Celebrating the Sacrament Series

 Sacraments Series: Summary Page! 1. Annual Sacrament Celebrations is the latest installment of the Sacrament Series and offers a  printable of 24 Cake Toppers for just $2, filled with Kelly Comics and can be used as decorations, stickers, buttons or scrapbooking embellishments. 2. My first post in the Sacraments Series, =&0=& is based on the article I wrote for =&1=& =&2=&This article highlights a few of our Arma Dei Catholic teaching tools and gifts, including the Hand in hand with Jesus Faith Journal, packed with prayerful reflection prompts about their experiences of the Sacraments and their maturing prayer life, along with questions about the Sacraments.

We created the Hand in hand with Jesus Faith Journal, packed with prayerful reflection prompts about their experiences of the Sacraments and their maturing prayer life, along with questions about the Sacraments based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This hard cover book is packed with illustrations to color and prayerful reflections, making it a wonderful keepsake of the child’s journey of Faith….and an awesome Sacrament gift to treasure for years to come… for your children, grandchildren, Godchildren and friends!

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Lent Activities Summary

  Lots of Links for Lenten Activities, Catholic Crafts and Family Traditions: Equipping Catholic Families …for Lent!

Printables for a Prayerful Lent!

 Visit our 40 Ways for 40 Days list of Lenten Ideas with links! Passion Play in an Egg Carton with Wooden Painted Saints

  Good Deed Bead Bracelets Tutorial

 Stepping Stones through Jesus’ Life

AND 2013: Stepping Stones through Jesus’ Life: A New Approach!

  Crown of Thorns

 Stations of the Cross Carousel

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Keeping the Love of Jesus… in Lent!

                                         

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What is your most unique or satisfying Lent ChallengeLeave a comment below!
We’d love to hear from you!


Take away something…but add something too!

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Year of Faith Tumble Tower

Another Converted 2 Catholic Classic Board Game 
brought to you by
Equipping Catholic Families!

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In honor of the Year of Faith, I decided to take
our family Jumbling Tower game
and convert it to Catholic!

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New Release: All Season Prayer Bank!

Every Lent, I start out with a lot of plans, to give up things, to do extra things, to clean closets and give away clothing and toys we don’t need, to go to weekday Masses, to bring out our =&0=&or the =&1=&and actually say the prayers as a family, to be strict about meatless Fridays and for all of us to walk around hand in hand and cheerful, but praying and fasting, all the time. This pretty much never works. School is busy, kids’ activities don’t stop, at least one family birthday sneaks in and usually our March Break happens, bringing with it at least 2 significant Feastdays. There are also usually Catholic conferences requiring immediate planning as well. I inevitably give up munchies … and end up getting just plain grumpy, with not a cheezie, cheeto or chocolate chip cookie in sight.In addition to a few things I have in mind for this Lent, I’m hoping to lead my family in a deeper commitment to prayer. At =&2=& we have just released our latest,=&3=& =&4=&.

This Cathletics Craft Kit offers instructions for a unique hand-made prayer bank to hold a collection of classic Catholic Prayers and Saint devotions.
When I say that the paper craft kit has been expanded, I mean it! 
It now features a cool envelope template, lots of clipart, 74 special prayers with graphics, along with over 25 prayer card templates for you to add your own prayers, composed at home, school or Church!  The little heartfelt prayers that our kids come up with are the best…and will be cherished for years to come!

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Reviews are In!

Books

A Treasure Chest of Traditions for Catholic Families

Review by Letters, Numbers and Books, oh my!
Review by Happy Little Homemaker on Catholicmom.com

Hand in Hand with Jesus

Review by Karen’s Adventures in Mommyland
Review by Catholic Homeschool Support

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NEW! Advent and Lent Quest… for the Year of Faith and MORE!

Are you ready for Advent? We have expanded our popular Advent & Lent Quest Cathletics Craft Kit …actually we have expanded it 3x! There are now THREE different themed paper chain links included in ONE kit! Season with the Saints includes 48 + a do-it-yourself template for you to add any of your family patron saints if we didn’t already include them! Each link is packed with information about the saint…years of life, patronage, feast day, vocation highlights and a special quote or prayer. Saints include St Therese, St Pio, St Anthony, St Jude, Bl John Paul, St Nicholas, St Benedict, St Peter + 40 more!

Imagine if your family learned specific details about a new saint every day this Advent!

Year of Faith includes 48 + a do-it-yourself template for extra Catechism. Catechism facts include 7 Virtues, 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit, 7 Sacraments, 4 Marks of the Church….and less commonly remembered…4 Fruits of Holy Communion, 4 Characteristics of the Church, 3 Graces of Marriage, 9 Mysteries of Faith  + 40 more!  These links include the Catechism or Bible reference wherever possible for more information! Imagine if your family learned a new Catechism teaching…every day this Advent! The activity is easily geared to various age groups…choosing as much or as little to read or memorize each day. Advent & Lent Quest Challenges are reformatted from our classic Advent & Lent Quest Cathletics Craft Kit, covering a range of prayer, Saint-centric, Bible and Catechism challenges for the whole family. 40 challenges are included + a do-it-yourself template to add your own.  Challenges include: “List at least 3 things that God has arranged in your life…what blessings are you most grateful for?” “Read the Gospel and/or the readings for the next Sunday’s Mass.  How can this reading help to refocus our Advent or Lenten Journey?” “How many times throughout this day can we make the sign of the cross with EXTRA reverence…remembering that we offer to God our mind, our will, and our entire body?” To purchase the Advent and Lent Quest (3 crafts in1)! Paper Version for $16 + shipping (email to order)

3 in 1 includes Season with the Saints, Year of Faith
and Advent & Lent Classic

PDF Downloadable: $13

Check out our other Cathletics Craft Kits…available by PDF Download at the Arma Dei Shoppe!

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Painted Saints: September Edition!

Better late than never!  I know that it’s the THIRD week of September already, but I wanted to post some of the new wooden painted saints that I created recently.  We have Blessed Mother Teresa and Saint Padre Pio (and Mother Mary, see 2nd picture below) for September saints…and well, Jesus is ALWAYS in season, right?      I am working on another post for yet MORE ideas to incorporate these little wooden saints into the regular crafts, activities, traditions and routines that we already enjoy with our kids. See What to do with Painted Saints…part 1 and check out how we use them in Checkers, Snakes & Ladders and Trouble to add a little Catholic culture ro regular family fun!   Watch for new ways that we plan to incorporate our own little growing army of painted saints.  We’re thinking about chore charts and treasure hunts… Advent countdowns and nativities… and another popular tradition that we can’t wait to convert 2 Catholic!  Make sure that you are subscribed by email to Equipping Catholic Familes for future posts!

Thanks to all those who entered in our Back to Catechism Class
Cathletics Craft Kit Giveaway!
Congratulations to Susan, Michelle, Yenyen and Annie!  All FOUR winners have been contacted and have chosen their favorite Cathletics Craft Kit to receive by PDF and use with their families or CCD classes.  Congratulations!
 

 
 
Other Arma Dei: Equipping Catholic Families
FREEBIES for FRIENDS Printables
are available for

Back to Catechism Class {GIVEAWAY}

Enter to win your choice of Cathletics Craft Kit (PDF Download), from the TEN available at the Arma Dei Shoppe! Print at home and copy for a WHOLE CLASS or for all the children who live in your house!   TEN Craft Kits to Choose from! FOUR WINNERS WILL BE SELECTED! Catechism Catcher ~ Catechism Cube ~ Catholic Family Calendar ~ Catholic Lingo Bingo (English or Spanish) ~Color Me Catholic ~ Journey with Jesus through the Sacraments ~ Journey with Jesus through Confirmation Lace-Up Missal (English and Spanish) ~ Spiritual Bouquet

a Rafflecopter giveaway

See Reviews of these Cathletics Craft Kits from our

Catholic Review Panel

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Back to School Special: Teach Catechism the FUN way!

  Yesterday was the big day! First day of Grade 11, Grade 9 and Grade 6 and French Immersion Grade 1 at a new school! The little one stays home with me, but desperately wants to be part of all the excitement!   It’s a great time to get organized for Religious Ed programs!  I thought I’d offer this special deal:  

Purchase TWO Cathletics Craft Kits by PDF download

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SUBSCRIBE for FREE Catholic Crafts and Family Traditions!