Precious Blood of Jesus Craft

This is an easy craft for young kids to learn about the Precious Blood of Jesus.

Materials Needed

- 1 construction paper, white or any color

- 1 red colored construction or tissue paper cut into small squares or teardrops

- pencil

- ruler

- glue

Directions:

1. Draw a cross using a pencil and ruler.

2. Think about the sins that you have committed and write them down on the cross.

3. Cover the cross by glueing on the small strips of red paper. And you are done!

Our Lord Jesus Christ protects us, covers all our sins and heals us through His Most Precious Blood!

Preparing for Lent

Lent is 1 week away! Have you started planning for this season? The Catholic church teaches us to practice the three pillars of Lent which are prayer, fasting and almsgiving during Lent. While some families have their own unique Lenten traditions, often planning for lent starts with only thinking about "giving up" something for the season. Here are a few ways to shift the focus from "giving up" to adding something more. 

1. Prayer : Lent can be the perfect time to spend more time in prayer. Finding a new person or intention to pray for everyday, learning to pray a new litany, spending time in front of the blessed sacrament and praying the short way of the cross are some of the ways to increase time in personal prayer. 

2. Fasting : In addition to giving up a favorite food or activity, consider adding an activity or habit. Practice good habits like helping with chores around the house or complimenting people especially when they are least expecting it.

3. Almsgiving : Make a donation box and start collecting loose change. Help out around the house and make money to add to the donation box during lent. Think about donating to food pantries and homeless shelters.

4. Reading Word of God : Read the word of God together with your family. Come up with doable goals like reading one of the gospels or completing the Book of Psalms. 

5. Service :  Service is nothing but an 'act of love'. Each member of the family can come up with ways they can help each other and others in their neighborhood or community. Sometimes even a small act of love can be so rewarding like bringing a surprise dessert to an elderly neighbor. 

Click here to download a Lenten calendar with kids activities!

Click here to download a reading plan for the gospel of John during this Lent.

Here are some additional links that will be helpful for the season : 

Printable stations of the cross

How to do the stations of the cross at home

It can be both fun and enriching to practice these Lenten traditions at home. Let's prayerfully plan for and embrace this season which will bring blessings into our souls and to our families!

Let you Light....Shine!

Calling all children ages 6-12 to...

Let Your Light....SHINE!

How is it that you can glorify Jesus through your talents this Advent? A friendly competition that joins Young Disciples all over the world to let the light of Christ shine BRIGHTLY through you.

Theme: "Preparing to receive Baby Jesus this Christmas"

Deadline: December 12th, 2020 9pm CST

Ages: 6-12 years 

Division 1: 6-9 years

Division 2: 10-12 years

Categories:

 * Literature (Essay, Short Story, Poem & Song writing)  

 * Music (Singing, Instrument, Music Composition)

 * Photography

 * Video production

 * Speech

 * Visual arts (Drawing, painting, digital artwork)

How to Participate

1. Read the contest rules here https://www.anointingfire.org/shine-rules

2. Create your artwork based on the given theme in any one of the six categories

3. Register and submit your entries here https://www.anointingfire.org/events

Winning entries will be recognized and featured on our Social Media including Instagram, Young Disciples YouTube channel, Little Evangelist Magazine, Little Evangelist Blog and more! 

If you have any questions about this contest, please email : afcym.youngdisciples@gmail.com

Come, Lord Jesus! - The season of Advent

Advent is a time of preparation and waiting for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Advent is also a time for Christians to renew their desire for Jesus' second coming. The season of Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas. The first Sunday of Advent is also the beginning of the Church year. Celebrating the season of advent will put the focus of Christmas on Jesus and not on Santa Claus and presents. Here are three ways for children and families can celebrate this wonderful season.

1. Make an Advent wreath

Check out this video to learn about the advent wreath and make one!

2. Use an Advent calendar or make your own!

Advent calendars help you discover ways to prepare yourselves to receive Jesus into your hearts. Create your own calendar or make it a fun family activity. 

Click here for a pre-made one

Click here for a template to make your own

3. Find ways to help others. 

This is the season of giving. You can give your time, talent or treasure to others in need. 

• Start with doing kind deeds for your family members. Doing chores without being asked, giving compliments, making people smile are all good examples of the small ways you can be kind to your family
• Churches usually organize food drives or giving trees where you can donate groceries or other gifts for families who are in need. 
• Soup kitchens look for supplies and volunteers
• You can donate toys and gifts to shelters and hospitals
• You can write a card with a cheerful and hopeful message to sick children who are in hospitals 

Make this Advent a blessed one for you and your family.

Thanksgiving

 Young Disciples share about Thanksgiving in the Catholic culture.

Young Disciples Youtube channel

Click to download Thanksgiving Prayers printable

Click here to download "I am thankful for" printable

How to draw the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Step 1 : Draw a heart

Step 2 : Draw a flame on top of the heart

Step 3 : Draw wines going across the heart

Step 4 : Draw the thorns on the wines

Step 5 : Add a cross to the top of the heart in front of the flame

Step 6 : Add drops of blood

Step 7 : Draw rays of light

Step 8 : Color 

Read about the different symbols seen on the images of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Pentecost Sunday

"O come Holy Spirit fill the hearts of your faithful 

and kindle in them the fire of your love.

Send forth your spirit and they shall be created 

and you shall renew the face of the earth."

Mother Mary and the Apostles
in the Upper Room 
on the day of Pentecost 

How is it that we can prepare our little hearts to receive the Holy Spirit this Pentecost? One of the ways in which we can do so is by digging into our Bibles. Hmm… Now where should we start? The Acts of the Apostles would be a wonderful start! In the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 2 is where we read about the coming of the Holy Spirit. Now the same Holy Spirit from thousands of years ago still desires to come to you! In fact, did you know? Every single day of our lives as children of God can actually be a mini Pentecost if we ask the Holy Spirit to come to us every single morning!

The Holy Spirit is what was promised to us by God the Father in Acts chapter 1 and verse 4. This Holy Spirit will strengthen us and give us power to become holy! Do you want to be holy? Tell the Holy Spirit and you will be guided. As His precious children, let us all take the time to prepare our little hearts to receive the Holy Spirit this Pentecost. Holy Spirit come!

Click to download: Pentecost Activity Sheet 

A CROWN FOR MOTHER MARY

Crowning of Mother Mary at Bethany Chapel
 in the Archdiocese of Boston. Photo credit: George Martell

The month of May is dedicated to Mother Mary. The Catholic church has a tradition of crowning Mother Mary in the month of May acknowledging her as the Queen of Heaven. Every year, catholic churches around the world have a celebration honoring Mother Mary by placing a crown on her statue. This year, since churches are closed to public, we cannot go to the crowning. But staying home, we can still celebrate the May crowning!

Do you have a statue or a picture of Mother Mary at home? We can make a paper crown and give the work of our hands to her and dedicate the month to her. Follow the steps given below to make a crown for Mother Mary.

Use any size of paper - 3in. x 3in. to make a small crown or 6in. x  6in. to make a bigger one. We used plain 8in. x 11in. construction paper in our example since it is easily available. You can use any colored or patterned paper. We also made 12 crown pieces to make a big crown to present to our Mother! You can make a smaller crown by reducing the number of crown pieces.

How to make a crown for Mother Mary

Supplies Needed

• 12 sheets of Origami paper or any plain or patterned paper cut to squares of equal length
• Scissors
• Adhesive Gems or other embellishments
• Glue

Steps

• Follow steps 1-7 in the pictures below to make a crown piece. We made 12 crown pieces for our crown. 

• Now that you have the crown pieces ready, follow these steps to assemble them.

• You are almost there! It's time to decorate the crown. 

Your crown is now ready. Dedicate it to Mother Mary by placing it on her statue or in front of her picture. Don't forget to say the "Hail Mary" prayer. Mother Mary will now wear this crown all month!

Mother's Day Flowers for Mama Mary

Want to learn how to make flowers for Mama Mary and your mom for Mothers's day? Check out this new Young Disciples Youtube video. In honor of Mother's Day this year, we will be dedicating these little flowers for our Mother in Heaven! The Rosary can be translated to "Garland of Roses," meaning that every Hail Mary we pray will help create this beautiful garland! This Mother's Day, along with the flowers we will be making, let us make our Blessed Mother a beautiful garland through our prayers!

For more such videos, subscribe to the Young Disciples Youtube channel!

The Whole Armor of God

Did you know that in the Bible, there is an Armor of protection that all of us can wear? If you wear this Armor, you will be always protected from all of Satan’s evil plots.

In St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians 6:10-17, you will find the Armor of God.

Can we challenge you to memorize these verses? 

Is it too difficult to memorize? How about we draw it first? Follow the steps given below and draw your own Armor of Protection. Mark each part of the Armor according to the verses in the Scripture. Once you draw and label, it will be very easy for you learn this Word of God by heart.

 

 

 

Why is it important to memorize these verses? Once you have it memorized, it will be easy for you to suit up with this Word of God so that you will be ready for Spiritual battle. You are now all set to face any trials, tribulations and attacks of Satan that may come your way.

Divine Mercy Art Work

“Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You. I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over [its] enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I Myself will defend it as My own glory." (Diary of St. Faustina, 47 and 48)

This was the instruction Jesus gave to Sr Faustina. Did you know that you can draw and paint this divine image? Follow the instructions given below.

Now that you know how to draw the Divine Mercy image, here is something you can try to make!

Make a Bookmark

Cut out paper or card stock to make a bookmark. 

• On the front : Follow the step by step instructions from the image above to draw your very own Divine Mercy image. At the bottom of the image write, Jesus I trust in You. Color the image.
• On the back : Write 
For the sake of Jesus’ most sorrowful passion, Abba Father, have mercy on us and the whole world.


Look at the example below!

Young disciples celebrating the feast of Divine Mercy

Check out this week’s episode on Young Disciples about how children are celebrating the feast of Divine Mercy! Tune in to meet a special guest all the way from Texas!

Click here to download the template shown in the video to print out and color.

Don't forget to like, share and subscribe to the Young Disciples Youtube Channel for more videos!

The Little Evangelist Youtube Channel

Young Disciple Ministry of Anointing Fire Catholic Youth Ministry has a new YouTube channel.



Don't forget to like, share and subscribe for more videos.

How to do the Way of the Cross at home?

• Start by dowloading our printable Stations of the Cross from our post about Via Dolorosa-The Way of the Cross. 
• Cut the image of the stations out and place the the stations at different parts of your room, your home or even your garden.
• Walk along the Way of the Cross while stopping and praying at each station with your family. 
• One person carries a candle and leads the procession. You may chose to appoint a person to read the reflections of each Station or multiple children can take turns to do this.
• You may use this Way of the Cross prayer 
• A short way of the cross for younger kids can be downloaded here: Short Way of The Cross Prayer
• For younger kids, you can choose to only announce each station and say
Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
All: Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

• Your family can now walk the road Jesus walked as he carried His cross to Golgotha.

Via Dolorosa - The Way of the Cross.

This Holy Week is very different isn’t it? No public services in churches, no Way of the Cross and no Easter Mass! If you think of about it, this is probably how it was during the actual day of Jesus’ Passion. All His disciples had run away as they were scared after Jesus’s arrest. Only St John and Mother Mary followed Jesus through His Passion. They too couldn’t help Him, but they walked with Him. None of Jesus’ followers were with Him. Would you walk with Jesus as He carries the cross for you? Would you keep Him company today?

Download and print the Stations of the Cross provided in the link below.

Printable Stations of the Cross

 

Cut the image of the Stations out and place the the stations at different parts of your room/home/garden. You may chose to stick the stations on card stock paper or cardboard and hang it using yarn or use other types of picture holders.

Walk along the Way of the Cross with your family. One person carries a candle and lead the procession.You may chose to appoint a person to read the reflections of each Station. You can download the reflections shared here: How to do the Way of the Cross at home?

A short way of the cross for younger kids can be downloaded here: Short Way of The Cross

The Way of the Cross is the heart of the story of our Faith. This is the path we are called to follow wherever we are.

PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD'S PASSION

Palm Sunday is the final Sunday of Lent, the beginning of Holy Week, when we remember and celebrate the triumphant arrival of Christ in Jerusalem, days before he was crucified.

The Gospels, tell us about Jesus entering Jerusalem riding a donkey. The people welcomed him by laying clothes and small branches in front of him as a sign of respect and shouted "Hosanna!" hailing Christ as King.

In Biblical times, it was common for kings or important people to arrive by a procession riding on a donkey. The donkey symbolized peace, so those who chose to ride them showed that they came with peaceful intentions. Jesus reminds us here that He is the Prince of Peace.

The Palm branch is a symbol of peace and victory. During Palm Sunday Mass, palms are distributed to parishioners who carry them in a procession into church. The palms are blessed and many people fold them into little crosses. These palms are kept for the year.

This year we will be celebrating Palm Sunday differently. There will be no blessing and distribution of palms at church. But we can make our own palms at home and participate in the mass and prayers through livestream on the internet or on T.V. Sing Hosanna in the highest to Christ the King and welcome the Lord into our hearts.

Click here to download and make your own palm branch. You can also download this coloring page and create the scene of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.

Happy Palm Sunday!