Holy Thursday:

• Go to Holy Thursday Mass
   

• Wash one another’s’ feet in your family, find a kitchen bowl, fill it with some warm water, grab a towel and remind one another of how Love always serves. 
   

• Make unleavened bread (or just make yeast bread) – try this Blue Ribbon Wheat Bread.
   

• Watch Prince of Egypt on Holy Thursday to remember the Passover. 
   

•  Make a Last Supper scene with Catholic Icing’s printable.
   

• Watch Brother Francis: The Mass and talk about how the Last Supper was the first Mass. (directions for FORMED can be found if you scroll down on this page)
  
   

• Cover all religious art in your home, pictures, Saint statues, crucifix, Last Supper pictures, etc. with a purple cloth or purple material (or purple paper, tissue paper etc. get creative!) - this makes us even more aware of Christ's passion on Friday, and you feel the longing for Christ and Heaven a bit more - uncover everything on Easter morning! :) 
   

• Make an Easter Wreath in preparation for Easter!

• More Holy Thursday activities can be found at Catholic Icing. 

 

Good Friday

• Fast and abstain from meat all day. Avoid meat and eat one full meal and two small meals that together equal less than the one full meal.  
   

• Go to a Good Friday Liturgy with your Family (this is the only day of the year when Mass isn't celebrated anywhere)
   

• Pick up your cross. Whatever chore you hate? Try to do it with love and without complaining.
   

• Taking up those small crosses in our life day to day will help us remember the greatest Cross. 
   

• Try to have 3 hours of quiet in your homes from 12pm-3pm on Friday (these are the hours when Jesus hung on the cross.)
   

  • Make it a "game" if you have small children and let them gather many items that they think they can stay quiet doing for 3 hours (books, coloring pages, quiet toys etc. and play the "Silent Game"
     

    • Encourage older kids and yourself to turn off phones, music, screens and "noise" that typically brings you comfort or distraction, take this time to pray, read, reflect, journal, etc.
       

    • Silence is God's first language. 1 Kings 19:11-13
       

    • Try turning off the lights in your house or keeping just a few on.
       

    • If possible, go all day without TV, music and social media 
       

• Make a crown of thorns out of flour, water and toothpicks and set it on your table with a purple cloth or fabric under it. Or if you don't have one just display the crown of thorns. How to make Crown of Thorns (click HERE)
   

• Pray the stations of the Cross with your family. (see above section for places to pray along online)
   

• Serve Hot Cross Buns for breakfast. Recipe HERE.
   

• If your children are teens or older, consider watching the Passion of the Christ on Good Friday (this is a very gruesome movie and not for young children!).
   

• Make a paper crown of thorns (from Catholic Inspired - HERE).
   

• Give your children a hammer and nail and let them pound the nail into a piece of wood to illustrate the brutality of Jesus’ Passion.
   

• Pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary.
   

• Begin the Divine Mercy Novena (This Novena can be found HERE and will conclude on Divine Mercy Sunday!) 
   

 

HOLY SATURDAY

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• Go to an Easter Vigil Mass with your family - this is something everyone should experience at least once!
   

• Read stories with your children. Easter Vigil is packed with Scripture, so fill the day with favorite stories you would have heard at church.
   

  • Take turns reading with your spouse, your kids, or a friend over the phone.
     

    • To counter today’s news full of fear, fill your head with words of love and hope
       

• Saturday is a day of emptiness, waiting, and grief. Pray for all those who are shut ins, are waiting for answered prayers or who are suffering.
   

  • Reach out and call someone who has recently lost a loved one and is experiencing grief.
     

    • Or write them a letter/draw them a picture.
       

  • Take time to remember those that have gone before you, who you are waiting in anticipation to see again in Heaven.
     

• Pray the sorrowful mysteries as we wait for the return of Christ, continuing to meditate on His Sacrifice for us. 
   

• Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet and continue your novena found HERE.
  
  
   

EASTER SUNDAY!!

• Go to Easter Mass!! Christ is Risen! This is the most important day of the year for Christians!!

• Feast on food! (Sugar for breakfast! Candy for lunch! (Headaches by dinner ;)  ))

• • Let yourself celebrate, even if you’re stuck at home. Enjoy each bite you eat today

  • Dig out those cake mixes that you've been saving, find leftover Valentine's candy, eat all the chocolate chips, etc. Even small "silly" things like this will help you and your children feel the joy and celebration of Easter!

• ​Share whatever food or funds you can with those around you who are hungry right now.

• Listen to music, have a dance party, fill your home with joy and laughter.

• Uncover all of your religious art and put up decorations (have a party - CHRIST IS RISEN!!)

• Pray the GLORIOUS MYSTERIES! And reflect on all that Christ has done for us! 

• Feast with others. Drink up some small beauty in your life right now, however imperfect it may be. Let yourself behold the people you love, even if it’s via Zoom this year. 

  • ​Try to see them with God's eyes, even for 10 seconds. You'll be amazed what you find when you gaze with grace.

• Invite family, friends, neighbors over for an Easter Celebration!

• Make a stain glass window in your home!

  • As Catholics we celebrate Easter for 50 days!! And the Easter Octave (the days between Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday - the Sunday after Easter) we should celebrate all as though they were Easter Sunday! 

    • so have no fear in decorating now! It can remain up for 50 days (at least) to spread joy, hope and love!

    • Find directions HERE

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