As Lent approaches, many families are looking for concrete and creative ways to help their children grow closer to Jesus.
Catholic mother and content creator Kristen Combo shared a simple yet powerful idea that brings the Gospel to life—especially for children.
In a video shared on Instagram, Kristen explained that the idea began as a community project. Together with other families, they decided to paint small wooden figures—often called peg dolls—representing the people who accompanied Jesus during His Passion, Death, and Resurrection.
Each participant chose a specific character and painted several versions—26 figures in total. Later, the families gathered to exchange them, so that each family could take home a complete set representing the key figures from Jesus’ final days.
Watch the video below:
“Each one was carefully painted, and together they tell the greatest story ever told,” Kristen shared in the video.
She explained that this hands-on project helps the Gospel tangibly come to life, allowing children to hold, move, and interact with the people who walked with Jesus during His Passion.
“If you or your kids have ever been part of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, you know how powerful it is when faith becomes something they can actually touch and play with. These peg dolls make the Gospel come alive in the sweetest way.”
But for Kristen, the true beauty of the project goes beyond the finished figures. The real value lies in the process—the time spent painting together, praying, talking about the Gospel, and growing in faith as a family and community.
“And the best part?” she noted. “You can totally adjust how many characters each person makes depending on how many families are participating — so it works for a small group or a big one.
This Lent, ideas like this serve as a reminder that faith isn’t taught only through words. It’s also passed on through simple, concrete experiences that help children discover that the Gospel is truly alive.