I realize that, in the midst of providing my 40 Lenten activities in 40 days, I’ve not updated you on my own Monday evening classes. Actually, last night was the first time I saw my 8th graders in 3 weeks! Last week, I was doing a parish mission at another parish and needed a sub. The week before that was a day off (Pulaski Day in Illinois). So last night was an opportunity to get […]
This Lenten activity is called Looking for Clues and is an opportunity for catechists to help children become more familiar with the Passion story. Looking for Clues Gather pictures of the following items from the Passion according to Mark (14:1—15:47). a jar (bottle of perfume) (14:3) water jar (14:13) a dish(14:20) bread (14:22) cup (14:23) olive tree (14:26) swords and clubs (14:43) sword (14:47) a fire (14:54) blindfold (14:65) rooster (14:68) rope (they bound him) (15:1) whip (scourging) (15:15) purple robe (15:17) crown of thorns (15:17) a […]
This Lenten activity is actually a Blackline Master from the Finding God grade 6 Catechist Guide. Jesus in the Garden This Blackline Master provides illustrations of the scene of the Agony in the Garden and invites young people to create a garden scene by coloring the illustrations, cutting them out, and arranging them (gluing them into place) on dark blue construction paper. Click on the following link to access the Blackline Master. Finding God in […]
I just returned from a trip to Alabama and Georgia where I had the pleasure of speaking to/with a couple of groups of DREs and catechists about how to transform religion class into an “experience.” Greetings to all of the wonderful people I met in the Birmingham and Atlanta dioceses! Thanks for your warm southern hospitality and I wish you continued blessings in your ministry! One highlight of my trip was stopping for a bite […]
On we go to our next Lenten activity! Stations of the Cross Tableaus Many of us catechists do not have the time or resources to “produce” an entire Living Stations of the Cross. This idea – Stations of the Cross Tableaus – is designed for those of us with very limited time and resources. Instead of organizing an entire production, organize the young people intro groups and have them prepare “tableaus” (a representation of a scene – […]
This Lenten activity is an opportunity for catechists to help young people focus on concrete, practical examples of practicing the Lenten disciplines. A Lenten Practices Jar Sometimes, kids need help in coming up with concrete suggestions for practicing the Lenten disciplines. They also need reminders! A Lenten Practices Jar is a way to do just this: provide suggestions and remind young people to practice the Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting, and giving alms. Find a […]
On to our next Lenten activity which comes to us from the Christ Our Life program, grade 8 Catechist’s Guide. A Change-of-Heart Tree Have the young people make a Change-of-Heart Tree to show their progress in keeping their Lenten resolutions. Assign a group of young people to design the trunk and bare branches of a tree out of brown paper or felt. Have them glue it to a piece of white fabric or paper (about 3-foot […]
This Lenten activity is designed to help catechists engage those young people who are more visual and perhaps even artistically inclined. Dr. Howard Gardner, professor of education at Harvard University, developed the theory of multiple intelligences in 1983. Dr. Gardner proposes eight different intelligences or ways of learning: linguistic (word smart) logical/mathematical (number smart) visual/spatial (picture smart) bodily-kinestheticl (body smart) musical (music smart) interpersonal (people smart) intrapersonal (self smart) naturalist (nature smart) Quite often, our […]
Today’s Lenten activity is one that some catechists are already familiar with and that is the notion of praying the Daily Examen, an Ignatian form of prayer. Praying the Daily Examen Arrange to have a TV/DVD player in your room. Insert any DVD, and press PLAY. (Keep the sound off.) Invite the young people to imagine that they are demonstrating how to use this equipment to someone who has never done so. Say, “I’d like […]
As a way of helping catechists bring Lent to life for their learners, I am sharing 40 Lenten activities in 40 days. Here’s your next activity… A Group Fast Have a volunteer read aloud Mark 1:12-13 (Jesus in the Wilderness). Point out that during Jesus’ 40 days in the desert he fasted and prayed. Talk about what it means to fast: to do without food. Explain that, during Lent, Catholics practice fasting in order to […]
Copyright © 2006-2024 Loyola Press. All rights reserved. Any copying, redistribution, or retransmission of the contents of this service without the express written consent of Loyola Press is expressly prohibited.