- FORMED.ORG
- Get thousands of Catholic movies, programs, audio and books on demand. We recommend Brother Francis for kids, and many of the movies and documentaries about the lives of the Saints!
- Create your free account at formed.org
- You may need our Parish code to register (8c62ef)
- Catholic Brain https://www.catholicbrain.com/?fbclid=IwAR243qa7q9ymWCY511MDfeWLOILrsQEPsiXVLa3COQPYqwx-ewBJbgJ4w4k
- Make an account for free until April 19th! Access free Catholic ebooks, videos, games and more!
- Visit Teaching Catholic Kids https://teachingcatholickids.com/
- The companion website to the Take Out magazine – check out suggestions for family activities
- Check out Magnificat and MagnifiKids https://us.magnificat.net/home
- Magnificat – reflections for adults, daily readings and prayers, meditations on essays and art, and more
- MagnifiKids – family discussions on the weekly Gospel, daily prayers, games, comics, coloring pages and more
- Listen to Catholic Sprouts podcast https://catholicsprouts.com/catholic-sprouts
- Short podcasts for children on a variety of faith topics
- Watch an episode of Re-Igniting Catholicism video series on the St. Jude parish website http://stjudes.org/re-igniting-video-series/
- Check out Catholic Mom website https://catholicmom.com/
- Podcasts, articles, activities for kids
- Pray the Stations of the Cross
- Virtual Stations of the Cross available here https://bustedhalo.com/video/virtual-stations-of-the-cross
- Brother Francis Stations of the Cross available on FORMED.org
- Pray the Rosary
- For a resource on how to pray the rosary http://usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers-and-devotions/rosaries/how-to-pray-the-rosary.cfm
- Check out creative ways to pray the rosary https://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/2016/10/creative-ways-to-pray-the-rosary
- Print out a rosary coloring page and color in each piece as you say the prayer. For younger children, have small cereal pieces, berries, chocolate chips, or marshmallows be the “bead” and then have them eat the bead as you complete the prayer!
- Join a virtual Bible study
- Laudate – a free Catholic app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aycka.apps.MassReadings&hl=en_US
- Jim Martin (available on Facebook)
- Virtual bible study on FORMED.org
- Read Bible stories
- Free Bible App that is geared toward kids https://www.bible.com/kids
- Act out scenes from the Bible. Get creative with props! You can even use FaceTime or Skype family and friends to share the skit!
- Learn a traditional prayer, such as the Our Father or the Hail Mary, in sign language or a different language
- Videos on common prayers in American Sign Language https://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/parish-ministry/special-needs/resources/american-sign-language-prayers
- Prayers in Spanish https://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?s=56
- Hail Mary in Italian https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5NfdbvhoZs
- Build a Bible scene out of Legos. For inspiration, visit http://www.catholicplayground.com/lego-fun/
- Create a family prayer space.
- Find a table or surface in a central area of your home. Use a prayer cloth, add statues, a cross or crucifix, rocks, Bible, and a jar or basket for intentions.
- If you don’t have a cross or statue, you can create a mosaic using construction or tissue paper or color in a cross or a picture of a saint.
- Create a prayer intention jar. Use any empty jar or container and decorate with supplies you have at home (construction paper, tissue paper, beads, stickers). Write down things to pray for on popsicle craft sticks and choose one each day during prayer time OR write down (or draw) prayer intentions and add to the jar. Your family can then pray for these intentions together.
- Create a gratitude board. Use a poster board or piece of cardboard as your base. Choose pictures and phrases from magazines or newspapers to illustrate what your family is grateful for. You can also write or draw phrases and images. If you do not have a board base, you can make a gratitude table to display items that represent what you are grateful for or staple paper together to make a gratitude book!
- Go on a walk in nature (**Please be mindful of your surroundings and keep a safe social distance from others outside). Appreciate what you see, hear, feel, smell around you and thank God for the good weather, the beauty that He has created, and the peace it gives us.
ACTS OF SERVICE
- Write cards to residents at local nursing homes and/or Hines VA Hospital
- Write thank you cards to first responders at local firehouses and police stations
- Write thank you cards to someone you know who is a healthcare worker (doctor, nurse, paramedic, hospital personnel), maintenance person, mail carrier, etc.
**To maintain safe distance practices, please mail these cards rather than dropping them off**
If mailing to institutions, call ahead to check on their policies for outside mail. If it is for a family member, consider creating a card or artwork and texting or emailing a picture of it.
- At home: make dinner and clean the kitchen afterward; go around and sanitize every door knob, faucet handle, and railing; sweep and mop floors; learn to sort, wash and fold your own laundry
- If it is safe for an adult in your family, buy and drop off groceries for someone who is still working or who cannot go out themselves
- Order and pay for flowers to be delivered to an elderly neighbor
- Clean out your closets and donate your old clothes
- Donate to Catholic Charities to support homeless residents who are sheltered in hotels
- Collect and drop off items for food boxes
- Items Needed: food, hygiene products, paper products (napkins, paper plates, paper bowls, cups, plastic utensils)
- Items can be dropped off at Daybreak Shelter 611 E. Cass Street, Joliet on Mondays 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, Wednesdays 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, Fridays 2:00 – 4:00 pm
- Collect and drop off items for food boxes
- Monetary donations are being collected to supply food, as well as provide hotel rooms for the homeless. Donations can be made online at https://catholiccharitiesjoliet.org/general-donation/ or check payments mailed to Catholic Charities 16555 Weber Road, Crest Hill, IL 60403
- Make phone calls to elderly homebound neighbors or family members
- Do some yard work and gardening for an elderly neighbor or person in need
- Read a book or teach a new game to a younger family member
- Pray together for what you see in the news. Participate in special calls to prayer from your parish or the Vatican.
- Share gifts and talents with others. If your recital or program was canceled, make a video to send to family, friends, neighbors, and share your talent with them. This could be anything (orchestra, band, choir, dance, sports, etc).
- Donate to Catholic Charities to support homeless residents who are sheltered in hotels
- Collecting items for food boxes
- Items Needed: food, hygiene products, paper products (napkins, paper plates, paper bowls, cups, plastic utensils)
- Items can be dropped off at Daybreak Shelter 611 E. Cass Street, Joliet on Mondays 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, Wednesdays 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, Fridays 2:00 – 4:00 pm
- Collecting items for food boxes
This list is suggestions to help you complete your expectations. If you have other ideas of activities you can do that will help your family grow in your Catholic faith at home, share those experiences!