Strong Catholic Family Faith
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​Christmas for Families

Christmas Activities and Resources

The Shepherd  (Youtube)
In this pilot episode of the series The Chosen, this is the perfect introduction to the meaning of Christmas.

Christmas Prayer

Blessing of a Christmas Tree (USCCB)
8 Printable Catholic Christmas Prayers (Sadlier)
Catholic Feast Days (Catholic Apostolate Center)
This website features profiles of saints, special devotions in the church, including those who are blessed and Marian devotions, and other important events in the liturgical calendar.  This ever-growing website can serve as a reference to learn about the lives of holiness of saints throughout the whole Catholic Church.
Ten Facts about Christmas  (National Geographic)

Christmas Articles and Resources (Building Faith

Celebrando Navidad (Diocese of Des Moines)

Christmas  Resources  (Loyola Press)
  • Finding God under the Christmas Tree 
  • Holy Days of Obligation
  • Blessing the Family Christmas Tree
Picture

Christmas- About

  • What does living Christmas mean? (Mic Daily)  - Video by Rev. Kevin O'Brien on the meaning of  living Christmas.
  • How did December 25 get to be Christmas Day? (Busted Halo)
  • Family Christmas Movie Nights (Diocese of Des Moines)
  • Making Jesus Part of Your Christmas Celebrations (Diocese of Des Moines)
  • Living the Christmas Season: The Christmas Octave Dec. 25-Jan. 9  (Diocese of Des Moines)

Holy Family & The Nativity

As you set up your nativity scene in your home this year (or if you do not have one, gather around the crèche in church one Sunday before Christmas) talk about the many ways each of the figures can teach us about waiting for Jesus, following Jesus, or receiving Jesus.
  • Click HERE for a Nativity Scene Prayer (Catholic Relief Services).
  • And in Spanish HERE (Catholic Relief Services).
  • Need a (new) nativity scene for your home. Here are 9 Unique Nativity Scenes! (Aleteia)
  • Turning into a Happier Holier Family (Can We Cana)
  • The Infancy Narratives- What do they tell us about Jesus? Christmas activity for teens (Ave Maria Press)
  • Praying with Mary in Advent  (Loyola Press)
  • A Journey with Mary and Joseph- a child's prayer (Loyola Press)
  • A Reflection: Learning from the Silence and Way of Joseph (Catholic Online) 
  • Blessing of a Christmas Manger or Nativity Scene (USCCB)
  • Manger Scene - art project  (Good Ground Press)  ​​

Mary in Two Minutes

Busted Halo
Who was Mary? Why do we worship her? (Hint: we don't). Watch this video clip to learn more about what we really believe about Mary, the mother of Jesus. Then talk about the ways you will honor Mary and the Holy Family this Christmas season.  Do you have a sacred prayer space in your home? This Christmas you might gather images of the Holy Family in that space. 

Remember Joseph

American Jesuit Review
What about Joseph? We often see Christmas photos of the Madonna and child. In this video we are reminded not to leave Joseph out of the picture. For all you dads out there, your role in the formation of your child is greater than you could imagine. Talk about how daunting it might have been for Joseph to imagine raising the Son of God. How might dads and step-dads be uplifted by Joseph's example?

Sony's Christmas movie, The Star is the story of the Nativity. 

Las Posadas (Catholic Relief Services)

Posadas, a word that means "shelter" or "lodging," is an Advent custom in Mexico. It re-enacts Mary and Joseph's search for lodging as they traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem. The Posadas takes place over nine days, December 16-24, which symbolizes the nine months of Mary's pregnancy. People go from house to house seeking lodging, but the "innkeepers" refuse to let them stay. On Christmas Eve, the travelers are finally welcomed at the last house where they celebrate the birth of Jesus. 

Epiphany of the Lord

Six Family Traditions for Epiphany (TeachingCatholicKids.com)
​Epiphany Chalk House Blessing (Liturgy)
Blessing of the Home and Household on Epiphany (USCCB)
​Readings and Background   (Loyola Press)
Family Activity (Loyola Press)
5 Ways to Mark Three Kings Day (Sadlier)

​New Year's Day

Family New Year's Prayer and Inspiration (Loyola Press)
​30 Days of Pausing in the New Year (Loyola Press)
A  Prayer for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day (Building Faith)
  • Home
    • About this Project
    • New
  • Faith Practice
    • Learning the Faith
    • Prayers & Praying >
      • Traditional Catholic Prayers
      • Praying
      • Prayers During Times of Stress
    • Reading the Bible
    • Catholic Social Teachings >
      • Life and Dignity of the Human Person
      • Call to Family, Community, and Participation
      • Solidarity
      • Care for God's Creation
    • Celebrating Rituals & Milestones >
      • Celebrating Rituals
      • Celebrating Milestones
    • Sharing Faith/Forming Disciples/Discerning Gifts
    • Serving Others
  • Church Year
    • Mass/Sunday Worship & Lectionary Resources
    • Advent >
      • For Families
      • For Parishes/Schools
    • Christmas >
      • For Families
      • For Parishes/Schools
    • Ordinary Time >
      • June/July >
        • Breaking Open the Word- Cycle C
    • LENT >
      • Lenten season resources
    • EASTER >
      • Easter Season Resources
    • Current Events >
      • Eucharistic Revival
      • Synod on Synodality
  • Sacraments
    • General
    • Sacraments of Initiation
    • Sacraments of Healing
    • Sacraments at the Service of Communion
  • Family
    • Parenting >
      • General
      • Young Children
      • Adolescents
      • Special Needs
      • Empty Nest
    • Partnering with Parents
    • Parent Faith Formation
    • Grandparents >
      • Grandparent resources
    • Meaningful and/or Difficult Conversations >
      • Addiction
      • Divorce
      • Death, Loss, Grief
      • Mental Health Issues
      • Transforming Hate into Love >
        • Racism
        • Combat Hate Conversations
      • Loving Relationships and Safe Environment >
        • Really Tough Topics
      • Violence, Tragedies, Disasters, and Pandemics
  • Media
    • Movie Reviews & Reviewer Resources
    • Programs on Streaming Services
    • Using Media and Technology
    • Videos for Faith Formation
  • Leadership
    • Learning New Approaches
    • Current Research, Resources, and Articles for Leaders
    • Webinars, Workshops, Conferences & More >
      • Archived Leadership Webinars, Workshops, & Conferences
    • The Church on Putting Families at the Center of Faith
    • Presentation Tools & Tips for Leaders
    • Initiatives
  • Submit a Resource