Resources for Celebrating the Easter Season at Home

Following the celebrat ion of Holy Week, the resources included here are avai lable to aid in the celebrat ion of the Easter season at home. In th is current per iod of uncertainty, “social distance,” and distance from our Lord in the Eucharist , the Resurrect ion of Chr ist at Easter

provides for us al l a s ign of great joy and hope. Let us l ive “ the joy of the Gospel” th is Easter, which, as Pope Francis reminds us, “ f i l ls the hearts and l ives of al l who encounter

Jesus.” Let that be our test imony to the world in a t ime of trouble not only on Easter Sunday, but as we celebrate each of the 8 days of Easter Week (Easter Sunday through

Div ine Mercy Sunday) and throughout the 50 days of the Easter season that fol low.

Suggestions for the Easter Season

For famil ies with younger children:• Downloadable and pr intable Easter Calendar• Three s imple ways to celebrate from GetFed.com• Six creat ive ways to teach the Easter story from Cathol ic Ic ing• Cathol ic Al l Year has a blog post with great ideas for gifts , decorat ions and

act iv i t ies at home for this year

For famil ies with teens:• yDisciple ser ies on the Creed, especial ly episodes 4-7• Life Teen:

• Virtual “Li fe Nights”• Small group Bible studies• Video ser ies on Sundays of the Easter season

• YM360: Youth Group at Home• Find Easter themed playl ists l ike this one to help elevate your celebrat ions with

joyful Chr ist ian music

For adults:• Bishop Barron on the meaning of Easter and Podcast Q&A• Loyola Press: Jesus is Al ive and Why Easter is On Different Days Each Year

• Why is Easter Called Easter?• Easter Prayers from Cathol ic Rel ief Services

For parishes:• Communicat ions:

• Constantly speak of Jesus as our hope and why he is our hope• Use and explain the word “Alleluia” to spread joy• Use and encourage use of the Paschal Greet ing• Decorate the outside of the church so al l can see our Easter joy

• Youth Ministry :• Free access to resources from Marathon Youth Ministry with promo code

MYMFREE• Resource l ist compiled by the National Federat ion for Cathol ic Youth Ministry

Easter Sunday

For famil ies with younger children:• Resurrect ion Color ing Sheet• Empty Tomb Color ing Sheet• Easter Act iv i t ies and Lesson Plans from Loyola Press• Creat ive Ways to Teach the Easter Story from Cathol ic Ic ing• The Resurrect ion of Chr ist ABC Order Worksheet• Easter Bingo Game• Paper Resurrect ion set

For anyone:• Matthew 28:1-10 - The Resurrect ion of Jesus• John 20:1-9 - The Empty Tomb• Easter Prayers from Cathol ic Rel ief Services• Liturgy of the Hours PDFs for Easter Sunday• Loyola’s Arts and Faith ser ies : The Resurrect ion• Art icle on the Day of the Resurrect ion

Easter Week

For famil ies with younger children:• Easter crafts for k ids• Pr intable Resurrect ion ABC order

worksheets• Cook with the family and make

something special each day of the Easter Octave

• Decorate the home with Easter decorat ions (dye eggs, paper chains, Easter candle in your prayer corner, homemade crosses, painted rocks)

• Read about the road to Emmaus with chi ldren then go for a walk and discuss i t

Divine Mercy Sunday - Apri l 19, 2020

For famil ies with younger children:• Enjoy a Divine Mercy Sundae with red and blue

spr inkles

For anyone:• Share the basics of what the feast of Divine Mercy

is al l about with someone• Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3 :00pm, the

“Hour of Mercy”• I f you have a Divine Mercy image in your home,

consider a s imple way to reverently venerate the image

• J immy Akin shares 9 Things to Know About Divine Mercy

• Consider l iv ing out Divine Mercy with a “Divine Mercy Challenge” either leading up to or beginning on Divine Mercy Sunday.

For parishes:• Learn more about Divine Mercy Sunday to help prepare for i ts celebrat ion the

fol lowing Sunday: Divine Mercy with Fr. Michael Gait ley• Read accounts of Jesus’ post-resurrect ion appearances• Reflect on the mission of the resurrect ion• Watch The Case for Christ on Netf l ix

Easter Season Saints

Throughout the Easter season, learn about , pray with, and celebrate the l ives of the saints the Church remembers on these days:

Apri l 23rd - St . George the Legendary Martyr

Apri l 25th - St . Mark

Apri l 28th - St . Louis de Montfort

Apri l 29th - St . Cather ine of Siena

May 2nd - St . Athanasius

May 12th - St . Pancras

May 14th - St . Matthias

May 15th - St . Is idore the Farmer

Litany in honor of Saint Is idore the Farmer, patron of farmers & workers

May 18th - St . John I

May 20th - St . Bernardine of Siena

May 22nd - St . Rita of Cascia

May 25th - Pope St . Gregory VI I

May 26th - St . Phi l l ip Neri

For addit ional resources to aid in the celebrat ion of the Ascension and Pentecost ,please v is i t : www.bostoncathol ic .org/virtual-evangel izat ion

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