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Lenten Activities

40 Ideas for 40 Days – Lenten Activities: The 7 Last Words of Christ Scripture Search

Today’s Lenten activity is a Scripture search on the Seven Last Words of Christ. More on that in a second. The Seven Last Words of Christ – A Scripture Search Explain that, before dying, many people speak final words that express their feelings and thoughts at that moment. Invite the young people to identify the speakers of these famous last words (fictional and non-fictional): “Et tu, Brute?”  (Julius Caesar) “I have been and always will be […]

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Lenten Activities

40/40 – Lenten Activities: Operation Rice Bowl and Peace Pole

We continue our “festival” of lenten activities – ideas that catechists can use during these 40 days of Lent. Operation Rice Bowl and Peace Pole   Yesterday, I posted about Operation Rice Bowl. No sooner had I done that then I received an email from a good friend, DRE Terry Bergmann, at St. Julian Eymard Parish in Elk Grove Village, IL, telling me about how she has implemented Operation Rice Bowl at her parish and […]

Lenten Activities

40 Ideas for 40 Days – Lenten Activities: Bury the Alleluia

During these 40 days of Lent, I am offering 40 ideas (activities) to help catechists engage young people around the themes and images of this sacred season. Here is your next Lenten activity: Bury the Alleluia Write the phrase “absence makes the heart grow fonder” on the board and ask if anyone can explain what it means. (we miss something or someone the longer we are without it or them) Point out that during the […]

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Lenten Activities

40 Ideas for 40 Days—Lenten Activities: What’s with the Pretzels?

During these 40 days of Lent, I am offering 40 ideas (activities) to help catechists engage young people around the themes and images of this sacred season. Here is your next Lenten activity. What’s with the Pretzels? Ask the children to show a common posture for praying (kneeling or standing with hands folded). Explain that, in the early Church, Christians often prayed with their arms folded across their chests, each hand on the opposite shoulder. […]

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Lenten Activities

40 Ideas for 40 Days—Lenten Activities: Remembering the Lamb

During these 40 days of Lent, I am offering 40 ideas (activities) to help catechists engage young people around the themes and images of this holy season. Here is your next Lenten activity. Remembering the Lamb Explain that we refer to Jesus as the “Lamb of God” not because we want to think of him as cute and cuddly, but because lambs were the animal used in sacrifice for the celebration of Passover. Remind the […]

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Lenten Activities

40 Ideas for 40 Days – Lenten Activities: A Lenten Chain

Catechists of all age groups are always looking for creative Lenten activities. With that in mind, I’m pleased to offer another of 40 Lenten activities (in 40 days) that I hope will be of use to you. Be sure to check back here each day during Lent to find another Lenten activity that you can adapt for your own setting. A Lenten Chain You’ll need purple construction paper, scissors, and tape. Cut the purple construction paper into one-inch […]

Lenten Activities

40 Ideas for 40 Days—Lenten Activities: Avoiding Temptations

Avoiding Temptations Arrange the young people in pairs and invite them to brainstorm a list of temptations that young people their age can try to avoid during Lent. (Examples: gossiping, calling people names, being lazy, and so on.) Then, have them identify strategies for resisting temptation. (Examples: praying, doing another activity to avoid thinking about the temptation, talking to a parent, teacher, or older friend/relative, and so on.) Have each pair report their ideas to […]

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Lent

Lent FAQ with Joe Paprocki – A Short Video

With Ash Wednesday being only two weeks from tomorrow, I thought that now would be a good time to offer you a brief video titled Lent FAQ with Joe Paprocki. It includes some simple answers to some of the frequently asked questions about the Lenten season. Why do we have a season of Lent? Why is Lent 40 days? Why do we start Lent by wearing ashes? Why do we practice prayer, fasting, and giving […]

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Lent

Lent is Just Around the Corner – Living Stations, Anyone?

Lent is just around the corner (Ash Wednesday is February 25, 2009) and catechists are looking for lenten ideas and activities to mark the season. I have 2 very special plans for this blog: First, I am collecting scripts for the Living Stations of the Cross to make available to you through my blog. Many parishes involve their young people in the Living Stations of the Cross and write their own scripts that they develop […]