Catholic Lenten Fasting Ideas for Parents; Teaching Kids About Giving Up for Jesus

Ash Wednesday began the penitential season of Lent for Catholic and Orthodox Christians. Some protestant sects observe Lent too. During this 40-day period, we follow Christ's temptation in the desert, ending with Holy Week and passion, death and resurrection at Easter. During Lent we sacrifice in imitation of Christ. Here are tips to teach kids why we fast and how to give things up for Lent. Catholic Lenten Fasting Ideas for Children 

Free Easter Printables, Crafts, Devotions, Prayers, Games for Catholics

Easter is the major feast day in the Catholic church. For forty days of Lent we've fasted, prayed and journeyed with Our Lord in His walk to Golgotha. Lent is like an inward spiritual pilgrimage that takes place amid our everyday lives. Children in the Catholic faith take part in this journey as well. Some are making first reconciliation and are preparing for first Holy Eucharist. At the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, catecumens and candidates will be welcomed into the Church. Many will be baptized. The new Easter candle is lit for the first time. The sacred oils are blessed on Holy Thursday. The parish priest renews his vows of ordination. The Holy Eucharist is placed in repose for the three days of the triduum in a solemn and lovely pageant.

These are only a few of the awesome and significant events we Catholics celebrate in at Easter and the Holy Week preceding it. Children see, hear and celebrate many wondrous experiences at Eastertide. Some may be new or unremembered from last year. Here are several websites for you to print free Easter materials for your students or children to explore the lovely symbolism and ritual of Easter in the Catholic Church.  Read more

Free Printable Easter Triduum Coloring Pages: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, Easter Sunday

For Catholics, lent is the holiest season of the church year. It follows the temptation by Satan of Jesus in the desert. During this time, we fast, pray and give alms in imitation of Christ's suffering and in reparation for our sins. Lent ends with Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. From there, we follow the way of the cross (via dolorosa) as stations of the cross. In the last three days of Lent, called the Easter or paschal triduum. "Paschal" refers to the passion, death and resurrection of Christ. The Easter Triduum begins at sundown on Holy Thursday, also called Maundy Thursday. It continues through Good Friday, Easter Vigil or Holy Saturday and on to Easter Sunday. Here are free printable coloring pages to help children explore the paschal mysteries of Christ's Easter Triduum.   Free Printable Easter Triduum Coloring Pages

Free Printable Palm Sunday Crafts, Coloring, Activities

Palm Sunday, in the Christian faith, celebrates the Biblical triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem one week before His crucifixion. It begins Holy Week and the countdown to Easter. Palm Sunday is a floating holiday; linked as it is to Lent and Easter which fall at a different time each year. Here are crafts, coloring and activities for parents to use with children. Use as lessons in home school, Christian school, Sunday school or Catholic religious education. These printables provide inexpensive, hands-on ways to explore and celebrate the Palm Sunday. Read more at Free Printable Palm Sunday Crafts, Coloring, Activities 

Free Printable Palm Sunday, Holy Week Activities

Holy Week, the week preceding Easter, begins on Palm Sunday of the liturgical church year. Holy Week is the culmination of Lent. The Easter Triduum, consisting of Maundy or Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday bring christians to the highest point in the church year, Easter. Holy Week is also referred to as the Passion or Paschal celebration. Here are free printable crafts for families. Read more at Free Printable Holy Week Activities

The Lenten Kitchen: Vegan and Vegetarian Recipes

During lent, much of the world practices fasting. Whether we choose a physical fast, such as food or drink or a spiritual fast, such as refraining from gossip or internet use, our goal is improved spiritual health and closeness with our Heavenly Father.

Most Catholic individuals and households observe some sort of Lenten food fast. In the old church, Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday was known as Shrove Tuesday. All sweeteners, dairy products, oil and eggs were used up and made into pancakes and during lent, not only was no meat eaten, but also no dairy products. The closest diet to this kind of fasting is a vegan diet, except that the vegan eats no fish. Read more at Vegan, Vegetarian Lent Recipes

Free Printable Bible Coloring Page Activities

Teaching VBS- Vacation Bible School this summer? Or maybe your gearing up for Sunday School, Christian school, Hebrew school or homeschool in the fall? Here are free printable Bible story, old and new testament coloring pages. These Bible story coloring pages come from the old and new testament and are great devotions lessons. Use for Stations of the Cross, Lent, Holy Week and Easter. Read more

Stations of the Cross Devotional Art Project with free printable Stations of the Cross coloring pages

Holy or Maundy Thursday marks the beginning of the Easter Triduum: the final three days of Holy Week which begins on Palm Sunday. Here is a Stations of the Cross art and devotional activity to use for Lent, Good Friday, Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday or Easter. Read on...