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For Palm Sunday, learn how to fold a palm frond into a cross to celebrate Holy Week.

Lent Activity: How To Make a Palm Cross

On Palm Sunday, we declare, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Mark 11:9). During this first day of Holy Week, churches traditionally distribute palm branches to parishioners at Mass, giving us a visual reminder of our Savior’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem on a donkey.

Palm leaves also remind us of Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross on Good Friday. Many people fold these palms into crosses and keep them in a place of honor in their homes during the week. Here’s one way to fold your palm into a cross:

RELATED: A Catholic Reflection for Lent and Easter

Directions

Step 1: Fold your palm 5-6 inches from the bottom, as pictured.

Step 2: Fold along the line straight down.

Step 3: Go almost halfway down and make a diagonal fold of the end of the palm out to the right side.

Step 4: Fold behind the back of the cross so the palm frond points left.

Step 5: Fold to the right again, leaving several inches of palm on the left of the cross. This should be the same length as the right fold.

Step 6: In the center of the cross, make a diagonal fold up and to the right.

Step 7: Fold the frond behind the cross, moving diagonally to the lower left.

Step 8: Fold to the right over the crossbar.

Step 9: Fold diagonally behind the cross and to the left.

Step 10: Fold diagonally and to the right.

Step 11: Tuck the end of the palm leaf under and pull it through.

Step 12: When you turn the cross over, you will see a completed cross. Feel free to cut the excess palm or make a loop to hang it on the wall.

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Picture of Father Dave Caron, O.P.

Father Dave Caron, O.P.

Fr. David G. Caron, O.P., joined Cross Catholic Outreach in 2021. Previously he was the Director of the Office of Evangelization and was the Promoter of the Jubilee Year of Mercy for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. In 2015, he was named a Missionary of Mercy by Pope Francis and continues to serve in that capacity. Fr. Dave previously served as President and Assistant Professor of Liturgical and Sacramental Theology of Aquinas Institute of Theology. A former diocesan priest and parish administrator, he joined the Dominican Order in 2000. In addition to pursuing his passions of preaching, leadership development, evangelization, and liturgy, Fr. Dave has a deep admiration for Pope Francis’ invitation to the whole Church to go to the peripheries and there “accompany” the poor and others by modeling God’s mercy.

Donations from this campaign will be used to cover any expenditures for this project incurred through June 30, 2027, the close of our ministry’s fiscal year. In the event that more funds are raised than needed to fully fund the project, the excess funds, if any, will be used to meet the most urgent needs of the ministry.