Posts by Francine Pirola
Easter Rituals
Without a doubt, Holy Week is the busiest week in the Church calendar! With so many important events, it is difficult for parishes to provide family-friendly services, especially when the themes are so sophisticated. Yet Holy Week is a wonderful time to help children enter more deeply into the mysteries of our faith through home based rituals. Here’s a few…
Read MoreHoly Week Explained
It’s a wonderful season packed to the brim with meaningful ceremonies that bring us to reflect on the mystery of God’s love. Yet we truck from ceremony to ceremony to family lunches and then wrangle over-sugared and overtired children into bed with an exhausted sigh of relief… Is it any wonder that the reverence and wonder of the week…
Read MoreRituals for Lent
of Death and Life It is often said that there can be no resurrection without death. New life is almost always preceded by death in an perpetual cycle of regeneration. This cycle of death and rebirth is evident everywhere in the created order around us. We see how the death and ‘burial’ of the seed is what allows it…
Read MorePraise Flags
It is good to praise God! When we praise someone, we reflect back to them their own goodness to them and we also can be aware for how their goodness inspires and sustains us. This is why human beings praise God, he does not need to be reminded of his goodness, but we need the reminder of how…
Read MoreMardi Gras Prayer
As the last day before Lent, traditionally this day is one of celebration and festivity. The words ‘Mardi Gras’ translate as ‘Fat Tuesday’. It was the custom on this day for Christians to eat as much fat as possible before the fasting and abstinence of Lent. In some countries, street parades and parties are also…
Read MoreCatholic to the Max
Despite GFC’s, most of us still live pretty comfortable lives… How much does God feature in yours? Are you ‘Catholic lite’ or ‘Catholic to the Max’? A Story: It was our habit to complain about the singing and the liturgy as we drove home from Mass – we loved the Mass and were frustrated by…
Read MoreGrateful
“It was a typical school yard conversation. A bunch of mothers were talking about the various challenges their kids were facing – the usual stuff. “You just want them to be happy, you know” was the concluding statement.” – Barbara Thriving Kids We all know that when kids are happy, they tend to thrive at…
Read MoreWatermelon Baptism Font
A perfect summer treat and a healthier option to a cake, this watermelon recipe is so simple and fresh. All it takes is a watermelon, a knife and delicious seasonal fruit. It’s a perfect dish for a Baptism party or kid’s birthday. Ingredients 1 whole watermelon. a sharp knife a melon baller Seasonal fruit, washed,…
Read MoreMake a Family Paschal Candle
On Holy Saturday, the Paschal Candle is blessed and lit for the first time. It will be used throughout the Easter season and at Baptisms until next Easter. It has the symbols of Jesus on it, the cross, five grains of incense for the five wounds, and the alpha and the omega for the eternity…
Read MoreFamily Stations of the Cross
Children love candles! Use this simple prayer format to engage the family in the Passion of Jesus. Beginning with 12 lit candles, read each station and extinguish a candle until all is dark. Materials 12 lit candles (white or red) Red cloth or plate Handout Small torch for reading Optional: Candle snuffer Optional: Taize music Setup…
Read MoreChildren’s Station of the Cross
Based on a version of the Via Crucis used by Pope John Paul II at the Colosseum in Rome, this worksheet can be used to engage children in the Passion story. Working through each station, allow time for the children to reflect on each station and complete the activity. Say the prayer together before moving…
Read MoreA Blessing
“A blessing is more than wishing for a child to be happy; it is an intimate and humble plea for God to act powerfully in the life of the blest one.” – Francine Pirola For more on grandparents, check out: Grandparents My Ancestor Tree The Jesse Tree Bedtime Blessing
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