanks Kristi, I enjoyed San Diego as well…wish I could have stayed longer to enjoy the “warmth” (compared to Chicago!)
Thank You so incredibly much for updating this calendar each year! We are truly grateful to be able to print it out and use it during Lent. Eternal Rest Grant Unto Victor Oh Lord, and May Perpetual Light Shine Upon Him. May He and All the Souls of the Faithfully Departed, Through the Mercies of God, Rest In Peace! Thank You Victor and Joe for the 40 Crosses!
Thank you for continuing to provide the Lenten Calendar 40 Crosses. I use this in my third grade Religious Ed class…it’s a great way to teach the children what Lent is all about !! Thank you again !
It’s an honor for us to do so in honor of its creator, the late Victor Valdez, who was a catechist in San Francisco! His legacy and work live on!
Thank You so incredibly much for updating this calendar each year! We are truly grateful to be able to print it out and use it during Lent. Eternal Rest Grant Unto Victor Oh Lord, and May Perpetual Light Shine Upon Him. May He and All the Souls of the Faithfully Departed, Through the Mercies of God, Rest In Peace! Thank You Victor and Joe for the 40 Crosses!
Thanks Natalie, especially for your prayers for Victor…he was truly an inspiration!
Thank you for 40 Day Cross Calendar. I just printed them for my students.
What an awesome idea for the students to do something on their own during the Lenten season.
Thank you for 40 Day Cross Calendar. I just printed them for my students.
Gracias por el calendario bilingüe, lo he imprimido para mi grupo.
You’re welcome, Hilda! Hope your students enjoy and use them!
Thank you so much for these. I discovered them last year and I absolutely loved how helpful they were for my three children. God bless
You’re welcome, Priscilla! Glad they were helpful with the kids!
This is great Joe. Thank you for this thoughtful gift.
You’re welcome, Vinny!
We just wanted to Thank You Again, so incredibly much, for continuing to update this calendar each year! We are truly grateful to be able to print it out and use it during Lent, as we have been for the last several years.
Eternal Rest Grant Unto Victor Oh Lord, and May Perpetual Light Shine Upon Him. May He and All the Souls of the Faithfully Departed, Through the Mercies of God, Rest In Peace!
Thank You Victor and Joe for the 40 Crosses!
You’re so welcome, Natalie! I think of Victor every year when it’s time for “40 Ideas for 40 Days!”