Scroll to the bottom to grab your free April Catholic feast days calendar!
If you’re trying to help your kids understand the Catholic faith, the liturgical calendar is one of the most powerful tools you have. And April? It’s such a rich month in the year. Holy Week, Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday, and some wonderful saints — there’s so much to celebrate together as a family.
This guide covers all the major Catholic feast days and saints in April 2026, with a free printable calendar your kids can use at home or in the classroom.
The Liturgical Season in April
April 2026 opens in the final days of Holy Week — the most solemn week of the entire Catholic year. The liturgical color is purple, reminding us of penance, sacrifice and preparation.
Then on April 5, everything changes. Easter Sunday arrives and the Church bursts into joy. The color shifts to white and gold — the colors of celebration, light and resurrection. This joyful season is called Eastertide and it lasts for 50 days all the way until Pentecost.
Almost all of April 2026 is celebrated in the light of the Risen Christ, a beautiful month to be Catholic!
Holy Week — April 1 to 4
Holy Week is the most important week of the year. Each day has its own meaning and tradition.
April 1st — Holy Wednesday (or Spy Wednesday)
The last day before the Easter Triduum begins. A quiet day of preparation and prayer before the most sacred three days of the year.
April 2nd — Maundy Thursday
On this night, Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples and gave us the greatest gift — the Eucharist. He took bread and wine and said “This is My Body… This is My Blood.” Holy Thursday is a beautiful night to talk to your children about why Mass is so special and why we receive Jesus in Holy Communion.
April 3rd — Good Friday
The day Jesus died on the Cross for our sins. Catholics fast and abstain from meat on this day. Many parishes pray the Stations of the Cross together — a powerful devotion for children. It can feel like a sad day, but it is also a day full of love, because Jesus died for us.
Looking for a free Stations of the Cross printable for kids? Check out our free printable here.
April 4th — Holy Saturday
The Church waits in silence. Jesus is in the tomb. In the evening, the Easter Vigil begins, one of the most beautiful liturgies of the year. The church is dark, then a single candle is lit and carried through the darkness. The Easter Vigil is worth going to as a family!
April 5th — Easter Sunday, He is Risen!
“He is not here — He has risen, just as He said.” (Matthew 28:6)
Easter Sunday is the most important day in the entire Catholic calendar. Jesus rose from the dead, defeating sin and death forever. Everything we believe as Catholics flows from this moment.
Celebrate as a family! Attend Mass together, share a special meal, and remind your children that the Easter season lasts 50 days — not just one day. We say “Alleluia!” all through Eastertide because the joy of the Resurrection never ends.
Want to explain the Passion and Resurrection to your kids?
Read our Holy Week guide for kids here.
April 12 — Divine Mercy Sunday
The second Sunday of Easter is Divine Mercy Sunday — one of the most beloved feast days in the Catholic Church. Jesus appeared to St. Faustina Kowalska and asked that this day be celebrated as a feast of His infinite mercy.
The Divine Mercy chaplet is a beautiful prayer to teach children — it reminds them that no matter what they have done, God’s mercy is always greater. A wonderful day to go to Confession as a family if possible.
For kids: “Jesus, I trust in You” — teach your children this simple phrase. It is the heart of the Divine Mercy devotion and one of the most powerful prayers they can carry through life.
April 23 — St. George
Feast day of one of the most beloved saints! St. George was a Roman soldier and martyr who gave up everything, including his life, rather than deny his faith in Jesus Christ.
The famous legend of St. George slaying a dragon has captivated children for centuries. Whether historical or symbolic, it represents the Christian call to face evil with courage and faith.
Patron of: England, soldiers, scouts, and many others.
Free St. George Coloring Page for Kids — a beautiful activity for his feast day on April 23!
For kids: St. George shows us that being brave and being faithful go together. True courage comes from trusting in God.
April 25 — St. Mark the Evangelist
Feast day of St. Mark — one of the four Evangelists and author of the shortest and most action-packed Gospel. St. Mark was a companion of St. Peter and St. Paul and wrote his Gospel based on Peter’s eyewitness accounts of Jesus.
A wonderful day to open the Gospel of Mark with your children and read a short passage together.
Patron of: Venice, notaries, and interpreters.
For kids: St. Mark reminds us that sharing the story of Jesus is one of the most important things we can do. Even children can share the Good News with the people around them!
April 26 — Good Shepherd Sunday
The fourth Sunday of Easter is known as Good Shepherd Sunday because the Gospel reading comes from John 10 — Jesus calling Himself the Good Shepherd.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)
This is a beautiful Sunday to talk to your children about Jesus as their shepherd, someone who knows them by name, protects them, and never abandons them.
For kids: A shepherd takes care of every single sheep, even if one gets lost, he goes looking for it. That’s how much Jesus loves you. He knows your name and He always comes to find you.
April 29 — St. Catherine of Siena
Feast day of one of the greatest women in Church history, a Doctor of the Church, mystic, and fearless voice for truth. St. Catherine of Siena lived in the 14th century and spent her life in prayer, service to the poor, and writing letters to popes and kings calling them back to holiness.
She is the patron saint of Italy, Europe, and nurses. Her symbol is the lily (representing purity) and the quill pen (representing her powerful writings).
For kids: St. Catherine never learned to read until God miraculously taught her. She shows us that God can do extraordinary things through ordinary people who say yes to Him.
April 30 — St. Pius V
Memorial of Pope St. Pius V — one of the great reform popes of the Catholic Church. He standardized the Mass after the Council of Trent and is closely associated with the Rosary. He called on all Catholics to pray the Rosary before the Battle of Lepanto in 1571 — and the Christian fleet won a miraculous victory.
For kids: St. Pius V trusted in the power of the Rosary. He reminds us that prayer is never a small thing — it can change history!
Free April Catholic Calendar Printable for Kids
Download your free April 2026 Catholic feast days calendar below — perfect for displaying on your fridge, using in your homeschool, or bringing to catechism class!
Click here to download your calendar!
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More Catholic Resources for April
- 🌿 Journey Through Holy Week — The Passion of Jesus Explained for Kids
- ✝️ Stations of the Cross for Kids — Free Printable
- 📖 Free Lent Activities for Kids
- 🙏 The Mass Explained for Kids — Step by Step Guide
Wishing your family a beautiful and blessed Easter season! He is risen — Alleluia!