Here are the saints:
Thomas as St. Ignatius (priest), Steven as St. George (knight), Ellie as the newly canonized St. Kateri (Native American), and Mary Clare as St. Gianna (doctor). Both the girls' choices are fairly new Catholic saints; I'll tell their stories a bit below...
Ellie was excited to get to buy a "real" costume! She would have been happy and accepting if we had to just cut up a brown t-shirt to make fringe, so this was a real treat to find such a cute Native American costume! St. Kateri Tekakwitha was just canonized a couple weeks ago, so she is the newest American saint! The "Lily of the Mohawks" converted to Catholicism as a teen and was shunned by her tribe. She professed a vow of virginity and died at age 24. Many miracles have been attributed to her intercessory prayer after her death.
A nice part of this celebration was starting with a saintly procession into the Vigil Mass for the Feast of All Saints'!
Here are all the games set up in the field behind the church. They had quite an array! It kept the kids busy for a few hours, then they had time to eat their candy and play on the playground.
Mary Clare's saint, Gianna Beretta Molla, was an Italian pediatrician, wife, and mother. She is remembered for her life of holiness and continuing with the pregnancy of her 4th child, even though her life was at risk. She died a week after her daughter was born, in 1962. This daughter became a doctor herself! Her own husband and children were at her canonization in 2004. A beautiful quote by this daughter, also named Gianna, at her beatification:
"Dear Mom, thank you for having given me life two times: when you conceived
me and when you permitted me to be born… My life seeks to be the natural
continuation of your life, of your joy of living, of your enthusiasm, and it
finds its full meaning in the engagement and dedication to whoever lives in suffering.
Dear mom, intercede always for all mothers and all families who turn to you and
entrust themselves to you."
Once again, he was St. George, the knight and dragon-fighter! His "armored" shirt had some rips in the front about which he commented, "that's okay, it makes it look like I was really fighting a dragon!"
Steven brought a white label home from work to stick on his black shirt. I knew that Thomas would not handle a costume with a tunic or anything this year. St. Ignatius was a good choice. Such a cute little priest!
Looking at some fun games; I like this spinning wheel with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The bounce house was lots of fun, too!
Thomas probably spent over an hour at the fishing station! He was one happy boy!
And Ellie was very happy to share her chosen saint with the girls' favorite little baby R! Baby wasn't too thrilled about her costume though ;)
The two sisters after some face painting and a fun evening! We didn't leave until 10:00, and are still recovering from all the excitement this week!
St. Ignatius, St. George, St. Kateri, St. Gianna...pray for us!
All you holy men and women pray for us!
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