Equipping Catholic Families ...with Traditions for Ordinary Time!

Sometimes we feel a little down when the official Christmas season is over. It’s hard to jump enthusiastically into Ordinary Time, because it sounds so, well, ordinary! But Catholic living can add so much richness to our every day life and celebrating our Faith and family culture can be an active pursuit all year long! Here are ten ideas to foster your own family culture…while integrating the richness of our Catholic Faith with Saints, Sacraments, Scripture, Catechism and Prayer! All of our Cathletics Craft Kits come with permission to copy for family use and they’re packed with Catechism, Saints, Sacraments and Prayer to get you started, but we’ve included other helpful links too!

1. Build your own Family Culture and Traditions

Collect family artifacts and treasures
Create family trivia

Display a perpetual calendar with important family dates and patron saint dates!
Research and construct your family tree
String together (or hole punch) favorite cards or memory catcher cards or pics!
Start a shoebox of love letters for each child or Godchild
Make a quilt (or throw pillows!) of favorite (outgrown) t-shirts

2. Build your Family Repertoire of Prayers

Collect family prayers and make up new ones. Give Prayer Journaling a try; we’ve got lots of craft kits and practical tips to make it extra fun and engaging!

Pray More Novenas
5 Daily Prayers for Busy Families by Prayer Wine Chocolate
8 Simple Ways to Fit More Prayer into your Life by Marian Graces
Reluctant to Regular Rosary Prayer by Equipping Catholic Families
A Parent Who Prays: A Journal to Guide You in Praying for Your Children by Kate Warner

Here are some of our most popular Prayer Journal kits:

Prayer Journal Prompts Craft Kit
Journal Prayers and Novenas Craft Kit
NEW Journal Stamps and Saints Stamps and Prayer & Rosary Stamps…in the Prayer Impressions Journal Stamp Shoppe

Reconciliation Prep (and Refresher)

3. Tackle the Catechism…with these fun crafts and games!

4. Savor Scripture! Start Bible Journaling; Record and Memorize Scripture

Establish a Bible in a year habit, record favorite verses…leave them in a box in the car or bathroom (captive audience) or tape to mirror, fridge…

5. Reorient your Family Schedule; Live Liturgically!

Revisit organization techniques…convert your planner or calendar to be Catholic! Live the Liturgical Calendar!

We’ve got Calendar and Planner Resources

Calendar Saint Stickies Craft Kit …to convert your planner to be Catholic!
Saints Wall Calendar for 2018-2019
2018-2019 Saints Website Planner

Catholic Planners:

Daybook by Catholic Sistas
Liturgical Planner by Blessed is She
Customizable Catholic Planner by Faith and Fabric
Catholic Planner by Catholic Planner
The Catholic Daily Planner by Michele Quigley
Marian Themed Catholic Women’s Companion by Do Small Things with Love

6. Celebrate the Extraordinary and Ordinary Family Events and Milestones!

Make Ordinary Time Extraordinary!

Establish weekly (or at least monthly) Family Events

Movie night,
Board game night
Seasonal sports events
skating, tobogganing, snowball fight / beach time, picnics, hikes

talk about family memories including family trips and celebrations OFTEN
look through family scrapbooks and watch home movies OFTEN

Celebrate the Extraordinary Events and Milestones and Family Firsts…but celebrate the every day ORDINARY things too!

Annually: celebrate Baptism Dates, Patron Saint Feast Days, First Reconciliation, Holy Communion and Confirmation Anniversaries in addition to birthdays and wedding anniversaries and memorials

As they happen: celebrate First Day of School, Big Kid Bed, First Tooth Loss, Riding a Bike without training wheels, Drivers Permit
As they happen: celebrate good grades in school, recitals, concerts
As they happen: celebrate little victories like overcoming a bad habit, conquering a challenge or taking on new responsibilities