Lenten Events and Activities for Children and Families

When you hear that Lent is coming, what memories do you have from childhood? What practices have you used in your home with your children? This year's Lent can be fresh and new. It will take an openness to God's grace, a deep desire to receive what is being offered to us, and a few signs and symbols to help us stay focused throughout the six-week season. If we do these things, God's desire for our hearts and our desire for greater union with God will meet. Lent will not feel like a burden but a blessing to prepare us for the joy of Easter.

We can place a crucifix in a central, visible place in our home during Lent. A bowl of water on our dining room table can be transformed into a reminder of our preparation to renew our baptismal promises at Easter. A candle can be lit at each meal to remind us of the light of Christ among us in Lent and to prepare us for the new fire that will be lit at the Easter Vigil. Using our family Bible for our Lenten devotions keeps us focused on God's Word as bread for our Lenten journey.​

We have prepared a variety of age-appropriate Lenten practices, activities, and opportunities-- some to do with your family at home and some we will do safely at the Chapel. Some of the links were created in 2020 but, the ideas remain relevant. We encourage you to choose what will engage and inspire your family intentionally!
Lenten Ideas for Continuous Reflection

Below is a list of suggestions for activities to support you in your journey through Lent as active disciples:
  1. Give up something as a family. Jesus fasted for 40 days. Consider giving up something for the entire Lenten season or just on Fridays. Suggestions could be giving up desserts or even social media or video games. If you choose to give up meat on Fridays consider having a "Meatless Meet Up" with friends over Zoom to share recipes. Did you know that one of the single most effective actions an individual can take to combat climate change is to stop eating meat?  Check out this resource from Dr. John Sniegocki of the XU Theology Department on vegetarianism and our faith. Consider ordering vegetarian from a list of locally owned vegetarian restaurants or find recipes on the CRS website.
  2. 40 bags in 40 days. In addition to giving up something for Lent, you could purge a bag’s worth of stuff every day or set out the bag every Sunday and collect things for that week as you see them around your house.  ​​​Rumpke’s expanded list of collections provides some locations to drop off your donations. Furniture can be donated to New Life Furniture Bank and clothing to Matthew 25 Ministries. 
  3. Make a prayer chain. Write a person or situation on each of 40 strips of paper. Assemble them into a paper chain. Remove one link per day, and remember in your prayers. 
  4. Bake pretzels. Pretzels were first baked during Lent because they can be made with only water, flour, and salt. The shape came from a posture of prayer, with arms crossed and hands on opposite shoulders. View the recipe and try these at home!​
Prayers and Ideas for Holy Week at Home
April 14
Holy Thursday
At-home foot washing, prayer service and dinner menus. 

April 15 
Good Friday
Dayenu Prayer and craft suggestions. 

April 16
Holy Saturday
Easter Vigil and Litany of the Saints 

April 17
Easter
Check out events for adults, our events for teens or go back to our Lent home page.
​Bellarmine Chapel
(513) 745 - 3398
Mailing Address:
3800 Victory Parkway
Cincinnati, OH 45207-2211
​Physical Address:
3801 St. Francis Xavier Way
Cincinnati, OH  45207
Parish Center Address:
3832 Ledgewood Dr.
Cincinnati, OH  45207