Activities and ideas for you and your middle and high school teens

Looking for elementary activities? Visit our children's resources page!

A reflection to start you off: Prayer: the Heart of the Matter

A Prayer for Protection in Time of Pandemic (from the Knights of Columbus, adapted from a prayer of Pope Francis)

Plus lots more reflections and activities can be found in our Aspire magazine archive

Seasonal 

• Activity: “Lenten Challenge” 
• Gospel Reading and Reflection: “Palm Sunday: The Passion According to Matthew”

HOLY THURSDAY

• Gospel Reading and Reflection: “Holy Thursday: The Washing of the Disciples’ Feet”
• "The Great Three Days" Excerpt: Reflecting on Holy Thursday

GOOD FRIDAY

• Gospel Reading and Reflection: “Good Friday: The Passion According to John”
• "The Great Three Days" Excerpt: Reflecting on Good Friday

HOLY SATURDAY

• "The Great Three Days" Excerpt: Reflecting on Holy Saturday

EASTER SUNDAY

• Gospel Reading and Reflection: “Easter Sunday: The Empty Tomb”
• "Stations for Teens" Book Excerpt: Stations of the Resurrection

EASTER SEASON & BEYOND

• Gospel Reading and Reflection: “Second Sunday of Easter: Appearance to Thomas and the Disciples”
• Gospel Reading and Reflection: “Third Sunday of Easter: The Appearance on the Road to Emmaus”
• Gospel Reading and Reflection: “Fourth Sunday of Easter: The Good Shepherd”
• Gospel Reading and Reflection: “Fifth Sunday of Easter: Last Supper Discourses”
• Gospel Reading and Reflection: “Sixth Sunday of Easter: The Advocate”
• Gospel Reading and Reflection: “Seventh Sunday of Easter: The Prayer of Jesus”
• Gospel Reading and Reflection: “The Ascension of the Lord: The Commissioning of the Disciples”
• Gospel Reading and Reflection: “Pentecost: Appearance to the Disciples”

Especially for Teachers

• List of reading and essay prompts
• List of daily journal thoughts & prompts
• List of worksheets that can be done independently
• List of practical ideas for checking in with young people

Videos

• Teachable Moments: Creating Community

Prayer 

• Lectio Divina: Virtual Group (or Individual) Exercise
• How to Pray using Lectio Divina
• Video: How to Practice Lectio Divina (with Jackson)
• Video: How to Practice Lectio Divina (with Tiahna)
• Video: How to Pray Using the Psalms (with Jackson)
• Video: How to Pray Using the Psalms (with Tiahna)
• Song/Video: Day by Day (following Jesus)
• Video: Prayer - A Conversation with God
• Printable: Daily Devotion
• How to Pray the Rosary
• The Litany of Loreto
• The Canticle of Mary
• Memorizing Bible Passages
• A Universal Prayer
• Reflections: Bring Forth Hope
• Reflections: Good News, Day By Day

Being Catholic 

• Reflection and Activity: “Comfort Those who Suffer”

Deepening Our Relationship with God

• Video: Already Forgiven: Our Relationship with God
• Video: Fall in Love With God
• Video: Fr. Barron on The God Who Doesn't Need Us
• Video: The Need for God
• Video: God Knows Me
• Song/Video: The Colours of God’s Love
• Video: God is Bigger
• Activity: Faith Shield

Diving into the Bible 

• Reflection and Activity: “Images of God in Scripture”
• Video: “How to Find a Bible Verse”
• Video: “Explore with Bible Reading Plans”
• Video: “How the Bible is Organized”
• Video: “How the Old Testament Relates to the New Testament”

Reflections

• Pictures: Images for reflection
• Reflections on Relating
• Prayers, Poems, and Reflections by Girls
• Personal reflection: From Fasting to Feasting
• Guide Meditation: Meeting Jesus    
• Meditation: Lasallian Meditation on Saint Paul
• Prayer: Prayer of Saint Anselm (learning the heart of God)

Finding Peace

• Song/video: Everyday God—Be with Us
• Song/video: Hope in Front of Me
• Song/video: Don't Give Up
• Prayer exercise: Using Centering Prayer
• Song/video: Lean on Me
• Song/video: Gifts of the Holy Spirit
• Song/video: Good Shepherd (Lead On) (Psalm 23)