Paper airplane prayers are a way to offer prayers in a group setting. It works well for Vacation Bible School or youth group. It would also be appropriate for Children’s Liturgy of the Word. It can be done indoors or outdoors.
Prayer
Lenten Activities: Visit a Garden and Pray
Christ went to pray at the Garden of Gethsemane. It is a prayer of total surrender to the Father’s will. So as a Lenten activity, go to a garden and think about the Garden of Gethsemane. Take your children and teenagers and teach them how to pray as Jesus did.
Go to a Prayer Labyrinth
A prayer labyrinth is a circle with a path in it which you walk while you pray. The purpose of the labyrinth is to facilitate prayer. Several Catholic retreat centers in our area have prayer labyrinths on their grounds. They can be really effective for some youth with Autism or ADHD.
Lenten Activities: Make Pretzels and Say a Prayer
The pretzel is a symbol of prayer. The twist in the pretzel is meant to look like hands in prayer. And pretzels are made with simple ingredients – no sugar, butter, eggs, milk, etc. Includes a prayer you can say together before you enjoy your pretzels.
How to Pray the Daily Examen
The Daily Examen is a powerful prayer developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola. It encourages us to look at our day and reflect how God is speaking to us in our experiences and emotions. The Examen helps us see how God is moving in our lives. It is especially useful for discernment.
ABC Prayer Circle
This prayer prompt is to discover prayer ideas which start with different letters of the alphabet. This is a suggestion for a group prayer, but it could also be used as an individual prayer starter.
My Favorite Catholic Prayers Wooden Cube
This cube is basically a large die. Roll it and then recite the prayer. This can be a fun tool to help with memorizing prayers. It can also be used to remember to pray every day. Makes a unique gift for First Reconciliation or First Communion.
Rosary Comic Book
This comic book is a colorful and engaging way for children to learn about the mysteries of the Rosary. It includes the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries. Recommended for children ages 9-12.
Ignatian Contemplation
In this video, Fr. James Martin describes the method of prayer known as Ignatian contemplation. It is a method of praying with scripture. In this method of prayer, you use your imagination to place yourself in a scene from the Bible and become aware of how the Holy Spirit moves you in that experience.
7th Sunday of Easter – Year A (2023)
Sunday, May 21
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.