Today, when sports teams gather on the field of play, cheerleaders wave pompons and fans wave all kinds of things, like signs and flags, accompanied by loud shouting to show their appreciation for their team and express their belief in their ability to win.
In a similar way, Palm Sunday shows a picture of a whole town full of people waving palm branches for the man they believed would be their king and win their salvation. The people shouted, “Hosanna!” –an expression of praise, adoration and joy—as Jesus made his way into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey.
It’s not surprising they should be so excited about Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem for Passover. They had heard about it before, many years before.
Some 500 years earlier, the prophet Zachariah told the people, “Exult greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! Behold: your king is coming to you, a just savior is he, humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
The time was now and many were filled with joy because they believed Jesus would be the Messiah, the King, who would save them from domination by the Romans. But in a short time, those who excitedly waved palm branches, a common symbol of victory, were going home shaking their heads and saying, “But we thought he was the one.”
Holy Week begins, but they could not imagine that God had a greater salvation in store.
Palm Sunday is rich with teachable themes, adaptable to a variety of age levels. Several are highlight below:
An excellent resource to help teach #4 above, and to expand student’s understanding of the importance of the Old Testament, one of two parts of Sacred Scripture, is God’s Promise in the Old Testament, a teacher’s guide that also comes with a free e-book!
Mary Regina Morrell, mother of six and grandmother to nine, is a Catholic journalist, author, and syndicated columnist who has served the dioceses of Metuchen and Trenton, New Jersey, and RENEW International in the areas of catechesis and communication.
After two years of not being able to gather together, it was a joy, this year, to attend a Lenten morning of recollection led by renowned artist Oblate of St. Francis de Sales Brother Mickey McGrath. Brother Mickey took us through the Stations of the Cross, using his own inspired artwork, helping us connect the stations to our own experiences and what is happening in the world today.
He also shared his outreach to youth, providing them with occasions to join him in creating art as part of their spiritual journey, opportunities the youth acknowledge as powerful learning experiences in faith.
There are many ways in which children learn and come to faith. Among the most effective is engagement in the creative process, using their imaginations and their own experiences. This can be heightened by learning within a community, like the Catholic school classroom.
As we move through Lent and begin planning for Holy Week, there is a wealth of Catholic teaching, liturgies, devotions and celebrations that may be incorporated into a creative lesson that would lend itself to a mini-retreat in the classroom. Additional Activities and Enriching the Lesson sections from the Blest Are We Faith in Action teacher’s guides offer helpful ideas for engaging students, depending on their ages, in themes of forgiveness, charity, fasting and self-discipline, Stations of the Cross, Holy Thursday, especially as it relates to Mass, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.
A Mini-Retreat
Begin and end with prayer: Refer to religion textbooks for appropriate prayers, or choose a favorite Psalm or prayer with which children are familiar.
Prepare music: A background of inspirational music is helpful in lending a prayerful element to the experience while children are working.
As Inspiration: Prepare a black or white board with words or symbols denoting Lenten practices, like forgiveness or charity, and invite students to add related words to fill the board, or if time is very limited, add additional words yourself. Students may use these words to portray their own understanding of a theme or topic in a chosen art form:
Plan to display the work of children, if they are agreeable.
For additional ideas and information, visit
In the Church’s tradition, we have the practice of Lectio Divina, “divine reading,” where we read a short passage of Scripture or writings from the Saints, focusing on just one word that touches our hearts. That word becomes a “teacher” for us, opening our imaginations to what God wants us to learn.
A similar practice is called Visio Divina, “divine seeing,” where we use artwork instead of words to turn our minds to God’s message to us. You can lead students of any age or level in Visio Divina, allowing art to lead them into prayer.
Where can you find art for Visio Divina? Your faith formation textbooks are an excellent source! Invite students to select an illustration for themselves from the pages or even the cover. They will discover beautiful color artwork on almost every page. It is good to choose a picture in which something is happening, but any kind of image will do. This is a novel way to use the resources you have on hand.
Explain that the spiritual practice of Visio Divina is a way of using art to turn our minds and hearts to prayer.
Allow students to spend some time exploring their faith formation textbook for an image that they like or that catches their attention. Each student selects an illustration to use during their prayer. Teachers, you might also like to choose an image for yourself and experience your own Visio Divina during this prayer time.
Prepare your hearts for prayer. You can make this is a silent experience. Invite the children to ask God to be with them as they examine the picture more closely, focusing on just one detail or corner of the picture. After a minute or two, they should close their eyes and try to remember that part of the picture in their imagination.
Pause and reflect. Have students open their eyes and look at the whole picture. After a few minutes, have the children close their eyes again. Guide the students by posing some questions: “What do you like about this picture? What does this picture make you think of? With whom would you like to share this picture? What else do you wish you knew about this picture or the story it is telling? What do you want to tell God now? For whom do you want to pray?”
When you judge that the class is ready, have the children open their eyes. Provide slips of paper for everyone to write down their prayer intention privately. Collect the slips into a basket and close the prayer time: “Lord, hear our prayers.” Time spent in Visio Divina, and all types of prayer experiences, sets a calming tone for the learning – and teaching – the lesson you have planned for the day.
For more ideas for classroom prayer, visit Catholic Resources for classroom prayers. Also, see recent blog posts: “Prayer in Your Classroom” and “Beautiful Art Brings Stories to Life for Children”
Dr. Lauri Przybysz specializes in equipping families to live their vocation to be domestic churches and signs of God’s love. Lauri received the Doctor of Ministry from the Catholic University of America, and she has been both a Catholic middle school religion teacher and a faith formation coordinator at the archdiocesan and parish levels. She is the mother of six children and grandmother of 21
Lent is our greatest season of hope because it awaits the great mystery of Jesus resurrection on Easter morning. In the Catholic school classroom, we have an opportunity to bring extra focus to these benefits for our students. During Lent, we can introduce or do again practices that will enrich the spiritual lives of the students while passing on our tradition of expectant and fruitful waiting for the triumph of Life over Death. Each of these ideas is accompanied by a related Scripture quotation. Encourage them to learn one quote by heart. Christians are Easter people, people who have hope that life will conquer death, despite all evidence to the contrary. In your role as a Catholic school teacher, you cannot know exactly what the future will bring, but you can trust God to be with you in it. More free resources for a fruitful Lent at school and in the home:RCL Benziger Catholic Resources
Dr. Lauri Przybysz specializes in equipping families to live their vocation to be domestic churches and signs of God’s love. Lauri received the Doctor of Ministry from the Catholic University of America, and she has been both a Catholic middle school religion teacher and a faith formation coordinator at the archdiocesan and parish levels. She is the mother of six children and grandmother of 21.
by Dr. Lauri Przybysz, D.Min
9 Ways to Pray in Your Classroom
Let us pray with and for each other in classrooms. We are thankful that we can. Children of all ages benefit from taking time to pray at the beginning of the school day or before starting a new task. When we pray, we turn our minds and hearts to God. What better way for students to prepare for learning?
1. Offer Time Back to God. Taking 5 minutes out of the morning or before your regular Religion classes can bless the rest of the school day. When we begin with prayer before diving into the lesson, our hearts are primed to experience deeper learning.
2. Form Prayer Teams. Students of any age can get involved in planning and leading prayer for the class. Assign groups of 2-3 students to be prayer leaders. For younger students, provide the prayers that they will lead. Older students will enjoy preparing the prayer using the resources you supply.
3. How Shall We Pray? Each unit in your religion textbook includes an opening prayer that the students can include in their plans. It is good to include the “Our Father,” which reminds us that we all belong to God’s family. We also do well to ask Our Lady and the Saints to intercede for us. When we pray traditional prayers daily, they stick with us.
4. Proclaim a Passage of Scripture. You will find the daily Mass Scripture readings at https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading. Choose a few verses from these readings and invite your students to reflect on God’s Word. Older students may proclaim the Scripture passage. Catholics all over the world are reading this same Scripture passage at Mass that day.
5. Enrich Prayer with Music. Sing! St. Augustine taught, “One who sings prays twice.” Choose a hymn appropriate to the season, with lyrics that are easy to remember. It is helpful to sing the same hymn each day for a while.
6. For Whom Shall We Pray? This is an opportunity for students to take their concerns to God. A habit of prayer forms us to think of others and builds peace. Invite students to speak their petitions aloud or to present them silently to God, and add your own petitions. Allow some unrushed quiet time.
7. Choose a Word to Ponder. Before ending prayer time, invite students to think of one word or phrase that they recall from the prayer they have heard, said, or sung. Invite them to recall this special word throughout the day and remember God’s love for them.
8. Make Prayer Journals: Invite students to keep a private prayer journal in which to record their “word to ponder” and prayer intentions. Allow a few minutes for them to write in their journals.
9. Catholic Prayer Resources at Your Fingertips. Prayers for all seasons and occasions are available free at https://store.rclbenziger.com/catholic-resources. Consider subscribing to Praying the Scriptures: Lectionary Resources, an online resource that features the Sunday readings, liturgical calendar and session plans for all grade levels.
Dr. Lauri Przybysz specializes in equipping families to live their vocation to be domestic churches and signs of God’s love. Lauri received the Doctor of Ministry from the Catholic University of America, and she has been both a Catholic middle school religion teacher and a faith formation coordinator at the archdiocesan and parish levels. She is the mother of six children and grandmother of 21.
The reality and brutality of war can leave adults feeling helpless. It is often more so for children who are often aware of their limited ability to effect change. So how are teachers to answer questions about the war, assuage fears and help children gain some sense of making a difference for those who are suffering? Stay Calm. Children are sponges of adult emotions, especially when those adults are their caretakers. If parents and teachers maintain an attitude of calm confidence, children will feel more safe and secure in any situation. Listen for their concerns. Acknowledging their feelings, whether they be sadness, fear, or anger, is an important step in letting children know they are being heard. It is a step toward giving them the assurance they are looking for. Be mindful of difference. Within a classroom there are children of every emotional makeup. Some may be anxious, sensitive or worriers. Others may be unconcerned, and some may still be unaware of the war. It is important to reply to questions in a way that will not increase children’s anxiety or induce fear in those who are unfamiliar with what’s happening. Limit details. Be mindful of the students’ ages. Do not overexplain to young children or allow children to share graphic details of the war they have seen or heard. Direct any discussion towards the many people, both in and out of the Ukraine, who are working towards helping others and bringing peace. Create ways to help. Children love to help. Older children can brainstorm projects, fund raisers or write letters to local decision makers. All children can create art expressing their concern for Ukrainians, or their desire for peace in the world. Some could be sent to local Ukrainian churches, as parishioners worry about their families and homeland. Art is also an excellent therapy for anxious children. Make prayer a ritual. Rituals and routines are essential for children during challenging times, both at home and in the classroom, offering them some sense of control over their lives. Prayer is also a way for children to feel they are making a difference in a way that strengthens their faith. Children may wonder why their prayers for peace are not being answered, so it’s important to help them understand that prayer also gives people courage, strength and a heart to help others, often at great sacrifice to themselves. Children may appreciate writing their own prayers to share with the class or their families. Prayer resources from RCL Benziger include Blest are We Faith in Action, Supplements, Prayers for Scripture Covers, as well as Catholic Prayers and Practices for Young Disciples (English) and Catholic Prayers and Practices which includes the Order of the Mass.
Mary Regina Morrell, mother of six and grandmother to nine, is a Catholic journalist, author, and syndicated columnist who has served the dioceses of Metuchen and Trenton, New Jersey, and RENEW International in the areas of catechesis and communication.
Children who suffer from overabundance often take things for granted instead of developing the virtue of gratitude, a virtue that must be cultivated throughout life. Celebrating and nurturing gratitude is something commonly done in the classroom as Thanksgiving approaches. But we often forget that gratitude is a principal trait of the Christian believer and meant to be lived year-round … even during Lent, or perhaps, especially during Lent. We are familiar with the various disciplines of Lent—prayer, fasting and almsgiving—but perhaps not so familiar with the idea that, as Father Henri Nouwen explains, gratitude can be lived as a discipline. He writes, “Gratitude as a discipline involves a conscious choice. I can choose to be grateful even when my emotions and feelings are still steeped in hurt and resentment. It is amazing how many occasions present themselves in which I can choose gratitude instead of a complaint. … The choice for gratitude rarely comes without some real effort. But each time I make it, the next choice is a little easier, a little freer, a little less self-conscious.” The past two years have been difficult for children, so enabling them to move beyond difficulties by choosing gratitude, helps them become happier and more hopeful. Steps for cultivating gratitude in the classroom: Prayer—Prayers asking for God to help them have thankful hearts can be written by students and teachers together and prayed during Lent. Scripture also offers many teachings on gratitude, including Colossians 4:2, “Persevere in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving …” This is an excellent chalk board or white board quote which includes steps for cultivating gratitude. Noticing—Children are perceptive but sometimes need to be reminded to observe the world around them. Who or what do they see in the course of the day that should give rise to gratitude? Did they notice the principal in the hall, the maintenance staff cleaning up a spill, the cafeteria staff making sure they received their meal? What about the bus driver, the coaches, or their parents who get them home safely every day? Reflecting—Give students time to reflect on the people or blessings they notice each day and ask them to think about why they should be grateful for them. Older students may be encouraged to reflect on what elements of their faith they might be grateful for: Jesus’ life and death on the Cross; the Holy Family, the Mass, Easter Sunday. Responding—How may children (and teachers who are models) express their gratitude? Children may come up with some very creative ideas of their own, but suggestions may include spiritual bouquets, thank you notes, artwork, and good deeds. A prayer a day thanking God for one person or blessing they notice will nurture their sense of gratitude. Participating in Mass and lighting a candle for someone. Praying a decade of the Rosary in Thanksgiving for all of God’s blessings and for the intentions of those who have less. For young learners, RCL Benziger’s “Catholic Prayers and Practices for Young Disciples” includes a visit to church with descriptions and illustrations, Order of the Mass, the Rosary and Stations of the Cross, and a liturgical calendar to color, and much more.
Mary Regina Morrell, mother of six and grandmother to nine, is a Catholic journalist, author, and syndicated columnist who has served the dioceses of Metuchen and Trenton, New Jersey, and RENEW International in the areas of catechesis and communication.
During his pontificate, Pope Francis has described Lent in many ways — as a time of recovery, renewal and conversion, a time to receive the love of God and rediscover the direction of life. In his Lenten message for 2021, the Holy Father refers to Lent as a time for renewing faith, hope and love, all things greatly needed during these challenging times. Pope Francis explains love as “the highest expression of our faith and hope,” saying “Love rejoices in seeing others grow”—a beautiful expression of Lent for children. To start: PREPARE YOURSELF In line with the adage,” You can’t give what you don’t have,” it’s important for teachers to have the mindset of Lent in order to plan for Lent in the classroom. Before creating your Lenten plans for students, plan your own Lenten renewal. Do you need a fuller understanding of Lent? More time for prayer and reflection? More charity towards others? More periods of silence, even brief ones, where you can hear the still, small voice of God? PREPARE YOUR CLASSROOM Simplify your classroom decorations. Become a minimalist for six weeks. Rely on color—purple for Lent—and include various images, symbols and words of the Lenten season, according to the age of your students. Minimizing visual stimulation helps children focus on the few things that are visible to them, especially as they are related to a lesson, or in this case, a liturgical season. PREPARE YOUR STUDENTS Children learn religion better when they start from a place of understanding they are beloved children of God. From there they will grow to appreciate what Lent offers. Help them by explaining why we undertake the Lenten practices of prayer, almsgiving and fasting – all of which may be considered acts of love meant to transform hearts and minds. While fasting for Lent does not apply to children under 18, and abstinence does not apply to children under 14, children (and adults) can find value in other ways of fasting, especially from behaviors that impede our relationship with God and others. Enjoy RCL Benziger’s free downloadable and printable resources for celebrating the season of Lent.
Every once in a while, a conversation with your children stays in your mind as fresh as when it took place. Many years ago, my oldest son (now closing in on 50 with four children of his own) was sitting next to me in the car as I drove him to his friend’s house.
Out of the clear blue sky he turns to me and says, “Mom, you know all those videos that you won’t let us watch at home?”
I chuckled, and he continued, “Well, you know I’ve seen them all, when I go to visit my friends.”
“Really,” I said seriously, thinking there must be a video planned for that night and his conscience was nagging him.
He continued, “I just want you to know that even though I watched them, I was remembering the whole time that you didn’t think I should be watching them, and I saw them differently than my friends did. I saw the reasons why you didn’t think they were good for me to watch.”
As a parent, this was a memorable moment for me. Most of us realize that we cannot completely protect our children when they go out into the world on their own. But if we know they have understood the reasons why we taught them the things we did, there is a greater feeling of confidence that the lessons would take hold.
Knowing the reasons why is also an essential lesson for students who are learning about their faith. And the seasons of the Church’s liturgical year hold a wealth of opportunities to create learning experiences that will take hold.
Take Lent, for example, which begins Ash Wednesday, March 2, and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday, April 14. As a 40-day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, Lent is that meaningful period of preparation to celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection at Easter.
It begins with purple, ashes and alms and leads to Easter with “Alleluia!” sung in a church filled with incense and white Easter lilies. The seasons, while deeply connected, are completely unique. Both have an intrinsic beauty that can be seen best when there is an understanding of the reasons why different symbols, colors and rituals are used.
By bringing as many of the symbols and colors of the Church’s liturgical seasons into the learning environment, classroom conversations may become, for some students, the kind of conversations that become memorable.
A wonderful addition to textbook lessons on the seasons and symbols of the Church, is RCL Benziger’s Praying the Scriptures, a downloadable, lectionary-based resource to help children learn and reflect on the Sunday Scriptures in the classroom or at home.
Among the strengths of this resource are the Gospel reflections and Questions of the Week which encourage discussions so necessary for learning that lasts.
Classroom Sessions provide background on the Sunday readings and classroom session plans for primary, intermediate and junior high students, while a Liturgical Year Calendar provides a handy reference to the calendar dates for the Sundays and solemnities of the Church year.
Praying with Scriptures, Year C, is now available! This downloadable, lectionary-based resource is designed to support catechists, religion teachers, and parents who lead others in learning and reflecting on the Sunday Scriptures in the classroom and in the home.
Learn More Here
Mary Regina Morrell, mother of six and grandmother to nine, is a Catholic journalist, author, and syndicated columnist who has served the dioceses of Metuchen and Trenton, New Jersey, and RENEW International in the areas of catechesis and communication.
This year was the year. As the evening wore on past their bedtime, they were very excited with their plans to stay up until midnight. But as the clock strained toward 9 p.m. the youngest started to wane and asked, “How many more minutes to midnight?” In the background we could hear the oldest granddaughter continually counting down the minutes on a favorite Christmas gift, an analog watch with a cat on the face. The entire evening became about time—counting the minutes and hours, changing the days, changing the year, and marking those changes with a celebration. It was a lot for them to take in, but when the ball dropped and it was a new day and new year, they were happy to hear, “bedtime!” With so much emphasis on time and calendars, the new year is a good opportunity to reinforce lessons about the Church’s liturgical year. Students are familiar with time as it relates to them—going to bed, catching the bus, rehearsals, sports practice and games, birthdays and holidays—but, depending on their age, they are usually not familiar with time as it relates to their Catholic faith. Children understand the calendars of their lives because they live them. The school year provides a perfect example. Depending on where they live, children are most likely in school from September to June. This calendar may hang on the family refrigerator, but children absorb it because they experience it. While every Catholic classroom should have a liturgical calendar visible for lessons about the Church’s seasons, the most valuable lessons will be those that students are immersed in—setting out an Advent wreath in the classroom; being involved in decorating the classroom with the changing colors of the Church seasons; honoring the feast days of saints; praying a decade of the Rosary daily during the month of October, engaging in seasonal traditions, like a classroom or parish Jesse Tree; sharing both the penitential and celebratory seasons of the Church year together. Most important is creating opportunities to take children into church. If this is limited to First Friday Mass, then some additional visits for quiet time in prayer might be added. If they have this opportunity regularly, students will notice the changing colors of the altar cloths or the priests’ vestments, parish Advent wreaths, statues draped in purple during Lent, the white lilies during Easter and the red poinsettias for Christmas, all of which have significance for the Catholic faith. Many children no longer attend Mass with their families on a regular basis, so visits to church with their school family are important experiences for their spiritual lives. To increase my own knowledge of the liturgical year, I routinely download the current liturgical calendar from the USCCB website. It can be an invaluable aid for teachers, catechists and parents. In addition, “Praying the Scriptures” is an RCL Benziger downloadable, lectionary-based resource designed to support catechists, religion teachers, and parents who lead others in learning and reflecting on the Sunday Scriptures in the classroom and in the home.
Mary Regina Morrell, mother of six and grandmother to nine, is a Catholic journalist, author, and syndicated columnist who has served the dioceses of Metuchen and Trenton, New Jersey, and RENEW International in the areas of catechesis and communication.