During the National Eucharistic Revival, let’s look at the parts of the Mass to reflect on what each part is calling us to do and be the other six days of the week. In this episode, we look at the Penitential Act, through which we acknowledge that we are sinners and ask for God’s forgiveness. We consider how the Penitential Act of the Mass calls us to embrace our brokenness and open ourselves up to […]
We encounter Jesus through the Sacraments of Initiation—Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. In this lesson, young people will complete activities at 12 learning stations—each sacrament has four stations—that will deepen their understanding of the Sacraments of Initiation. The free lesson plan packet includes instructions for how to set up learning stations that get children out of their seats and moving around doing simple tasks to learn about the symbols and signs used in each Sacrament of […]
Celtic spirituality speaks of “thin places”—locations where the veil between heaven and earth seems especially thin and God’s presence is palpable. I like to think of the sacraments as “thin moments”—those moments when heaven and earth intersect and God’s presence is so real we can taste it. The Eucharist, of course, is one of those powerfully thin moments when we truly taste and see how good the Lord is. That thin moment does not have […]
Several years ago, I was redesigning my First Communion retreat to make it more experiential, especially the portion where I have the parents by themselves for a few moments while the children are participating in another activity. I was contemplating how I could not only teach the parents about, but also allow them to experience the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, so that they could pass that gift on to their children. […]
As we journey through the National Eucharistic Revival, let’s look at the parts of the Mass to reflect on what each part of the Mass is calling us to do and be the other six days of the week. In this episode, we look at the Introductory Rites, which include the opening procession, the greeting by the priest, and the Penitential Act. We consider how these elements of the Mass call us to move from […]
Deepen your understanding of the Eucharist through using our Eucharist Quotes Journal. The journal features quotes by Pope Francis, Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, and spiritual authors including Fr. Dominic Grassi, Joe Paprocki, and Julianne Stanz, each chosen to inspire reflection on the Mystery of the Eucharist. This journal is perfect for use as a Mass journal, a faith formation activity for older students and adults, or a tool for reflection during Adoration. Invite parishioners to […]
We continue our reflections on the Luminous Mysteries. Today, we focus on the fifth and final Mystery of Light, which is the Institution of the Eucharist. In this mystery, we recall how Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, celebrated the Passover meal with his disciples, sharing bread and wine with them and establishing the Sacrament of the Eucharist. While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and […]
Introduce young people to the Divine Praises with our fun activities pack. Create a mobile, solve a word scramble, and do a word search featuring words related to the Divine Praises. The Divine Praises are traditionally prayed after Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. They are a wonderful prayer to learn during the National Eucharistic Revival. Extend the activity by researching the origin of the Divine Praises and how several popes added to them. […]
The National Eucharistic Revival, taking place now through 2025, presents us with an excellent opportunity to deepen our understanding of and devotion to the Eucharist and to foster full, active, and conscious participation in the Mass. With that in mind, I am excited to announce that I will be doing a webinar with Fr. Dominic Grassi based on our book, Living the Mass: How One Hour a Week Can Change Your Life. Living the Mass: […]
Enhance children’s understanding of the Eucharist and the Mass in a fun way by playing Mass Bingo. Play as a way to involve children in the Eucharistic Revival, either in sacramental preparation classes or as a review in faith formation sessions across grade levels. Pair a game of Bingo with reading Seven Clues: A Catholic Treasure Hunt in a family session or First Eucharist retreat day. For more resources on preparation for First Eucharist, see […]
