Holy Week gives us a chance to pause, reflect, and get in touch with your soul. Whether you’re deeply rooted in your faith or struggling to find your way to God, this sacred week offers you a chance to find peace and personal renewal. The best part? Deepening your faith doesn’t have to feel heavy or rigid. From quiet moments to joyful practices, here are six ways to make this Holy Week more personal and meaningful.
1. Create a Holy Week Playlist
Music is powerful. Since it can move our hearts and minds in ways words alone sometimes can’t, try making a playlist with worship songs, hymns, or instrumental pieces that help you reflect, quiet down. While the old classics like Don Moen’s “Shout To The Lord†or Gary Valenciano’s “Lead Me Lord†are a good start, you can also look for other modern Christian hits like “Oceans†by Hillsong, soulful ballads by Maverick City Music, or even upbeat gospel hymns to revive your spirit. Go with whatever moves your soul!
Bonus idea: Swap your usual music or podcast queue for your Holy Week playlist throughout the day—during your commute or workout, while cooking, getting ready in the morning, or even while journaling. You might notice how your mindset subtly shifts, with familiar tasks becoming little moments of worship. You can even create themed mini-playlists: one for quiet morning reflection, another for walking or movement, and a celebration mix for Easter Sunday.
2. Attend a Local Holy Week Service
Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigils are all rich with tradition and meaning, but we’re not usually aware about why we do certain practices during this time. If you don’t regularly attend religious activities, try checking the Holy Week schedule at a nearby church and see if anything interests you. For example, if you’re curious about the Washing of the Feet ceremony, try doing a quick Google search to quickly read up about the significance and symbolism behind this ritual (check out these links here and here). This way, you can watch and find a deeper way to make these practices more meaningful when you attend a service.
Bonus idea: Try bringing a friend or family member and challenge them to do their own research about the activity or ceremony you’ll be attending. This way, you can both exchange ideas, share any trivia you’ve learned, and talk about the moments that touched you afterwards over coffee.
3. Try unplugging for the day (or at least an hour)
Putting the phone down is never easy, but try disconnecting from social media and screens for a few hours and observe how it makes you feel. If you get antsy and need to do something, use your time offline to pray, journal, or go on a nature walk or hike. Notice the little things—the sky, the flowers, the breeze—and say a prayer of gratitude for every blessing around you. Solitude and quiet are rare gifts these days, so try to take advantage of it while everyone is on a break and the world around you is a little more quiet. You’ll soon discover that staying still and resting in silence is a wonderful way to allow space for God to speak into your heart.
Bonus idea: When you do your “tech fast,†try to do it on Good Friday. If you have a hard time settling down, bring a notebook with you and try writing God an actual letter. Pour out your thoughts, hurts, worries, gratitude, questions, and doubts. Try to listen to how He answers you and take delight in your time together.
4. Do a Random Act of Kindness
Acts of kindness are a living expression of faith and service, echoing Jesus’ commandment to love one another. The best part is, it could be something as simple as paying for someone’s coffee, writing a heartfelt note, or volunteering at an orphanage. Looking for more ideas? Think about someone who might be going through a hard time and do something specific just for them—a text, a treat, or even just your time can mean more than you know. It’s not about grand gestures; it’s about being present and intentional.
Bonus idea: If it feels right, you can also try doing your act of kindness anonymously. It can be inspiring, touching, and even miraculous if the person receiving your “gift†doesn’t feel any pressure or need to reciprocate or outwardly acknowledge what you’ve done for them. Sometimes, there’s something beautifully humbling about not being seen
5. Read a Gospel Account of the Passion
Pick one of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John) and read the story of Jesus’ final week. Try reading it slowly over the course of the week, imagining the scenes, the emotions, the people, and really enter the narrative. If you’re not a big reader and are more of a visual person, consider watching a film like The Passion of the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, or The Gospel of John. Sometimes seeing the scenes unfold can bring a new level of emotional and spiritual clarity, helping you grasp the weight and beauty of Christ’s sacrifice.
Bonus idea: We’ve said this before, but sometimes, journaling or typing out your reactions can really help you stay in the moment and process what you’re feeling inside. What surprises you? Moves you? Challenges you? Write it down and keep the journal, so you can repeat the same process again next year. You may be surprised at how the same film can reveal different things about yourself and God during the different eras of your life.
6. Celebrate Holy Week In Your Own Way
Holy Week doesn’t have to be heavy or complicated — it just needs to be intentional. Whether you’re lighting candles in a quiet room or gathering around a dinner table, each moment can be an offering, a prayer, a step closer to what really matters.
Bonus idea: Sometimes we go so deep into solemnity that we forget that there is also something to celebrate: Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday, which is the ultimate victory over death and darkness. So go ahead and do something that makes you want to celebrate like dressing up, eating something delicious, or even just finding a way to bring more joy, generosity, and gratitude into your life.