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Ash Wednesday-Today starts the first day of Lent. During these next 40 days, we remember that we do not say the "A word." Watch this video here: https://www.youtube.com/embed/ioOV6eBbcLk

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Last week at Mass, Father Ben suggested we give up complaining for Lent. Spend 10 minutes silently reflecting on all the good things in your life. Often times, the things we complain about are the very things that other people pray they had.

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Jesus showed us what perfect love looks like by dying on the cross for us. Today and tomorrow, focus on love of one another. Brainstorm ideas of how you can show love to your classmates, family, or friends. It could be as simple as just letting your brother or sister choose the movie for movie night or the game for game night. True love of another is putting their happiness before your own.

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Today's focus and challenge is to give up complaining for the weekend. When we are tempted to complain, let's thank God for something in our lives instead. For me, it may sound something like "God, I really don't want to do these dishes, but I am thankful that I am able to provide my family with food."

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Jesus as the Lamb
Watch this video first. Now, color this page here.

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Finish your Easter Wreath today. Please consider taking advantage of all the special services during Holy Week offered at St. Anthony. Here is a calendar of events happening this week.

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Today, let's pray for the Poor Souls in Purgatory. What is Purgatory? Fr. Mike has a great video here on what Purgatory is and what its purpose is.

We can help the souls in Purgatory get to Heaven by praying for them. The prayer below is the most popular prayer for the souls in Purgatory.

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Learn a new prayer. One of my favorites is the Memorare, a special prayer to Mary. First, begin by watching this video about why we honor (not worship) Mary.

The Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen

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Enjoy your time with the Sisters today! Show them respect and hospitality. When they leave, write them a thank you card thanking them for taking the time to be with you today.

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One of my favorite things I have discovered this Lent is the story time website from the Sisters of Saint Francis. Their love and joy for the Lord is so evident in all they do. It's a great reminder that true happiness is found in God alone. Today, go to their website and listen to any 1 (or more!) of their stories they have recorded.

And SURPRISE! Some of the Sisters are scheduled to join us in class on Friday!

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Continue building your Easter Wreath. Today, focus on the Resurrection and Ascension passages and pictures: Tomb and Ascension pictures.

Something I just learned yesterday is that the Wednesday of Holy Week has traditionally been called Spy Wednesday. Click here to learn what this means. This is a great day to remember the times we have also betrayed Jesus and make a good Confession. Please consider going to Confession during this Holy Week. What a great gift it is that we can completely repent and be healed from our sinfulness!

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Let's continue building our Easter Wreath. Today, cut and color the praying hands and cross pictures. Cut out the passages: Jesus Prays in Gethsemane and Jesus is Crucified.

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Blessed Holy Week! Yesterday was Palm Sunday and officially began Holy Week. This week, we will be creating a Holy Week Easter Wreath. Today, we are going to focus on Palm Sunday (Palm Branch and Donkey pictures) and the Last Supper (bread and wine pictures). All the pictures and scriptures passages are here. The final product will look like this:

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We have officially entered into Passiontide (the last two weeks before Easter). At Mass yesterday, we witnessed the statutes and crucifixes being covered in purple cloth. Watch here to learn more about why we do this. Today is Day 8 of the St. Joseph Novena, remember to pray the novena today and tomorrow.

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Continue to pray your Novena to St. Joseph. We are almost done! Today, we will be doing Stations of the Cross since tomorrow is a shortened day. Follow along with Father Ben as he says the Stations of the Cross.

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Continue to pray your Novena to St. Joseph. Reflect on this Lent so far. What have you learned? Have you been able to keep your Lenten promises? Write 1 paragraph (at least 5 sentences) reflecting on this Lent. We are so close to Easter! Is there anything you want to focus on or do before then?

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Continue to pray your Novena to St. Joseph. Today is a beautiful day! With parent permission, say a decade of the rosary outside or draw a rosary with chalk and "walk" the Hail Marys.

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Continue to say your Novena to St. Joseph and color in a Lily each day. Did you know St. Joseph is the Patron Saint of Sicily, Italy? St. Joseph's Day is celebrated by Italians in a special way by making a St. Joseph's Table. Watch this video that explains this fun tradition here. You can try making your own St. Joseph's Table here!

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Today, we celebrate a very special feast day: The feast of St. Joseph! One way we can celebrate this is by praying a Saint Joseph Novena. What is a Novena? Find out here. Now, you are going to pray this Novena every day for 9 days for a specific intention. Every day, after you pray, color in one of the lillies to help you keep track.

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Happy Saint Patrick's Day!  Enjoy the story of Saint Patrick here.

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Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving are 3 important parts of Lent. We have done a lot of praying and learning new prayers. Today, let's focus on fasting. Is there something you can give up for the day? A certain TV show? Candy? Video game? Whatever you decide to fast from, try to keep it quiet. Jesus has said that when we fast we should not boast or look sad but instead go about our days as normally as possible so that no one knows you are fasting.

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Today, let's watch the Stations of the Cross. Father Ben has recorded a beautiful Stations of the Cross that can be watched anytime. Take this time to prayerfully reflect on Jesus' great sacrifice for us. Remember, if you were the only one left on Earth, Jesus would still die just for YOU!

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Today, let us reflect on the cross of Jesus. All of our classrooms have a San Damiano Cross. Click here and here to learn more about the San Damiano Cross and what all the figures and colors on the cross mean. Click here to color your own San Damiano cross.

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Not very long ago, you were preparing for your 1st Communion. The 2nd graders have been preparing all year for this amazing Sacrament. Today, write a letter of encouragement and prayer to the 2nd grade class. We will be giving these to the 2nd graders as they near closer to their 1st Communion.

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Today, brighten someone's day by making them a card. Phil's Friends is an organization that sends care packages and hope to people with cancer. We have an opportunity to help by making them cards. Please see this link here for the templates and instructions: https://philsfriends.org/cards-of-hope/

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The 5th Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden.

Jesus comes with his disciples to Gethsemani: “Stay here, while I go yonder and pray.” Entering the garden with Peter, James, and John, Jesus prays, “My soul is sorrowful unto death.”Jesus sees the sins of all mankind, whose guilt He has taken upon Himself.

Say 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, The Glory Be, and the Fatima Prayer (O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to heaven especially those who are in most need of Your mercy.)

On Saturday, do a chore without having to be asked and without complaining.

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The 4th Sorrowful Mystery: Jesus Carries His Cross.

The suffering of Jesus is intense as the cross is laid on His bruised and wounded back and shoulders. Weak and exhausted from loss of blood, lack of food and rest, Jesus falls three times under the cross. Jesus meets His afflicted Mother causing untold anguish in the Hearts of Son and Mother.
Say 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, The Glory Be, and the Fatima Prayer (O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to heaven especially those who are in most need of Your mercy.)

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The 3rd Sorrowful Mystery: Jesus is Crowned with Thorns
"Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the praetorium, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him they mocked him, saying, 'Hail, King of the Jews!"' (Mt 27:27-29). Say 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, The Glory Be, and the Fatima Prayer (O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to heaven especially those who are in most need of Your mercy.)

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The 2nd Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar. When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death. And when they had bound Him, they led Him away, and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
Say 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, The Glory Be, and the Fatima Prayer (O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to heaven especially those who are in most need of Your mercy.)

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This week, we will be praying a decade of the rosary everyday. Before we start, let's review why and how we pray the rosary here.

The 1st Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden. In Jesus' anguish He prayed with great intensity, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. Then He rose from prayer and came to His disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted with grief.
Say 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, The Glory Be, and the Fatima Prayer (O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to heaven especially those who are in most need of Your mercy.)

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Spend time today listening to God. So many times we pray and ask God for many things, but we rarely take the time to listen to Him in silence. Today, we are going to listen to this story here and during the story, we will be spending a brief time with Jesus in the church. Take this time to listen carefully to what Jesus has to say to you.