Lent is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. The forty days of Lent represent the time Jesus spent in the desert, enduring the temptation of Satan and preparing to begin his ministry. Our Lenten journey lasts for forty days, not counting Sundays, from Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday. In this time of preparation for Easter, we focus on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving (service). During Lent, Children’s Liturgy of the Word leaders will discuss with the children each of these practices and how they can pray, fast, and serve in their own lives – at home with their families, at school, or with friends.
Group: Age 4 - Grade 2
40 Days of Love On the first two Sundays in Lent, during Children’s Liturgy of the Word at the 11 AM Mass, the children began participating in 40 Days of Love. The three trees pictured to the right, on the wall in Sacred Heart’s meeting room, were bare at the beginning of Lent. During the first two weeks of Lent, the children added hearts decorated with their prayers, intended sacrifices, and acts of kindness to the trees. We had hoped that week by week, our barren trees would fill up with hearts that were a testament to the love of children sharing with God and neighbor. Families, because the coronavirus does not allow us to meet at church, we invite you to continue this activity at home, making a special prayer place in the home to display your children's hearts. |
The children were given a 40 Days of Love calendar which lists ways to pray, fast, and serve. This visual aid can help the kids highlight and track what they have done to prepare for the coming of Easter. To print out additional copies of 40 Days of Love, click the button below.
Palm Sunday, 2019 Stations of the Cross with Children's Liturgy of the Word
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Group: Grades 3 - 5
Praying the Stations of the Cross The 14 Stations of the Cross, represented by the beautiful sculptures along the walls in our churches, commemorate the events that occurred during Jesus’s crucifixion. This Lenten season during Children’s Liturgy of the Word, we began to talk about the Stations of the Cross with the children in Grades 3 – 5. Since we are not gathering because of the coronavirus outbreak, we encourage families to pray the Stations of the Cross together. Stations of the Cross written in language for children are linked to the left. Each station includes a symbol to help the children to remember that Station. Parent letters for each week that focus on 2-3 Stations are also linked to the left. The letters reflect the discussion, prayer, and children's intentions, whether prayer, fasting, or service. The children can write their intentions on paper hearts that can be taped up in a special prayer place at home. On Palm Sunday (week 6), families may want to pray the Stations of the Cross together. |
Many blessings,
The Children’s Liturgy of the Word Team
The Children’s Liturgy of the Word Team