• Major figures of the Old Testament teach us lessons about God’s love and faithfulness.

  • Abraham, Moses and David all showed us how to follow God’s will. The covenants that God made with each hero hinted at the most amazing covenant, the NEW Covenant that Jesus would make between us and God.

• Many themes in the Old Testament prepare us for the coming of Jesus.

  • This New Covenant of Christ received at baptism makes us all children of God in the Church.

  • This is why we sometimes say that Jesus is a new Abraham, or a new Moses or a new David. Each hero prepared us for the ultimate gift given to us by Jesus.  We learned about heroes from the Old Testament, who prefigured or prepared us to welcome Jesus Christ. These Old Testament heroes are images or preparations for Jesus.

• Advent is starting soon and we will celebrate Advent all the way to Christmas.

  • Advent means "to come" in Latin.

  • Advent starts a new year in the Church. We began the watchful waiting for Jesus to be born and to come again at the end of the world. Jesus brings God’s gift of eternal life, which was only hinted at in the Old Testament.

Activity 1: All Grades

Read the Readings here for Sunday, December 13, 2020, the 3rd Sunday of Advent. 
Light a candle and read aloud as a family.

Discussion: The responsorial psalm is from Luke, not the Book of Psalms- it is the “Magnificat” that Mary says to St. Gabriel- when she says “yes” to become Jesus’ mother.

What does God ask us to do?
How do we say yes to God?

Activity 2: All Grades

Watch the Incarnation Video on Catholic Brain
 

Activity 2: Younger Grades

St. Gabriel announces to Mary that God wants her to be the Mother of Jesus. Mary’s great faith in God allowed her to say “yes” to God’s wishes.

Color this picture of the Angel Gabriel talking with Mary. Think about how we answer God’s call.

Find Coloring page here

Activity 2: Older Grades

We need to remember that celebrating the lead up to Christmas is important. It is actually a whole season in the Church. Advent means “to come”. What are we waiting for during the 4 weeks of Advent? Jesus Christ, of course!

 How can we be as excited about Advent as we are about all the traditions around Christmas? Create an Advent tradition this year or continue with one your family has done for years.

Activity 1:

Read the Readings for Sunday, December 20, 2020, the 4th Sunday of Advent.
Light a candle and read aloud as a family. 

Activity 2:

Watch THE CATHOLIC BRAIN VIDEO ON THE CHRISTMAS SEASON

Activity 2 : Younger Grades

What are some of the Christmas things you love the most?  The decorations- trees, stockings, bells?  The food- cookies, candy canes, egg nog? The music- “Silent Night”, “Santa Clause is Coming to Town”, “O Holy Night.” There is A LOT to love.  Make a list of your favorite Christmas activities and traditions.  How do these traditions celebrate the birth of Jesus?

Activity 2: Older Grades

Fill in the Blanks on this interactive review of the video on catholicbrain

Merry Christmas! Include some of these fun activities on or around Christmas celebrations.

Read the readings for Christmas Mass as a family. December 25, 2020. Gather around the tree and read as a family aloud.

Everyone can join in:

Watch Christmas specials that are about the Nativity and read stories about Jesus.

• The Star (2017) is an animated story about Mary and Joseph’s trip to Bethlehem told by the donkey.

• “Lester the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey” (1977) is a similar retelling of the nativity through the eyes of a donkey but is shorter.

•  Kristoph and the First Christmas Tree on Formed.org 

• Don’t forget the 1965 “A Charlie Brown Christmas” where Charlie has a hard time celebrating until Linus reminds all the Peanuts gang about the reason we have Christmas by reciting Luke 2: 8-14.

• "Veggie Tales- The Toy that Saved Christmas" and "Veggie Tales- The Christmas Star" both address materialism taking over the holiday.  As does the classic 1966 “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” short.

Read books that tell stories about Christmas from different points of view.

• The Littlest Angel by Charles Tazwell

• The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg

Celebrate Jesus’ birthday – that’s what Christmas is all about after all. 

• Make a birthday card for Jesus and have a birthday cake as part of your Christmas feast.

Color this Picture of celebrating Jesus’s birthday. 

A Gift for Jesus coloring sheet

Activity 1: All Grades

Read the Readings for Sunday, December 27, 2020. Feast of the Holy Family. Light a candle and read aloud as a family. 

Activity 2: All Grades

Celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas- they start on December 25 and run through January 6.  Celebrate the WHOLE time.
 

Activity 2: Younger Grades  

Listen to some Christmas music about Christ.
 

Activity 2: Older Grades

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We also celebrate the Solemnity of Mary on January 1, 2021- a Holy Day.  Read the readings for The Solemnity of Mary, January 1, 2021. Light a candle and read aloud as a family. 

Ask Mother Mary to pray for our families, and our Church as we begin 2021. 

Activity 1: All Grades

Read the readings for Sunday, January 3, 2021. Epiphany of the Lord.
Light a candle and read aloud as a family.  

Discussion: “Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.” Think about how we, as the Catholic Church, reach across the world.  As we hear in the readings, Lord Jesus Christ comes to all- Jews, non-Jew or Gentile, old, young, then and now. 

Activity 2: All Grades

The wise men finally get to give their gifts to Jesus on the Epiphany. That is why many families in Europe and Latin America exchange gifts on this day instead of on Christmas Day (December 25).  Sometimes called “Little Christmas”, the Epiphany is when the Magi, who were non-Jews, give honor to Jesus.  Are there any traditions your family has around the Feast of the Epiphany? What are they and how do you celebrate?

Activity 2: Younger Grades

Color this picture of the magi and their gifts

Activity 2: Older Grades

color this picture of The Three Kings

Activity 1: All Grades 

Discussion: Why does Jesus insist on being baptized? Jesus never sinned. Jesus was not subject to Original Sin as the rest of us are.  Why then would Jesus ask his cousin, John the Baptist, to baptize Him in the river?   

Activity 2: All Grades

Watch the Youtube video

Activity 2: Younger Grades

Ask your parents to look at the pictures of your baptism. Who was there? Make a card for your godparent thanking them for being in your life.

Activity 2: Older Grades

Interview your grandparents or other family about your parents’ baptisms.  Who was there? Who are their godparents? Ask your parents what was the same or different about their baptism versus yours.