by Sr. Orianne DyckWhen you were a kid, did you ever imagine you were someone else’s child?  Maybe you imagined your parents were the king and queen of some foreign land.  Maybe you imagined you were the long-lost daughter of an infamous outlaw who needed to be saved from prison.  Maybe you imagined you were switched at birth and were actually the child of enemy spies!Or maybe you didn’t, and I just had a really overactive imagination.Be that as it may, I did sometimes...

This year, Ash Wednesday falls on February 14th. There are three special things Catholics do for Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.PrayerOf course we pray all year long, but during Lent we try to pray a little extra. Maybe your family can pray the rosary together or go to the parish Penance Service. On your own, spend a quiet moment each day telling Jesus how things are going or read about the life of Jesus from your bible each day.Fasting“Fasting” means not eating...

I remember a clever Jesse Tree that my Mom made when I was growing up. My favorite ornament (representing Adam and Eve) was a little plastic apple core that had once been on a child’s play necklace. There was also a Noah’s ark, Jacob’s ladder, Moses’ burning bush, and Joseph’s coat of many colors, as well as symbols for Ruth, Samuel, David, etc. I really liked it, but there was one problem.I was always wondering, “What does this have to do with Christmas?&rdqu...

How do I make an Advent Wreath?  If your family doesn’t already follow this tradition, why not start? You can buy Advent wreaths, but all you really need are three purple candles and a pink one. Place them in a circle and arrange some pine branches and pine cones around them. Or, you can make safe “candles” with toilet paper (cardboard) rolls and tissue paper – don’t light these! All you need to do is paint three of the toilet paper rolls purple and one of them...

Mother’s Day CardHere’s a pretty card to make for your mom. This way of rolling strips of paper and gluing them to make designs is called “quilling.” It is an art that goes back to the 16th century. Your mom will be thrilled with your quilled card!Here’s what you need: Construction paper Scissors Glue Pencil Ruler Paperclip MarkersHere’s what you do:1. Make the card by folding a piece of construction paper in half two times.2. Choose a color for the inside of ...

Why do we see eggs in so many Easter decorations? It’s because eggs are a symbol of new life. From a hard, dead-looking egg comes a new baby chick! This reminds us of Jesus’ resurrection from death to new life. You can make this craft to decorate your family’s table or to put somewhere else in your home. Here’s what you need:  • 2 or 3 toilet paper rolls • poster paint (or colored paper and glue or tape)  • scissors  • an Easter candle or a large plain...

The time arrived for Jesus to come down from heaven. God sent the Archangel Gabriel to the town of Nazareth where Mary lived. The glorious Archangel entered Mary’s little house and found her praying.“Hail Mary, full of grace!” said the angel. “The Lord is with you, and you are blessed among women.” Mary was surprised to hear the angel’s words of praise.“Do not be afraid, Mary,” said Gabriel. Then he told her that she was to be the mother of Jesus, ...

The excitement of Advent’s preparation for Christmas and the celebration of the birth of Jesus is hard to replicate in a season of penance. Plans for Christmas parties and gifts and family get-togethers automatically give Advent an exciting flavor that Lent and Easter don’t quite have for children. Though prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are an integral part of Lenten practice, I believe that a family or class can integrate these into their Lenten activities in ways that arouse imagin...

An easy-to-make soup that’s perfect for Lent because it has no meat. (Catholics 14 years old and over abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays during Lent.)Ingredients: • 2 large potatoes • 1 medium onion • 1 stalk celery • 2 tablespoons margarine • 6 or 7 cups water • 1 teaspoon salt • 1 cup milk • 1 helpful adult Instructions:1. For this recipe, you will need help from an adult with the sharp knife and the stove. Peel the potatoes and cut in small pieces. (It doesn’...

Here comes that annoying tickle in your nose again. You try to hold it back, but it’s no use. You’ve got to let it out!ACHOO!!Immediately, someone says, “God bless you!” You say, “Thank you!” then carry on with your day. Do you ever wonder why you were just given that nice wish? Do you ever think, thank goodness my life’s not in jeopardy? Hundreds of years ago, people thought that very thing.Sneezing is an involuntary action. It’s a way for your bo...