How I Plan a Last Minute Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and Saint Catherine Labouré Gathering

Whoops! Life got busy this month.

Here it is nearly November 26th. Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal's feast day is November 27th, and Saint Catherine Labouré's is November 28th. Yet, I am just getting some time to plan our local Catholic homeschool group's monthly feast day gathering. 

As I do, I thought I'd share my ideas with you in case, you, like me, are a last-minute mom.

Okay, here goes:

The three ingredients we like to focus on during feast day celebrations are faith, food, and fellowship.

Leaving Fellowship to the Holy Spirit

Matthew 18:20 has long since become my guide for fellowship when it comes to our group's feast day gatherings.

"...where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them."

History has proven to me that whether only two families can gather, or five, or ten, or more, God is with us. 

In fact, it always seems that when our numbers are small it is because the Spirit is guiding those of us in attendance to the fact that someone needs an extra ear or bit of encouragement, and, when numbers are large, fruit becomes apparent, too.

So, planning for fellowship was easy for our upcoming gathering. I simply asked which mom in our group would like to host, then, based on her schedule and mine, picked a date and time before sending an invitation to everyone else.

She hosts. I facilitate.  Two families gather in His name and the Spirit guides whoever else can come.  Perfect!

No Fussing about Food

The time and location of our event determines what we will do for food - a small snack, a picnic, a luncheon, a tea, a dinner potluck...

This time, we are meeting between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m., so we are going for a substantial tea potluck, and, since I could find no traditional Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal or Saint Catherine Labouré recipes, nor any suggestion of what the sisters in St. Catherine's convent ate, we decided to go with an "anything connected" approach.

We have asked everyone who is coming to bring a dish or drink to share which is somehow connected to our St. Catherine Labouré, Our Lady, or he Miraculous Medal.  That could mean:

• French foods like croissants with butter and jam, baguettes with cheese, eclairs, French onion soup, etc.

• dishes symbolic of Our Lady, which typically include blue and white items

• dishes that remind us of the symbolism in the Miraculous Medal, such as pasta "serpents" with a Mary statue on them (depicting Mary crushing a serpent beneath her feet), golden drinks or foods for the Blessed other appearing as radiant as a sunrise "in all her perfect beauty", anything circular with "rays" shooing out of them to "...symbolize graces (Mary) shed upon those who ask for them", anything white to remind us of purity and "O Mary, conceived without sin, (who) pray(s) for us who have recourse to (her)," anything in a cross or M shape, small food shaped like 12 stars (for the 12 stars symbolizing apostles, heart-shaped foods (for the Sacred heart of Jesus who died for us, and the immaculate Heart of Mary who intercedes for us)

Obviously, with these suggestions, our feast table could end up with just about anything on it in the way of food. (It is always fun to see how our potlucks take shape.) 

Along with the food, we'll set out some candles, peg dolls, and, of course, Miraculous Medals.

This is one doll from a Marian peg doll swap we did.  She may grace our table.

 {Some links which follow may be affiliate links.}

One or more of these books will also be out on our feast day table:

Source: Amazon

our own copy of Saint Catherine Labouré: And Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

Source: Amazon

a library copy of Saint Catherine Labouré: And Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

Source: Amazon

a library copy of St. Catherine Labouré and the Miraculous Medal

Source: Amazon

our old used copy of the now out-of-print Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Coloring Book

Planning for Easy Faith-Connected Activities

As families arrive at our feast day celebrations, the parents usually begin to put together the feast day table while the children greet each other.  Some just like to chat; others like something to do with their hands. So we'll have out color sticks,watercolor pencils, paintbrushes and small cups of water along with a variety of coloring pages, such as:

• Miraculous Medal from Family, Feast and Feria
• the Miraculous Medal from Catholic Icing
• the Miraculous Medal from Catholic Playground
• Saint Catherine Labouré from Catholic Playground
• the Medal Youth Leaflet from the Notre Dame Chapel of the Miraculous Medal
• Saint Catherine Labouré and Our Lady from St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church 
• Saint Catherine Labouré and Our Lady on Crusaders for Christ
• Saint Catherine Labouré from My Catholic Kids
• the Miraculous Medal from Vincentian Marian Youth USA

These dolls from a Marian Apparition peg doll swap will likely decorate our feast table.

Then, after everyone has arrived and the feast day table has been prepared, we gather for a group chat and prayer time.  For Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and Saint Catherine Labouré chat, I will open by showing my peg dolls and asking:

• Who is St. Catherine Labouré?
• What significant events happened to her?
• What virtues did she model for us?
• Does anyone know what the connection is between St. Catherine Labouré and the Blessed Mother?
• Can anyone tell us a little about the Miraculous Medal?

Depending on what the children are able to tell me, I will either just add to their answers in order to fill in details about St. Catherine Labouré and the Miraculous Medal or I will read them a brief biography of St. Catherine Labouré from the Picture Book of Saints.  (I may use a powerpoint about St. Catherine from the Vincentian Marian Youth USA siteas a quick reference.)

Chat complete, I will lead the children in praying a prayer I found at Catechist:

God of All People, we pray to live your will in our lives like St. Catherine Laboure. Help us to love you and serve you as she did. May we be humble and not seek attention for ourselves—but always seek glory for you. We know that with you all things are possible. Amen.

After that, I may have the children act out a more detailed story of St. Catherine Labouré as told in a pdf from the Vincentian Marian Youth USA site.

I will also hand out Miraculous Medals to all of the children and have them inspect the medals as we note the symbolism on the front and back sides as found on the Divine Mercy site.

I'll give each child a length or ribbon, too, to make a makeshift necklace to hold their medals on, and, then, we may pray the Prayer to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal as found on Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

O Virgin Mother of God, Mary Immaculate, We dedicate and consecrate ourselves to you under the title of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. May this Medal be for each one of us a sure sign of your affection for us and a constant reminder of our duties toward you. Ever while wearing it, may we be blessed by your loving protection and preserved in the grace of your Son. O Most Powerful Virgin, Mother of Our Savior, keep us close to you every moment of our lives. Obtain for us, your children, the grace of a happy death; so that in union with you,we may enjoy the bliss of Heaven forever. Amen.

We may also talk about how St. Catherine Labouré lived her life humbly, quietly, and in service to others and said, "One must see God in everyone." In doing so, I will share a quote from Saint Catherine:

Whenever I go to the chapel, I put myself in the presence of our good Lord, and I say to him, ‘Lord I am here. Tell me what you would have me to do.’  If he gives me some task, I am content and I thank him.  If he gives me nothing, I still thank him since I do not deserve to receive anything more than that.  And then, I tell God everything that is in my heart.  I tell him about my pains and joys, and then I listen…  If you listen, God will also speak to you, for with the good Lord, you have to both speak and listen.  God always speaks to you when you approach him plainly and simply.

Then, I will ask:

• How do you pray?
• Doyou speak?
• Do you listen?
• How might God direct you in service to others this Advent?
• Do you think He is giving you a task to do?

Finally, before closing our prayer and formal activity portion of our gathering to make time for free play, I will lead the children in a brief litany of sorts:

Leader:   St. Catherine, servant of the sick and elderly poor...

All:         Pray for us...

Leader:   ...intercede for us that we may grow in the virtue of humility.  St. Catherine, visionary of the Miraculous Medal...

All:         Pray for us.

Leader:   May we model after you, growing in devotion to Mary. St. Catherine, model of prayer and service...

All:         Pray for us...  

Leader:   that, like you, we may approach God plainly and simply.  Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal...

All:         Pray for us.  

Leader:  O Mary, conceived without in, pray for us who have recourse to you.  Amen.

A Couple of Extras

On the way to our homeschool group gathering, my family will likely listen to a favorite Altar Gang CD which mentions the Miraculous Medal and Catherine Laboure.

from Holy Heroes

We may also watch an EWTN Vimeo before departure!

I would love to hear your ideas for celebrating Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and Saint Catherine of Laboure with faith, food, and fellowship!

Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and Saint Catherine Laboure, pray for us!

Read More

Pivot like St. Paul - An All Saints Day Party Game {Free Printable}

Get a FREE PRINTABLE Challenge Sheet!

{Some links which follow are affiliate links.}

What happens when a local store has a Twist and Shape balance exercise board on deep discount as you're planning games for an all Saints Day party?  

You brainstorm a new game for your twist-loving kids!

This year, we'll be adding Pivot like St. Paul to our collection of All Saints Day challenge games by placing a challenge sheet alongside our balance board, a book, and a play sword and having the children twist and turn away for 25 counts each - if they can - to remember St. Paul and the date we celebrate the feast of his conversion (January 25).

My kids are already having fun testing the game, and I'd guess your children might like the game, too.  Thus, I am sharing a free printable challenge sheet set - with one game sheet that mentions picking up a board and a book (which are two symbols of St. Paul) and one that does not. 

NOTE: If you don't have a Twist and Shape board, a Simply Fit Board, a Sit-n-Spin, or any device that a child can spin on could work..

If you'd like other game ideas, there are plenty more here:

Find them here.

The Final 3 All Saints Day Game Challenges

3 All Saints Day Game Challenges

3 More All Saints Day Party Ideas

2 All Saints Day Craft Challenges and a Physical One

3 Skills-Based Game Challenges for All Saints Day

Enjoy your All Saints Day!

St. Paul, pray for us.

Read More

How We Plan an Our Annual All Saints Day Party

Are you planning to host an All Saints Day party for your parish or homeschool group, but don't know where to start?

Please, let me help!

I've been the coordinator for our homeschool group's All Saints Day party for several years now and have fine-tuned our party plans to work wonderfully within a 2-3 hour time slot - from set up to clean up, with an hour to two hours of actual party time pending the year, number of participants, and location.

(Last year - when all the pictures in the post were taken, we had a small group, so we enjoyed the entire party in one hour.  Some years, we have had larger groups, so have stretched to three hours.  One year, my crew and I missed the big party due to illness and did a small one with just a few friends and that took about two hours.)

Pre-Party Planning and Preparation 

 
The first thing I do each year is ask one or two dependable friends what day and time they are available for the party and, that settled, ask a local parish or friend with a large home for use of a space.

Date, time, and location settled, I, then, put word out in our Facebook group to see who would like to join our party and to ask every family coming to do one or more of these things:

• dress as saints.

• bring saint-themed snacks or drinks (or tablecloths, disposable cups, paper plates, etc.).

• bring prizes (saint cards, like-new books and toys to pass along, anything but candy - but you can do candy if you like).

• bring art supplies for our St. Luke's Studio table (where kids use scissors, paper, glue, stickers, markers, etc. to make hank you cards for whoever let us use their space and create notes and cards for others, too).

• prepare a saint-related game or activity.

Once everyone has volunteered to bring snacks, prizes, art supplies, and/or games/activities, I see what we might still need and either bring it myself or ask others to do so.  I, then, plug everyone into jobs on an agenda, which I send out to everyone.  (See a sample here.)

Finally, the week before the party, I send out a reminder, check in to see if anyone needs anything, and gather all the supplies I am responsible for bringing.

(This year, I may use Perfect Potluck to help with planning instead of just using Facebook messages.)

A Word About Game/Activity Choices

I typically plan to have 8-15 game and activity stations.

In one corner, I set up a "little ones" area.  This area typically has Lincoln Logs, blocks, and Duplos, so children can Build like Saint Joseph or Build a Church Like St. Francis of Assisi.

Then, I aim to have a variety of games and activities that encourage physical skill, sensory input, or creative problem solving.  

As I do this, I try to balance activities that require large motor skills (running,  jumping, etc.) with ones that require concentration (balancing, building, etc.)

Find them here.

Many years, I plan the games around a specific picture book, making printables for to post by each game.


Of course, I also welcome whatever games and activities other families wish to prepare and run.

Somehow, it all works out without anyone having to go to too much trouble or expense and with everyone enjoying themselves as they key into facts about saints' lives!

Set Up in 30' or Less 

Set up has become quite easy.

A few volunteers arrive 15 minutes early and set up 3 tables close to one another - one for snacks, one for prizes, and one as St. Luke's Studio.

They also ensure there are enough tables or clear floor spaces set up around the room (or outdoor space during good weather years) for each of the planned game and activities.

For the snack table, we simply put a tablecloth down, put disposable cups, napkins, paper plates, and plastic silverware at one end.  Then, as families arrive, they drop off snacks with saint-related name cards and a volunteer arranges them in an attractive manner.

For the prize table, we put a tablecloth down, place a coin bank, and have sticky notes or small pieces of paper and a pen to write "costs" on.  Then, as families arrive, they drop off prizes, and a volunteer arranges them nicely on the table, with "cost" notes saying, 1, 5, 10, etc. pending how many tokens kids will trade for the prizes.

For our St. Luke's Studio, we use a disposable tablecloth or shower curtain and put out paper, scissors, stickers, old religious calendars and magazines, glue sticks, etc.  A volunteer stays at this table at all times to help children keep supplies tidy and attractive and to collect finished thank you cards for the parish.

At each game/activity station (table of floor space) around the room, a volunteer places a small cup of tokens that children later take and trade for prizes.  (We use bingo chips or plastic coins as tokens.  Plastic gems, paper money, or really any small item could work just as well.)

Then, all families arrive, and in 15 minutes, drop off snacks, prizes, art supplies and/or set up their game/activity station.  As they do so, children are encouraged to work at St. Luke's studio or to help with set up.  (Some years, when we have larger groups, we also set up a All Saint Bingo table (with thanks o Jessica to Shower of Roses!) to keep the kids busy during the final 15 minutes of set up when all families are present.)

Let the Party Begin

Once everything is set up, I ring a bell to call everyone to attention.  Then for 1-2 hours we enjoy the actual All Saints Day Party.

Our parties typically flow like this:

Gather, Chat, and Prayer

I gather everyone together and welcome them.  If a priest is available, we ask him to chat with the children about All Saint Day and to lead them in prayer.  If no priest is available, I chat with the children and pray a prayer such as:

Prayer for All Saints Day 

Dear God, thank you for the example of the Saints.  I desire to join in their company, worshiping you forever in Heaven. Please help me follow their footsteps, and yours, Jesus Christ. Please help me to conform myself to Your image, seeking Your will in all things, as the Saints did. Please help me to devote myself, and all that I do, to Your glory, and to the service of my neighbors. Amen.

Parade of Saints/Litany of Saints

Depending on the size of the group, the age of the children participating and the space we have, we then do some combo of having the children parade to the song "When the Saints Go Marching In", process while praying a Litany of Saints, and introduce themselves and the saints they have dressed up as.

Games, Activities, Snacks, and Prizes

If we have enough adults or teens to man each game or activity station, I, then, dismiss children to enjoy the games and snacks freely, using he honor system to earn tokens for participating in games and to trade them in for prizes.

When we do not have enough adults or teens to man each game, I take the children on a tour of all the game/activity stations and quickly explain or demonstrate how to play. Then, I dismiss them in pairs or small groups, with at least one reader per group, to play and enjoy.

As children play, I have specific adults or teens monitor the snack, prize, and St. Luke's Art Studio tables, while other adults participate in games and activities with children, take photos, offer help, etc. as needed.

Closing and Clean Up in 40' or Less 

About 45 minutes before we have to depart the space, I ring a bell to give a 5-minutes-until-closing heads up.  Then, five minutes later, I ring a bell again to call all the children to gather with me.

Once the children are settled in front of me, the adults (who already know what to do), begin collecting non-disposable supplies, recycling or trashing disposable ones, etc.

Meanwhile, I thank the children for coming and participating so well, note aloud a few making-of-a-saint moments I witnessed during the party (examples of when I saw children exercising virtue) and ask if anyone else has any quick examples to share. 

Then, I call adults attention, too, and we all close with a prayer, a reminder about All Souls Day and the focus on praying for All Souls during November, and a challenge to live each day saying "yes" to God as the Church Militant here on earth as we aim to become the Church Triumphant one day in Heaven.  Sometimes, I offer prayer cards or copywork for All Souls prayers.

At this point, I ask everyone to spend 10-15 minutes clearing their own things from the space, helping with any obvious clean up that has to be done, and, then, departing to a foyer, outside space, or parking lot unless they are on the final clean up crew.

In the last 15 minutes, a few volunteers stay behind to ensure that the space looks the same or better than when we arrived. And, with that, we call it another successful wrap!

If you need game ideas, be sure to look at all my past All Saints Day posts.

If you have questions about anything, just ask me on Facebook or leave a comment here.

I pray you have a blessed and beautiful All Saints Day!

Saints in Heaven, pray for us!

Read More

Get FREE Printable St. Anthony of Padua Copywork!

St. Anthony of Padua's feast day is on June 13, so today, I put together a simple FREE copywork printable for my children and yours!

It includes this brief quote for children still gaining confidence with copywork:

Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak. 

St. Anthony of Padua

Then, it has this longer quote for children who like to copy passages with a bit more length:

Christians must lean on the Cross of Christ just as travelers lean on a staff when they begin a long journey. They must have the Passion of Christ deeply embedded in their minds and hearts, because only from it can they derive peace, grace, and truth.

St. Anthony of Padua

Finally, it contains St. Anthony's Prayer for the Help of the Holy Spirit:

O God, send forth your Holy Spirit into my heart that I may perceive, into my mind that I may remember, and into my soul that I may meditate. Inspire me to speak with piety, holiness, tenderness and mercy. Teach, guide and direct my thoughts and senses from beginning to end. May your grace ever help and correct me, and may I be strengthened now with wisdom from on high, for the sake of your infinite mercy. Amen

All of these wonderful words, attributed to Saint Anthony of Padua, are offered in both cursive and printing.

I hope you and yours enjoy using this FREE St. Anthony of Padua Copywork printable!

You might also like:

St. Anthony's Nature Scavenger Hunt

8 Sensory-Smart Ways to Celebrate St. Anthony of Padua's Feast Day

St. Anthony of Padua, Pray for us!

Read More

Celebrate St. Joseph's Day with Food and Friends

Are you a last-minute mom like me, trying to decide how you will celebrate the liturgical year feast day of St. Joseph tomorrow?

If so, perhaps a peak back at our belated celebration from last year will offer you inspiration - as it is doing for me!

Last year, we enjoyed celebrating St. Joseph's Day with friends one day late as a part of our then-monthly Boys' Duct Tape Battle Club and Girls' Club Meet Up. At our gathering, the boys made Celtic swords (since St. Patrick's day had just passed, and, in their club, they always made armor or weapons inspired by history)...

...and the only big girl who was able to make it helped me put together a St Joseph table while the little girls played...

Then, after all the children played for a while...

...everyone in attendance came together to pray and chat about Saint Joseph and the tradition of the St Joseph's Day Table.

We examined some of the things laid out on the table and shared ideas about their symbolism.  

In the center on the table was our now-traditional "flowering staff of St. Joseph",  which recalled the legend that Joseph was selected to be Mary’s husband after his staff “blossomed” as a sign from God that He had chosen Joseph for this responsibility.

My helper decided to encircle the flowering staff in "12 fish" (cut from gluten free tortillas) since shaped bread are traditional to St. Joseph tables as is serving 12 fish to represent the 12 apostles.

Gluten-free and regular fig cookies had simple pictures cut into them, since pastries with fig in the shape of monstrances, chalices, crosses, doves, lambs, fish, Bibles, and hearts are common to St. Joseph tables.

Honeyed pasta with seasoned bread crumbs sprinkled on top, represented the sawdust of St. Joseph, the carpenter.

The remainder of the tortillas were laid out in a design (instead of being cut into symbolic shapes like lilies, sandals, a ladder, a saw, a hammer, a nail, a cane or staff to remind us of St. Joseph; a cross, palms, or wreaths or crowns to remind us of Jesus; or artichokes, grapes, and twists, which are also traditional to st. Joseph tables.)

Near them were chick peas, because we did not have any fava beans, but wanted to recall how they are known as “Lucky Beans", since legend has it that you will never be broke as long as you carry three fava beans and a myth tells how, during a famine in Sicily, the poor began to prepare beans fed to cattle (fava beans) for themselves, and, thus, we able to survive.

Breadsticks, grapes, and other fruit - all traditional to St. Joseph tables - were also out, with the fruit reminding us of the fruit that can come if we say "yes" to God's will as St. Joseph did.

There was also more fruit, grape juice (reminiscent of traditional wine), and tuna dish (to remind us of the 12 fish and their symbolism).

Since we had no lilies, pink carnations substituted and were put out with images of St Joseph and a brief biography of him.

All these were set on a 3-tier table -reminding us of the Holy Trinity, covered by a white table cloth - reminding us of God's pure love for us, with a St. Joseph peg doll statue at the top - centering us on which saint we were recalling and how he points us toward God.

Once we had chatted about these things (with patient children ready to dig in to eat - instead of just talk - about the food!), we had the children exercise just a bit more patience by stepping outside, and, then, reenacting Mary, Joseph, Jesus, the angels, and the saints coming to knock on the door.

Finally, all prayed grace and goodies were served - and devoured - with delight!

We felt so blessed to celebrate with friends from our local Catholic homeschool community, and hope this look back hopes you plan forward - as it is doing for me.
I am looking forward to a just-planned gathering for the feast day tomorrow.
If you'd like other ideas, feel free to take a peek at our past St. Joseph food and fun by clicking through the photos below.

Enjoy a St. Joseph Table with Friends

Celebrating St. Joseph: A Look Back as We Look Forward

Host a St. Joseph Tea and Playdate

However you observe St. Joseph's day, may your day be filled with grace and beauty!

  
St. Joseph, pray for us.

Read More