FEAST-ivities

The month of November, and October for that matter, passed by so quickly!  Autumn is definitely filled with a lot of family activities and traditions.  

Once again, I am Back-blogged and so I share a few highlights of the Autumn months...

And let the Feast, er, Festivities begin...

Our dear friends invited the girls over for a pumpkin carving night, what fun!
Prize ribbons and all....

And with pumpkins, come pie!

My Butterfly made this baked deliciousness from scratch.  

All Souls Day, a holy day, commemorates all of the faithful departed.  We celebrate with a beautiful Solemn Mass.  Our Cathedral Choir sung Gabriel Faure's Requiem.  Heavenly.

This November, my husband lost another of his aunts.  We held the memorial (or remembrance) reception at our home for dear uncle's wife.  Their friends and family were invited and it was a blessed day.

Autumn is my favorite season...the colors, the coolness in the air, and all the foods associated with Fall...

And then there is THANKSgiving...a time to reflect and express our gratitude for all that has been given to us in the preceding year.  Yes, here in Northern America we clebrate the autumn harvest festival from 1621, but it is much more than the traditional turkey and trimmings feast that most Americans replicate.  It is stopping and giving thanks to God for everything. Watching football, feasting and enjoying the company of family & friend reunions are just wonderful benefits and blessings. ;o)

Thanksgiving Menu and Recipes Here

Hopefully, I will resume with the final Autumn back-blogged feast-ivities soon...

xo,

phfr: ~ Confirmation Celebrations ~

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Wisdom

Knowledge

Counsel

Fortitude

Understanding

Piety

Fear of the Lord

I found these beautiful wooden 'Come Holy Spirit' signs and then printed out each Confirmand's name to designate their seat & to reserve a pew for their family.

 

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Every Thursday at Like Mother, Like Daughter

 

And

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The sanctuary was so beautiful in red...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Butterfly's cake was from our favorite cake shop (downtown)...and similiar to Conductor's cake.

So beautiful, so delicious.

 

 

{happy}

 

This is the moment that has been anticipated...

Come Holy Spirit!

I wasn't able to capture "The Slap"

 

 

I love the picture above (lower left) where big brother (and MC) is assisting his sister.  Butterfly read the Prayer of the Faithful (above, right). 

She is pictured with her sponsor (lower right)

 

 

{funny}

 

 

We had a full house...ten of the Confirmandi came together and continued  the joyous celebration at our home.  We were surrounded by families and friends - it was an absolutely wonderful day!!! 

There was singing and laughter and a good time was had by all...

 

 

Did I mention Singing!?!  They were singing beautiful music, playing the piano and singing songs like Ave Verum Corpus!!!!  No prompting, no planning.  It was simply spontaneous and from the heart (and soul)...us adults heard this glorious sound (coming from the inside of the house)...

as we file into the house,  we found this scene (above).

 

I had to hold back tears...I was so struck and overwhelmed.

These are our teens!!!  Needless to say, us mothers (and fathers) were beyond pleased.

And yet ANOTHER reason why I/we home-school.

 

 

One of the young men even broke out an accordion...it was a wild party, I tell ya!

 Butterfly chose two different cakes, chocolate and rasberry in fondant and lemon with light lemon creme in whipped cream...we made the toppers on the whipped cream cake, while my baker made the topper on the fondant cake.  Two cakes were perfect...last year we had cake coming out of our ears more than enough!

 

 {real}

 

~ The Catechists ~

 

Husband is wearing his RED tie...

going over the particulars.

 

~ The MC (Master of Ceremonies) ~

 

My son making sure things run flawlessly, (and they did).

 

 

Our good friends (who's daughter also made her Confirmation) put out this spread!!!
Aren't those 'Tongues of Fire' in the middle of the meat tray great!?! 
So creative and festive!

Everyone pitched in to make an amazing feast for all....
 

I wasn't able to take a picture of our traditional 'First Communion Punch', now called 'Confirmation Punch' - it was a big hit! 

And below is our beloved pastor leading us all in song...

 it was a remarkable day!

 

~ + ~

Confirmation Prayer

O Holy Spirit of God; take me as Thy disciple.

Guide me, illuminate me, sanctify me. Bind my hands that they may do no evil.

Cover my eyes that they may see it no more. Sanctify my heart that evil may not dwell within me.

Be Thou my God. Be Thou my guide.

Whatsoever Thou forbiddest me I will renounce.

And whatsoever Thou commandest me, in Thy strength I will do.

Lead me then unto the fullness of Thy truth.

Amen.

Go to Like Mother, Like Daughter to find more contentment...

 

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~ 90 Yrs of Thanks ~

This month, Our parish celebrated its 90th anniversary of its founding.  The first Mass was said in 1922...compared to most churches, she is just a *baby*.  But, nevertheless, as young as she is, we are thankful for the years of sacraments and beautiful liturgies. 

I planned a simple celebratory reception...since we just recently celebrated the occasion of the church's building, dedication of shrines and pastoral visitation.  Whew. 

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” 

~ Leonardo da Vinci

 

 

 

Simple details...

“Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity.” ~ Plato

 

 

Many wonderful hands making simple delectables...













Where details and simplicity come together...

I used cream colors, with sheer gold runners and single red roses to give a tiny splash of color. 

 

The food was colorful enough.

 

 At our reception, we were graced with one brother, one deacon, seven priests and one bishop...

 

Simply one thing left to say...

 

 

 Giving thanks to God for graces received.

Deo Gratias!

~ Priesthood Sunday ~

Yesterday was Priesthood Sunday. 

We organized a Priest Appreciation Potluck Dinner...in praising God for their courage and their generosity; it began with a Holy Mass to pray for our priests.

 

 

The numerous reasons for this celebration and acknowledgment should be obvious.  Simply put, without Priests - there are no sacraments. 

Bless us O Lord, and these thy gifts
which we are about to recieve
from thy bounty
through Christ, Our Lord.
Amen.

 

Also, their presence and service are significant factors in the fostering of vocations.

And, without a priest, no parish is able to be a Eucharistic community.

It is important to reaffirm the importance of the priesthood of Jesus Christ and its central place in the life of our Church.  

Hand-Made with love...for our priests.

 

Let's show some appreciation...pray for our priests, everyday!

 

 

 

O Jesus, eternal Priest,

keep your priests within the shelter of Your Sacred Heart,

where none may touch them.

Keep unstained their anointed hands,

which daily touch Your Sacred Body.

Keep unsullied their lips,

daily purpled with your Precious Blood.

Keep pure and unearthly their hearts,

sealed with the sublime mark of the priesthood.

Let Your holy love surround them and

shield them from the world’s contagion.

Bless their labors with abundant fruit and

may the souls to whom they minister be their joy and consolation

here and in heaven their beautiful and everlasting crown. Amen.

 

~ St. Therese of Lisieux

~ Come, Holy Spirit ~

Just a tiny peek into a very BIG day: Conductor's CONFIRMATION

Cake toppers ~ Hand-made with love

The entire day was energized and filled with all the wonderful emotions.  Joy.  Happiness.  (some happy tears)
Almost surreal, but most certainly ALIVE.  Powerful.  Euphoric.  Beautifully Amazing!!!!!

There are so many lovely elements to the Confirmation Mass. 
These young souls are indelibly sealed to the Holy Spirit ~ also know as the Sacrament of the Seal.  Receiving sanctifying grace...infused with sanctifying grace!

They become true soldiers of Christ!

Confirmation imparts the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit on them (us) ~ where Christ lives within us:
Wisdom
Understanding
Counsel
Fortitude
Knowledge
Piety
Fear of the Lord

Helping them (us) to live a Christian life, becoming the Church Militant - strengthening them (us) spiritually, so that they (we) may defend the Holy Church.

The Confirmand

The Confirmand and his sponsor!  (tears of joy & happiness here)

" (Confirmand's name) I sign thee with the sign + of the Cross, and I confirm thee with the chrism of salvation; in the Name of the Father + and of the Son + and of the Holy + Spirit."

The Mass was said in Latin, so it went like this:

 "(Confirmand's name) signo te signo crucis + et confirmo te chrismate salutis, in nomine Patris + et Filii + et Spiritus + Sancti"

 

The "slap"

The Confirmation Slap:  Reminding them of the persecution they will have to suffer for Christ.









We celebrated with not one, but two receptions...why not!?  It was a pretty SPECIAL day!





Then why not make that two cakes...?

Cake #2

Can I hear three...?

 BTW, those are not ants on top of this beautiful round cake -

It was my sorry attempt to try and cover Conductor's name (LOL).

 I'm not too paint shop saavy (obviously). I couldn't figure out the "blurry" tool.



Amazingly delicious and expensive cake #3

The cake was beautiful, and tasted heavenly.  The cake toppers were created by Little Lamb and I...I found the creative idea here.    Caution:  scroll down to the bottom, the cake is named: "Crisma".  And beware to view some of the most beautiful designs, ever.  There were so many beautiful cake ideas it was really hard to choose - not to worry, because next year Butterfly will be Confirmed.  Except, I think I'll have just the one cake at home (lol).  The simplicity of this cake just struck me.  So sweet and simple.  It reminded me of the First Holy Communion cake at Little Lamb's reception.  Beyond Beautiful.

Cake #4

  OK. Four cakes and that's final!

I did mention that we had two receptions that I planned, remember?I will say that it was worth every ounce of energy and planning....and I would do it all over again!! (but maybe with one less cake - lol). The baker of this cake made a mistake and used blue icing, instead of red...so I place three fresh RED roses to rectify the error.  Three for the Holy Trinity.  (and I just love fresh flowers on cakes).

Dessert Table (like we needed one) :o)

"Veni, Creator Spiritus,
mentes tuorum visita,
imple superna gratia
quae tu creasti pectora..."

Amen.