october
desserts
Save room for dessert! Let's have some fun with our meal... choose as many activities as you like to round out your household's faith adventure this month.
saint of the Month
Carlo Acusti was born in 1991, and was only 15 years old when he died of leukemia. Carlo was a teen like any other, who especially enjoyed technology and was a budding web designer. From a very young age, Carlo had a deep and joyful faith, and his influence has continued beyond his physical death. He will be beatified this year.
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Patron Saints of the Environment
In late May, on the anniversary of the publication of Laudato Si, his encyclical on the environment, Pope Francis announced a year of reflection on the document. There are several patron saints of the environment. Below is some information about them. |
our catholic traditions
All Saints and All Souls Days
During the months of October and November, Catholics and other Christians remember the saints, both those officially named as such by the Church and those who live with God in Heaven, but have not been officially recognized. The customs surrounding our society's celebrations of Halloween have their roots in the celebrations of All Saints Day and All Souls Day. Here are many resources that help us to recognize those connections and celebrate these special people of faith.
Just added- CeCe Villa a senior at Dowling Catholic and member here at Ss. John & Paul shares about ofrendas and how they are used to celebrate the Day of the Dead.
Remember your Family's Ancestors in Faith
Make an “Ancestors in Faith” Display. Create a display for your home of mementos of significant religious events in your ancestor’s history. (Current mementos could be included too.) Framed pictures of some of these events would also add a nice touch. Examples include: a godparent’s rosary, Grandpa’s Bible, Grandma’s wedding veil, (or a picture of the wedding day), baptismal certificates, a great-aunt’s prayer book, etc. Place the items on a table in a room where family gathers regularly. (This could also be done in conjunction with the Memory Box activity below).
Create a Family Memory Box. Gather photos of relatives and friends who have died. (Go through old family albums and/or ask relatives if they can scan some of the photos they might have.) Purchase a nice photograph box (wooden or cardboard), label the photos with the names of the people pictured and the date or event (as best they can). Place the box in on a home altar or in an honored place. On All Soul’s Day, gather the family around a table, take the photos out one by one, and tell stories about the person(s) pictured. Allow the youth and other children to tell stories too if they knew the person. After each set of stories, light a candle for that person. (This could also be done in conjunction with the “Ancestors in Faith” display idea above.)
Connect to All Soul’s Day (November 2). Center for Ministry Development
Make an “Ancestors in Faith” Display. Create a display for your home of mementos of significant religious events in your ancestor’s history. (Current mementos could be included too.) Framed pictures of some of these events would also add a nice touch. Examples include: a godparent’s rosary, Grandpa’s Bible, Grandma’s wedding veil, (or a picture of the wedding day), baptismal certificates, a great-aunt’s prayer book, etc. Place the items on a table in a room where family gathers regularly. (This could also be done in conjunction with the Memory Box activity below).
Create a Family Memory Box. Gather photos of relatives and friends who have died. (Go through old family albums and/or ask relatives if they can scan some of the photos they might have.) Purchase a nice photograph box (wooden or cardboard), label the photos with the names of the people pictured and the date or event (as best they can). Place the box in on a home altar or in an honored place. On All Soul’s Day, gather the family around a table, take the photos out one by one, and tell stories about the person(s) pictured. Allow the youth and other children to tell stories too if they knew the person. After each set of stories, light a candle for that person. (This could also be done in conjunction with the “Ancestors in Faith” display idea above.)
Connect to All Soul’s Day (November 2). Center for Ministry Development
liturgical year connections
The Rosary
In October, we observe the Memorial of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary on October 7, and the whole month is designated as the Month of the Rosary. The Rosary is a rich prayer that calls us to meditate on key events in the lives of Jesus and Mary.
This link explains how to pray the Rosary, including a diagram, with links within the article to the mysteries and all the prayers. A bonus is that for most of the prayers, there is an accompanying video showing how to sign the prayer. There are links to classroom activities at the bottom of this page, some of which could be adapted for home use.
This short video explains the importance of the Rosary.
In October, we observe the Memorial of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary on October 7, and the whole month is designated as the Month of the Rosary. The Rosary is a rich prayer that calls us to meditate on key events in the lives of Jesus and Mary.
This link explains how to pray the Rosary, including a diagram, with links within the article to the mysteries and all the prayers. A bonus is that for most of the prayers, there is an accompanying video showing how to sign the prayer. There are links to classroom activities at the bottom of this page, some of which could be adapted for home use.
This short video explains the importance of the Rosary.
Rosary Apps
Want to learn more about the Rosary? Want to have some help praying the Rosary when you're busy? There's an app for that!
Want to learn more about the Rosary? Want to have some help praying the Rosary when you're busy? There's an app for that!
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iPhone
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Android
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faith in action
This month, we will be collecting personal care and cleaning supplies for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Des Moines. A collection container will be inside the parish hall doors, which is our main entrance on weekdays (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). We will also have a collection container in the gathering space, if you'd like to bring donations to the weekend Masses.
Items needed include:
Items needed include:
- Laundry detergent
- Dish washing liquid
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Bar Soap
- Paper Towels
- Toilet paper
- Napkins
- Body wash
- Feminine products
- Diapers
- Wipes
- Tooth paste
- Tooth brushes
- Deodorant
- Shaving cream
- Razors
- Baby shampoo
- All Purpose cleaner
- Windex cleaner
- Trash bags
- Laundry baskets
- Laundry products (detergent, stain remover, fabric softener)
for fun
Let's watch a movie!
October is a great month for the household to watch the movie, Coco, together. Coco is a beautifully animated movie that tells the story of a family in Mexico as the annual Dia De Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, observance nears. There are great connections to be made between the customs surrounding Dia De Los Muertos, Halloween, and All Saints and All Souls Days. For a thoughtful review of the movie from a Christian perspective, click on the link below. Then, pop some popcorn, or make up the recipe below, sit back and enjoy the show! Don't forget to talk about what you watched afterward.
October is a great month for the household to watch the movie, Coco, together. Coco is a beautifully animated movie that tells the story of a family in Mexico as the annual Dia De Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, observance nears. There are great connections to be made between the customs surrounding Dia De Los Muertos, Halloween, and All Saints and All Souls Days. For a thoughtful review of the movie from a Christian perspective, click on the link below. Then, pop some popcorn, or make up the recipe below, sit back and enjoy the show! Don't forget to talk about what you watched afterward.
Recipe
Holy Gorp When we read the Acts of the Apostles and Paul’s letters, we see that Paul spent a lot of time traveling -- on foot and by boat. That must have made him hungry! Mix up a snack mix for your household to munch on as you read, watch the videos, and talk about Paul’s travels. These ingredients are foods that Paul might have eaten. |
Ingredients: Nuts and dried fruit -- were staples in the Middle East during early Christian times, and still are today Goldfish crackers -- people in the Middle East still eat a lot of fish, but who has ever put real fish in a snack mix?? Ewww… Mini pretzel twists -- OK, so pretzels came after Paul’s time, but the twisted ones symbolize arms crossed in prayer, and we know that Paul prayed a lot Directions: Mix all ingredients and store in an air tight container. Enjoy within a week of mixing. |