More than just a fun addition to the Thanksgiving festivities, a homemade craft can be a memorable way to involve the whole family in the true spirit of the holiday, which is gratitude for God’s blessings.
Pope Leo once remarked that Thanksgiving is an opportunity “to say thank you to someone, to recognize that we all have received so many gifts — first and foremost, the gift of life, the gift of faith, the gift of unity, to encourage all people to try and promote peace and harmony and to give thanks to God for the many gifts we have been given.”
Indeed, prayers of thanks are no less central to a true Thanksgiving dinner than are the turkey, stuffing or mashed potatoes. Below is a craft idea that literally puts those prayers on the table — the Thanksgiving prayer placemat! This craft is perfect for kids and adults alike!
We recommend the following supplies to make personalized prayer placemats that will help family members of all ages come together in a spirit of thankfulness.
* If you don’t have 11×17 cardstock, you can make your own by taking two sheets of standard 8.5 x 11 cardstock and taping them together on one side (the back side).
Placemat crafts are a great way to form fond holiday memories with your kids as you foster a family culture of gratitude. We must remember that the things we take for granted — food, clean water, a solid roof over our heads — are often in short supply in the communities Cross Catholic Outreach serves around the world.
Thanksgiving means Advent is just around the corner! We invite you to explore our Advent Activity Guide for Families for more fun and meaningful ideas that will help your family members grow in faith. This free guide puts Christ at the center of Advent while reinforcing Catholic social teaching and the Corporal Works of Mercy.
We also encourage you to browse our Christmas Catalog for ways your family can give back this holiday season by helping other families and communities in need around the world. There are many programs to choose from, including our popular Box of Joy outreach, which gives you the chance to prepare special gift boxes to send to children who might otherwise get nothing at all for Christmas.
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.