Focus:

Jesus may not always be easily recognizable to us, but he is always with us.

Materials Needed:

• Candle
• Bible
• Illumination from the St. John’s Bible, The Road to Emmaus
• Art materials

Create a special table or sacred space in your home you can where you focus during prayer and your in-home Sunday celebration.

Light the candle. Call your family to prayer.

Music:

Choose one of the music suggestions below.  Sing together as a family.

Opening Discussion:

Have each family member recall a time when they were extremely excited about something.  How did they feel inside?  Describe those feelings. Sometimes when we have big feelings about something our stomach can do flip flops or we get shaky.  Maybe it’s a warm feeling in our hearts.  Whatever it is, that is what we will see happen to the disciples today on the Road to Emmaus.

Begin with the Sign of the Cross.

Sunday Gospel:  Luke 24:13-35

http://usccb.org/bible/readings/042620.cfm

Together read the Sunday Gospel.  Feel free to use your family bible or children’s bible.  Be creative.  Read it in parts.  Act out the story. Here is a script: https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/lpress-craft/files/ocf-files/liturgical-year-files/easter-activity-emmaus-Play.pdf

Discussion questions:

Why do you think the disciples did not recognize Jesus at first?

Would you have recognized Jesus? Why or why not?

Where do you see Jesus on your faith journey?

How do you let others know you have seen the Risen Christ?

Apostles Creed:

Together pray:

I believe in God the Father almighty Creator of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty, from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.

Music:

Choose another song to sing together.

Universal Prayers:

As a family, offer prayers for our Church, our world, your local communities, and your families.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Together pray the words that our Savior gave us:

Our Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy Will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Conclude with the Sign of the Cross

Music:

Choose another song to sing together.

Family Activity Suggestions:

Take a walk together, imagining that Jesus is with you.  What signs do you see in the world around you that show you Jesus is with you?

Spend some time with the illumination from the Saint John’s Bible, The Road to Emmaus, by creating Easter cards.  Get creative!  Send the cards to those you know to show them that you have seen the Risen Christ.

Music Suggestions:

All Creatures of Our God and King https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_RkzFZoxDo

Join in the Dance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1YfdgWn8NI

I Know That My Redeemer Lives https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vemCy8NlNuk

Psalm 16: The Path of Life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWlpPgg-_Wg

Behold the Lamb https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4fHiL_j8Lg

Sing Hallelujah https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WPQ2u-aRv0&list=PLZrXiYyPjteSsQ50QkPTWNcM1QRrttAu6&index=8

Rise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5m4N69UjQA

Other Web Resources:

Loyola Press:

https://www.loyolapress.com/catholic-resources/liturgical-year/sunday-connection/third-sunday-of-easter-cycle-a-sunday-connection/

The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) (official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales and part of Caritas International):

https://cafod.org.uk/Education/Children-s-liturgy

Catholic Mom:

http://catholicmom.com/kids/catholic-gospel-coloring-worksheets-sunday-mass/

USCCB:

https://catholicdotbible.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/easter-3.pdf

Strong Catholic Faith:

http://www.catholicfamilyfaith.org/easter-season-resources.html

The Religion Teacher:

https://www.thereligionteacher.com/roadtoemmaus-lesson-plan/

Seeing the Word (The Saint John’s Bible):

http://blog.seeingtheword.org/?p=1386

Ignatian Spirituality:

https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/imaginative-prayer-a-meeting-on-the-road-to-emmaus/?utm_source=cj&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=ignatian