Scripture for the day: Matthew 21:1-11

Ways to celebrate the day:

  • Put a small statue of Jesus in the center of your dinner table
  • Use palm branches from church and have your own triumphal procession to the dinner table

Talk about it: Over dinner, talk about what it means that Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. What can we do to make Jesus the King of our lives? How does it make us feel to accept Jesus as the King?

Crafts: Look online to find out how to braid palms

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Holy Week

  • Traditionally the Jews prepare for the Passover by a thorough cleaning of the house. Do some spring cleaning as a family.
  • The Stations of the Cross originated as a substitute for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Christians could walk the Way of the Cross with Jesus but setting up stations in their own town, village, or local church. Now that you cannot pray the stations in church, set up one in your own home or back yard. Assemble or make 14 different crosses. Find a Way of the Cross prayer online and pray it together as a family. Act out the stations. Play Station Charades where some people act out different stations and others have to guess which one they are doing. You can also watch a recording of the Living Stations of the Cross from 2016 and 2017 by the Holy Trinity Confirmation classes.
  • All the priests gather with the Bishop to celebrate the Chrism Mass (except this year). The priests renew their promises and the Bishop blesses the three oils to be used for the coming year:
    • Oil of Catechumens for those becoming Catholic.
    • Oil of the Sick for the Anointing of the Sick.
    • Sacred Chrism for the celebration of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders.
    • Spend some time as a family praying for the sick and for an increase in vocations to the priesthood. Do you have any family members preparing for Confirmation? Say a special prayer over them.
  • Plan family celebrations and food for the week, especially if doing a Seder meal for Holy Thursday.
  • Check out the prayer possibilites at https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/triduum-and-easter-prayers/

Even more Holy Week ideas in the Parish Bulletin for Palm Sunday (PDF)