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Cultivating a Domestic Church (during a Pandemic)...Stations of the Cross (3 of many-to-come)



Come Holy Spirit! Guide our steps, DEEPEN our ROOTS!



As always, I would like to begin this post by asking you, the reader, to join me in prayer as we make the Sign of the Cross and take a moment to breathe deeply…. God, our creator, we humbly thank You for all that we are given and called to. Please send down Your Spirit to strengthen and guide us. Especially during these challenging and uncertain times, help us to accompany the youth you have put in our care so that they may deepen their roots in You, our Lord, Christ Jesus. Amen.



The Second Vatican Council's Dogmatic Constitution on the Church states "The family, is so to speak, the domestic church." (Lumen Gentium #11) This blog post series is meant to assist in cultivating your Domestic Church and provide a platform for sharing ideas and experiences. So, let's get down to cultivating!


We’re here in Holy Week and my heart is broken that we won’t be experiencing this directly with our community. Our parish does a wonderful kid-friendly Stations of the Cross each year during Lent and it has been a really great way to strengthen our understanding of Christ’s Passion together as a family. That wasn’t able to happen this year due to Covid-19, so I wanted a concrete way of praying the Way of the Cross with my littles at home.


We’ve been talking a lot about our home and our family being a church and we’ve also been trying to spend as much time outside as possible. One morning I realized that our small, fenced-in backyard is the perfect place for us to experience this prayer! So I got to work chalking on the fence. While creating the various Stations, my four year old was playing and drawing under my drawings. He told me that he was writing letters and making pictures for God. It was a beautiful thing to witness. As he wrote, he was praying aloud and saying things like “I just love you so much God” “These fish I drew are for you and this boat is because I know you like boats” “I want you to be safe”. I just love the innocence he brings to his strong faith and I feel blessed to accompany him on his faith journey.


Here is the prayer service I have written for my family. Use what feels right for your kiddos.


Opening Prayer

  • All: Sign of the Cross

  • Leader: Jesus, during this prayer, we remember your death in a special way. Please help us to keep our focus on you.

  • All: Amen


Station 1: Jesus is condemned to death

  • Leader: We love you Jesus

  • All: Because you saved us

  • Leader: Jesus, you are so wonderful. You spent your time on Earth helping other people and doing good things. Even though you did not do anything wrong, they decided to kill you.

  • Reflection: When do we feel that things are unfair? How do we act when we don’t feel we are being treated fairly? Do we treat other people fairly?


Station 2: Jesus takes up His cross

  • Leader: We love you Jesus

  • All: Because you saved us

  • Leader: Jesus, you carried that heavy cross even when you knew they would hurt you and you would have to die for us.

  • Reflection: How do we act when we are asked to do something for others? Are we willing to help even when it is inconvenient?


Station 3: Jesus falls the first time

  • Leader: We love you Jesus

  • All: Because you saved us

  • Leader: Jesus, the cross was so heavy and your body was so worn out. You fell to the ground and I’m sure that hurt.

  • Reflection: What is hard for us? How do we feel when things are too heavy?


Station 4: Jesus meets His mother

  • Leader: We love you Jesus

  • All: Because you saved us

  • Leader: Jesus, when you saw your mom, you could see that she shared in your pain. She loved you so much and her heart was broken for you.

  • Reflection: Who do we turn to when we are having a hard time? Are we there for others when they are having a hard time?


Station 5: Simon helps Jesus carry the cross

  • Leader: We love you Jesus

  • All: Because you saved us

  • Leader: Simon was there to carry the cross a little way for you. He must have felt scared. I’m glad you had someone there to help.

  • Reflection: Do we do hard things to help others?


Station 6: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

  • Leader: We love you Jesus

  • All: Because you saved us

  • Leader: Veronica was there to help you the only way she could. She wiped the sweat and blood off your face and showed you care.

  • Reflection: How do we feel when other people show us care?


Station 7: Jesus falls the second time

  • Leader: We love you Jesu