40 Ideas for 40 Days

Ash Wednesday

Wednesday, February 14
My Lenten Calendar: 40 Crosses
Color a cross each day for 40 days showing good deeds done out of love for Jesus.

Thursday, February 15
Lenten Actions Cards
Encourage families to take practical steps toward practicing the traditional Lenten pillars of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Friday, February 16
A Prayer for Fasting
Pray with young people to help them understand the purpose of fasting.

Saturday, February 17
Hooking Your Students: An Idea for Lent
Demonstrate how we practice letting go of things as a way of opening our hearts to receive God’s grace.

First Sunday of Lent

Monday, February 19
Lenten Activities: A Lenten Chain
Watch the chain grow during Lent as young people identify their Lenten goals.

Tuesday, February 20
Guided Reflection on Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving
Introduce young people to the three Lenten disciplines through a prayerful reflection.

Wednesday, February 21
Lent with the Saints
Be inspired in prayer and action this Lent through the examples of St. Teresa of Ávila, St. Kateri Tekakwitha, St. Lawrence Ruiz, Venerable Pierre Toussaint, and more.

Thursday, February 22
A Whole Bunch of Values Lenten Countdown for Children
Explore a variety of values with young children this Lent.

Friday, February 23
Helping Families Celebrate Lent
Help families see that it can be fun and enriching to celebrate Catholic Lenten traditions at home.

Saturday, February 24
Avoiding Temptations
Brainstorm temptations that young people face and can strive to avoid during Lent.

Second Sunday of Lent

Monday, February 26
Lent: So What’s Up with the Number 40?
Explore how, in the Bible, the number 40 is symbolic and represents a significant period of time during which an individual’s faith is tested.

Tuesday, February 27
Prayer Cubes for Lent
Encourage family prayer, and develop a habit of prayer in children by creating prayer cubes.

Wednesday, February 28
Five Ways to Follow Jesus During Lent
Help young people experience Lent in a way that connects them to Jesus.

Thursday, February 29
Six Ways to Keep the Message of Lent a Focal Point All Season
Keep Lenten themes the focus of every session for the entire season.

Friday, March 1
The Scrutinies
Focus on the celebration of the rites called the Scrutinies, which are celebrated with the catechumens (those to be baptized on Holy Saturday) on the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sundays of Lent.

Saturday, March 2
Giving Alms with St. Katharine Drexel
Show young people how they might learn from St. Katharine’s example this Lent.

Third Sunday of Lent

Monday, March 4
Remembering the Lamb
Glue cotton balls onto a lamb for each prayer or doctrinal formula children take to heart during Lent.

Tuesday, March 5
Sacred Art—Budding Artists
Engage those young people who are more visual and perhaps even artistically inclined, focusing on the Stations of the Cross.

Wednesday, March 6
What’s with the Pretzels?
Explore why pretzels are a traditional Lenten food that remind us to pray and fast.

Thursday, March 7
What Lenten Hymns Teach
Search through Lenten hymns to identify the meaning of Lent.

Friday, March 8
Developing Students’ Prayerful Habits During Lent
Make a Lenten journey folder as one way to introduce young children to prayer.

Saturday, March 9
Reconciliation Resources: A Story of Reconciliation and an Examination of Conscience
Download two resources to help in preparing for a Reconciliation service.

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Monday, March 11
Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary Scripture Search
Do a Scripture search to locate the five Sorrowful Mysteries prayed in the Rosary.

Tuesday, March 12
Works of Mercy Prayers and Activities—Free Resource Packet
Spread the message of mercy to those you serve.

Wednesday, March 13
The Desert Experience
Explore with children the Lenten image of the desert, where God is encountered in a special way.

Thursday, March 14
Stations of the Cross Tableaus
Create “freeze frames” of the Stations of the Cross.

Friday, March 15
Overcoming Impulses
Learn to recognize impulsive behaviors and work to overcome them.

Saturday, March 16
Praying with St. Patrick
Encourage young people to draw closer to God and one another by taking St. Patrick’s Breastplate to heart.

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Monday, March 18
Praying the Daily Examen
Learn how to practice an Ignatian form of prayer—the Daily Examen—during Lent.

Tuesday, March 19
Silence is Golden (In Honor of St. Joseph)
Use the Feast of St. Joseph, who was a quiet man, to teach young people to be quiet during this season of Lent in order to meet Jesus in their hearts.

Wednesday, March 20
Praying with the Stations of the Cross—With Free Station to Station Questions for Reflection and Discussion
Learn about Jesus’ responses to suffering and our responses as well.

Thursday, March 21
The Seven Last Words of Christ Scripture Search
Search Scripture for the Seven Last Words of Christ as recorded in the Gospels.

Friday, March 22
Looking for Clues
Help children become more familiar with the Passion story.

Saturday, March 23
Holy Week Activities Pack
Help children and families experience the full meaning of the final days before Easter.

Palm Sunday

Monday, March 25
Holy Week Basket
Connect Holy Week and the end of Lent to the celebration of Easter by creating Holy Week baskets.

Tuesday, March 26
Scenes from Holy Week
Invite young people to imagine drawing the cover of a parish bulletin for Holy Week.

Wednesday, March 27
Triduum Triptychs
Design a triptych showing symbols of the Triduum with this activity from the Christ Our Life program.

Thursday, March 28
Learning About the Last Supper
Focus on the Eucharist and the Last Supper with young people.

Friday, March 29
10 Ways to Help Children Appreciate the Triduum
Teach about the Triduum during the week preceding it.

Saturday, March 30
Holy Week, the Triduum, and Easter—Free PowerPoint Presentation
Teach older children, teens, and adults about the holiest time of the year.