The feast of All Saints has come and gone. With Thanksgiving and Advent just around the corner, I need to hurry up and share the pictures from this year’s party, which we hosted once again at our home on All Hallows’ Eve! I am fighting a cold so I am going to just let the pictures tell most of the story, otherwise this post may end up permanently in my drafts folder with so many others! 🙂
St. John Vianney, St. Catherine of Sienna, St. Juan Diego, Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Gregory the Great, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. John of the Cross, – All Saints in Heaven, Pray for us!
As always we began the evening with the holy rosary praying that we may all one day be Saints in Heaven, as well as for our Departed Clergy, Departed Family, Departed Friends, and for the Forgotten Dead. Afterwards we took a group photo of all the children who came to the party dressed as saints!
My friend Trina coordinated some of the games for this year’s party and most of the games she choose were variations of youth group games. (Her husband was the Youth Minister here for many years.)
This gave was a variation of “Do you love your neighbor?”
All the children sat on “chairs” (pieces of paper) in a large circle. One of the children stood in the middle and said “I love all saints… especially saints who _________.” (fill in the blank)
For example, if the child in the middle says “I love all saints, especially those who are male.” All the boys must move from their spots and find different ones. They may not take a spot directly next to the one they are already at. This gives the person in the center time to take a spot and escape from the middle.
The person in the middle may say anything within reason to get people to move. For example: I especially love saints who are in heaven, saints who have been martyred, saints who were bishops, saints who are wearing white, etc.
All the “saints” all had such a blast playing this game!
As always I had special treats for all the children who came dressed in costume and stood up to share a little about their saint with everyone.
I also ended up giving all the older children who were not in costume candy bars as well telling them that it was “just like grace… We don’t deserve it, but God gives it to us anyways!” 😉
This is so wonderful, Jessica! I wish we could come too 🙂
This is just wonderful, I cannot wait until next year! I just love all that you do to encourage the faith for children, it is such a beautiful witness and inspiration! Your saint costumes are wonderful too!
Jessica, It looks like a wonderful night was had. Congratulations on hosting such a successful night. All the "Saints" look fantastic, the food looks "Divine" and the picture of Captain with Bud asleep in his arms…well what can I say…what a beautiful photo !!!
I thank you & Sean for sharing your family life with us all, I look to your blog for guidance and advice as we try to bring our family up as traditional Catholics in this modern world, I also thank you for your book reviews, they are a great help.
May God Bless you & your beautiful family always.
By the way, just curious….how many guests did you have at the party?
Great party and great costumes, as always… and as a big fan of saint Augustine, ijust must say those 2 little bishops are soooo cute – which saints are they by the way (and the other kids) ?
The twins were dressed as St. Cyril and Methodius! Aren't they adorable?! Their creative mother (one of my childhood friends and bridesmaids) made their costumes and the staffs were made from a combination of pvc pipe, a christmas candy cane decoration, gold paint and duct tape!
I will go back and add the link, but I posted more about my children's costumes here: Our 2013 Costumes
That photo of Captain with Bud was taken just after we finished praying the rosary! Isn't it precious? It was one of my favorite photos from the evening!
We had right around 60 guests. This year we invited all our local homeschool friends, which added a few new families. None of my extended family or our single friends/priests were able to make it, which brought the total number down a bit from last year's 70+. Our party began at 4pm and the last guests left just after midnight!
I've been waiting for this post…glad you got it up! Reminds me of many All Saint's celebrations over the years–what fun!
Oh I meant to say I hope you feel better soon Jessica too.
Jessica, how do you do all that you do, I know it is by the Grace of God…but do you have much other help at home? I would love to know what a "normal" week for you looks like. I have 11 children, & my weeks just look chaotic, 1 week after the other 🙂 …Oh we have a special needs 17yr old child in the middle there too.
Last weekend we had a function at our home with about 35 people on Saturday & then on the Sunday about 50…but I am usually usually quite frazzled…I try to look calm..lol…but there is usually that underlying frazzlement…not sure that's a word..LOL…going on trying to make sure all is done & running smoothly…Anyway…
Enjoy your weekend Jessica & God Bless.
So much fun! Thank you!
Looks like so much fun!! I so appreciated the Guess How Many ideas and jar labels… I made five of them to use at our homeschool group's All Saints party, and they were a big hit!! Looking at your Bingo cards, I think the ones we used at our party were from you also – another mom brought them. You are truly helping to share a Catholic culture for others to use in our own families and communities! 🙂 Oh, and we used your banner, too!! http://mommyerin.blogspot.com/2013/11/happy-feast-of-all-saints.html
Thanks for always sharing these things with others!