Dear Parents and Educators,
In this trying time and looking for ways to enhance the faith of our young people we'd like to offer some suggestions especially with many schools being closed for the rest of the school year.
Here are just a few suggestions you can do with your family:
With Masses being cancelled you can always live stream. EWTN does this four times for the weekend Masses.
Another option daily mass live stream
Mon-Friday
8:30a central time
9:30a eastern time
Free Online Magnificat Spanish & English
Make an Act of Spiritual Communion:
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
Pray the Rosary with your family. This you can also do live with family, friends and parishioners.
Teach your children how to journal, do puzzles, write letters to family members, (yes, get out a pen and paper). Have them write short stories or write a book with your family. Pick a character and each member writes a chapter about their adventures. Read aloud to each other. Make lists of things you/they're grateful for. Indoor scavenger hunts are always fun.
Weather permitting, there's always outdoor activities around home. That include going for walks that will keep you a safe distance from people in and around your neighborhood. Getting the yard ready for that first mow, raking leaves, picking up limbs or just some general cleaning outside.
Indoor items could include downsizing. That would mean having your children and mom and dad as well go through toys and or clothes they don't use or have outgrown. Do spring cleaning before spring gets here.
Many Parishes have
www.formed.org
. There you can search for things to do with the Sacraments, Bible Studies, Faith Formation, Current Topics, and Youth Programs.
One of my favorites is searching for activities to do with kids comes from Pinterest. If you don't have an account, it's free and easy to search for things to do. There are hundreds if not thousands of Catholic activities.
With fish fries and Stations of the Cross cancelled you really don't have to gather in the church to meditate on the mysteries.
Make sure you have a Stations of the Cross booklet for members of your family. It’s important for everyone to be able to follow along. If you have little ones who cannot read, give them a Stations of the Cross coloring book. Everyone can participate!
2. Invite other families to join you in spirit.
You may not be able to gather in person, but you can pray the Stations at the same time as other families.
Not only does this help others feel the real community of the Church, it also ensures that your family will, in fact, pray the Stations on Friday night! Pick a time that works for each family to begin in their own home—you could even do a video call if you wanted too!
3. Pray the Stations of the Cross.
Text your
friends to remind them that it’s time for the stations, gather the family into one room, and begin. You can take turns leading each Station, or you can choose one person to lead the prayers. (For example, if it says “Priest” before a line, that is the leader’s role. A designated leader can recite the opening prayers that the priest would normally say.)
4. Make soup.
Open up one of those cans you
purchased last week or find a simple recipe online. (I prefer homemade) The secret to a great soup is just to combine what you have in the fridge or pantry and then share it with a smile! It doesn’t have to be perfect to be tasty! (Pro tip: a little bread and butter can make any soup delicious.)
5. Eat and spend time together.
Once the Stations of the Cross are completed and the soup is ready, sit down to dinner. Take time to be a true community for each other. Whether there are two or twelve at the table, know that the entire Communion of Saints in heaven is joining you in your prayer and
meal
. Put down the phones and be together.
6. Don’t stress about whether it’s perfect.
Maybe you have to fumble around with the prayers and aren’t sure if you’re “doing it right.” Maybe the baby has a temper tantrum in the middle of the seventh Station and you have to rush through to the end. Maybe the soup burns, and you have to eat peanut butter and jelly. That’s okay. We are striving to enter into the suffering and death of Our Lord, and accompanying Him on His Journey. We are “becoming one with the Cross.” We are not falling asleep spiritually but “praying that we may not enter into temptation.”
Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
