‘Catholic Tradition Alive at Home' is a series of 13 A5 wipe-clean, recipe-style cards produced in the Plymouth Diocese's Exeter Deanery to help families practice their faith together at home, building on time-honoured Catholic traditions. The cards range from Making the Sign of the Cross and Blessing the Home to Making a Prayer Corner. Each card offers something of the rationale behind the tradition, referencing scripture in some cases. Simple prayers are offered as well as some ‘top tips' to help families share these traditions within their busy family lives.

Inspiration for these innovative resources came from a trip to Sainsbury's as Jillian Wilce, Celebrating Family Project Coordinator in the diocese, explains: "One of our deacons was inspired by the menu cards, the ones that tell you how to make cottage pie and such. There was a card available for boiling an egg. He thought it strange that it wasn't telling you how to make an omelette but just simply to boil an egg! It occurred to him that often simple questions like ‘Do I make the sign of the cross with my left or right hand?' or ‘Should I go left to right or right to left?' can make some feel awkward and lost, and ultimately hinder the action completely. The card we've produced about the sign of the cross is designed to explain how you actually do it, but it also gives something of the rationale about why we do it, providing insight into the multilayered symbol it is."

Different parishes have used these cards in a variety of ways: some have given every family a copy of one card and as a parish have focused on that particular tradition. Others have used them within faith share groups, exploring further the scripture references offered.

The card sets cost £2.76 each, plus postage, and the 13 titles are:

• Morning Offering
• Praying at night
• Praying the Our Father
• Praying before a meal
• Making the sign of the cross
• Praying for a safe journey
• Celebrating Advent
• Blessing the home
• Saying the Hail Mary
• Remembrance, especially in November
• Celebrating Christmas
• Saying sorry in Lent
• Making a prayer corner

For further information, to view a sample card, or to download an order form, please visit the Celebrating Family website. For enquiries, contact Jillian Wilce at the Diocese of Plymouth's Department for Formation - JillianW [at] plymouth-diocesan-office [dot] org [dot] uk.