We’re going to use a free resource from “Holy Week at Home,” a free PDF from the Liturgical Press to help us walk through Holy Week this year.
This resource was written so that families can celebrate home rituals even though they cannot attend Mass. You can choose to use the resource as written, or utilize the annotations provided to use them in conjunction with our TAOCatholic recorded liturgies.
Introduction
Read the section labeled “1” from the file “Holy Thursday from Home” to learn more about Holy Thursday. Summarize for your family, or read aloud.
For Children and Families
Liturgy of the Word Resources
Young people’s attention spans invite a response of creativity from parents and leaders during this at-home Holy Week. Use Liturgy of the Word Resources to replace parts of the Recorded Mass, engaging their imaginations and energizing their ability to respond appropriately to the word of God.
Look for the printables below, to engage children’s hands while they’re listening to the recorded Mass. At our house, we set up card tables with markers, colored pencils, crayons and coloring sheets facing the screen.
First Reading: Start video at 3:55
Second Reading: Family Reading
Two people or groups of people, Narrator (N) and Jesus (J)
N: A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians.
N: Brothers and sisters:
I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you,
that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over,
took bread, and, after he had given thanks,
broke it and said,
J: This is my body that is for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.
N: In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying,
J: This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.
N: For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.
N: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Gospel Reading
Ritual at Home
Read the section labeled “2” from “Holy Thursday from Home” to learn more about the practice of foot washing. Summarize for your family, or read aloud.
Washing of Feet Ritual
Use after the Homily.
You will need a pitcher of warm water, a large bowl, and a towel. Decide in advance if you will have one person wash the feet of all present, or have each person take a turn washing the feet of their neighbor after their own feet have been washed.
Follow the ritual outlined under number “3” in “Holy Thursday at Home.”
Conversation
For Adults and Youth
Utilize the questions labeled with “4” for conversations with adults and youth. Read or summarize the section called “Continuing the Conversation.”
For Families with Children
Substitute or add these questions:
- What do you think of when you hear the words, “Last Supper”?
- How does Jesus call you to help others at school and at home?
- What does it mean to be humble?
Activities
#HolyWeekAtHome
Create footprint cutouts to put on your door, as a way to symbolize that Jesus came to us as a servant and calls us to serve one another. Add #taocatholic to your #HolyWeekAtHome post to be featured in the next Community Sharing video!
Last Supper at Home
Maybe you have little kids, maybe you know they won’t be be able to concentrate long enough to appreciate the Mass recording, or maybe you have time on Wednesday … if so, use resources found at CatholicCulture.org to remember the Last Supper at home. View Activity here.
Other Resources
Downloads
Coloring and Activity Sheets
Use the activity sheets and coloring pages as printables to have children color while watching/listening to the recorded Mass.
Jesus washes the feet of his disciples coloring sheet.
The Last Supper coloring sheet.
Free from Teaching Heart Colleen Gallagher on Teachers Pay Teachers: Activity Sheets, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday
Free from Charlotte’s Clips on Teachers Pay Teachers: Holy Week & Easter Sequencing Cards
Free from The WOLFe PACK: Holy Week and Easter Coloring Pages Pack with Traceable Text
Just for fun!
Free from Project Based Learning with Ellie Madison: Lent Mini Cookbook
3-Minute Retreat: The Lord’s Supper
Diocese of St. Cloud Lesson
The Diocese of St. Cloud is releasing daily family lessons/rituals. Holy Thursday lesson.
Online Events for Teens
- Weekly LIVE Youth Night (Sundays at 8 PM Central) – ProjectYM
- Saturdays with the Saints – McGrath Institute for Church Life
- Be Not Afraid Conference (featuring many past NCYC speakers and performers) – Stacey Sumereau
- DamascusLIVE – Tune in daily for Prayer Lab @ 10:30-11am ET; Worship & Intercession @ 3-4pm ET; Night-Live @ 7:30-8:30pm ET
- LIVE prayer sessions:
- Angelus, Daily at 12 PM ET – Worship Now
- Lectio Live, Wednesdays at 6 PM ET – Life Teen
- Divine Mercy Chaplet, Daily at 3 PM ET – Steve Angrisano, Facebook Live
The Road to Easter Learning Activity
Match the key events from Palm Sunday to Easter that children should know.
Holy Week in Handprints
A printable book that tells the story of Holy Week for children. The story is adapted from the book of Matthew, and the story is illustrated by your child and his or her handprints. Costs $8.
Image Sharing, Symbolism and Ritual
Other ideas for image sharing, symbolism and ritual. Tag #taocatholic when you share your public images and we’ll share them with the community!
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