Ideas To Prepare You (And Your Family) For Lent

(Click here to view this in your browser.)

Ideas to prepare you (and your family) for Lent:

• Figure out what you are "giving up" or "taking on". Click here for a fun list of ideas. We also like the 1-1-1 plan at Our Sunday Visitor (one sin; one give-up; one add-on).
• Use a Lenten countdown calendar of some kind (Lacy at Catholic Icing shares some great ideas for kids such as "print my calendar, make a paper chain, count almsgiving pennies, use a crown of thorns".
• Attend an Ash Wednesday service.   
• Read the gospel message daily - click here for USCCB Daily Readings or use a smart phone app such as Laudate.
• Receive a daily Lent meditation by email from Fr. Gaitley and/or Fr. Barron - both are fantastic!
• Listen to a Lighthouse CD each week as a family (These titles are great for teens and young adults)
• Plan your meatless-Friday meals for Lent together.  Find new recipes and cook them together. 
• Try to pray the Stations of the Cross every Friday.   
  Will be held during the Fridays of Lent, beginning 3-
  7-14, at the Prince of Peace site at 1:30pm with the 
  school children and at 7pm. Living Stations will be 
  held on March 14 and March 28 at 1:30pm with the 
  school children. Lifelong Faith Formation children 
  will hold a Living Stations on April 11th at 7pm
• Pray the Rosary (especially the sorrowful mysteries during lent). Never prayed the rosary together as a family? Start with one decade and work your way to more.
• Start a 6-week Study Group in your home. Contact us for ideas.
• Make a good Confession before Easter. Check your parish for Confession times.
• Check out the new movie Son of God at a theater near you.
• Listen to this interview with 3 great Catholic dads who share what they were doing for Lent.

 2 min video below from Our Sunday Visitor

For more ideas visit last year's CMC post.