Skip to content
Family Together
  • Lessons in English
    • Sunday Reading Weekly Lesson
    • Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
    • Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
    • Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
    • Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
    • Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
    • Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
    • Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
  • Lección semanal de español
    • Lección Semanal de Lectura Dominical
    • XVII Domingo Ordinario
    • XVI Domingo Ordinario
    • XV Domingo Ordinario
    • XIV Domingo Ordinario
    • XIII Domingo Ordinario
    • XII Domingo Ordinario
    • XI Domingo Ordinario
  • Holy Days
    • Holy Saturday at the Easter Vigil
    • Good Friday
    • Holy Thursday
    • Lenten Reflections
  • Días Santos
    • La Vigilia Pascual
    • Viernes Santo
    • Jueves Santo
    • Reflexiones de Cuaresma
Palm Sunday Lessons in English

Palm Sunday

  • April 3, 2020
  • by Barbara Simon-Johnson

Focus:

On the last Sunday of Lent, we remember Jesus’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem and his sacrifice for us on the cross.  This helps to prepare us for what is to come during the holiest week of the year.

Materials Needed:

  • Candle
  • Bible (invite all family members to bring their bibles if they have one)
  • Jackets, coats, shawls and/or pine branches, tall grasses, or other native plants (in place of palms)
  • Crucifix or cross

Create a special table or sacred space in your home you can where you focus during prayer and your in-home Sunday celebration.  Include the family bible, candle, and a place for your crucifix or cross.

Light the candle. Call your family to prayer.

Begin with the Sign of the Cross.

Opening Activity:

Take the copy of the Sunday Gospel you will be using, the cross or crucifix, and your coats, branches, etc. to another room of the house to begin your time together.  You will process together back to your sacred space after reading the Gospel.

Sunday Gospel:

Together read the Sunday Gospel, Matthew 21:1-11.  There are two resources here for the readings. From the US bishops, the text we hear in church.  From The Religion Teacher, an adaptation.

Feel free to use your family bible or children’s bible.  Be creative.  Read it in parts.  Act out the story.

USCCB –http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040520.cfm

The Religion Teacher – http://jareddees.com/palmsunday-storyforkids/

Explain to the children that normally we would be in church with palm branches, processing to the church after hearing the Gospel.  But because we cannot do that, we will process to our sacred space with what we have.  We have our coats in place of the cloaks that were placed on the road and we have native plants in place of palm branches.  Have one member of the family lead the procession with your family crucifix or cross.  Place it in your sacred space when you arrive there.

Music

Choose one of the music suggestions below.  Sing together as a family as you process or sing when you reach your sacred space.

Discuss how the Jesus’s followers thought that he was going to be a king on earth, a king who would get rid of the Romans.  That is why they laid their cloaks and branches on the road as a sign of respect.  They became very surprised and were when Jesus was arrested and put to death.

Read Matthew’s account of the Passion: Matthew 26:14—27:66

You can find a version with parts at Give Us This Day: https://giveusthisday.org/Digital

Simply choose Sunday, April 5 and Mass in the drop-down menus.

Ask how you think that the followers of Jesus were now feeling.  Do you think they felt the same as they did when he came into Jerusalem?  How are you feeling after reading this story?  Do you feel any different than you did when we processed?  It is okay to be sad, mad, or any other feeling.  Let us carry those feelings throughout Holy Week.  On Holy Thursday, we will recall the Last Supper.  On Good Friday, we will remember again the death of Jesus.  On Holy Saturday, we will recall that Jesus triumphed over the dead and opened the gates of heaven for his believers.  Then comes Easter Sunday, a day of rejoicing.

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 Fun Suggestion:

Keeping social distancing guidelines, go on a family procession outside.  Carry your branches, coats, banners, and whatever else reminds you of Jesus’s triumphant arrival in Jerusalem.  If you have neighbors who live alone, contact them and let them know what time the procession will pass their door so you can wave at them.

Please share in the comments section of this page links to any pictures of your processions or prayer services.  We would love to see what you are doing!

Music Suggestions:

All Glory Laud and Honor (ST. THEODULPH) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff5H5gP69XU

Hosanna to the Son of David (Tom Booth) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vho9WXmC2m0

Take Up Your Cross (Jaime Cortez) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZboEnq9I4k

My God, My God (Marty Haugen) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEM4_67p2Bg

Above All (Lenny LeBlanc) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paFL3GrJD4w

Other Web Resources:

Loyola Press:

https://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/liturgical-year/sunday-connection/palm-sunday-of-the-lords-passion-cycle-a

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/2020/02/palm-sunday.pdf

Video Resources:

Palm Sunday video for teens: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3Vor55BoE0

Lazarus in Stained Glass Window Lessons in English

Fifth Sunday of Lent

  • March 24, 2020
  • by Barbara Simon-Johnson

Focus:

Jesus grieves with us.

Jesus shows his power over death and that he truly is the Son of God.

For those who have great faith like Martha there is eternal life.

Materials Needed:

  • Candle
  • Bible
  • Family pictures
  • Pictures or name cards of those who have died that you want to remember.
  • Illumination from the St. John’s Bible, Raising of Lazarus (If you cannot print it, keep it available on a nearby screen.
  • Paper
  • Art supplies

Create a special table or sacred space in your home you can where you focus during prayer and your in-home Sunday celebration.  Include your bible, candle, and pictures or name cards.

Light the candle. Call your family to prayer.

Begin with the Sign of the Cross.

Music:

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

Opening Activity:

Begin by naming the people who are present in your sacred space.  Say a few things about them and pray for them.  Prepare for the reading of today’s Gospel by talking about how we feel when someone we love dies.  Talk about how you will hear a story today about a man named Lazarus who died.  He was loved very much by his sisters, Mary and Martha.  He was also loved very much by Jesus.

Sunday Gospel:  John 11:1-45

Together read the Sunday Gospel.  There are two resources here for the readings: from the US bishops, the text we hear in church and from The Religion Teacher, an adaptation.

Feel free to use your family bible or children’s bible.  Be creative.  Read it in parts.  Act out the story.  Use the illumination from the Saint John’s Bible, Raising of Lazarus, to enhance the story.

USCCB – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/032920.cfm

The Religion Teacher – http://jareddees.com/raisingoflazarus-biblestory/

As a family, talk about your thoughts and feelings, about the Gospel story and the illumination. What do you hear and see?   Help the children to recognize:

  • That Jesus grieves with us when we grieve.
  • In the Gospel, Jesus shows us that he is the Son of God through the raising of Lazarus.
  • With faith in Jesus and the resurrection (like Martha) we will get to live on in heaven with Jesus after death.
  • Connect the Gospel with the Apostles Creed – we believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.

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:

Spend some time with the illumination from the Saint John’s Bible, Raising of Lazarus, by creating your own illuminations.

The Raising of Lazarus from the Saint Johns Bible
© 2020 The Saint John’s Bible. All Rights Reserved. Click on the Illumination to enlarge it.

Get creative!  Choose the part of the Gospel (or one of the other Sunday readings) that inspires you to illuminate.  For some inspiration see:  https://www.saintjohnsbible.org/promotions/programming/StJohnsGradeSchool.htm

Place your completed illuminations in your sacred space for the week to be reminded all week of Jesus’s deep love for Lazarus and for all of us.

Music Suggestions:

There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy (BABILONE) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygkkX9FxHg0

We Come to You (Josh Blakesley) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KryPlpZ6ViM

Be Not Afraid (Bob Dufford) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BltudBGj8dg

High Above Our Way (Steve Angrisano) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W8yjdwCE1c

Other Web Resources:

Loyola Press:

https://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/liturgical-year/sunday-connection/fifth-sunday-of-lent-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/2020/02/lent-5.pdf

Catechist’s Journey/Loyola Press: How to Lead Spontaneous prayer:

https://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/2014/01/how-to-lead-spontaneous-prayer-as-easy-as-ber-a-khah/

Strong Catholic Faith:

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

Saint John’s Bible:

www.saintjohnsbible.org

Video resources:

Raising Lazarus from Dead Video -YouTube:  Middle School-Adult

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0M7vvX6__M

Children -Middle School:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dca8SSxXCmM

Diocese of Saint Cloud TV Mass

http://stcdio.org/tv-mass

Lessons in English

Fourth Sunday of Lent

  • March 16, 2020
  • by Barbara Simon-Johnson

Objective:

Become aware of places in our lives where we have seen who Jesus really is.

Materials Needed:

  • Blindfolds
  • Candle
  • Bible
  • Paper
  • Markers, crayons, colored pencils

Set up a table with a bible, candle, and whatever you will be using for blindfolds.

Light the candle. Call your family to prayer.

Begin with the Sign of the Cross.

Music

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

Opening Activity:

Begin by blindfolding those in your family who are comfortable with it.  Sit in silence for at least 30 seconds. If all want to be blindfolded, take turns, keeping the silence until everyone has had a chance.  Then take some time to reflect on the questions below.

  1. What did it feel like to not be able to see?
  2. What did you notice?
  3. How did it feel when you could see again?

Tell the children that it may have seemed like an odd way to begin prayer, but we are going to hear the story today about a man who was born blind.  We blindfolded ourselves to see what he may have felt like.  We will hear how Jesus restored the man’s physical sight, but also helped him to see who Jesus really was.

Sunday Gospel:  John 9:1-41

Together read the Sunday Gospel.  There are two resources here for the readings. From the US bishops, the text we hear in church.  From The Religion Teacher, an adaptation.

Feel free to use your family bible or children’s bible.  Be creative.  Read it in parts.  Act out the story.

USCCB – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/032220.cfm

The Religion Teacher – http://jareddees.com/manbornblind-biblestory/

Family Activity adapted from Loyola Press:

https://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/liturgical-year/sunday-connection/fourth-sunday-of-lent-cycle-a-sunday-connection

Invite each member of your family to draw a timeline of his or her life. Or if you have younger children, create a timeline of important family events together.  On the timelines, ask family members to identify significant moments in their lives, especially their life of faith. Invite each person to reflect upon who Jesus was to him or her at each significant moment. How has each person’s relationship with Jesus changed or matured? When did he or she really see Jesus in his or her life?  Be sure to share your answers as well.

Read John 9:1-41 again. Note how the relationship between Jesus and the man born blind changes and grows throughout the Gospel.

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 Fun Suggestion:

Teach your children how to play Blind Man’s Bluff.  Here is a link if you need a refresher or have never even heard of the game:  https://www.considerable.com/entertainment/games/blind-mans-bluff/

Music Suggestions:

  • Take Up Our Cross (Curtis Stephen) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6Z_ntZEQd4
  • There is a Balm in Gilead (BALM IN GILEAD) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMs3M1jdIRM
  • Behold the Lamb (Martin Willett) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4fHiL_j8Lg
  • Lead Me, Lord (John Becker) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Qm5JG8zVhk

Other Web Resources:

Loyola Press:

https://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/liturgical-year/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 (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops):

https://catholicdotbible.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/lent-4.pdf

Posts navigation

1 … 11 12 13

Recent Posts

  • XVII Domingo Ordinario
  • Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
  • XVI Domingo Ordinario
  • Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
  • XV Domingo Ordinario

©2024 Diocese of Saint Cloud

Most images are from Pixabay.com and Pexels.com, great sites for finding images that can be adapted and shared freely.

Theme by Colorlib Powered by WordPress