Free printable Mardi Gras masks, homemade mask crafts for kids parties

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday or Carnivale, is a Catholic Christian celebration. Fat Tuesday is only one day, before Ash Wednesday, In New Orleans it one long party starting in January after Epiphany. There are costumes, parades and feasting before the Lenten fast. Mardi Gras parade troupes, called krewes, spend months making masks and costumes. Looking to dress up for Mardi Gras? Here are free printable Mardi Gras masks, great for kids.   Free printable Mardi Gras masks, homemade mask crafts for kids parties

Printable Lenten Almsgiving, Prayer, Fasting Activity

Catholics entered lent on Ash Wednesday. During this season, we fast, pray and give alms (extra tithing). Here's a way to do all three in one activity. Parents and homeschoolers, you might try this. Printable lenten calendar, prayer guide, family activities, coloring pages included.   Three in One Lent Almsgiving, Prayer, Fasting Activity

Free Printable Catholic Lenten Activities

The Catholic Lenten season will soon be upon us. In lent, we practice gospel virtues: prayer, fasting, almsgiving. We seek to draw near God, by imitating Christ's suffering. Those acts in turn help us grow stronger. Here are lenten sacrifice activities for children.   Lenten Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving Activities for Children

Free Printable Stations of the Cross Coloring Pages, Crafts

Each year during Lent when our family was homeschooling, we drew images, one for each of the Station of the Cross, to use as a guide for prayer and devotion. We hung them at different places in our home or yard. The children would begin each Friday in Lent by following the Stations of the Cross. The older children drew images for the each of the Stations of the Cross, but for younger children I used the Fr. Lovasik coloring book. Here is are several sets of free printable Stations of the Cross. Print a booklet for CCD and religious education classes, Catholic school, homeschooling and family devotions.  Free Printable 'Stations of the Cross' Lenten Coloring Pages and Devotional Booklet

Free Printable Mardi Gras Masks

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is a Catholic Christian celebration. Around the world, Mardi Gras is also called "carnival," meaning "farewell to the flesh" in French. It kicks off in mid January. In New Orleans, the Mardi Gras celebration fills the city with costumes, parades and feasting in preparation for the solemnity and fasting of Ash Wednesday and Lent. Free Printable Mardi Gras Masks

Free Printable Mardi Gras Masks to Color

Mardi Gras begins around mid January. Also called "fat Tuesday" (the translation from French) and "carnivale" meaning "farewell to the flesh," Mardi Gras is a big celebration leading up to Ash Wednesday and Lent, in the Catholic Christian church. In New Orleans, France and parts of South America, Mardi Gras is celebrated with costumes, parades, parties and feasting. In New Orleans, costumed groups called "krewes" spend months on lavish masks and outfits. Here are printable masks to celebrate. This article was written about Halloween masks which can be used for the holiday. For traditional Mardi Gras masks, scroll down a bit. Free Printable Halloween Masks: Coloring, Cut and Paste Fun 

Free Printable Lenten Lessons and Activities

Lent begins each year with the Imposition of the Ashes on Ash Wednesday, which in the western calendar for 2008 will begin very early on February 6. Lent begins a 40 day journey of fasting, acts of mercy and spiritual pilgrimage. We try to live, in our poor humble human way, in solidarity with Our Lord as he fasted in the desert for 40 days and made his final pilgrimage to Jerusalem. A Roman cross, torture and crucifixion awaited Him. But so did the glory of Easter, the Resurrection. Lent is a season for intense and deep personal and spiritual reflection.
Here are several well researched websites in line with the Magisterium (the teachings of the Holy Roman Church), the Holy See (seat of Peter) and the catechism. I try to make sure that all Catholic materials have the Nil Obstat and Imprimatur (these are seals of approval from the bishops and of the church that this material does not deviate in any way from Catholic doctrine). Here are lessons to explore Lent:  Free Printable Lenten Lessons and Activities 

Free Printable Lent and Catholic Easter Coloring Pages

For Catholics and Christians, Easter is about more than just bunnies and candy. Easter is about the Passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Here are free printable stations of the cross, rosary, saints and Easter bible story coloring pages. The Catholic and Orthodox churches, and some protestant Christian churches, observe the season of Lent for forty days before Easter. Lent "follows" Jesus's during forty days of fasting in the desert when He was tempted by Satan. in preparation for His sacrifice on the cross. During Lent, we pray, fast and do acts of mercy, almsgiving and penance to imitate Jesus. We follow the "Way of the Cross" or Stations of the Cross and pray the rosary. Read more at Free Printable Lent and Catholic Easter Coloring Pages

Free Printable Catholic Liturgical Calendars

Our Lenten journey in the Catholic church begins on Ash Wednesday and follows Jesus Christ for forty days of suffering in the desert, up to Holy Week and the Easter Triduum. Here are free printable Lenten calendars to help your experience of Lent. Read  more

Free Printable Lent and Easter Religious Coloring Pages

Free Printable Lent Coloring Pages It's often difficult to get children to pay attention at devotions time.Help your children pay attention to Lenten Bible reading with free printable coloring pages.Here are dozens of free printable lent coloring pages. Read More

Free Printable Holy Week Activities: Coloring, Puzzles, Crafts, Games

Free Printable Holy Week Activities I've been combing the internet for free printable Holy Week activities. Here are links to 100+ free printable coloring pages,word searches, crossword puzzles, cryptograms, games and crafts for Holy Week and Easter. Read more

Free Printable Ash Wednesday Activities

Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent. Check out these links for free printable Catholic activities for lent and Easter. Writing projects, lessons, coloring, games, puzzles, crafts and more. Stations of the Cross, mysteries of the rosary, feast days, fasting, prayers, liturgical activities, saints and more. Read more

Free Printable Lent Activities

Lent is the 40 day spiritual journey taken by Christians from Ash Wednesday until the Easter Vigil. We recall Christ's sufferings in the desert. We remember his sufferings in the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary. Ultimately, we participate in the 12 Stations of the Cross.  To prepare for your lenten observances, here are websites with free printable lent activities. You'll find lessons, coloring, games, puzzles and more. Read on