I spent the weekend preparing our home for our journey to Pascha as Great Lent is on our doorstep once again. We received our Pascha Passports in the mail along with the new companion booklet, Raising Lazarus Project Booklet, which is intended to help prepare our children for Holy Confession. I’ve set up a small area in our home where our books and Pascha Passports will be altogether and easily accessible since it inevitably gets busy around here during Lent and it’s all too easy to get sidetracked.
The Pascha Passports were designed to be distributed by the parish church schools and are an excellent tool to connect the parish and home. This year, St. Spyridon’s made the passports available for purchase individually for families or small groups as well as for entire parish church schools. The passports are a fun way for your children to see their progress through the weeks of Lent. The whole family is guided through the special services and the Sundays of Lent with short explanations as you keep track of the progress in your passport with stickers. It is also an opportunity to talk with your children about fasting, almsgiving, and prayer as you gather together each day participating in all of these together as a family.
If you are unable to use the Pascha Passports this year as a guide, for whatever reason, no worries – here is what you can do as a family:
Remember, each family is going to be at a different point on their personal journeys. Talk with your parish priest for guidance if you need assistance or advice.
- Attend weekday and Sunday services together
- Fast
- Give alms
- Pray daily
- Read your Bible together
- Go to confession
Additional materials:
- Bible
- A Lamp to My Feet
- Journey Through Great Lent
- Journey Through Holy Week
- On the Physical Death of Jesus Christ (*Warning: Not suitable for young children. Link to the pdf)
- The Miracle of the Red Egg
