On this page, you will find a variety of resources to help you and your family continue to grow and connect with your faith. Parish Catechetical Leaders and K-8 Teachers of Religions will also find materials to assist in online formation and teaching.
PLEASE READ FIRST: Sunday Obligation Returns in Minnesota
It is time to gather as the Body of Christ once again. Therefore, the bishops and diocesan administrators of the Minnesota Catholic Conference have decided to reinstate the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation beginning the weekend of July 3-4, 2021.
There remains reasons why a Catholic have a dispensation from the Sunday obligation, including when he or she is ill or serving as caretaker for one who cannot attend Mass. The faithful who do not attend Mass in person are asked to find a Mass on TV, the radio or online (search livestream options using Advanced Search on this page) and make a Spiritual Communion. Where that is not an option, it would be appropriate to pray the Liturgy of the Hours or the Rosary.
Read about this decision, and find examples of special circumstances when a dispensation would still apply, in recent letters from Archbishop Hebda and the Minnesota bishops.
Ways to Watch / Listen to Mass and Related Resources
Local Livestream Masses
Many parishes continue to offer livestream Mass. Find local parishes and links to livestream Masses using this search tool.
TV
- Diocese of St. Cloud: Sundays, 11 a.m. on KSTC-TV/45
- Our Lady of Grace, Edina: Sunday, Noon on Fox 9+ (Dish/Direct 29, Comcast 10/807; Over Air 9.2)
- St. Olaf, Minneapolis: MCN Cable Channel 6, Sundays at 8 p.m. and Mondays at 10 a.m.
- St. Michael Broadcasting, Channel 14, antenna based (not cable) Catholic television airing several Masses per day
- EWTN: Check local cable/satellite schedule
Radio
- Relevant Radio 1330am: Weekdays and Sundays at noon, and Sundays at 9 a.m.
- EWTN: ewtn.com/radio/listen-live
Online / Livestream
- Find local livestream Masses using Advanced Search at archspm.org/locations (watch video tutorial)
National Resources
- Relevant Radio
- Word on Fire
- EWTN
- Mass in Polish
- Find other Catholic Masses online here.
Synod at Home: Tips and Tools for Growing in Faith
The Synod at Home series takes helpful videos, tips and tools for growing in faith, and pairs them with family-friendly activities based on four pillars: Prayer & Sacraments, Lifelong Learning, Generosity & Service, and Traditions & Fun. Individuals, couples and families will find their faith and relationships strengthened by Synod at Home.
Bring the Synod at Home to your family for free! Learn more.
Archdiocesan Videos / Resources for Individuals and Small Groups
Prayer Resources
Local Resources:
- Novena to Our Lady of Prompt Help (English and Spanish) – from Incarnation, Minneapolis
- VIDEO: Prayer Service for Comfort, Peace, and Healing – from St. Michael, Prior Lake
- LIVE STREAM: Adoration, in between live stream Masses – from St. Michael, St. Michael
- LIVE STREAM: Praise & Worship – from St. Paul’s Outreach
National Resources:
- Live Rosary – from Family Theater Productions
-
Prayer Resources from USCCB
- USCCB / Catholic Current: Resources for Prayer and Engagement
- VIDEO: How to Pray the Liturgy of the Hours
- Give Us This Day (free downloadable periodical)
- Printable Prayer Cards
- Lectio Divina Prayer Prompts – Can use with any part of the Bible
- Videos of prayers and prayers to song
- Free Saint coloring pages from Society of Saints
- Psalm coloring pages – There are 10 months worth in the archives
- ACTS Prayer and Adoration resources – Use with live stream above
Boredom Busters for Individuals and Families (Mostly Screen-Free!)
Family
- Pray a rosary
- Board games
- Create a daily schedule like the monastic life
- Prayer
- Eating
- Quiet
- Active Time
- Music
- Work
- Learn about your parents / grandparents growing up years
- Have a family tea party
- Perform a play with your family – put it on YouTube
- Use a child’s book or classic story
- Have a good conversation with a family member
- Get in shape
- Work out at home using bodyweight exercises like push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, burpees, planks and more
- Make homemade birthday cards for future use
- Plan a family vacation
- Learn to dance with your family
- Learn to harmonize
- Build a birdhouse
- Start a garden – indoors for now
- Make up games
- Read
- Write to or call your grandparents
- Spend time with your siblings
- Play 4 Square
- Learn to cook
- Do service work
- Make homemade ice cream
- Play cards
- Learn a new card game
- Have Nerf wars
- Pray for those suffering because of the Coronavirus
- Learn how to pray the Liturgy of the Hours
- Play Poohsticks
- Find ideas on our Online Prayer and Formation Resource page
- Have a sing-a-long
- Call friends or relatives who are alone
- Spend a day without looking at a screen
- Landscape your backyard
- Fast
- Family sports
- Play balloon volleyball
- Do a bible study
- Get a hamster, lizard or snake
- Play pool / ping-pong
- Build a fort in the living room
- Have a pillow fight
- Make a fancy dinner for your parents
- Make and send something for a friend or relation
- Celebrate a full Sedar meal
Individual
- Sewing
- Crochet
- Knitting
- Make lunch from scratch
- Write a book
- Write a poem
- Memorize scripture
- Memorize a poem
- Learn paper mache
- Get a pen pal
- Do a self-portrait
- Write a story about an event from your life
- Write a story about the Coronavirus pandemic for your grandchildren
- Paint
- Do a science experiment
- Learn to play an instrument
Practice daily or several times a day
- Learn calligraphy
- Learn a foreign language
- Learn card tricks
- Study the stars
- Keep a journal
- Start a collection
- Start a nature journal
- Research something you’re interested in
- Find and read from an old encyclopedia set
- Go jogging
- Learn about your favorite animal
- Learn woodworking
- Read
- Practice free throws
- Set a schedule
- Climb a tree
- Wash your hands
- Learn how to fix your bike
- Build with Legos or blocks
- Teach your dog a new trick
- Read the Catholic Spirit
- Read the bible
- Be quiet
- Read all the Easter Vigil readings
- Daydream
- Write music
- Start a rock collection
- Raise butterflies
- Make a rope swing
Outdoors
- Go for a hike
- Go biking
- Go Rollerblading
- Listen to the birds
- Jump rope
- Go camping
- Camp in the backyard
- Cook over a campfire
- Go fly a kite
- Make paper airplanes
- Have a back yard picnic
- Build a tree fort
- Build a rope swing
- Go canoeing
- Have paper boat races
- Watch a rain storm
- Birdwatching
- Practice archery
- Have a bonfire
- Take your dog for a walk (or take somebody else’s dog for a walk – with their permission ; )
- Play disc golf
- Play 2 on 2 volleyball
- Walk in the woods
- Pray outside an abortion clinic
Indoors
- Play with Clay
- Create a photo book or scrapbook
- Design your dream home
- Clean a room each day
- Bake
- Make lunch from scratch
- Try a complicated recipe
- Clean your bedroom
- Rearrange your bedroom
- Paint your bedroom
- Declutter your bedroom / house
See additional ideas: Banishing Boredom: Offline Activities for Kids in Quarantine
Books
Look for e-books or order online:
YouTube Video Playlists
- Holy Kids – By Sacred Heart of Jesus Convent – Pro Ecclesia Sanct
- Storytime with the Sisters – By Daughters of St. Paul and Pauline Kids
- Lent and Easter Videos
- Music for Lent
- Christ the King Music Playlist – Strong themes of triumph and God’s strength
- Videos on the Saints
- Fr. Mike Schmitz Videos – Great for junior high & high schoolers)
- Chosen Sessions from Ascension Press – Great for those preparing for Confirmation
- Fulton Sheen Videos
- Sacrament Videos – Lots that would be good in here for kids preparing for Reconciliation, First Communion, or Confirmation