Holy Week | Family Activities | catholic family life
As moms, we are always looking ahead to prepare for the next thing, so it’s not too soon to start thinking about Holy Week! Every day during Holy Week has its own special focus, and in my family, we try to join in with the prayer of the Church by doing something special each day. Below are some concrete ideas to celebrate the week, especially with young children. Most of these things can be done around dinnertime or bedtime, so you don’t have to take a lot of time to be intentional.
Monday of Holy Week
This is the day after Palm Sunday. We have already immersed ourselves in the Passion narrative (and whacked each other with palms), so we read The End of the Fiery Sword by Maura Roan McKeegan. I love the typology of putting the Old Testament alongside the New Testament to show the fulfillment of Salvation History. Plus, the illustrations by Ted Schluenderfritz are beautiful.
The next two days are a great time to do a little purging or deep cleaning in your home to get ready for new things in the Easter basket.
Tuesday of Holy Week
Typically, at the Chrism Mass, the bishop consecrates all the oil used to administer sacraments in his diocese for that year. It’s a time to remember your own sacraments and pray for the priests and bishop of your diocese. Another book we like to read is The Tale of Three Trees, and the kids know I cry every time.
Spy Wednesday
Today we focus on the betrayal by Judas. We read the daily Mass readings and do this fun coin activity that we learned from Catholic All Year. It’s like getting ready for an Easter egg hunt while talking about the 30 pieces of silver Judas received for handing Jesus over.
Holy Thursday
Holy Thursday (or Maundy Thursday) is the celebration of the Last Supper and where Jesus washes His disciples’ feet. We don’t take our kids to the evening Mass, so we try to make a symbolic Seder meal and explain the importance of the Last Supper. Sometimes we wash the kids’ feet. As the kids get older, I try to take them to a time of Adoration that evening before the Eucharist is reposed until Easter.
Good Friday
If there is school, we don’t go or we leave early to make it to the Good Friday service. There is something so eerie and somber with an empty Tabernacle in the church, and the hymns are always so beautiful.
For little kids, we follow the events of the day using this cross and tomb printable activity from CatholicIcing.com (hanging Jesus on the Cross, putting Him in the tomb). We wear black or dark colors to symbolize mourning. We always pray the Stations of the Cross at home that evening.
Good Friday is also the start of the Divine Mercy Novena. There is a lot of praying on this day so sometimes I start it by myself, but the one Novena we try to be consistent with every year is this one, praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet every day from Good Friday to Divine Mercy Sunday.
Holy Saturday
This is a day of quiet preparation and somber reflection. It always feels a little weird. Last year, we had a friend come into the Church, so we spent the afternoon getting ready for the Vigil. In the morning, we usually dye eggs and we always make Resurrection Rolls to eat the next morning. I love the symbolism in this recipe! (Pro tip: bake them in well-greased muffin tins).
Easter Sunday
I think you probably know how to party, but make sure you center it around the Mass. And don’t forget to shout out the Alleluia! We do a scavenger hunt to find their Easter baskets (the first clue is always in the empty tomb from Friday) and then an Easter egg hunt. There are always lots of jellybeans, too!
After that, it’s the Easter season for 50 days. That’s longer than Lent, so have visual reminders like decorations that keep you rejoicing. Maybe your prayer time can have an added joyful dimension to it.
This is what my family does, but I share to spark ideas for you. Please take what works for you or find something else! The result is a concrete way to participate in the life of the Church, to grow in faith, and give your family an identity as sons and daughters of God.
Images: (top, center) iStockPhoto.com, licensed for use by Holy Cross Family Ministries; (bottom) Canva