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Children’s Liturgy of the Word
Palm Sunday
Theme: Following Jesus All the Way
1. Welcome & Gathering
(Gather children. Place a small branch or palm and a cloth in the centre.)
Leader:
“Today is a very important day.”
“Today begins Holy Week.”
Pause.
“We are going to hear about a crowd.”
“A happy crowd.”
“A crowd that welcomes Jesus.”
Make the Sign of the Cross together.
“In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
Leader:
“Jesus,
help us to listen,
help us to understand,
and help us to follow You.
Amen.”
2. Introducing the Theme
Ask:
“Have you ever been really excited to see someone?”
“Have you ever cheered or shouted for someone?”
Take a few answers.
Say:
“Today, people were cheering for Jesus.”
“They were shouting and waving branches.”
Hold up the branch.
“They thought Jesus was coming as a king.”
Pause.
“But not the kind of king they expected.”
3. Gospel (Simplified – Matthew 21:1–11)
(Read slowly and clearly.)
Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.
He told His disciples to bring Him a donkey.
He sat on the donkey and rode into the city.
A large crowd gathered.
They spread their cloaks on the road.
They cut branches and waved them.
They shouted:
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
The whole city was asking:
“Who is this?”
And the crowd answered:
“This is Jesus.”
Leader:
“The Gospel of the Lord.”
Children:
“Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.”
4. Reflection
Ask:
“What were the people doing?”
(Shouting, waving, welcoming)
“What word did they shout?”
(Hosanna)
Explain simply:
“Hosanna means: ‘Save us!’”
Say:
“They were happy.”
“They thought everything was going to be easy.”
Pause.
“But something very important is happening here.
Jesus is a king.
But not a king who takes power.
A king who gives Himself.”
Illustration
Hold up the cloth.
“Kings usually sit on big thrones.”
“Jesus rides on a donkey.”
“Kings are usually served.”
“Jesus came to serve.”
Say:
“The same people who shouted ‘Hosanna’
would later shout something very different.”
Pause.
“They would shout: ‘Crucify him.’”
Let that sit.
Ask:
“Why do you think people changed?”
Take brief answers.
Say:
“Because following Jesus is not always easy.”
5. Activity – Follow or Turn Away?
Explain:
“I’m going to say something.”
“You decide: is this following Jesus, or turning away?”
Children respond: Follow / Turn Away
Helping someone → Follow
Telling lies → Turn Away
Saying sorry → Follow
Being selfish → Turn Away
Forgiving someone → Follow
Ignoring someone in need → Turn Away
Say:
“It is easy to follow when things are easy.”
“It is harder when it costs something.”
6. Quiet Prayer
Ask children to close eyes.
Leader:
“Jesus,
help me to follow You
when it is easy.”
Pause.
“Help me to follow You
when it is hard.”
Pause.
“Help me to stay with You
all the way.”
7. Living the Gospel This Week
Ask:
“What is one way you can follow Jesus this week?”
Give examples:
Telling the truth
Helping at home
Saying sorry
Being kind when it is hard
Praying each day
Say:
“Holy Week is about staying with Jesus.”
“Not just at the start.”
“But all the way.”
8. Closing Prayer
Leader:
“Jesus,
You came as a humble king.
Help us to follow You.
Help us to stay with You.
Help us to love like You.
Amen.”
Make the Sign of the Cross.
9. Sending Back
Leader:
“The crowd shouted ‘Hosanna.’”
“We say the same.”
“But now we know something more.
Jesus is a king
who gives His life.”
“So let us go back to Mass
and follow Him.”
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 