Catholic Homeschool Support

Lent is nearly upon us again. I am updating this post from last year since most of the resources are still available. I do enjoy adding a new book or two to our family’s Lenten resources, and this one is for me (I love Chesterton)

Additionally, I plan on using Catholic Mosaic‘s section on Lent that includes three books:

Catholic Mosaic also has 6 books used that are for Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday. It is a wonderful resource to help live more fully the liturgical year.

New links for 2010:

• Activities for Lent for Prek – K
• Activities for Lent for 1st and up
• Activities for Families from Catholic Culture
• 40 Ways to Get the Most Out of It (Crossroads Initiative)
• Faith and Family – 8 pages of articles including 40 Bags in 40 Daygs
• Operation Rice Bowl – Catholic Relief Services
  

I am including this at the top of the post – it looks to be quite a do-able reading plan for Lent taking only 10-15 minutes a day and at the end of Lent, you will have read from 10 Church Fathers. So, it’s not too late to catch up:

The overview from ChurchYear.Net

The PDF with all the readings in order

I am dashing around, so this is not a pretty post. I will reformat it when I have a bit more time, but I wanted to begin a list of Lenten Resources:

• Printable Pocket Size Stations of the Cross
• The Observance of Lent from Women for Faith and Family
• Embracing Lent as a Family
• Lent from ChurchYear.net
• Resources for Catholic Educators - Lent Page 1
• Lent is Coming has a great form to print for your older children
• Lenten Workshop (CatholicCulture.org)
• Teaching Catholic Kids from Our Sunday Visitor
• Lenten Activities for Children (CatholicMom)
• Stations of the Cross Coloring Book (pdf)
• Lenten Faith Folder (lapbook TM) – it is worth the money

Tags: Add new tag, faith, homeschool

HOLY WEEK, a term used for the ending of Lent and the completion of the journey to Easter. Lent is continued until the Mass of the Lord”s Supper on Holy Thursday which begins the celebration of the Great Three Days, The Triduum. The ancient name for Holy Thursday is Maundy Thursday taken from Jesus’ words, “Mandatum novum da nobis”, “a new commandment I give you”, the words that began the ancient foot-washing ceremony. It is on this day that we commemorate the The Last Supper and the institution of the Eucharist. The Mass ends with the Blessed Sacrament being taken away (as Jesus was taken away after the betrayal of Judas) to a place other than the church proper where adoration will take place until midnight and in some places until the next morning.

Good Friday is a day of subdued activity. No traditional Mass is permitted on this day. Many “keep watch” from noon to midday. Stations of the Cross take place at Our Lady of the Mountains at 3:00 in the afternoon. The Mass of the Presanctified is celebrated in the evening with the Veneration of the Cross, prayers for the world and the reading of Our Lord’s Passion.

There is no morning Mass on the day before Easter Sunday. Jesus is in the tomb and all is quiet in anticipation of His rising from the dead early Sunday morning.

Celebration of the Resurrection during the Easter Vigil begins with the Lighting of the New Fire and the Paschal Candle representing Jesus, the Light of the world. The beautiful Exultet is sung, bells ring, water is blessed, Gloria in excelsis Deo! resounds, and the world is once again rejoicing in this ever-new ancient ritual of Life. Alleluia!

Activities for Palm Sunday

• Coloring Pages
• Palm Sunday (Catholicculture.com – click on Activity link for ideas)
• Palm Sunday Complete History
• Palm Sunday Fun Pack (coloring pages)
• Directions for Palm Crosses
• Directions for Palm Crown
• Palm Sunday Activites (puppets, create palm fronds, coloring pages)

Holy Week

• Holy Thursday (CatholicCulture.com – click on activity link for ideas)
• Good Friday (Catholicculture.com – click on activity link for ideas)
• Holy Saturday (CatholicCulture.com – click on activity link for ideas)
• Christian Seder Meal Holy Thursday (Women for Faith and Family)
• A Messianic Passover Haggadah Holy Thursday (Domestic-Church.com)
• Holy Week Activities (crossword puzzles, coloring pages, word searches)
• Hot Cross Buns Recipe
• Resurrection Cookie Recipe
• Resurrection Cookie Recipe with Bible Verses
• Paschal Candle
• Easter Egg Symbols (My Friend Magazine – Catholic)
• Holy Saturday Ideas
• Resurrection Eggs (start on the Wednesday before Palm Sunday)
• Jonah Project for Holy Week
• Easy Easter Baskets (very cool – very easy!)
• From Creche to Cave (paper mache project)