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Parable of the Talents – Discussion and Reflection Questions
This reflection will help youth consider how they use their gifts and talents to grow the Kingdom of God.
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
On the Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, we told we must forgive just as our Heavenly Father forgives us. We remember that God rejoices when we return to Him. His mercy is a gift. We must give up our old…
Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
This feast day recognizes that Jesus Christ is King of all the universe and encourages us to reflect if He is truly Lord of our hearts. Here are some ideas for youth ministry, religious education, classrooms, and families for this…
4th Sunday of Lent – Year A (2023)
The readings for the 4th Sunday of Lent are about sight and blindness. Some possible themes for this weekend are light and darkness, or how we see ourselves, others, and God.
Melt My Icy Heart Game (for Youth Ministry)
This is a fun game to go with a meeting focused on stubbornness or belief. Or just for fun. Your teens will love it. Each team must try to melt a giant ice cube.
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus Christ’s triumphant entry in Jerusalem, days before he was arrested and crucified. It is celebrated the Sunday before Easter and is the beginning of Holy Week.
3rd Sunday of Lent – Year A (2023)
The readings for the 3rd Sunday of Lent help us think about our true desires Some possible themes for this weekend are change of heart, baptism, and social justice, especially racism and immigration.
My Soul Is Thirsting for You, O Lord My God
My Soul Is Thirsting for You, O Lord My God – Psalm 63 (Social media graphic)
Lenten Activities: Fast on a Day Other Than Ash Wednesday or Good Friday
Catholics are required to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Adding another day of fasting is a way of practicing an additional sacrifice during Lent. You can decide to fast one day per week. (Friday would be a traditional…
The Feast of the Holy Family – Year B (2023)
The readings for the Feast of the Holy Family for Year B focus on the importance of family. So the topics for this weekend could include what it means to be a member of God’s family. Different types of families…
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
On the Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, we reflect on faith. We seek to have the trusting faith of children, who believe that God is always caring for them. The Kingdom of God belongs to those who place their trust…
Palm Sunday (Passion Sunday) – Year B (2024)
The readings for Palm Sunday (Passion Sunday) for Year B focus the sacrifice which Jesus Christ made for me and you. So these readings would definitely lead into a discussion of the Pascal Mystery. Here are some ideas.
Do Yardwork for the Elderly in Your Neighborhood
Service projects are a type of almsgiving during Lent. One popular project with teens and younger children is yardwork for the elderly. There might be some leaves left from the fall. Or fallen branches from winter storms. Or just some…
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
On the Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, we consider generosity. We can be very generous when we expect a return for ourselves. We tend to be very concerned with generating wealth and making ourselves important. But can we be generous…
What Do I Treasure? Activity and Reflection Questions
Jesus often challenged people about their values. The Pearl of Great Price, the Buried Treasure, the Lost Coin are all parables about what is important to us and to our Heavenly Father. He also observed the poor widow, who gave…
What Is My Worth?
How is my worth related to my social connections? Should I count my current possessions in my worth? Does my earnings potential play a part in the calculation? If these are the sort of questions you are asking, you are…
13th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B (2024)
The readings for the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time for Year B show us that God wants nothing but life and goodness for us. Discussion topics for this week could what we need to be healed in our own lives…
Lenten Activities: Read a Story from the Gospels
Get together with your family to read a gospel story this Lent. This is also a great activity for Sunday school or youth ministry. You can select one from the daily mass readings. But sometimes the daily gospel can be…
Lenten Activities: Give Up Video Games for a Weekend
For many of us, video games have become a way to escape reality and blow off some steam. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, there is a tendency in our culture to spend a lot of time gaming.
Wrath and Anger Are Hateful Things Yet the Sinner Hugs Them Tight
Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight. Forgive your neighbor’s injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven.
7th Sunday of Easter – Year A (2023)
The readings for the 7th Sunday of Easter remind us that even though Jesus is not with us in his human body, we are still connected to him and to each other in prayer.
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Now is the time to set up and Advent table in your home or youth ministry room. If at home, put it in your family room or another room your family uses every day. Use it as a focal point…
Lenten Activities: Go for a Quiet Walk
Consider going on a 30 minute walk as a Lenten activity. Turn off the music and walk in silence. This is an especially powerful experience for teenagers, who have a lot of noise and distraction in their lives. #Lent #GoForAWalk,…
The feast of the Baptism of the Lord marks the end of the Christmas season and the beginning of ordinary time. On this day we remember when John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ in the Jordan river. This is a…
The Miraculous Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe
This video tells the history of Our Lady of Guadalupe, including how Juan Diego came to meet her and his difficulties in getting the local bishop to believe his story.
What does the mystery of the Trinity tell us? It tells us that God is relationship. In fact, God is such a perfect relationship in unity that God is truly one.
We Are God’s Beloved Children.
Faith is a gift that keeps alive a profound and beautiful certainty: that we are God’s beloved children.
Lent is a time when we explore ways to deepen our prayer lives. A prayer journal is a good way to stay focused during prayer. I find this an especially helpful practice for teens who are trying to develop a…
Water Drop Race (Youth Ministry or VBS Game)
This is another indoor water game. It is not messy at all! This works well with any age group also. It would go well with any topic related to water, such as baptism, or a community theme, since the water…
Lent is a time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. One person who often requests our prayers is our Holy Father, Pope Francis. In fact, his very first Instagram post was simply captioned “Pray for me”.
This game helps youth understand the importance of listening. Each group of sheep must listen to their shepherd’s voice and follow it. It also goes well with a lesson on sticking together in community. The group of sheep will find…
Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit Cryptogram
This worksheet introduces the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. A definition of each gift or fruit is given along with the encrypted answer. Each letter actually represents a different letter. So every time…
God Feeds His People – Reflection and Questions
Through the ages, God has desired to feed us. There are several prominent examples in the Old and New Testament, before the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper, of God physically feeding us. Here is a reflection with…
As High as the Heavens Are above the Earth
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts.
On the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time we continue to reflect on the Kingdom of God. We must be willing to work and sacrifice for the Kingdom, but our efforts must be rooted in prayer. Otherwise the task will seem…
12th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B (2024)
The readings for the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time for Year B demonstrate that we must turn to God during the storms in our lives. Discussion of these readings would almost certainly include talk of what troubles us and how…