Holy Week as a Family: A Reflection on Bringing the Sacred Home with the Rev. Dr. Libby Catania

Bedtime Chapel: Family Prayer

An extremely timely episode -- this conversation discusses how to engage with Holy Week as a family. We also reference the readings for the week of 04/13 – you can find the prayer services and upcoming reading list here.

Our guest the Rev. Dr. Libby Catania leads a thoughtful exploration of how to observe Holy Week as a family. She reviews practical and meaningful ways to celebrate the Holy Days—from Palm Sunday to Easter—emphasizing both the liturgical richness of the season and the importance of engaging families in these practices. Libby shares specific ideas and personal insights on incorporating Holy Week rituals into family life, inviting listeners to reflect on the deeper significance of Christ’s journey and resurrection.

In addition to the Holy Week celebrations, the conversation touches on modern challenges for families—particularly how technology and screen time can create barriers to genuine connection with our children. Libby offers guidance for parents to be more present during these sacred times. We will definitely be putting some of these suggestions into practice - and hope you do the same!

The Rev. Dr. Libby Catania is a friend, mentor, and example of how to live our one’s vocation in a whole-hearted authentic way. She is the co-founder of Limina Renewal Center, a Spiritual Companion, and priest who is canonically resident in Diocese of Maine.

Libby Catania is a mother of human, furry and plant beings, grandmother, wife and friend. She and her husband Bill are blessed to be co-stewards of Limina Renewal Center on the coast of Maine. Prior to founding Limina, Libby was a full-time priest in the diocese of Massachusetts and prior to that the diocese of Virginia. She has taught ethics and preaching classes at the graduate level, but most enjoys wondering and dreaming with children and teens. When not roaming the tidal flats, LIbby loves to run, knit, read, garden, and cook - especially with family and friends. We highly recommend checking out Liminia if you’re looking for a retreat that will be balm to your soul and food for the journey!

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Key moments in our conversation include:

• 00:30 – Introducing Libby and the focus on Holy Week celebrations
• 03:44 – Conversation on the importance of turning off screens and being present with children
• 05:30 – Libby reviews specific practices for observing Holy Week in a family context - including the discussion of how to use a children’s Bible
• 10:42 - Specific practices for Maundy Thursday
• 14:40 – Embodied nature of the Holy Week services
• 21:23 - Practical Ways of Integrating Holy Week to Family Life

You can read a complete transcript of this episode, here.

Further Resources from this Discussion

• Children’s Bibles Mentioned:
  • Children of God Storybook Bible by Archbishop Desmond Tutu
  • God’s Stories family-focused Bible from the Bible for Normal People
• Holy Week: An Emotions Primer – a board book using feelings to help children connect with the story

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