Liturgical Seasons & Feasts Archives - Page 40 of 43

40 Ideas for 40 Days – Lenten Activities: The Desert Experience

Today’s Lenten activity is an opportunity for catechists to explore with children the lenten image of the desert. We all know that the image of the desert plays a very important role in Scripture, especially the desert experience of the people of Israel (40 years of wandering) and the temptations of Jesus in the desert. The desert has long been a very important Lenten image. Unfortunately, too often only the negative aspects of the desert […]

40 Ideas for 40 Days—Lenten Activities: Silence Is Golden (In Honor of St. Joseph)

Joe Paprocki

March 19 is the Feast of Saint Joseph, and he serves as the inspiration for our next Lenten activity. One aspect of St. Joseph’s life is especially fitting for Lent, and that is his quiet nature. The Gospels reveal Joseph as a man of few words and he is revered for his “silence”—his quiet dedication to his family and to hard work. Here’s what Pope Benedict XVI said about Joseph back in 2005: The silence of Saint Joseph […]

40 Ideas for 40 Days – Lenten Activities: What Lenten Hymns Teach

Joe Paprocki

Today’s Lenten activity is an opportunity for catechists to reach those young people who are more musically inclined, tapping into the musical/rhythmic intelligence of some of your students. What Lenten Hymns Teach Ask the young people to identify some of their favorite songs that they keep on their smartphone or other digital player. Explain that some songs and collections are labeled with warnings that the content is “explicit.” Tell the young people that, for better or […]

40 Ideas for 40 Days – Lenten Activities: A Spiritual St. Patrick’s Day Activity

Joe Paprocki

St. Patrick’s Day falls smack dab in the middle of Lent and, for many, is seen as a “day off” from Lent. A quick search for St. Patrick’s Day activities reveals mainly opportunities to color shamrocks, leprechauns, rainbows, and pots of gold; very little of spiritual value is offered. As catechists, we can still have fun with our young people on St. Patrick’s Day while also teaching something of spiritual value. Here are a few […]

40 Ideas for 40 Days—Lenten Activities: Looking for Clues

Joe Paprocki

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 […]

40 Ideas for 40 Days – Lenten Activities: Jesus in the Garden

Joe Paprocki

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 […]

40 Ideas for 40 Days – Lenten Activities: Stations of the Cross Tableaus

Joe Paprocki

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 – […]

40/40 – Lenten Activities: A Lenten Practices Jar

Joe Paprocki

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 […]

40/40 – Lenten Activities: A Change-of-Heart Tree

Joe Paprocki

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 […]

40 Ideas for 40 Days—Lenten Activities: Sacred Art/Budding Artists

Joe Paprocki

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 […]