Resources for Parents/Catechist

Worksheets & Puzzles

• "Glory Be" Letter Tile Puzzle-Unscramble the tiles to read the message.
• I know "Glory Be"-Trace the words, cut out the pieces, and glue them in the blanks to complete the prayer.
• "Hail Mary" puzzle-Simply print and cut apart the pieces. Put the pieces back together as you learn the "Hail Mary".
• "Hail Mary" Worksheet- Fill in the blanks as you learn the prayer.
• Mysteries of the Rosary-Match up the stories to the correct mystery.
• Rosary Worksheet-Test your knowledge of the details of the rosary.
• Crossword Puzzle on prayer with answers
• Wordsearch on prayer with answers

Good News for Your Journey

• Praying with Scripture with Children
• How to Pray the Rosary
• Creating a Prayer Space

Crafting & Coloring

• Prayer Box
• Prayer Jars
• Praying in Color
• Hand Rosary

• Sign of the Cross
• Hands of Prayer
• Pray the Rosary
• Prayer coloring sheet
• Our Father

By natural reason man can know God with certainty, on the basis of his works. But there is another order of knowledge, which man cannot possibly arrive at by his own powers: the order of divine Revelation.  Through an utterly free decision, God has revealed himself and given himself to man. This he does by revealing the mystery, his plan of loving goodness, formed from all eternity in Christ, for the benefit of all men. God has fully revealed this plan by sending us his beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. -- CCC, 50

The divine plan of Revelation is realized simultaneously "by deeds and words which are intrinsically bound up with each other"  and shed light on each other. It involves a specific divine pedagogy: God communicates himself to man gradually. He prepares him to welcome by stages the supernatural Revelation that is to culminate in the person and mission of the incarnate Word, Jesus Christ. --CCC, 53

Coloring

• 7 Days of Creation
• Family
• Blessed Mother
• Burning Bush
• Noah's Ark
• Color By Number

Worksheets/Puzzles

• Words from Creation worksheet
• Biblical images and What they Reveal worksheet
• Crossword Puzzles and Answers: Week 1, Week 2, & Week 3
• Wordsearches and Answers: Week 1, Week 2, & Week 3
• Maze on the Days of Creation
• Bible Scavenger Hunt

Creativity

• God made the World booklet (versión en español)- Print, cut, and put together this little booklet having your child(ren) drawing the pictures for the last page. 
• Edible Rainbow "Play-Doh" cookies
• Mini Bible Snack

Articles

Coloring

• Glory Be
• Act of Faith Prayer
• Holy Spirit
• The Son
   

Puzzles & Worksheets

• Fruits of the Holy Spirit-Double Puzzle, Word Chop Puzzle, and Wordsearch
• Gifts of the Holy Spirit- Crossword, Double Puzzle, and Wordsearch
• Holy Trinity Word Scramble & Maze
• God the Father Crossword and Worksheet
• The Holy Spirit Dot to Dot, Word Search, & Crossword
• Lamb of God Dot to Dot
• The Son of God Wordsearch, Crossword, and Maze

Crafting & Cookings

• Gifts of the Holy Spirit craft - both English and Español
• Holy Spirit Stained Glass Craft
• Holy Spirit Scripture Wheel
• Three in One - Craft &Song
• Make Trinity Cake & Ice Cream for dessert.

• A meditation on the Holy Trinity

• The article Take Your Place at the Table, is an examination of an icon in an understanding of the Holy Trinity.

• A beautiful collection of prayers from St. Elizabeth of the Trinity.

• The Wild Goose by Fr. Dave Pivonka is a 15 episode series on discovering a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit.

I believe in Jesus Christ, the only Son of God.

Coloring Sheets

• Jesus is Baptized
• Jesus Teaches
• Sacred Heart
• Jesus Returns
• Jesus is the Way

Puzzles, Handouts & More

• Biblical Evidence Hunt handout
• Names of Jesus Word Searches from Reallifeathome.com
• What Jesus Did handout
• Crossword Puzzles: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3
• Wordsearches: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3
   

Crafting & Cooking

• Craft- Jesus Baptism Ornament
• Listen/Watch the story "Swimmy" and do this craft while having a great family discussion.
• Christ the King of the Universe craft
• Make Unleavened Bread connecting with the Jewish roots of Jesus

• The book Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration is written by Joseph Ratzinger also known as Pop Benedict XVI. This book will help you get to know the true identity of Jesus Christ as discovered in the Gospels.

• This short article Jesus: Prophet, Priest, and King from Loyola Press helps break down the various roles of Jesus Christ. 

• Who am I, Lord? A question on the minds of people of all ages. Who we are, or think we are, determines how we live and our relationships with others. This book Who am I, Lord? helps discern this answer.

• The book Embracing the Way of Jesus is a collection of reflections written by Pope Francis.

Coloring

• Stained Glass Cross 
• The Good Shepherd 
• The Body of Christ

Puzzles & Handouts

• CtR Dot-to-Dot
• Holy Orders  
• What does a Priest wear? 
• What does a Bishop wear? 
• 12 Disciples Anagram 
• To do this Mass Puzzle, you will simply print out the puzzle cut the pieces apart, and have your child reassemble.
• Sign of Peace Cryptogram
• Do you know what these are? 
• Crossword puzzles: Week 1, Week 2, and Week 3
• Word Searches: Week 1, Week 2, and Week 3

• Make a symbol of the holy eucharist using Perler Beads
• We are the Church craft
• Do this in Memory of Me craft
• DIY Mass Kit for Children

•  is a fresh retelling of the history of the Church. In this easy-to-read, not-your-average history book, Steve Weidenkopf introduces you to the vivid, dynamic story of God’s work in the world since Pentecost. 

• The Catholic Source Book is a comprehensive collection of information gathered to help people of faith learn, renew, teach, and live the risen life of Jesus Christ in the Catholic Church.
• A Well-Built Faith is a great guide to knowing and sharing what we believe in the Catholic Church. 

Coloring Sheets

• Love
• Corporal Works of Mercy
• Ten Commandments 
• Spiritual Works of Mercy
• If you love me coloring sheet from RealLifeathome.com

Puzzles & Handouts

• God's recipe for me activity
• Ten Commandments Crossword
• Beatitude Matching Worksheet 
• Beatitude Matching Game
• Works of Mercy Crossword

Crafting & More

• Make a Ten Commandments Lap book
• Corporal Works of Mercy Mini Book-Print two-sided, cut horizontally, stack, fold vertically, staple on the fold for an 8-page book.
• Take a family reflection walk using this guide from CRS.
• Make Divine Mercy Cookies

"We recognize that the Sacraments have a visible and invisible reality, a reality open to all the human senses but grasped in its God-given depths with the eyes of faith. When parents hug their children, for example, the visible reality we see is the hug. The invisible reality the hug conveys is love. We cannot "see" the love the hug expresses, though sometimes we can see its nurturing effect in the child.
 
 The visible reality we see in the Sacraments is their outward expression, the form they take, and the way in which they are administered and received. The invisible reality we cannot "see" is God's grace, his gracious initiative in redeeming us through the death and Resurrection of his Son. His initiative is called grace because it is the free and loving gift by which he offers people a share in his life, and shows us his favor and will for our salvation. Our response to the grace of God's initiative is itself a grace or gift from God by which we can imitate Christ in our daily lives.
 
 The saving words and deeds of Jesus Christ are the foundation of what he would communicate in the Sacraments through the ministers of the Church. Guided by the Holy Spirit, the Church recognizes the existence of Seven Sacraments instituted by the Lord. They are the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist), the Sacraments of Healing (Penance and the Anointing of the Sick), and the Sacraments at the Service of Communion (Marriage and Holy Orders). Through the Sacraments, God shares his holiness with us so that we, in turn, can make the world holier". --USCCB

Coloring

• Baptism
• Confirmation
• Reconciliation

Puzzles & Handouts

• Seven Sacrament Matching handout
• Sacrament Matching Game to print out and play
• Eucharist dot-to-dot
• Confirmation dot-to-dot
• Sacrament Crossword Puzzle
• Sacrament Wordsearch

Crafting & Cooking

• Make a Seven Sacraments Stained Glass Window
• Made from Legos these sets are meant to inspire. Fr. Leopold Celebrates Mass and Fr. John Hears Confessions are produced by the Domestic Church Supply Company.
• Make a Gifts of the Holy Spirit Fruit Salad

• Here is a great refresher to the sacraments and their purpose, in this article An Introduction to the Sacraments.

• In his newest book, Encountering Jesus in Word, Sacraments, and Works of Charity, popular DC-based pastor and teacher Msgr. Peter J. Vaghi connects this vision to everyday life, drawing on gospel passages that portray Christ’s power and his important teaching in parables. 

• Looking for answers about the Catholic Faith or know someone wondering about the Catholic Faith? Here is a book that might hold the answer you are looking for - The Seekers' Catechism.

• God is Love coloring sheet
• Peace coloring sheet
• Works of Mercy crossword puzzle
• 10 Commandments Word Puzzle
• Helping Hands Activity Sheet

• Breath of God: Living a Life Led by the Holy Spirit dives into the scriptures that convinced Pivonka to pursue a life in the Spirit and shows readers how God’s Spirit is present and active in everyday life. Pivonka’s experience and compelling stories of faith from the lives of those to whom he ministers demonstrate how receiving the Holy Spirit allows the love between the Father and the Son, which animated Jesus’ life on earth, to pour into the hearts of God’s people.

• Watch now on Formed.org "Proclaiming the Kingdom: The Gospel of Matthew".

• Pray thirty seconds of silence for family prayer if you have young children, or longer if you have older ones. Light your Advent wreath during your time of silence, or light a candle before your Nativity scene (without the baby Jesus) and kneel before it in silent prayer for a time.
• Turn your home into a “monastery” for a night by lighting candles everywhere (out of reach of curious kids)…as long as little kids can be quiet as monks.
• Don’t play the radio in the car.
• Visit your church or adoration chapel for a time of quiet prayer.
• Go on a walk outdoors in a park or another place where you can appreciate the quiet and simplicity of the natural world.
• Have a “quiet meal” together, playing chant or meditative music instead of talking.

Coloring Sheets

• Advent Wreath
• Family Prayer & Coloring Sheet

Puzzles & Handouts

• Nativity Sudoku
• My Advent Promises Worksheet
• Advent Mix Up

Crafting & Cooking

• Preparing the Manger for Jesus
• Make an O Antiphon House in preparation of the Lord's birth
• Create an Advent Chain 
• DIY Advent Taper Candle Kit
• DIY Dollar Tree Advent Wreath
• Make Away in a Manger Cookies
• Journey to Bethlehem Advent Craft

• Advent Resources by Ignatianspirituality.com

•  Praying the O Antiphons: An Ancient Advent Tradition by Catholic Company

• The book Live Advent at Home is a collection of prayers & activities for families during Advent. It is also available in Spanish.

Coloring

• Gifts of the Magi
• A King is Born
• Jesus in a manger

Puzzles & Handouts

• Read the Infancy Narrative of Christ as a family (Narración navideña infantile)

Crafting & Cooking

• Make Plum Pudding also known as Christmas pudding.
• Create Story Stones for children to play with while learning about the birth of Our Lord.
• Make a Nativity Snack
• Kids can create this Nativity using items from home
• Make this simple kid-friendly recreation of the Holy Family.
• Kids can create a nativity scene using Legos.
• Make Epiphany Breakfast Cinnamon Toaster Patry Stars to commemorate the feast of the Epiphany.

• : This Lectio Divina Journal is a series of meditations on the Incarnation. In reflecting on the life of Christ, we can find the high calling and glorious destiny that is ours as Christians. 

• Wisdom of Love Practical Advice for Families is written by Pope Francis. "This book has solid relationship tips for all members of the family! Whether you are married, single, or engaged; a grandparent, a father or mother, or a son or daughter, you will find plenty of tips that will meet you where you’re at! Each tip speaks to an accompanying quote from Pope Francis".- USCCB

• Cradle of Redeeming Love: The Theology of the Christmas Mystery written by John Saward. "The subject of this book is objective and divinely revealed truth of the Nativity of Christ, as proclaimed by His infallible and immaculate Bride. It is the splendor of this truth, of "Love's noon in Nature's night", which for two millennia has captivated the Fathers and Schoolmen, and activated the genius of poets, painters, and musicians. Illustrated with eight color paintings".-Ignatius Press

Coloring Sheets

• Sharing Lenten Love with Good Deeds Sheet
• Lent 
• Prayer

Puzzles & Handouts

• My Lenten Prayer
• Ash Wednesday Fill in the blank
• Spot the Difference Activity Sheet
• Simple Almsgiving Cross Puzzle

Crafting & Cooking

• Make this recipe to start off Lent -Ash Wednesday Beans
• Create and enjoy a Lenten Tea Time
• 40 Days of Lent Cross Activity
• 40 Day Count Down for Kids

• God's Gift of Forgiveness: A Pastoral Exhortation on the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation
• El Regalo de Dios del Perdón: Exhortación Pastoral sobre el Sacramento de Penitencia y Reconciliación
• Lenten Activities for Children from Catholic Icing
• Your Guide to a Catholic Lent from Simply Catholic

• The Passion & Resurrection Word Puzzle
• Holy Thursday coloring sheet
• The Symbols of Triduum coloring sheet
  
  

• Create a Resurrection Garden talking about Jesus' movements during Holy Week.
• Make a Story of the Passion Lunch
• How to fold a palm cross from Teaching Catholic Kids
• Make your own Resurrection Eggs
• Chicken Matzo Ball Soup recipe 

• Holy Oils - Find out more about what the holy oils we receive after the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper are used for.
• Never Forget: A Reflection on Holy Thursday and the Eucharist

• The Glory of Easter Word Puzzle
• Pentecost Coloring Sheet
• Resurrection Coloring Sheet from Oriental Trading
• Easter Word Search

• Make an Easter Lily Bouquet with handprints
• Create the Crosses on Calvary with simple items from home
• Make a snack symbolic of the Jesus' Empty Tomb
• Create this piece of art to remind your family of the beauty in the light that Jesus' crucifixion creates for us.
• Create and enjoy a Joyous Easter Tea time

• Easter - The season explained by the USCCB  (Español)
• Jesus' Passion, Death, and Resurrection and our lives.