How to Use This Book

 

 

 

Coaches,

 

This devotional book has been created for you! The layout is simple to make doing devotional easy every week at your practice.

 

Each devotional page includes the Gospel reading for the upcoming Sunday. You can read the Gospel or choose a player to read to the team.

 

After the Gospel are “Points of Reflection” about what is happening in the Gospel. If you have others you would like to add for you team please do!

 

Lastly, there are “Questions to ask” which are there to help get your team engaged and thinking about how the Gospel relates to their own lives, families, and team.

 

As a Coach for the CYO Program your mission is to develop Christian ideals in each player. This devotional will serve as a simple tool to help you form the youth through the Word of God and your personal willingness to take time to share the Gospel of Christ with your team.

 

 

 

 

Good Luck this season!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Our Father

Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

 

 

The Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of Grace the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

 

 

The Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, a world without end. Amen.

 

 

 

 

Prayer for Athletes

Dear Father, may I compete with your love shining in my heart. May I push myself to be the best. I believe I can with your wisdom in my mind. May I have the strength, endurance and skills I need to be the athlete I know I can be. I worship you, I surrender to you. Lord, all that I do today is for you and your glory. Amen.

 

Prayer for Coaches

Heavenly Father guide me as I try to coach my team to build each player’s character and boost their self-esteem. May I keep an even temper and remember it’s a game. Grant me patient wisdom as I praise them or correct. Lord, whether we win or lose, may all who are watching see the kind of coach at every game that you would have me be. Amen

 

 

 

Sunday February 15, 2026

 

Matthew 5: 20-22, 27-28, 33-34, 37 (Short version)

 

Jesus said to his disciples: "I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. "You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.

"You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. "Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow. But I say to you, do not swear at all. Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,'and your 'No' mean 'No.' Anything more is from the evil one."

 

 

 

Reflection Points:

-       Jesus here is sharing things that would have been very hard for people to follow

-       He is telling us to not settle for the bare minimum of what it means to be good and holy

-       He also challenges us to be people who mean what they say and to not be someone who goes back on their word

 

Reflection Questions:

-       Why is it so easy to be angry with other people?

-       Why do you think it is hard to always strive to do the right thing?

-       How can you say “yes” to God one way this week? How can you say “no” to sin this week?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday February 22, 2026 (First Sunday of Lent)

 

Matthew 4:1-11

 

At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” He said in reply, “It is written: One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you and with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Jesus answered him, “Again it is written, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.” Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, ""All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! It is written: The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.” Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.

 

 

Reflection Points:

-       Jesus here is tempted by the devil

-       Here we see that even Jesus knew what it was like to face temptation

-       He is able to fight off all Satan’s temptations by using Scripture

 

Reflection Questions:

-       How does it feel to know that Jesus also knows what it is like to be tempted?

-       How do you fight off temptation when it comes?

-       Do you have any Scripture verses memorized? If not, try to pick one to work on!

 

 

Sunday March 1, 2026 (2nd Sunday of Lent)

 

Matthew 17:1-9

 

Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them,
then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone. As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, “Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

 

 

 

Reflection Points:

-       This moment in Scripture is called the Transfiguration

-       Jesus reveals Himself in a powerful way to some of His closest friends to show them His true divinity and that He really is God

-       Peter, James and John get distracted and God the Father speaks from Heaven to get them to listen carefully to how important Jesus’ message is

 

Reflection Questions:

-       What do you think it would be like to be a close friend of Jesus? How can you do that now?

-       What are ways Jesus has revealed Himself to you in your life? 

-       What are ways that you can better listen to Jesus this week?

 

 

 

Sunday March 8, 2026 (3rd Sunday of Lent)

 

John 4: 5-15 (short version)

 

Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar,  near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there. Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well. It was about noon. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him,  “How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” —For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.— Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink, ‘
you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep; where then can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself with his children and his flocks?”Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.” (continues longer form)

 

Reflection Points:

-       In this passage Jesus is speaking to a woman that other people do not like

-       Jesus is careful to be loving and kind to her since she is an outcast

-       Jesus shares a message of hope with the woman

 

Reflection Questions:

-       What does it feel like to be left out or like others do not like you?

-       What are ways you can be kind to someone who is left out or someone who gets picked on?

-       How can you bring hope to people who are having a hard time? 

 

 

 

Sunday March 15, 2026 (4th Sunday of Lent)

 

John 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38

 

As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth. He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him,  “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam”  which means Sent . So he went and washed, and came back able to see. His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said,  “Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is, “ but others said, “No, he just looks like him.” He said, “I am.” They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees. Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath. So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.” So some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he does not keep the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a sinful man do such signs?” And there was a division among them. So they said to the blind man again,  “What do you have to say about him, since he opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” They answered and said to him, “You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?” Then they threw him out. When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered and said,  “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him.

 

Reflection Points:

-       This is a story of one of Jesus’ miraculous healings

-       People have a hard time truly believing the man was healed because it is impossible

-       At the end, the man recognizes that Jesus is actually the Messiah and worships him

 

Reflection Questions:

-       Do you think God is still working miracles in the world today?

-       Why is it hard to believe that God can do the impossible?

-       How can you praise God this week for all He has done in your life?

 

 

Sunday March 22, 2026 (5th Sunday of Lent)

 

John 11: 1-7, 17-27 (shortened version)

 

Now a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who had anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and dried his feet with her hair; it was her brother Lazarus who was ill.The sisters of Lazarus sent word to Jesus, saying,  “Master, the one you love is ill.” When Jesus heard this he said, “This illness is not to end in death,  but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that he was ill,  he remained for two days in the place where he was. Then after this he said to his disciples,  "Let us go back to Judea.” When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus  had already been in the tomb for four days. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him;  but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus,  “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha said, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life;  whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,  and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”

 

 

 

Reflection Points:

-       This is another great miracle of Jesus, even crazier than the last one!

-       Jesus raises His dear friend Lazarus from the dead

-       Before Jesus brings back Lazarus, He asks the sisters of Lazarus if they believe that Jesus can actually do the impossible. They have great faith in Him.

 

Reflection Questions:

-       Can you imagine if you saw someone rise up from being dead for three days? What would you think?

-       What do you think having genuine faith in God looks like?

-       What do you believe about Jesus?

 

 

 

Sunday March 29, 2026 (Palm Sunday)

 

Matthew 26: 26-35 (shorted version)

 

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, from now on I shall not drink this fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father." Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, "This night all of you will have your faith in me shaken, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be dispersed; but after I have been raised up, I shall go before you to Galilee." Peter said to him in reply, "Though all may have their faith in you shaken, mine will never be." Jesus said to him, "Amen, I say to you, this very night before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." Peter said to him, "Even though I should have to die with you, I will not deny you." And all the disciples spoke likewise.

 

 

 

Reflection Points:

-       We are now starting to prepare to celebrate the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus

-       The Gospel reflects on the last moments of Jesus’ life before He is crucified

-       One of the very last things He does is share a meal with His friends… this is the first Eucharist

 

Reflection Questions:

-       How does your family prepare to participate in these days leading up to Easter?

-       What are ways you can make some extra time for prayer or getting to Church this week?

-       Why is the Eucharist still so important for us today? (Jesus is still entirely present in our lives in a real way)

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday April 5, 2026 (Easter Sunday)

 

John 20:1-9

 

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning,

while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.

 

 

 

 

Reflection Points:

-       Jesus is risen from the grave and has conquered death!

-       Mary Magdala was the first one to go to Jesus’s tomb and realize it was empty

-       When the apostles showed up they also saw the truth… there was no body in the tomb

 

Reflection Questions:

-       Why is it so important that Jesus rose from the dead?

-       How can you best celebrate Easter with your family? (Church and not forgetting what we are celebrating)

-       What does Jesus’ resurrection mean for your life today?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday April 12, 2026 (Divine Mercy Sunday)

 

John 20: 19-31

 

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” Now, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

 

Reflection Points:

-       In this Gospel Jesus appears to the Apostles after He has risen from the grave

-       In this moment we see the Sacrament of Reconciliation instituted by Jesus, giving authority to his Apostles to forgive or retain sins

-       Thomas doubts that his friends actually saw Jesus so Jesus reappears to show Thomas it really is Him

 

Reflection Questions:

-       Why is it hard to believe in Jesus when we can’t see him?

-       What do you think it means to have the peace of Jesus?

-       When was the last time you were able to go to Confession? Ask your parents to take you sometime soon!

Sunday April 19, 2026

 

Luke 24: 13-26 (shortened version)

 

That very day, the first day of the week,  two of Jesus' disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them,  "What are you discussing as you walk along?" They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?" And he replied to them, "What sort of things?"

They said to him,  "The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this,

it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning  and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see." And he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?"

 

 

Reflection Points:

-       This passage is called the Road to Emmaus

-       Jesus walks alongside people who are talking about what happened to the man who died and rose but they do not recognize who He is

-       Jesus then reveals it is Him and their hearts burn within them when He recites the Scriptures to them

 

Reflection Questions:

-       Why is reading Scripture so important?

-       How can we draw closer to Jesus through reading the Bible?

-       What can it look like in your life to allow Jesus to walk alongside you?

 

 

 

Sunday April 26, 2026

 

John 10: 1-10

 

Jesus said: "Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers." Although Jesus used this figure of speech, the Pharisees did not realize what he was trying to tell them. So Jesus said again, "Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly."

 

Reflection Points:

-       In this Gospel Jesus talks about the way we should take to get to Heaven

-       He reveals that He IS the way

-       He promises that whoever follows after Him will have life to the full

 

Reflection Questions:

-       What does it look like to follow Jesus?

-       What do you think it means to have life to the full?

-       What do you think Heaven is like? Why should we want to be there?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday May 3, 2026

 

John 14: 1-12

 

Jesus said to his disciples: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way." Thomas said to him, "Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?"

Jesus said to him, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him." Philip said to him, "Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father."

 

 

 

 

Reflection Points:

-       Once again Jesus tells us He is the Way but he also add on that He is the Truth and the Life

-       Jesus tells us if we know Him then we also know God the Father, this helps us understand the Trinity

-       Jesus tells us that if we believe in Him and live a life that shows that, then we will do great things in this life and be ready for the next

 

 

Reflection Questions:

-       What does it mean that Jesus is the Truth?

-       What does it mean that Jesus is the Life?

-       What does it look like in your own life to be like Jesus and do what He did?