Resources for Celebrating the Season at Home

Following the celebration of Holy , the resources included here are available to aid in the celebration of the Easter season at home. In this current period of uncertainty, “social distance,” and distance from our Lord in the Eucharist, the Resurrection of Christ at Easter provides for us all a sign of great joy and hope. Let us live “the joy of the Gospel” this Easter, which, as Pope Francis reminds us, “fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus.” Let that be our testimony to the world in a time of trouble not only on Easter , but as we celebrate each of the 8 days of Easter Week (Easter Sunday through Divine Mercy Sunday) and throughout the 50 days of the Easter season that follow.

Suggestions for the Easter Season

For families with younger children: • Downloadable and printable Easter Calendar • Three simple ways to celebrate from GetFed.com • Six creative ways to teach the Easter story from Catholic Icing • Catholic All Year has a blog post with great ideas for gifts, decorations and activities at home for this year

For families with teens: • yDisciple series on the Creed, especially episodes 4-7 • Life Teen: • Virtual “Life Nights” • Small group Bible studies • Video series on Sundays of the Easter season • YM360: Youth Group at Home • Find Easter themed playlists like this one to help elevate your celebrations with joyful Christian music

For adults: • Bishop Barron on the meaning of Easter and Podcast Q&A • Loyola Press: Jesus is Alive and Why Easter is On Different Days Each Year • Why is Easter Called Easter? • Easter Prayers from Catholic Relief Services

For parishes: • Communications: • Constantly speak of Jesus as our hope and why he is our hope • Use and explain the word “” to spread joy • Use and encourage use of the Paschal Greeting • Decorate the outside of the church so all can see our Easter joy • Youth Ministry: • Free access to resources from Marathon Youth Ministry with promo code MYMFREE • Resource list compiled by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry

Easter Sunday

For families with younger children: • Resurrection Coloring Sheet • Empty Tomb Coloring Sheet • Easter Activities and Lesson Plans from Loyola Press • Creative Ways to Teach the Easter Story from Catholic Icing • The Resurrection of Christ ABC Order Worksheet • Easter Bingo Game • Paper Resurrection set

For anyone: • Matthew 28:1-10 - The Resurrection of Jesus • John 20:1-9 - The Empty Tomb • Easter Prayers from Catholic Relief Services • PDFs for Easter Sunday • Loyola’s Arts and Faith series: The Resurrection • Article on the Day of the Resurrection

Easter Week

For families with younger children: • Easter crafts for kids • Printable Resurrection ABC order worksheets • Cook with the family and make something special each day of the Easter Octave • Decorate the home with Easter decorations (dye eggs, paper chains, Easter candle in your prayer corner, homemade crosses, painted rocks) • Read about the road to Emmaus with children then go for a walk and discuss it For parishes: • Learn more about Divine Mercy Sunday to help prepare for its celebration the following Sunday: Divine Mercy with Fr. Michael Gaitley • Read accounts of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances • Reflect on the mission of the resurrection • Watch The Case for Christ on Netflix

Divine Mercy Sunday - April 19, 2020

For families with younger children: • Enjoy a Divine Mercy Sundae with red and blue sprinkles

For anyone: • Share the basics of what the feast of Divine Mercy is all about with someone • Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3:00pm, the “Hour of Mercy” • If you have a Divine Mercy image in your home, consider a simple way to reverently venerate the image • Jimmy Akin shares 9 Things to Know About Divine Mercy • Consider living out Divine Mercy with a “Divine Mercy Challenge” either leading up to or beginning on Divine Mercy Sunday.

Easter Season Saints

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

April 23rd - St. George the Legendary Martyr April 25th - St. Mark April 28th - St. Louis de Montfort April 29th - St. Catherine of Siena May 2nd - St. Athanasius May 12th - St. Pancras May 14th - St. Matthias May 15th - St. Isidore the Farmer Litany in honor of Saint Isidore 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 VII May 26th - St. Phillip Neri For additional resources to aid in the celebration of the Ascension and , please visit: www.bostoncatholic.org/virtual-evangelization

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