Children’s Liturgy of the Word – The Holy Family

Theme: Learning Love, Obedience, and Hope at Home

Gathering & Welcome

(Gather the children together. If possible, near an image of the Holy Family.)

Leader:
“Today the Church celebrates the Holy Family —
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

They were a real family.
They loved each other.
They trusted God.
And sometimes life was hard.”

Make the Sign of the Cross.

Leader:
“Lord Jesus,
You chose to grow up in a family.
Help us to listen and learn from You today.
Amen.”

Opening Conversation

Ask gently:

“Who lives in your family?”

“What makes family life happy?”

“What can make family life difficult?”

Listen briefly.

Say:
“The Holy Family helps us understand that families don’t have to be perfect to be holy.
They have to be faithful.”

Introducing the Readings

Say:
“Today’s readings talk about family life in three ways:

How we treat our parents

How we live together at home

And how the Holy Family trusted God, even when things were frightening”

The Gospel (Child-friendly – Matthew 2:13–15, 19–23)

(Read slowly and clearly.)

An angel came to Joseph in a dream and said,
“Get up. Take the child and His mother and go to Egypt.
The child is in danger.”

Joseph got up straight away.
He took Mary and Jesus and left in the night.

Later, the angel came again and said,
“You can go home now.”

Joseph listened again and brought the family back safely.

Leader:
“The Gospel of the Lord.”
Children:
“Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.”

Explaining the Gospel

Say:
“The Holy Family was not always safe and comfortable.

They had to travel.
They had to leave their home.
They were sometimes afraid.

But Joseph trusted God.
Mary trusted God.
And Jesus grew up safe and loved.”

Pause.

“This is important:
God chose to save the world through a family that had difficulties.”

Built-in Activity: Listening Like Joseph

Say:
“Joseph shows us something very important.”

Ask:

“What did Joseph do when God spoke?”
(He listened / He obeyed)

“Did Joseph argue?”
(No)

“Did he delay?”
(No)

Say:
“Joseph listened, trusted, and acted.
That’s how families grow strong.”

Invite the children to quietly repeat:
“Help me listen, Lord.”

Sirach: Respect and Care at Home

Say:
“The first reading teaches us how to live in our families.”

Explain simply:

“Respect your parents”

“Be kind when people are older or tired”

“Don’t forget your family when things are difficult”

Ask:

“What is one kind thing you can do at home this week?”
(help, listen, say thank you, forgive)

Colossians: How Love Looks Every Day

Say:
“St Paul tells us how love looks in daily life.”

Name them slowly:

Kindness

Patience

Forgiveness

Helping one another

“These are not big heroic actions.
They are small things done every day.”

Built-in Activity: Building a Holy Home

Say:
“Imagine your home is like a house made of bricks.”

Name bricks and ask children to act them out gently:

Kind words

Forgiveness

Listening

Helping

Then say:

“When these bricks are strong,
the home becomes a place of hope.”

Link to Hope

Say:
“The Holy Family teaches us something important:

Hope grows in families
when people keep loving,
even when life is not easy.”

“This is how Jesus learned love —
by living in a family.”

Quiet Prayer Moment

Invite the children to fold their hands.

Say slowly:
“Jesus,
Thank You for my family.
Help us to love each other.
Help our home to be full of peace.”

(Short silence.)

Children’s Creed (Simple)

Leader:
“Do you believe Jesus lived in a family?”
Children: “Yes, I believe.”

“Do you believe Jesus helps our families?”
“Yes, I believe.”

“Do you want to try to love like Jesus at home?”
“Yes, I do.”

Children’s Intercessions

Leader:
“Let us pray for our families.”

For families everywhere — that they may grow in love and faith.
Lord, hear us.

For parents — that God may give them patience and wisdom.
Lord, hear us.

For children — that they may learn kindness and respect.
Lord, hear us.

For families who find life difficult — that God may help them.
Lord, hear us.

(Optional Hail Mary.)

Sending Back

Leader:
“As we go back to church, remember:

The Holy Family was not perfect —
but they trusted God.

Let us try to live with kindness, patience, and hope in our homes.”

Make the Sign of the Cross and return reverently.