St. Francis Xavier and St.
Wendel Religious Education Program
Family Lent Calendar 2023
Sunday
“Lent is the liturgical season of forty days which begins with Ash Wednesday and ends with the
celebration of the Paschal Mystery (Easter Triduum). Lent is the primary penitential season in the
Church’s liturgical year, reflecting the forty days Jesus spent in the desert fasting and praying”
(Catechism of the Catholic Church).
26 “Bury the Hallelujah.”
Write the word, “hallelujah,” on
a piece of paper. Put it in a bag
and bury it in the ground to be
“resurrected” on Easter.
5After Mass, light a candle for 6
someone who passed away
recently. Your parish family will
join their prayers to yours.
12
After Mass, explain the homily in
terms children can understand.
Come up with a resolution for
the week.
19 Laetare Sunday 20 St. Joseph’s Day 21
Today, we look forward to Easter
joy! Have a treat after Mass to
celebrate the midpoint of Lent.
26 Spiritual Bouquet 27
Have each person choose a
prayer to offer daily for your
pastor. Send a card with
everyone’s promises.
2 Palm Sunday
Palm fronds were a sign of
victory and triumph. Decorate
the statues and images of Jesus
around your home with palms.
Monday
27
Make a Lent prayer chain. Write
40 intentions on strips of paper.
Each day, choose a strip, say a
prayer for the intention and add it
as a link to the chain.
Set out an empty box.
Throughout Lent, add any
unused clothes, books, or toys
that are in good condition.
13
Resolve to use only kind words
today.
St. Joseph served, protected,
and cared for Mary and Jesus.
Entrust fathers (including priests)
to his care.
Get up 15 minutes earlier than
usual today and pray as a family.
3 4
Tonight and every night this
week, say a special prayer for Go for a walk and look for signs
those entering the Church during
the Easter Vigil.
Tuesday
February
28
Give up a favorite snack today
for the souls in Purgatory.
7 8
Pick someone in the news and
pray for them.
14
Monks would roll dough and
twist it into crossed “prayer” arms prayer, given by Jesus to us. an examination of conscience,
-- now known as pretzels. Enjoy Pray the Our Father together and using the Ten Commandments Catholic missionaries and those
this traditional Lenten snack.
Refresh any Lenten
commitments you made.
28
Practice patience -- a form
of alsgiving that is especially
pleasing in God’s eyes.
of new life.
= a day of fasting and
abstinence from meat
= a day of abstinence
from meat
Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
22 Ash Wednesday 23 24 25
Set up a prayer corner. Drape
Help children choose offerings of Today, have a simple meal a small table in purple cloth.
Receive ashes at Mass and keep prayer, penance, and almsgiving. together. Pray for those who Include a Bible, a candle and
them on all day. Make sure they are age can’t have meat as a regular part a pillow. Meet there at night for
appropriate. of their diets. family prayer.
1 March 2 3 First Friday 4
At dinner tonight, encourage
Check out Catholic Relief
Pray a family Rosary together in
Services and see if you can help everyone to think of a person he Attend Mass or make a visit
or she doesn’t like and say three your prayer corner.
support any of their projects. to the Blessed Sacrament in
nice things about that person. church. Pray for a fruitful Lent.
Look here: https://www.crs.org.
Each day remaining in Lent, put
9 10 11Family story night! Cuddle up
Consider fasting
a jelly bean in a jar whenever At dinner, share one way God tonight and read Easter-themed
from screens tonight. Play
someone does a good deed. showed His love to each of you books, such as the Legend of the
boardgames, draw pictures, do a
Share the jelly beans at Easter! today. Three Trees or The Week That
puzzle, read books together.
Led to Easter.
15 16
Prepare souls for Easter! 17 18
The Our Father is the perfect Ask each family member to make St. Patrick’s Day Go to Confession as a family. Go
In St. Patrick’s honor, pray for out for a special treat afterwards
to celebrate God’s forgiveness.
talk about what it means. and eight Beatitudes as guides. involved in religious education.
22 23 24 25 Annunciation of
Say a short prayer in front of Go on a screen fast the Lord
At dinner, go around the table (from recreational use) from
each cross or crucifix in your We celebrate Mary’s “Yes” to God.
and share something for which noon to 3, in memory of the
home. Pray three Hail Marys for help to
you are each grateful. three hours Jesus hung on the be faithful to God’s plan.
Cross.
29 30 31 1 April
Dust, vaccum, clean and get
Give up a favorite toy or treat Deliver the box you started on Eat pizza, relax and play your home ready to celebrate
just for today.
March 6 to its destination. boardgames together. Holy Week -- the holiest time of
the year.
5Using crayons or colored 6 Holy Thursday 7 Good Friday 8 Holy Saturday
Read the story of the Last Supper Light a candle and renew your
markers, drawer Easter symbols. Pray the Stations of the Cross
(Matthew 26:20-30). Wash and baptismal vows together as a
Hang them up to decorate for together. Thank Jesus for His
dry each other’s feet as Jesus family, promising to be faithful
Easter. washed the feet of his Apostles. sacrifice on the Cross for us.
to God.
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