Did you know that summer is a notoriously low point for church attendance?
Average Sunday morning attendance can drop by anywhere from 20% to 35% during June and July — what’s known as the “spiritual summer slump.”
If there’s one thing we at Aleteia love to do, it’s buck a bad trend.
After all, as G.K. Chesterton once wrote, “A dead thing can go with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it."
Alive in Christ, we love to “swim against the stream” when the direction it’s going isn't right for us.
So we’re on a mission to prevent the “spiritual summer slump” in our own homes, families, and parishes. (Hopefully you caught our summer bucket list and other ideas for Catholic families!)
Now we’ve found a fun and sweet resource to help families with children focus on faith this summer.
Juice Box: 30 Days to an Intentional Catholic Summer is a month-long family faith challenge. The concept is simple. Each day you’ll get an email with the following:
- A short reflection
- A brief, approachable prayer
- One simple action families can do together in just minutes
Led by experienced faith educators Julia Jacks and Father Tim Anastos, 30 Days to an Intentional Catholic Summer is designed to help families stay rooted in their faith all summer long. It kicks off June 8, so don’t miss it! You can sign up here.
As a mom myself, I love that this challenge doesn’t add more to a family’s schedule. Instead the goal is to create a sustainable rhythm, something families can return to consistently even in the midst of summer travel and changing routines.
If you’re a Catholic school teacher or catechist, you might want to share this resource with families to support habits of faith beyond the classroom.
And if you’re a parent or grandparent or educator looking for a fun and faith-building show for kids, don’t miss the many episodes of Juice Box, available free right here.
This award-winning show helps kids understand the Catholic faith through stories, play, and joy—and there are new episodes released every week, often corresponding to the liturgical year and current feast days. My kids can’t get enough of it, and we are all learning more about the wonder and beauty of our faith.
