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This Sunday, we begin the celebration of Holy Week. We remember Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and how the crowds welcomed him with shouts of joy. On Holy Thursday, we will commemorate Jesus’ Last Supper with his Apostles. On Good Friday, we will remember his Death on the Cross, remaining in sacred silence as we wait for the joy of his Resurrection, which we will celebrate on Saturday night during the Easter Vigil Mass.
Make sure you share with your families all the information they need about the Holy Week liturgies at your parish.
Every week in the GROW newsletter, you will find helpful tips for teaching your Gospel Weeklies lesson, a reflection on the Sunday Gospel, and links to online resources.
Videos of Sunday’s Gospel
Use these videos as you discuss today’s Gospel. Please preview all videos you plan to share with your class:
• Holy Heroes • Palm Sunday: Entrance Gospel
• Holy Heroes • Palm Sunday Gospel (Passion)
• Gospel Reading and Reflection for Kids
• Bishop Barron on Palm Sunday
• Dominick the Donkey—Palm Sunday
• Lego Palm Sunday Movie
• Holy Week in Two Minutes
• Holy Week in Three Minutes
• Veneration of the Cross, Good Friday
• Sunday Setup—Weekly Video and Post (courtesy of the Diocese of Bridgeport)
Lent
• The Stations of the Cross with Bishop Barron (You may wish to show this in segments to your group or select one or two stations at a time.)
• The Catholic VR Experience: The Stations of the Cross (Virtual Reality)
• Faith, Fun, and Celebration – Holy Week
Other Resources
• Pope Leo XIV and the Papacy
• Special Message from Pope Leo to Young People (NCYC | November 21, 2025)
For Catholic Schools
• Albert’s Expeditions Join Albert, a fierce yet friendly Peregrine Falcon, named after Saint Albert the Great (who even gave the Peregrine Falcon its name 800 years ago!) on scientific expeditions all around the globe. From under the soil to the sky full of stars, discover the stunning natural world full of life that God has created. Meant for children ages 5–10 and all families who want to learn more about their beautiful world around them and the Divine Creator who formed it all.
Seeds
Lesson Theme: We welcome Jesus.
For this lesson you will need crayons, scissors, tape or a stapler, palm branches, and a Church Year calendar. We suggest that you ask one or two people to be your aides to assist with the cutting and assembly of the megaphone. It is a good idea to have one megaphone ready so the children can see the final product.
Sunday begins the events of the last week of Jesus’ life on earth. It is a Sunday unlike any other in the Church Year. There is a procession of palms and the reading of the Passion. Both these changes alert even young children that a time of intensity is upon us.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Extending Activities
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Gospel Reflection and Saint of the Week with Miss Heidi
• Bible Bag Gospel Lesson with Mrs. Cole
• Holy Week Video
Promise
Lesson Theme: Jesus gave his life for us.
For this lesson, you will need to gather a palm branch; crucifix; crayons; pencils; scissors; copies of the story coloring page (one per child); tape, glue stick, or stapler; yarn; dowel rods (one per child); and a Church Year calendar. You may wish to arrange for an aide or aides to assist with cutting and assembly of the windsocks. This is a good opportunity to involve parents in your parish’s faith formation program. We suggest that you prepare one booklet and one windsock in advance. The “Welcome, Jesus” windsocks will be used as part of the Closing Prayer.
Holy Week is full of stimulating sights and sounds for young children. You will introduce the children to the events of Holy Week as they make a booklet and connect the names of Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, and Good Friday to each day’s event.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Extending Activities
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Gospel Reflection and Saint of the Week with Miss Heidi
• Bible Bag Gospel Lesson with Mrs. Cole
• Holy Week Video
Good News
Lesson Theme: Jesus suffered and died for us.
For this lesson, you will need pencils, crayons, scissors, glue sticks, and a Church Year calendar.
The Good News children will create a Holy Week booklet. They will match Gospel passages of the events of Jesus’ final week with photos of people remembering these events in modern-day liturgies of Holy Week.
Encourage families to share the Stations of the Cross and the liturgies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil with their children.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Video
• Holy Week Video
Venture
Lesson Theme: Jesus suffered and died for us.
For this lesson, gather pens or pencils, coloring tools, writing paper, scissors, stapler, Bibles (one per child), palm branches, and a Liturgical Year calendar. We suggest that you assemble a sample of the My Stations of the Cross booklet in advance. Find and cue up a recording of “All Glory, Laud, and Honor” (YouTube has several versions) before class. Plan ahead for a church visit to walk and pray the Stations of the Cross.
Holy Week is the biggest week of the year for Christians. It’s a week of highs and lows—the high of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, the low of his Crucifixion and Death, and the high of his joyful Resurrection. Encourage the children to talk with their parents about attending multiple liturgies this week; you may want to look up and share the times with your families.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Holy Week Explained
• Holy Heroes • Holy Thursday
• Holy Heroes • Good Friday
Visions
Lesson Theme: We celebrate the events of Holy Week.
For this lesson, gather pens or pencils, coloring tools, scissors, tape or glue, drawing paper, writing paper, Bibles (one per student). For the Easter Vigil activity, you will need a bowl of water, greens and/or flowers, a large candle (3-inch diameter), and small taper candles (one per student).
This lesson includes the Gospel story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem as well as the Passion narrative. Encourage the students to dramatize the Passion. Stage the scenes, but don’t worry about props and costumes.
Holy Week is the biggest week of the year for Christians. It’s a week of highs and lows—the high of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, the low of his Crucifixion and Death, and the high of his joyful Resurrection. Encourage the young people to talk with their parents about attending multiple liturgies this week; you may want to look up and share the times with your families.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Holy Week Explained
• Holy Heroes • Holy Thursday
• Holy Heroes • Good Friday
Image credit: Kara/stock.adobe.com
