Family Faith Formation

Seasons of the Year
​Resources

Advent & Christmas

​Christmas Activities and Resources
The Shepherd  (Youtube)
In this pilot episode of the series The Chosen, this is the perfect introduction to the meaning of Christmas.         Christmas Prayer
Blessing of a Christmas Tree (USCCB)
8 Printable Catholic Christmas Prayers (Sadlier)
Catholic Feast Days (Catholic Apostolate Center)
This website features profiles of saints, special devotions in the church, including those who are blessed and Marian devotions, and other important events in the liturgical calendar.  This ever-growing website can serve as a reference to learn about the lives of holiness of saints throughout the whole Catholic Church.
Christmas Articles and Resources (Building Faith)

Celebrando Navidad (Diocese of Des Moines)

Christmas  Resources  (Loyola Press)
Blessing the Family Christmas Tree                                                              
Christmas- About
Holy Family & The Nativity
As you set up your nativity scene in your home this year (or if you do not have one, gather around the crèche in church one Sunday before Christmas) talk about the many ways each of the figures can teach us about waiting for Jesus, following Jesus, or receiving Jesus.
 
 
 
 
Christmas for Parishes/Schools
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Christmas Lesson Plan Grades 1-3  (Loyola Press)
Christmas Lesson Plan Grades 4-6 (Loyola Press)
Christmas Lesson Plan Grades 7-8 (Loyola Press)

Arts & Faith:  Your Christmas Reflection, Cycle A (Loyola Press)
Arts & Faith:  Your Christmas Reflection, Cycle B (Loyola Press)
Arts & Faith:  Your Christmas Reflection, Cycle C (Loyola Press)

Mini Video Retreat for Catechists for Advent and Christmas (Diocese of Syracuse)
 
 
 
 
dvent prayers and activities 
CHOSEN ESPECIALLY FOR YOU FROM SOME OF OUR FAVORITE WEBSITES:
Advent Resources and Activities
Advent Links & Resources  (USCCB)
Season of Advent Activities (Sadlier)
Advent Blooms Activity (Sadlier)
A busy Catholic's guide to celebrating Advent: 10 Tips for Observing the Season (National Catholic Reporter)
Advent Resources (Busted Halo)
Advent Articles and Resources (Building Faith)
Advent Traditions Game (Good Ground Press)
Advent Wreath Crafts for Kids (Catholic Icing)
Creating a Personal Online Advent Calendar  (MyAdvent) Upload photos, voice messages and videos to create your personal & free online advent calendars to share with friends and loved ones!
Love Bears All (Holy Cross Family Ministries)  Prayer resources to inspire you and your family as you journey through Advent and Christmas. Includes Family Activity Calendar, Advent wreath video series, ebooks, blogs, and more.
O Come, O Come Emmanuel Sing-Along Advent Hymn (Catholic Kids Media)
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Advent Family Resources  (Loyola Press)   ​

Family Advent and Christmas Traditions, Prayerful Reflections, Acts of Kindness (Diocese of Des Moines) 
Living This Advent - A four week journey by Kristi Quinlan 
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Advent Prayers and Retreat
Advent and Christmas Prayers (CRS)
Advent and Christmas Prayers, Blessings (Diocese of Des Moines)
A Prayerful, Magical Catholic Family Advent & Christmas (The Liturgical Catechist)
The "O Antiphons" of Advent (USCCB)
Advent Retreat, Holy Women, Full of Grace (Good Ground Press)
Twelve Days Before Christmas (Renew International)

Blessing of an Advent Wreath
About Advent Wreaths (USCCB)
Blessing of an Advent Wreath (USCCB)
Advent Wreath Activity and Prayer for Young Families (Building Faith)
Advent Wreath Prayer (Good Ground Press)

Blessing of a Christmas Manger and Tree 
Blessing of a Christmas Manger or Nativity Scene (USCCB)
Manger Scene  (Good Ground Press)
Blessing of a Christmas Tree (USCCB)
Holy Days, Holidays and Special Remembrances
Catholic Feast Days (Catholic Apostolate Center)
This website features profiles of saints, special devotions in the church, including those who are blessed and Marian devotions, and other important events in the liturgical calendar.  This ever-growing website can serve as a reference to learn about the lives of holiness of saints throughout the whole Catholic Church.
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​Advent Feast Days  (Diocese of Des Moines)

Feast of St. Nicholas - December 6

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception - December 8

​Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe - December 12
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Feast of St. Lucy - December 13

Start of Los Posadas and Christmas Novena - December 16
 
 
Advent - Parish/School
Advent Resources (Catholic Apostolate Center)
Webpage of articles, reflection guides, and ecclesial documents to accompany you and those you minister with in this time of joyful anticipation.  This page continues to be updated as new resources and materials become available, including their own E-Book featuring reflections from blog writers on Advent and Christmas. 

The "O Antiphons" of Advent (USCCB)
The Roman Church has been singing the "O" Antiphons since at least the eighth century. They are the antiphons that accompany the Magnificat canticle of Evening Prayer from December 17-23.

Advent Season (RCL Benziger)
Enjoy these free downloadable and printable resources for celebrating the season of Advent!

Coaching Parents for Advent (The Pastoral Center)
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Waiting for Jesus Christ - An Intergenerational Event (Loyola Press)

Arts and Faith: Advent (Loyola Press)
Use these videos to take a new look at this season of hope and preparation through the lens of sacred art.
Holy Days, Holidays and Special Remembrances
 

Lent



Lenten Videos
What are the Faith Practices of Lent? Bishop Barron Explains (Word on Fire)Lenten Resources for AdultsLenten Activities for Families and Children​Stations of the CrossPinterest Boards with Ideas for LentHoly Week
Holy Week@Home Experience (Pastoral Center) Worship services, prayers, and activities for the family.  (Please read the leader page for this and the pages below, and request a free license. ) 

Easter


EASTER PRAYERS
EASTER ACTIVITIES
Celebrating Easter: A Handout for Busy Parents (Growing up Catholic)  Celebrando Pascua
This handout is available to download free if you register with the Growing Up Catholic website. It is two pages chocked full of information for parents on the meaning of Easter and ideas on how to celebrate the holiday with family focused on the real meaning of the event.

Christian Easter Crafts for Kids (Catholic Icing)
Easter coloring pages and the jelly bean prayer plus a resurrection rolls and cookies and resurrection eggs.

Eleven Activities for Families to Celebrate the 50 Days of Easter (Sr. Janet Schaeffler - Faith Formation Learning Exchange)
Great ideas to help families make the Easter season come alive for 50 days courtesy of the Faith Formation Learning Exchange.

Easter Activities (The Religion Teacher)
Explore the following Easter activities for kids as a part of your Easter lesson plans this year.
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Easter Activities for Kids (iMOM)
Help parents prep for Easter with an Easter Story Hunt or Easter Egg Hunt, and sharing some Easter Traditions!

Easter Traditions for Teens  (Vibrant Faith at Home)
Helps families with teens to develop new ways to celebrate Easter.

Open-Egged Questions (Vibrant Faith at Home)
Open-ended questions are great conversation starters at Easter for families with teens.

Easter Cupcakes (Vibrant Faith at Home)
Young families read a story of Jesus' resurrection in the Gospel of Luke followed by a sweet treat reminding them that Jesus is the light of the world.

Easter Games (The Catholic Toolbox)
Games and activities to help families celebrate the Triduum and Easter in the home.

Arts and Faith: (Loyola Press)
Easter Resources (Loyola Press)
A variety of prayers, activities and resources to enable families to bring the resurrection home.

Easter (USCCB)

Pascua (USCCB)

Printable Easter Cards in English and Spanish (Loyola)

​The Best Thing About Easter (YouTube)

Easter Version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah (YouTube)

The Gift of the Resurrection is not only for the Future (Renew International Blog)
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​Catholic Feast Days (Catholic Apostolate Center)
This website features profiles of saints, special devotions in the church, including those who are blessed and Marian devotions, and other important events in the liturgical calendar.  This ever-growing website can serve as a reference to learn about the lives of holiness of saints throughout the whole Catholic Church.

Divine Mercy Sunday-Second Sunday of Easter
​​Divine Mercy Lesson Plan and Activities (The Religion Teacher)
Divine Mercy Sunday (Loyola Press)
Litany of Mercy (Divine Mercy) (CRS)

Through the Year


NEW! Catholic Feast Days ​(Catholic Apostolate Center)
This website features profiles of saints, special devotions in the church, including those who are blessed and Marian devotions, and other important events in the liturgical calendar.  This ever-growing website can serve as a reference to learn about the lives of holiness of saints throughout the whole Catholic Church.
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​Holidays, Holy Days, and Special Remembrances
EARTH DAY/CARE FOR CREATION - See more related articles and links under Faith Practice: Catholic Social Teaching - Care for God's Creation Earth Day at Home (Earth Day) - Activities to do at home on Earth Day                                                     
MONTH OF MAY 
Mental Health Awareness Month (Ave Maria Press)
Catholic resources to give you spiritual guidance and encouragement as well as practical tips to help maintain your mental and emotional health.

National Day of Prayer - May 6, 2021

Mother's Day
The Ascension of the Lord
Ascension of Jesus Prayer (Loyola)

​Pentecost
Pentecost Activity: Tongue of Fire Hat (Building Faith)
Pentecost in a Box (Building Faith)

Mary
Mary, Mother of the Church (Vatican News)
Pope Francis inserts the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, into the Roman Calendar on the Monday following Pentecost Sunday
Mary, Mother of the Church - video music reflection for young adults and adults
May Crowning Activities (The Religion Teacher) A collection of activities ideas to prepare your students for a May crowning or to organize your own little ceremony in class.
Flowers for the Blessed Mother (Sadlier)
Many Faces of Mary (Youtube Meditation)
NEW!  Free Printable Mary, Mother of God Activities & Prayers - Month of Mary (Sadlier)

​August/September
Holidays, Holy Days and Special Remembrances
Feast Days and Memorials
Back to School 
World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation - September 1 
Anniversary of 9-11 
A Prayer for the Anniversary of 9-11-01 (prayerist.com)

Grandparent's Day - First Sunday after Labor Day
Blessing of Grandparents (USCCB)
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Catechetical Sunday
World Day for Migrants and Refugees - Sept 26, 2021 (USCCB)
The theme chosen by Pope Francis for the 107th World Day of Migrants and Refugees is “Towards an even wider "we.”  An appeal to build a universal “we” —may this be achieved first and foremost within the Church, called upon to create communion within diversity. 
Ordinary Time - October/November
Holidays, Holy Days and Special Remembrances
 
Respect Life Month - October (USCCB)  Find a variety of resources, prayer, program, articles and conversation

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
  • USCCB
  • Catholics for Family Peace - Media toolkit in English and Spanish (pdf)


​October - Month of Mary
Marian devotions and praying the rosary​
Feast of St. Francis of Assisi - October 4
St. Francis was a lover of God's creation.  Families can join with him by taking the St. Francis Pledge to stop wasting energy and destroying the environment.   The Catholic Climate Covenant is an organization that helps families, parishes and schools to learn about climate change and how to protect the environment.​​
Halloween 
All Saints
All Souls
  • All Souls' Day (Catholic Online)
  • All Souls' Day (Loyola Press)
  • All Souls' Day adapted family activities (National Catholic Partnership on Disability)
  • ​A Shrine for All Souls Day (Cottage Blessings) For All Souls' Day create a shrine of remembrance with pictures of people who have died during the past year along with an image of Jesus, a candle, plant and a Bible. Throughout the month of November the family is reminded to pray for all those who are enshrined.

​Day of the Dead - Die de los Muertos
How Day of the Dead Bread Links a Family Together (Loyola Press)

November Saints Feast Days
Saints Stories for All Ages (Loyola Press) Daily Saint Reflections

Thanksgiving
​November: Black Catholic History Month
  • Prayers for Black Catholic History Month  (Jesuit Resource) - November is Black Catholic History Month and soon a combination stage and video production of the life of Father Augustus Tolton will be available to parishes and communities across the Untied States.  Check out the information below for show times and opportunities to bring the production to your home parish.
  • Black Catholic "Saints" (USCCB)  Have you ever heard of Pierre Toussaint, or Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange or Henrietta DeLille, or Father Augustus Tolton?  They are actually not saints, at least not yet.  They are all black American Catholics who served the Church and God so well that they are in line to become saints.  Inform your family about these great people during Black Catholic History Month.
  • Black Catholic History Month Prayer Service (Today's Catholic Teacher)