~ St. Nicholas ~

As our Homeschool Group's First Friday Mass Coordinator, I thought it would be fun to celebrate the feast of St. Nicholas, who is the patron saint of children, with a festive flare.

So I visited this website and came up with some fun activities to help celebrate the occasion.

Some of the activities included:

ST. NICHOLAS GAMES & ACTIVITIES

St. Nicholas Coin Toss

Chocolate St. Nicholas craft

Nutter Butter St. Nicholas Cookie Decorating

St. Nicholas Guessing Game (adapted from Catholic Inspired)

Apple St. Nicholas

St. Nicholas roll-up

Coloring Table of St. Nicholas, St. Lucia & Our Lady of Guadalupe

St. Nicholas Story Time

CROZIER
St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, carried a crozier to be a shepherd for his people. 

Guess how many candy-cane “croziers’ are in the jar?

CROZIER
A hooked staff carried by a bishop; represents a shepherd's staff as the bishop is to be the shepherd of the people, as Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Again, a crozier is a general symbol for bishops, but unique to Nicholas among gift-givers.

~ +~+~+~

Life saver

for children
St. Nicholas, is a “Life saver”; he saved 3 children from the wicked inn keeper.

Guess how many “life savers’ are in the jar?

LIFE SAVER

FOR CHILDREN
Show Nicholas as the protector of children, from the story rescuing young children or students from the evil butcher or innkeeper. Usually three children are in the tub, but sometimes only two are present.

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sailors
when sailors were in a ‘crunch’, as the angry seas tossed their ship about for 2 days; good st. Nicholas prayed, bringing them safely to the harbor of myra.

Guess how many “crunches” are in the jar?

~ +~+~+~

animals
quick fact:  another st. Nicholas, st. Nicholas of tolentino, is know as a patron saint of animals. A studious, kind and gentle youth, at the age of 16 Nicholas became an Augustinian Friar.

Guess how many “animal cracker cookies” are in the jar?

~ +~+~+~

fish
the fish in the sea swam in the angry seas that tossed the sailors about, before st. Nicholas brought the boat to safety.

Guess how many “swedish fish” are in the jar?

~ +~+~+~

coins
st. Nicholas gave of his own ‘coins’ to help 3 young maidens pay for their dowry, sparing their lives from slavery.

Guess how many “coins” are in the jar?

~ +~+~+~

Advent is a time to reflect on the lord's coming.
December holds many opportunities to learn about him,
to know him,
through his saints and through his mother.

~ advent ~
Preparing our souls to receive Christ worthily.

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{pretty, happy, funny, real} : Sweet Saints Edition

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

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{pretty}

 Butterfly's Collections.

She arranges them just so...pretty.

{happy}

I save boxes and containers, just in case. 

So I was {happy} to find a good use for these empty gelato containers (that have been taking up space in my pantry closet). 


Thanks to Jennifer at Catholic Inspired for the idea, the labels and, of course, the inspiration!

Each Jar named a saint...and the contents had saint themed goodies inside.  Check our her ideas, and get her label printouts, here.

Thank you, Jennifer for sharing this wonderful idea!

{funny}

As our homeschool groups new First Friday Mass Coordinator, I organized an Ice Cream Social, which took place right after the Mass.  Fun.  We also made "saints" for the All Saints Party.  The children traced each other, and then painted in a saint.  This was Little Lambs contribution...

Everyone had fun making their saint...there were some really talented artists!

They will be added to all the previously painted saints.

{real}

Working on schoolwork, activities, organizing clubs, events...my desk is a perpetual mess.
I actually have layers of stuff...sometimes things (my ipad) teetering on top of books and things.  Thank goodness for little helpers...

She's ready to help..."as an American Heritage Girl, I promise to be: 
Compassionate, Helpful, Honest,
Loyal, Perseverant, Pure,
Resourceful, Respectful, Responsible, and Reverent."  ~ The AHG creed

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~ October Saint ~

There are a lot of wonderful saints that we celebrate during the month of October.

I have been trying to learn more about the *less-known* saints...that is, not know to me.

{pretty}

One such saint is St. Maria Soledad.  Her full name is actually:

~ SAINT MARIA SOLEDAD TORRES ACOSTA ~

Why did I choose her?  Well, I didn't.  My daughter, who I call *Little Lamb* (here on my blog journal), chose to dress up as Saint Maria Soledad for an AHG Explorers party &/or our homeschool groups All Saints Party. 

St. Maria Soledad was the Foundress of the Congregation of Sisters Sevants of Mary, Ministers of the Sick.  She was born in Madrid, Spain in 1851.  St. Maria did everything for His greater glory and relied on His help, entirely.  She was canonized, *recently*, on January 25, 1970, by Pope Paul VI.  I was just 7 years old!  St. Maria Soledad's feast day is October 11th.

{happy}

Speaking of AHG...Little Lamb recently joined this girls club.  After about 7 years of running a Little Flowers (& Blue Knights) group, I hosted a Rosebuds Girls Club for another 3 years.
Finally, last year, we attended Oakrose Girls Club.  Sadly, this year we cannot make the meeting times. 
Now, Little Lamb is an Explorer, and she loves it! This makes me happy!
A mother is happy, when her children are happy.  Having other people organize and plan also makes me happy appreciative and grateful!

{real}

And...speaking of groups, I decided to accept the nomination of First Friday Mass Coordinator for our Homeschool group.  Years ago I was our group's Membership Chair...after a couple (three?) years I thought that I should step aside and let someone else deal with it share the fun.         

{real:  Burnt muffins...even pretty paper cups and stacking them nicely could not save them...terrible shame}

These days, I have a little more time since, this year, I am not teaching the First Holy Communion class.
And this First Friday Mass Coordinator position is something that me and my children can *share*, since my son serves as acolyte, and I schedule the sacristans; and my daughters sing in the choir; but mostly because we already attend the Mass and participate in the beautiful devotions.  I can do this one small thing.  Our homeschool group is important to me...to us!
And attending First Friday Mass, at our parish, is a priority. 

{real:  Ground squirrels or gophers are destroying our landscape...my westie has been trying to dig them out, making more of a mess...oh, what fun. I am pulling my hair out}

{real:  meanwhile...}

And so as not to leave on a down note:
I continue to count my blessings and am thankful for all, even my small crosses.

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~ Blue Mass & Angels ~

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On the Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels, we attended the Blue Mass at our Cathedral.  It was a historic occasion, as it was the First Blue Mass celebration in our Cathedral.

 

Our Bishop and many other priests, deacons, and clergy came together to thank, pray and bless our men and women of the Police, Firemen and First Response Teams
within our two counties.

  

The first Blue Mass, celebrated in 1934, took place at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Washington, D.C.  The Mass is now celebrated in cities from coast to coast to honor the many law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel who gave their lives so that others might live.

Our Bishop specifically chose the Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels, October 2nd, as the day to celebrate The Blue Mass; and appropriately so!

Saint Michael the Archangel is the Patron Saint of Police Officers. 
St. Florian is the Patron Saint of Firefighters.

 

 

{pretty}

Special roses from the garden to celebrate a special day...

We seem to use our Guardian Angel Candle regularly for special occasions, including Baptismal, First Communion & Confirmation Anniversaries. 
Butterfly & Conductor celebrate their Baptismal Anniversaries this month, while Butterfly celebrates her First Holy Communion anniversary as well as her Feast Day...October is full of special celebrations.
Heavenly Anniversaries is what I call them...dates that we have celebrated since their baptisms and dates that I have always taught my First Communion Students to cherish.
How do you celebrate?  Please share!

{happy}

I was SO HAPPY that my brother accepted our invitation to attend the Blue Mass.  He was asked by several people to participate in the procession...he humbly agreed and then branched off to sit with his sister (that's me!) and his nieces.  His nephew (Conductor) was proudly serving the Holy Mass.  It was both a very solemn and happy occasion.

 

{funny}

 

 I quickly snapped this shot, but missed what all the fun was about...
clearly something funny occurred...
 

{real}

 

GOD BLESS AND PROTECT OUR POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS!!!

 

 AND GOD BLESS THOSE THAT HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES SERVING, PROTECTING AND DEFENDING US!!!


Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

St. Michael & St. Florian, Pray for us!
Holy Guardian Angels, intercede for us...

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