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 “Good Friday from Home” to learn more about Good Friday. 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: IS 52:13-53:12
- Show a picture of Jesus hanging on the cross. [Crucifiction Image 1; or Crucifiction Image 2.]
- Ask them to identify the person on the cross. Say, “Today it’s easy to recognize this as Jesus, but before Jesus came to earth, people didn’t know what he was going to be like.”
- Show the video below.
- Listen to the reader read Isaiah 52:13-53:12, or read it together out of a children’s Bible.
- Ask what they remember from Isaiah’s description that they can see in the picture.
Second Reading: HEB 4:14-16; 5:7-9
Listen to the reader or omit for smaller children.
Gospel Reading: JN 18:1-19:42, end at 6:13 (before Easter)
Ritual at Home
Read the section labeled “2” from “Good Friday from Home” to learn more about Adoration of the Holy Cross. Summarize for your family, or read aloud.
Adoration of the Cross Ritual
Use after the Solemn Intercessions.
You will need a crucifix or cross. Optional: candles, a red cloth, other symbols of Good Friday, like a nail or a printout of a crown of thorns to decorate the prayer space.
Follow the ritual outlined under number “3” in “Good Friday 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:
- When Jesus said, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing,” who was Jesus speaking to? (His Father, God.)
- Who was Jesus speaking about? (People who had sinned and put Him on the cross; everyone who sins.)
- What had they done? (Made fun of Him; put Him on a cross until He died,)
- Did they know who Jesus was? (They did not know what they had done until after He died.)
Activities
#HolyWeekAtHome
Make a cross to put on your door as a way to symbolize that Jesus is our eternal, loving Savior. Add #taocatholic to your #HolyWeekAtHome post to be featured in the next Community Sharing video!
The Story of Good Friday: Stations of the Cross
Families with smaller children might appreciate reviewing the story of Good Friday by watching the Stations of the Cross for children in lieu of staying up to wait for the Good Friday liturgy recording.
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 liturgy. Let your family know in advance that you’ll all put away your coloring when it’s time to venerate the cross. Explain that you’ll be setting your coloring aside so that you can focus and pray, remembering Jesus.
Stations of the Cross coloring pages.
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 Passion of the Lord
Diocese of St. Cloud Lesson
The Diocese of St. Cloud is releasing daily family lessons/rituals. Good Friday 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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