April Challenge
The Catholic Church dedicates the month of April to devotion of the Blessed Sacrament. This month’s challenge is to attend Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament as a family!
 
April 1: Holy Thursday
Join us on the Beyond the Pew Facebook Group as Megan Copeland shares a special Storytime of the Last Supper on Facebook Live.
 
 
April 3: Holy Saturday
For a hands-on lesson with kids of all ages, try making Resurrection Cookies on Holy Saturday! This activity walks children through the events from Good Friday to Easter Sunday morning, as every step serves as as a symbol. It is best to make these Saturday afternoon or evening and then on Easter morning try them together as a family For step by step instructions, including the explanation of each symbol, visit Catholic Cuisine!
 
April 4: Easter Sunday
Celebrate! Christ is risen! Attend Mass as a family if you are able to, or if you are at home have family members volunteer to read today’s Mass readings aloud.
 
April 5: Register for Marriage on Mission!
Registration opens today for our online marriage enrichment retreat, Marriage on Mission! This retreat is available for free for a limited time from April 16th – April 23rd and invites couples to go at their own pace in the comfort of their own home, no babysitter required. We are thrilled to partner with incredible speakers who are experts on the topics of evangelization, parenthood, and the everyday trials and triumphs of married life. Sign up for your registration reminder today!
 
April 8: St. Julia Billiart’s Feast Day
Saint Julia loved to share the message of Christ to anyone who would listen. She would sit in common areas and teach others about the Old Testament as well as Christ’s death and resurrection. 
  • For a fun conversation with your kids, ask them: What is your favorite Bible story? Can you tell it from memory? Who is someone you can share this story with, who might not already know it?
  • Who are the teachers in your life? Who are the people in your life who teach you about God and His love for you? Pray for them as a family, and mention them by name. Ask your children to say, “St. Julia, pray for us!”
April 11: Divine Mercy Sunday
The Sunday after Easter is when we celebrate the Lord’s divine mercy, revealed to us by Saint Faustina in her conversations with and visions of Jesus. You can read more about the history of this day here.
  • With children, celebrate this day with Divine Mercy pancakes! If you are that talented, attempt making pancakes in the shape of a heart… mine will most likely remain circles 🙂 Cut up strawberries and arrange them in a diagonal line on one side of the pancake, and arrange blueberries in a line on the other side. Share with your children the blue represents the water which purifies and cleans our hearts and souls. The red represents the blood Jesus shed on the cross and as Jesus said to St. Faustina, blood is “the life of souls”.
  • Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet together as a family.
  • Read an excerpt from Saint Faustina’s Diary, available for purchase at most Catholic bookstores. Saint Faustina was an incredible saint who we have much to learn from!
April 16: Begin Marriage on Mission with your spouse!
Access all retreat content for free starting April 16th! Go on a weekend retreat together, or spread out content over the course of the week. You have until April 23rd to complete the retreat. After that, Marriage on Mission will be available for purchase at a later date. Stay tuned for updates on the Ablaze Families Facebook Page.
 
April 23: St. George’s Feast Day
Some say this is the feast day for little boys. Have you ever heard the story of Saint George slaying the dragon? According to tradition, a dragon on the loose kept communities in fear until Saint George arrived one day to fight and slay the beast. He wore a suit of armor and carried a sword, and is now remembered as a hero!
  • Read the story of Saint George and the Dragon to your children. Found on Amazon.
  • Make Red Cross Krispies, the symbol of St. George on triangle shaped rice krispies. Catholic Cuisine also has creative ideas for dragon cakes, dragon calzones, dragon scones… just about anything if you are up for it!
  • If you aren’t wanting to bake, there are several fun crafts to celebrate this fun saint with small children.
April 28: St. Gianna Molla’s Feast Day
Saint Gianna was a wife, mother, and pediatrician. She was involved with Catholic organizations in her area and enjoyed the outdoors with her family. To her husband Pietro, Gianna said, Love is the most beautiful sentiment that the Lord has put into the soul of men and women.”  Saint Gianna had three children, and early in her 4th pregnancy, it was discovered she had a child and a tumor in her uterus. Doctors removed the tumor, but Pietro and Gianna fought for the life of their 4th child, Gianna. A healthy baby was born 7 months later, but due to post-operative complications and a resulting infection, St. Gianna passed away a week after the birth of her baby. Her baby Gianna grew up to also become a doctor like her mother. Ask St. Gianna to intercede for all mothers and doctors in your life!