+My dear QOA Families,
During this unprecedented time in our history, we join with people from all over the world and pray for a cure
and an end to the Coronavirus. We may not be able to be physically present and enjoy the solemnity of the
Holy Week Liturgies in person, but we are blessed with alternative resources. Holy Week Liturgies are
televised and are also available to view via the Internet.
Holy Week provides us time to recall the immeasurable love Jesus has for each one of us in sacrificing His
very life to save us from the grips of sin. Because of His death and resurrection, we are free and have the
power to live in and through Christ with our every breath of life! Therefore, we can joyfully shout out that we
are a Resurrection People, a People of Hope!
Jesus' Mother was with Him every step of the way and she is with us too throughout this difficult time of the
pandemic and social distancing. Do we miss seeing one another and enjoying one another's company? Yes,
without a doubt, but health officials plead with us that this is necessary at this time for the safety of all.
As a school community, during this Holy Week beginning Monday, April 6, we will suspend the on-line
lessons in order to concentrate on the significance of these most holy days. On-line classes will resume on
Tuesday, April 14. I have provided your family with resources below that would keep children busy for more
than a week. The faculty asks you to have your child/ren complete at least three Holy Week activities that
would be meaningful to them. Younger children (PreK – Grade 2) will create a DRAWING of three Holy
Week activities that have special meaning for them. These drawings could of course be on one sheet of paper.
They may also choose to write a sentence about their picture, if they are able, not a requirement. For older
children (Grades 3-8) 2/3 WRITTEN and/or 1 Flipgrid reflection for a total of three responses to Holy Week
activities of their choice. These 3 required assignments that the student has selected should then be emailed to
their religion teacher via Google Docs or by email. These 3 responses will count as a religion grade.
I have also included Stations of the Cross that the students can color and have for home use. You can pray
these Stations as a family and then have each family member share their own reflections. Even though these
activities may not be the norm in your family, they will draw you ever closer and you will most likely, through
God’s grace, experience the old adage, “The family that prays together, stays together.”
Families, as we know, Governor Tom Wolf has ordered all schools to remain closed through an indefinite
period in hopes of slowing the spread of the Coronavirus. I continue to be edified by the dedication of our
awesome faculty as they plan lessons that engage their students and prepare them for advancing to the next
grade. Parents, we as a faculty are most grateful for all you are doing and really appreciate your support. We
know it is not an easy task to be working from home and at the same time monitoring your child’s schoolwork.
QOA students are the best and it is a pleasure to see their smiling faces via the Internet. All of us would much
rather enjoy seeing the children face- to- face, but for the meantime we’ll continue to wave and smile virtually.
As a faculty, we Zoom together each week and email throughout the week. We all miss the students so much
and are praying hard that we will all be together very soon, please God!
I pray all stay healthy and are blessed abundantly during this Holy Week and throughout the Easter Season.
May our Resurrected Savior touch each of you and your loved ones with His deep love, peace, and hope!
Love, prayers, and gratitude,
Sister Mary
Activities for the whole family:
https://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/liturgical-year/holy-week
https://www.catholicicing.com/ultimate-guide-for-celebrating-holy/
https://teachingcatholickids.com/tag/holy-week/
https://catholicphilly.com/
http://www.usccb.org/ http://shorturl.at/qvwS7 Look to Him and Be Radiant website
Stations of the Cross to Color – Pictures by TheCatholickid.com; reflections by S. Mary
Prayer to Saint Corona
Station 1: Jesus Is Condemned to Death
Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
All: Because by Your holy cross You have redeemed the
world.
Jesus did nothing wrong. The angry mob forced Pilate
to put Jesus to death. Jesus did not shout or complain.
Prayer: Jesus offered Himself up for us to save us
from sin. Jesus, help us to be more like You. Help us
not to give in to the crowd, but to have the courage to
do what we know You would want us to do.
Station 3: Jesus Falls the First Time
Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
All: Because by Your holy cross You have redeemed the
world.
Jesus was beaten, wore a crown of thorns, and had to
carry a very heavy cross. Jesus fell for the first time
out of love for us.
Prayer: Jesus, very often we mess up when trying to
follow You. Help us to count on Your grace, go to the
Sacrament of Reconciliation, and begin again trying to
be and act more like You. Jesus, we love You!
Station 2: Jesus Accepts His Cross
Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
All: Because by Your holy cross You have redeemed the
world.
Jesus, in carrying the heavy cross, You thought of us
because Your mission was to redeem the world.
Prayer: Sometimes schoolwork or jobs at home are
hard for us and we complain. Jesus, please help us not
to be complainers. We want to keep trying, even when
we find something hard. We know we can count on You
for help. Thank you, Jesus!
Station 4: Jesus Meets His Mother
Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
All: Because by Your holy cross You have redeemed
the world.
Jesus met His Mother Mary as He carried the cross.
The Blessed Mother, although very sad to see her
Son suffer, knew He had a special mission from the
Father. She gave Jesus her love and support.
Prayer: Jesus, thank you for our parents and their
love for us. Jesus, please take good care of our
parents. We know they want what’s best for us as
You do! Mother Mary, please pray for our families.
Station 6: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
All: Because by Your holy cross You have redeemed
the world.
Veronica, a woman in the crowd, noticed Jesus’ face
sweating and bleeding. She didn’t care what anyone
thought and pushed through the crowd to give Jesus
comfort and wiped His face. Jesus rewarded her
kindness by leaving an image of His face on the towel.
Prayer: Jesus, please help us to do the right and
kind thing no matter what anyone may think or say.
Jesus, please bless us with a courageous love for You
and others.
Station 5: Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus to
Carry His Cross
Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
All: Because by Your holy cross You have redeemed
the world.
The Jews saw how weak Jesus was becoming so they
grabbed Simon of Cyrene from the crowd and forced
him to help Jesus carry the heavy cross.
Prayer: Jesus, help us to offer others assistance
even if we don’t feel like it. We do know that when we
help others, it is like serving you. We want to be kind
and helpful to all.
Station 7: Jesus Falls the
Second Time
Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and we
bless You.
All: Because by Your holy cross You have
redeemed the world.
Jesus is becoming weaker from all His
wounds and He falls for the second time.
He keeps on going, He doesn’t give up.
Prayer: Jesus, so often we say, “No” to
You and sin. We put ourselves before You
and others. We’re sorry, Jesus. We are
counting on Your grace in us to begin
again. We won’t give up because our hope
is in You.
Station 8: Jesus Meets the Women
of Jerusalem
Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and we
bless You.
All: Because by Your holy cross You have
redeemed the world.
The women see Jesus’ great suffering and
cry out in compassion for Him.
Prayer: Jesus, please help us to be good
and loyal friends in good and bad times.
Help us to reach out to those in need and
ease their suffering.
Station 9: Jesus Falls a Third Time
Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and we
bless You.
All: Because by Your holy cross You have
redeemed the world.
Jesus is so weak and can hardly walk
because of the heavy cross. The soldiers
kept pushing Jesus to keep Him moving.
Prayer: Jesus, help us to keep moving
closer to You even when it gets hard. We
know You are always with us and with You
anything is possible.
Thank You, Jesus!
Station 10: Jesus’ Clothes Are
Taken Away
Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and we
bless You.
All: Because by Your holy cross You have
redeemed the world.
The soldiers take Jesus’ robe off Him to
embarrass Him. Jesus gives His all for
love of us.
Prayer: Jesus, help us to think of what
You would say or do before we speak or
act. Jesus, we’re sorry for our sins.
Please give us the graces we need to be
more like You. Help us to decrease so
that Your love and life may increase in us!
Station 11: Jesus Is Nailed to
the Cross
Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and
we bless You.
All: Because by Your holy cross You
have redeemed the world.
Jesus, what awesome love You have for
all of us to be nailed to the cross for
our salvation.
Prayer: Jesus, help us to show You our
love by putting You and others before
ourselves. We love You and we thank
You for saving us from sin.
Station 12: Jesus Dies on
the Cross
Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and
we bless You.
All: Because by Your holy cross You
have redeemed the world.
After suffering for three hours on
the Cross, Jesus gave up His life to
the Father and died.
Prayer: Let us take a moment to
thank Jesus for His great sacrifice.
Jesus, give us forgiving hearts and the
courage to say we’re sorry when we’ve
done wrong. We love You, Jesus, and
ask You to please help us to say, “No”
to sin and “Yes” to you!
Station 13: The Body of Jesus Is
Taken Down from the Cross
Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and we
bless You.
All: Because by Your holy cross You
have redeemed the world.
Jesus, two of Your friends took You
down from the Cross. Your Mother Mary
holds You close to her heart.
Prayer: Jesus, may we be good friends
with others by saying and doing kind
things. Blessed Mother, help us to love
Your Son Jesus more and more each day.
Station 14: Jesus Is Laid in
the Tomb
Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and
we bless You.
All: Because by Your holy cross You
have redeemed the world.
Jesus lies in the tomb, but on the third
day rises from the dead. Death and sin
have no power over Jesus.
Prayer: Jesus, thank you for giving us
new life in You. We pray that one day
we will be with You forever in heaven,
praising and loving You.
Glory and praise to You,
Lord Jesus Christ!