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

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 […]

40 Ideas for 40 Days – Lenten Activities: Praying the Daily Examen

Joe Paprocki

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 […]

40 Ideas for 40 Days – Lenten Activities: A Group Fast

Joe Paprocki

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 […]

40 Ideas for 40 Days – Lenten Activities: Making a Paschal Candle

Joe Paprocki

OK catechists, today we continue with another Lenten activity… Making a Paschal Candle Ask if any of the young people have experienced a power outage during a storm at night time Talk about how frightening it can be to be surrounded by darkness and how we rely on flashlights and candles to provide light for us at these moments. Explain that we use the image of “darkness” to talk about the bad things that are […]