Until Lent, 2014, Here are Catholic Activities

I generally don't update seasonal blogs on the off seasons. For ordinary time and other church feast seasons, I have another blog, Catholic Activities. This blog has Bible activities, Catholic parenting and family tips, homeschool and parochial school lesson plans, printable religious crafts, prayers, devotions and more. I have links to activities on rosary, the Blessed Mother, Jesus, the trinity, stations of the cross, saints, mass readings, devotions, liturgical calendar, magisterium, sacraments, church history, social justice and lots more. I also have a blog called The Advent Season with appropriate advent activities. Come visit me and have a blessed church year. AMDG. 

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

Cheap, Homemade, Safe Easter Egg Dyeing, Recycled Decorations

Waited till the last minute to buy Easter egg dyeing kits for the kids? Now you have to pull a rabbit out of a hat (pun intended) and come up with your own egg decorations. Take it from this mom of four--been there, done that. Never fear--super DIY mom is here! Here are homemade Easter egg decorations using recycled and on-hand materials. And best of all--they're cheaper and safer than store-bought egg coloring kits! Cheap, Homemade, Safe Easter Egg Dyeing, Recycled Decorations

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

Diet-Friendly, Vegetarian Rice Recipes

As a Catholic mom, I fast during lent and on Fridays by serving and eating meatless meals. I'm also dieting and have had success eating vegetarian. Rice is a great non-meat food source, but gets a bad rap for being high in starch and calories. Here are rice recipes that give you the most nutritional bang with the lowest caloric intake. I've written these recipes to meet other religious dietary restricitions. Recipes of Asia gives a guide. Islamic halal, non-kitniyot Jewish kosher. Kitniyot foods, like rice, are sometimes restricted by Jews, particularly Ashkenazi, during Pesach or passover. To observe kitniyot, quinoa could be substituted for rice. AISH says this is okay. These recipes follow eastern Ahimsa practices (except for the recipe with tuna). They can be made vegan by using soy for dairy or fish or by omitting. For all recipes, use brown or white jasmine rice (white has fewer calories). Diet-Friendly, Vegetarian Rice Recipes

Free Printable Rosary Prayers, Blessed Virgin Mary Coloring Pages

In May we Catholics and Orthodox celebrate our Blessed Mother Mary. Our Lady shows us to pray the rosary; the Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries. Here are free printable coloring pages and devotional activities of Mary, and the rosary. The rosary, given to us by Mary, Mother of God, helps us to focus our minds and hearts on her Son Jesus. Free Printable Rosary and Blessed Virgin Mary Coloring Pages and Devotional Activities 

Free Printable Lent Activities, Calendars, Worksheets

 One way that has always helped our family in our Lenten practices is the Catholic Relief Services lenten calendar. Each day is marked with a scripture verse and a prayer intention. Each week is devoted to a different country in great need in our world church. Listed on the calendar is information about the country, culture and people and a simple recipe from that country.  Free Printable Lent Activities