Modeling the Corporal Works of Mercy for Your Kids

Sherry Hayes-Peirce suggests age-appropriate ways parents can involve their children in serving others this summer.

Just before Easter, a nine-year-old reminded me how important it is for parents to model the faith to their children in age-appropriate ways. On Good Friday, my Widows Ministry hosted the final Lenten dinner. I saw a young man, urged on by his grandmother, picking up the plates and cups at the table where they were sitting. When I motioned for him to give me the plates, he said, “My granny said cleaning the table was a corporal work of mercy. I want to be a servant of God.”

Summer is here, and while many of you are thinking about what camp to put your kids in or what city or country to take them to in an effort to broaden their worldview, perhaps take time to pray about ways you can model our faith to them. May I suggest you start with The Seven Corporal Works of Mercy:

• Feed the Hungry
• Give Drink to the Thirsty
• Clothe the Naked
• Shelter the Homeless
• Visit the Sick
• Visit the Imprisoned
• Bury the Dead

The Corporal Works of Mercy can be found in the Catechism in paragraph 2447.

The first four are all associated with a current crisis that we have in our world: the plight of homelessness. As the Corporal Works of Mercy were instituted during the Council of Trent around 1566, it is not a new phenomenon that people in a community may need the help of a neighbor. Many may want to shield their children from this reality, but teaching our children how to be the hands, feet, and maybe even the voice of God is creating encounter for them. Maybe it will inspire them to create a ministry at your church to galvanize other kids to serve.

Feed the Hungry

This could be sparking a food drive that collects kid-friendly snacks for kids to donate to the local food pantry. Gift cards are also great to collect and donate for families in need. As a family, serve a meal at a homeless shelter. Challenge your children to find Scripture verses that speak about feeding the hungry; they can Google these and then read the verses in their Bibles.

Give Drink to the Thirsty

While most of us are only familiar with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) through our participation with the Lenten Rice Bowl campaign, this organization supports families around the world year ‘round. As a family, watch this video about how CRS helps to provide water to communities in need. They also have opportunities for families to purchase cows and goats to provide milk for their children. If you are traveling to one of the countries CRS serves, maybe you can do a little research and visit one of the places they are supporting.

Clothe the Naked

So many times, kids grow like a weed and the clothes go to the younger sibling in large families. If you are a smaller family you may think if you can’t give those outgrown clothes to a friend or relative, it’s easiest to simply toss them in the trash. Reportedly, 19-20% of the homeless community in the U.S. are under 18, and the children definitely need clothing. Your donations of gently-worn clothing to homeless shelters would be greatly appreciated. Sharing with your children that there are so many kids who may have a single pair of shorts or pants and one or two shirts helps them to have a broader view of the circumstances affecting families.

Shelter the Homeless

This may be something that your family may be uncomfortable with, but becoming a foster family or starting a ministry at your parish that provides at least overnight housing to families would be an extraordinary gift to a family living in their car. When I visited Rome, Mother Teresa’s sisters run a shelter just outside St. Peter’s Basilica where I prepared and served dinner to homeless women. What a powerful experience! If you are visiting Rome or another holy site as part of a pilgrimage, there might be an opportunity to serve — check it out!

Visit the Sick

We typically, think of visiting someone from our parish, a friend, or a family member when they are sick, but there are always sick people in need of visitors. Children really benefit from younger visitors! Check out your local hospitals to find out what is needed. If your child knits or crochets, encourage them to make blankets for patients. Have the littles draw or make things that they can give to older patients to lift their spirits. Maybe you can even visit a local assisted living facility to see if your children can share a talent with the residents.

Visit the Imprisoned

This may not be a work of mercy for every family, but if your parish facilitates opportunities for visits to detention centers from kids, teens, or young adults, this may be a blessed gift to families affected by recent immigration related situations.

Bury the Dead

This may seem like it might not be something you would want to expose children to if the decedent is not related to them. However, as a bereavement minister, I’ve seen that parishes are often in need of altar servers for funerals. This would provide an opportunity for your older children to serve in doing this corporal work of mercy.

I hope this has sparked thought and inspired prayerful discernment for how to model Corporal Works of Mercy over the summer. Imagine how their essay on “What I Did This Summer” will be received upon their return to school!

Your Turn!

I would love to hear how you may already be modeling or doing some of the ideas shared here in the comments.

“The Family that Prays Together Stays Together.” Venerable Patrick Peyton

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Copyright 2026 Sherry Hayes-Peirce
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