The Solemnity of St. Joseph is almost here, and we have some fun and easy activities for you to celebrate this special saint!
These activities are adapted from our St. Joseph Glory Story Education Guide. Did you know that we are in the process of making guides to accompany every single Glory Story? Each education guide features:
- Suggested discussion questions
- Vocabulary
- Activity ideas
- Supplementary resource lists
With these Education Guides, incorporating Glory Stories into your curriculum is easier than ever!
Download the guide for FREE today!
For now, here are 5 EASY ways to celebrate St. Joseph with your family:
- Listen to the St. Joseph’s Glory Story!
From our wildly popular Glory Stories Collection, children will learn what it means to be a father and a husband through the story of St Joseph, the patron of workers and the universal Church.
Order a physical CD today, or click here to get it as an INSTANT MP3 DOWNLOAD*!
*New customers: when purchasing downloads, please “save my information” and “create a password” during checkout payment to create your account. Your download link will be available in your order history.
- Incorporate wood into your learning!
St. Joseph was a carpenter and passed on his trade to Jesus when He was a child. Your little ones might still be too young for woodcarving tools, but you can still incorporate wood into your day!
Kids can use their imaginations to play with wooden blocks (check out these saint ones!). Also, popsicle sticks make great craft bases–use them to make crosses, people, and more!
For older kids (especially boys) who are ready to work with real tools under supervision, websites like this one have some great beginner projects to do with a parent!
- Make St. Joseph pasta for dinner!
A hearty meal of spaghetti with breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese is a great vegetarian option for Lent (though you can eat meat this Friday because it is a solemnity)! This is a popular dish for Italians on March 19th since the breadcrumbs and shaved cheese call to mind the sawdust that coated Joseph’s carpenter’s workshop!
The dish is very simple; use your favorite jarred pasta sauce, cook the noodles according to package directions, and sprinkle plenty of cheese! For the very adventurous, try an authentic recipe like this one, one that contains traditional anchovies and nuts!
- Pray for your Dad
Our dads work hard to protect their families just like St. Joseph did for the Holy Family. This ancient prayer below is from the early Christian church that you can pray for Dads today.
O, Saint Joseph,
whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God,
I place in you all my interests and desires.
O, Saint Joseph,
do assist me by your powerful intercession,
and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings,
through Jesus Christ, Our Lord.
So that,
having engaged here below your heavenly power,
I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.
O, Saint Joseph,
I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms;
I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart.
Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me
and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath.
Saint Joseph, Patron of departing souls,
pray for me.
BONUS for the Year of St. Joseph—praying this prayer can count towards a plenary indulgence! Read more about it here!
- Learn about the Works of Mercy!
St. Joseph quietly practiced virtue while leading the Holy Family. Use the Works of Mercy Card Game and its accompanying activity book to teach kids about these important acts. Then, brainstorm ways the family can put them into practice! Here are a few examples:
Perhaps the kids can make cards for their dad, grandfather, or father figure in their lives (it could be a pastor, principal, etc.). This is a beautiful way to thank them for their fatherly witness. The recipients are sure to be very touched by this!
St. Joseph is also the patron of a happy death so today is a nice day to visit a cemetery and praying for the souls in Purgatory. Remind your kids that everyone can prepare for a happy death and that this is a joyful thing–we have to die to get to heaven forever!
Let us know how you’ve used the St. Joseph Glory Story by tagging us on Instagram and Facebook (@holyheroes)!
May God Bless you on this feast of St Joseph!
