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Planning Holy Week with Littles???
As parents of young children we often live in denial that Holy Week is coming. We want so badly to fully engage in the celebrations of Holy Week as a family. But reality sets in. The Holy Week liturgies are lengthy, and there are so many! How will the 0-3 crowd handle the long liturgies? There are school nights to consider, and what about naps?. For parents of young children, the beauty of Holy week can be lost in the tidal wave of logistics. But wait! Hope is not lost! With a little bit of planning and forethought, you can have the best Holy Week ever- WITH your young children!
- LISTEN- to God. Now is the time to think and pray about Holy Week and the Triduum. An intentional conversation should happen with a Spouse, or with extended family. For single parents, this is a talk with Jesus, to be journaled out- in a quiet moment. Answer the following question:
What does Jesus want to do in our lives (my life) this Holy Week?
Maybe Jesus is calling you to dive into the liturgies, and not miss a thing? Maybe He’s calling you to some quiet time/space whether within liturgy or not? Maybe Jesus is asking you to expose your children to all or some of the Triduum liturgies? As the leader(s) of your domestic church, Jesus is asking you to make decisions based on factors that only you can know about your family and your heart.
- INQUIRE at your local parish(es) to find out what options are available. Now is the time to track down details about nursery availability and special times for Masses and other services. On Palm Sunday your entire parish staff is likely to be swept into the Holy Week Vortex of planning and doing all that is required. Call them this week, before things get crazy. Remember- you’re the parents- if you decide your child can attend the first half of Palm Sunday Mass, but can’t make it through the whole Mass- just communicate your expected arrival time with the church nursery team!
- PLAN: Once you decide which liturgies you can realistically attend in person, make a plan for making the other days of Holy Week special in your home! There are many fabulous resources available online (check our website for a great list!). Plan to make your home an especially sacred place during Holy Week. Think about planning special meals, and watching movies or shows that depict the events of Holy Week. On Holy Thursday you might have a Seder Meal, or do a family foot washing. On Good Friday you might go to stations of the cross at a quiet time at church, or have stations or Veneration of the Cross in your own home.
- SUCCEED: For the Liturgies you plan to attend in person- create a pathway to success for your children! According to their ages and temperaments, lay out your expectations clearly. Define when is an appropriate time to use any aides you have prepared for them. Are they allowed to color their Good Friday coloring sheet at any time? Or only during certain times? What should they do if a crayon rolls away? Can they have water? Are snacks allowed? Which books can we bring? When will we be taking a planned potty break? By laying out clear and realistic expectations with our children, we can offer them the best shot of meeting those expectations.
The beauty and the mystery of Holy Week is that the God of the universe came to be among us- to suffer, die, and rise for us. That means all of us- those of us who are 18 months old and who cannot sit still, those of us who are 5 years old and ask constant questions, and those of us who are grownups and are fully prepared to engage, body and soul in the gorgeous liturgies of Holy Week. God has given us this week to prepare well for Holy Week. Let’s make it the beautiful experience we all desire so deeply!
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Little Lions Ministries serves families and children ages 0-4.
Through play, hands-on learning, and social interaction our Little Lions experience Christ with exuberant joy! Parents, as the first teachers of faith, are invited to choose the programming that best fits their family's needs and goals.
Contact info: Angela Daly
Little Lions Ministries Coordinator
254-495-4742 (cell)Email: [email protected]