May 23, 2024 WBB For Families, REL Asset - Mini Lesson, REL Asset - Activity, REL Catechetical - K–6, REL Topic - Catechesis, REL Asset - Prayer Experience, REL Catechetical - Early Childhood, REL Topic- Social Doctrine, REL Asset - Prayer Card, REL Asset - Handout, REL PD - Family Faith
By: Allie Johnston
It's summer! Time to recharge, reconnect, and prioritize family faith formation. In this article, you'll find resources to help families build faith all summer long, with opportunities for celebrating the sacraments, sharing faith, praying together, exploring Scripture, and being inspired by stories of the saints.
Printable Catholic Family Activities
#1 Eucharist Family Kit
This free printable kit is full of resources to help families learn about and celebrate the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Summer is a perfect time to refocus on the Eucharist and celebrate Mass together. Download the Eucharist Family Kit now!
#2 Family and Faith Summer Kit
In the Family and Faith Summer Kit, you'll find eight sessions that will bring families together to talk about their faith and ways to live it. Each session will give families the opportunity to:
- Learn about the faith-filled life of a saint or holy person
- Discover a unique aspect of what makes us Catholic
- Reflect on ways to live out faith as missionary disciples
- Pray together and reflect on God's love
#3 Summertime Catholic Family Activities
Encourage family members to connect with each other, with nature, with their communities, and with God as they experience the season of summer. Designed for use by parents and children, the Summertime Family Activities resource offers four activity suggestions to support multiple intelligences and engage all the senses. These family activities also offer parents the opportunity to discuss the importance of taking care of the environment with children.
#4 Jesus, the Center of Our Lives Activity
In summer, sunflower fields abound in many parts of the country. At the center of the sunflower is the head. The seeds are contained there and the petals surround it. In the Jesus, the Center of Our Lives Sunflower Activity, an image of a sunflower is used to represent God at the center of our lives.
This activity can be completed at home during the summer months to remind families to put God first. Download and print the activity sheet to distribute to families, or direct families to download and read the instructions that follow.
What does it mean to put God first, and how can we communicate the goal of keeping Jesus at the center of our lives to our children? When Jesus was asked "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?,” he replied "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment.” (Matthew 22:36–38) As Catholics, we are called to put God at the center of our lives.
God loves all people and wants all people to love God, others, and themselves. Explain to children that God should be the most important one in their lives. As a family, discuss ways to keep Jesus at the center of your life. Examples may include taking time for individual or family prayer, or using the words and ways that Jesus taught us. Children may also name ways that they can act like Jesus or share stories about Jesus’ life and teachings with others. If you wish you could provide situational examples for the children to reflect and comment on as examples or to encourage discussion.
After time for conversation, work together on the activity sheet. Using a sheet of yellow or brown construction paper, a half sheet of green construction paper and a craft stick, glue the activity sheet to the yellow or brown construction paper, color the flowers, and then cut it out. Help children glue or tape the flower to craft sticks and make construction paper leaves. Display the flower in a prominent place at home. Every time you see the flower, remember that Jesus is the center of your lives.
Activity is available in English and Spanish.
#5 Saints of Summer eBook
This summer help students swap their action figures and TV superheroes with real-life heroes–the saints! Their lives of virtue, courage, faith, and adventure will inspire kids for a lifetime.
Families can learn about six real-life heroes this summer and draw inspiration for activities and discussions in this eBook. The Six Saints of Summer eBook features the stories of six saints whose feast days are celebrated during the summer months. Families will find short but interesting biographies about the featured saints, and explore what the saints mean to us today.
#6 Psalms of Summer Lesson
Together, Catholic families can use the psalms from the Bible throughout the summer to express praise and thanksgiving for all that God gives us and His creation! Psalms that express delight in the wonders of God's creation and sing praises for God's generosity and kindness seem particularly apropos during the season of summer. Download a 4-page reproducible Psalms of Summer lesson that provides a variety of Catholic family activities and prayers centered around psalms.
#7 Mercy Scripture Quest Activity
Catholic families can focus on the virtue of mercy during summer break with this Scripture activity! Mercy is caring for the needs of people's minds, hearts, and lives. It means to share in God's forgiveness and love. What a perfect virtue to study as families! The Mercy Scripture Quest Activity will challenge children ages 11–15 to find, read, and cite passages from their Bibles related to the virtue of mercy.
Printable Resources that Support Family Prayer
#8 Summer Prayers Kit
There are many ways to pray. The more we pray, the closer we are to God who loves us. We should be able to find time every day to pray in some way to our loving God.
Download a Summer Prayers Kit that will help families pray all summer long!
#9 Family Prayers Prayer Card
To support prayer during the summer months, share this Family Prayers Prayer Card with the families in your religious education program. This simple resource encourages families to embrace everyday opportunities to pray with children, offering the text for five traditional prayers that can be prayed together daily.
A perfect resource for making time for family prayer during the summer months, this resource is available in English and Spanish.
#10 Prayer of Summer Joy
For an additional summer prayer for individuals or families, download the Prayer of Summer Joy and use it to enhance joy in the summer season.
#11 Catholic Family Prayer Service
Help family members strengthen their relationship with one another and with God through family prayer by taking part in a Catholic Family Prayer Service this summer. Families are invited to consider one thing to thank God for, one thing to ask God for, and one to pray for as they participate in the prayer service.
The prayer service can be used by individual families at home, or as part of a larger celebration of families in the parish, and includes Scripture, prayer, and an activity to bring family members together.
The prayer service is available in English and Spanish.
#12 God's Loving Shade and Protection Prayer Service
Invite families to imagine God’s love like an umbrella this summer: like the beach umbrella that provides shade while they are together at the beach or pool, sheltering them as they enjoy the summer sun or the umbrella that protects them from a sudden summer thunderstorm.
The God’s Loving Shade and Protection Prayer Service invites participants to reflect on the ways that God’s love protects and shelters. This prayer service includes Scripture, an activity, reflection, and an optional prop of real umbrellas to bring the activity to life.
Share the God’s Loving Shade and Protection Prayer Service with the families in your religious education program, or encourage them to download it for use this summer.
