Top photo credit: Getty image
By Lisa Ann Limongello, Special Contributor
Vacation has a way of getting us out of our routine. The schedule disappears, bedtimes get a little looser and someone inevitably eats ice cream before dinner. Whether your family is heading to the beach, visiting grandparents, road-tripping to a national park, or simply enjoying a slower summer rhythm at home, vacation invites us to rest; and rest is holy. But prayer should never be something we take a break from. In fact, vacation may be one of the best times to pray as a family.
When life slows down in those moments, we tend to have more time to notice the things we usually rush past: sunsets, laughter around a dinner table, sandy tiny toes on the beach, quiet mornings with coffee before the kids wake up. These moments naturally lead us toward gratitude, and gratitude IS prayer.
For parents, the pressure to create a “perfect” family prayer routine can feel overwhelming. But prayer on vacation doesn’t need to look like a perfectly planned Holy Hour on the beach. Most families are simply trying to survive the car ride without someone throwing goldfish or screaming their heads off. The good news? God meets families exactly where they are.
Prayer while traveling is often less about adding something new and more about noticing God in what you’re already doing. A simple prayer before meals at a crowded restaurant becomes a witness to those around you, a decade of the Rosary during a long drive may give you a semblance of peace in the middle of traffic. Inviting your children to share one thing for which they’re grateful before bed opens the door for meaningful memories.
It is important to remember that children especially learn prayer by seeing it lived naturally. They remember the small things that you do: Mom making the Sign of the Cross before take-off, Dad pausing to thank God after safely arriving, grandparents insisting on Sunday Mass no matter where they are. These moments quietly teach children that faith is not confined to church buildings or school-year schedules. Our faith travels with us everywhere we go because God is everywhere.
Vacation offers families quality time together without distractions, which is something many of us lack in our everyday lives. Prayer strengthens that quality time because it reminds us of who gave us life in the first place. Jesus did not tell us to pray only when life is organized, quiet or convenient. He calls us to remain close to him always. Family prayer keeps Christ at the center even when routines change. Prayer can transform vacations from simple escapes into opportunities for deeper connection with one another and with our friend, Jesus.
Honestly, some of the most beautiful family faith memories can happen far from home. A spontaneous prayer while watching waves crash on the beach, lighting a candle in a church you’re visiting, singing worship music in the car with the windows down, and thanking God together after a long day full of memories. These small faith moments matter, and they teach our children that their faith will stay with them anywhere and everywhere they go.
So for your next vacation, remember to pack the sunscreen, snacks, all the chargers and God too. Pray imperfectly, pray simply, pray together. And know that no matter where your family goes, he is already there waiting to travel with you.
Tip Box-Faith on the Go
Here are a few easy ways families can stay connected to God on vacation:
Catholic prayer apps: Apps like Hallow, Amen and Laudate offer guided family meditations, sleep prayers, daily readings, and short reflections for all ages
Find Mass while away: Masstimes.org helps families locate nearby Catholic churches and Mass schedules
Create vacation traditions: Invite each family member to share a “God moment” from the day at dinner or before bed
Make the car ride prayer time: Put fun worship music on and sing together or pray a decade of the Rosary
Lisa Ann Limongello is parish catechetical leader in St. Luke Parish, Toms River, and the three parishes that comprise the Catholic Community of Hopewell Valley – St. James, Pennington; St. George, Titusville, and St. Alphonsus, Hopewell.