All Hallow's Eve

Instead of trick-or-treating, the past five years we have been celebrating All Hallow's Eve with a party at home. We dress as a favorite saint and play games with saintly themes. Very fun.

St Hubert, St. Barbara, St. Irene, Bl. John Paul the Great

St Therese rose toss

St Anthony's lost and found

Chasing after "tonsure treats"

St. Anne's Apple Store - Bobbing for apples

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em (the apples that is:)!

We had some fun treats:

St Cecilia's muscical keys (vanilla and chocolate wafer cookies set up like a keyboard)

St. Francis's Friends (animal crackers)

St. Isadore's Pumpkin patch (pumpkin candy corn)

St. Bernadette's Firewood (honey pretzles)

St. Gabriel's Trumpet (Bugles)

Tonsure Treats (mini cholcolate donuts)

It was really a great evening. We prayed the Litany of the Saints and remembered why the evening is called All Hallow's Eve.

To all three of my blog readers:

***I've been trying to post about this and Rachel's party for two weeks. So, even though I'm reallllly tired, I'm treating you to this post tonight. Aren't you so lucky to have me?***

Happy St. Pio day!

                                                  

We had St.Pio Pasta and Cappuccino mousse for dinner. We also had pineapple juice, because that was one of his favorite things to drink.

Charlotte over at Waltzing Matilda has a few coloring pages for artists of all ages to enjoy.

St Pio of Pietrelcina, pray for us!

Happy St. James Day

I was so excited about today because I have three Jameses.

Scott James

Zachary James 

Daniel James.

I really wanted to get a picture of them all together, but Scott had to work late.

We had Nacho stuffed shells for dinner and ice cream with blueberries, raspberries and chocolate shells for dessert.

You can go here to find out why St. James is represented by the scallop shell.

I'm not being lazy, it's just a rather lengthy explaination, but very interesting.

Love all my Jameses.

St James the Greater, pray for us!

Better late than never

So glad the Easter season is fifty days long.

 

 

 

 

Happy third week of Easter!

 

Happy Easter

I thought I would post some pictures from Holy Week and Easter Sunday. Enjoy!

 

 

Holy Thursday Tea

 

 

 

 Vigil Mass

 

Luis and Ryan waitng outside for the fire to be lit

 

Going inside

 

 

The happy new Catholic and his sponsor (Ryan on the right and Luis on the left) with Deacon Ken and Father Bill McKenzie

 

Ryan with Beth, Garrett, Jeff and Logan

 

 Easter Dinner at the Parsons'

 

 

Hopefully I can find the other camera soon to post a family picture.

 

Happy Easter!

For the sake of his sorrowful passion

have mercy on us and on the whole world

 

If you would like a craft...go to Catholic Icing and check out Lacy's ideas and printout

Candlemas Day: the beauty of tradition

We had such a beautiful day today. I mean really beautiful.

February 2, in addition to being a birthday, is the feast of the Presentation (the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the traditional calendar), Candlemas day. Traditionally, the priest will bless candles for the faithful on this day. Then there is a procession.

 

The kids, mom, and I were so blessed to be able to attend the Extraordinary Form of the Holy Mass (Latin) today in Townsend. St. Francis of Assisi parish is where Father Shelton is pastor.

If you ever have the chance to attend a mass in the traditional form, I highly recommend it. So beautiful, so much, well, tradition and richness. It was very moving. It began with the traditional candle blessing and procession followed by Holy Mass.

 

We processed around the church grounds following the blessing of the candles.

 The Proper of the Saints describes the procession:

"The procession on this day is one of the most picturesque features of the Western Liturgy. The blessing and distribution of candles, to be carried lighted in the procession, precedes the Mass today - a symbolic presentation of the truth proclaimed in the Canticle of Simeon: our Lord is the "Light for the revelation of the Gentiles" "

 

These pictures are from the inside of St. Francis. It was cold and snowing outside, you'll have to wait for warmer weather for outside pictures.

 

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.

 

St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us.

 

St. Joseph, pray for us.

 

The sanctuary.

Somehow I missed getting a picture of the Blessed Mother window.

O Holy Mother of God, pray for us.

 

After we got home from mass we had a Feast of the Presentation Tea. (credit to Alice Gunther at Cottage Blessings 

 

We have done this every year for the past four years. It is one of our favorite days.

 

 

Almost everything on the table is a symbol of something from the gospel account of the Presentation of Jesus in the temple.

Can you see Simeon holding the baby Jesus and crying with joy?

This picture, which I love, is by Ron DiCianni. It's called Simeon's moment.

Lantern idea is credited to Waltzing Matilda.

 

Danny thought the tea was wonderful (at least the whipped cream part).

 It was his "thank you, God" tonight.

 

I was so thankful for a beautiful feast day.