GROW CLOSE TO GOD THROUGH ALL THE YEARS CELEBRATION AND SEASONS 
“The Christian home is the place where children receive the first proclamation of the faith. For this reason the family home is rightly called
​‘the domestic church,’ a community of grace and prayer, a school of human virtues and of Christian charity” (No. 1666).

CREATING A SPACE FOR GOD
Creating a Prayer Space at home reminds everyone in your Domestic Church that prayer is an important part of everyday life.  ​A Prayer Space reminds us of God’s presence and helps to make a connection between church and home.   

HOW TO:   Pick a central corner of your home.  

INVOLVE YOUR CHILDREN: They can make pictures or homemade decoration, pick a favorite book, add a toy that holds meaning to them..  

BASIC ITEMS:  Candle, Cross, Bible, Statue, Rosary

SPECIAL DAYS ADD: Flowers, Book, Pottery, Pictures, Prayer Cards, Statues, Salt, Holy Water, Oil, a Branch of a tree or bush.

LITURGICAL OR HOLIDAY SEASONS add color:  Green for seasons of Epiphany and post-Pentecost (Ordinary Time) Blue or violet for Advent White for Christmas and Easter Purple for Lent Red for Pentecost.​

FALL PROJECT
​GRATUITY PUMPKIN
Living gratefully begins with affirming the good and recognizing its sources. It is the understanding that life owes me nothing and all the good I have is a gift, accompanied by an awareness that nothing can be taken for granted.
―Dr. Robert Emmons   

Supplies:   Smooth Pumpkin and a Sharpie Marker

INVOLVE YOUR CHILDREN: They can make a list of all the things the are grateful for.  


SPECIAL DAYS ADD: 

LITURGICAL color:  Green

 We are the cultivators of The Domestic Church!

BIRTHDAY PRAYER TRADITION
It's My Birthday
Today my heart is filled with joy,
as I celebrate my birthday.
Thank you, Lord, for all the blessings
I’ve received along my way.
Your grace has guided my path
and helped me grow.
Your love has helped me to learn
all that I know.
Thank you for all the gifts
I’ve received throughout the year,
but most of all, the love of Jesus,
may I always hold most dear.
I celebrate my birthday
with Jesus by my side.
No greater gift have I received
than the love that you provide.
​

LENTEN ACTS OF LOVE TREE

Supplies: 
1. Dead tree limb with many small branches.
2. Coffee can filled with rocks to support branches
3. Drape the can in purple cloth in your prayer space.
4. Small stripes of paper with a hole punched in each piece. 

​During Lent every good act can be hung on the tree and offer to Jesus who loves us very much.

​Act can be: service to others, helping with chores like folding and put away clothes, clean up play area, special notes to grandparents or the elderly.  Cookies for 1st responders are small examples. 
Everyone can come up with their own “Acts of Love and by Holy Week is a full of reminders of all the acts of love, sacrifices and little services each family member offered to Jesus.

On Holy Saturday night, (after the children are asleep) remove the acts and transform the branches with color, ribbon, flowers, Easter ornaments or twinkling lights.  Easter candy can be spilled round the base of the limb or onto the table and the purple cloth can been replaced with a white (liturgical) or colors of  spring.