Amazing Catechists

Teaching and learning the faith together

Angel of God: Devotion to the Guardian Angels for Children

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Alex Resch thinks that this picture book from Patrick O’Hearn would be perfect to have for the Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels on October 2.

Angel of God: Devotion to the Guardian Angels for Children

by Patrick O’Hearn

Illustrated by Valerie Delgado

 

The Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels is October 2. Angels are all around us, guiding and protecting us. It is important to teach our children that they are never alone, and their very own guardian angel was given to them as a special gift from God! Angel of God: Devotion to the Guardian Angels for Children by Patrick O’Hearn is a beautiful book to teach children about the comfort and protection that their guardian angels can bring.

Learning About Angels

The book begins with a Foreward by Fr. Ambrose Criste, O. Praem. Don’t skip it! It gives an excellent summary on what the Church (especially the “Angelic Doctor,” St. Thomas Aquinas) teaches about angels. Did you know that every church, city, and country has its own guardian angel? The Introduction that follows also explains the theology of angels in Sacred Scripture and Church Tradition. You will also read about the 9 choirs of angels in this section.

Prayers, Symbols, and Scripture About Angels

The book is, for the most part, a beautiful devotional for children. There are many traditional and original prayers (by Father Criste) to our guardian angel throughout the book – even one for before Mass and before Confession. It is a similar format and style to Patrick O’Hearns other books. It also teaches them about angels along the way. Illustrator, Valerie Delgado, has included delightful images that are each a symbol for angels such as a lantern and a sword. There are also lovely illustrations to accompany each role (see below).

The book helps children meditate on the 7 roles of the guardian angels. They are listed in the table of contents of the book.

Warning for sensitive kids: There is a picture of a devil and angel on the “temptations page,” and it talks about the devil tempting us. It is not overly scary, but it’s definitely worth reviewing for sensitive kids, and discussing it beforehand if they are not familiar with the idea of the devil’s ability to lead us away from God.

Each role includes a:

  • symbol for angels
  • piece of artwork to meditate on and enjoy
  • Scripture verse about the role
  • meditation about the role (This is written from the point of view of the angel to the child offering gentle instruction and guidance – very sweet!)
  • The Angel of God prayer in English and Latin
  • a prayer also related to the particular role that the child is reading about

How Parents Can Use this Book

I think that children ages 4 and up would enjoy this book. Older children could use the book as a devotional or prayer book. Any time you are discussing angels with your children, you could use this book to guide the discussion. This would also be a beautiful book for your child to take to Adoration to look at. It would also be a nice guide for morning or night time prayer, or any time when you usually read a story (such as a bed time or nap time story). You could also memorize the Scripture verses to help your children write scripture on their hearts. I always sing or say the Angel of God prayer to my little ones before naps and bed time. I think that it definitely helps keep away scary thoughts and bad dreams.

This book would also be a lovely Baptism, birthday, First Communion, Easter, or Christmas gift for a child or Godchild.

How Catechists Can Use this Book

This would be a very sweet book to share with your religion classes, especially preschool and K through upper elementary. You can use it to supplement your lesson on angels. Or, you could begin each class by reading one of the roles after your usual prayers at the beginning of class.  You could focus on the same role for 1 month or 1 week. This would also be great to pull out for the Feast of the Guardian Angels on October 2.

You can find Angel of God: Devotion to the Guardian Angels for Children at Sophia Institute Press.

Catholic Feast Days for Every Month of the Year

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We love celebrating feast days with our parish and within our home. As a wife and mother, I strive to make our home a Domestic Church that reflects the Church’s seasons and celebrations in look, feel, and prayer. In the classroom as a catechist, I always like to take a few minutes at the beginning of each class to discuss and reflect upon what season we are in. Here is a master list of feast days and Holy days for every month of the year to help you celebrate and pray in the home and classroom. Be sure to bookmark this page! We will also be updating it as more content is added to our site over time.

Catholic Feast Day Resources by Month

January: Dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus

St. Agnes (January 21)

Travel into the Catacombs of Ancient Rome (and even learn some basic Latin!) with St. Agnes in The Courage of St. Agnes, a picture book by Caroline McDonald. This beautiful picture book, illustrated by Igor Kovyar, tells the courageous story of this faithful virgin and martyr. Pick it up for her feast day on January 21, and keep it available to inspire your children all year round. This book would also make a beautiful First Holy Communion gift for any little girls who are making their First Communion.

St. Thomas Aquinas (January 28)

Here is a lovely post from Alice Gunther about how Saint Thomas Aquinas interceded for her. She also gives a practical list of how we can teach our children that the Saints are our special friends!

February: Dedicated to the Holy Family

St. Valentine (February 14)

Your Valentine

When you walk into our home, you will be greeted by a little table with liturgical and seasonal decor. It always contains a Pascal candle, prayer box, prayer cards, and a St. Benedict medal. There is also a little display of seasonal books for my kids and our guests to enjoy. This February, I cannot wait to display Anthony DeStefano’s new book: Your Valentine.  I know that my kids and our guests will both be intrigued by this special story about this famous saint! Read my full review here.

Candlemas (The Presentation of Our Lord)

Candlemas, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, has so many beautiful layers. Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple forty days after his birth in accordance with Jewish custom. On the occasion of their visit to the temple, they were offering their first-born son for consecration, and it was also a time of ritual purification for Mary. We know that Jesus did not need to be consecrated to God; He is God. Mary did not need to be purified; she is immaculately pure. And yet, Mary and Joseph were faithful obedient Jews and adhered to the demands of the Mosaic laws.

March: Dedicated to St. Joseph

St. Patrick (March 17)

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Ideas

St. Patrick’s day is March 17th, and usually falls during Lent. This is the perfect day to read a story about St. Patrick, have a St. Patrick-themed snack, and do a St. Patrick’s day craft, of course! Here are some fun ways to have your own St. Patrick’s Day celebration while learning about St. Patrick and the Holy Trinity.

How to Draw a Three Leaf Clover

The Feast of St. Patrick’s Day is a fun great time to discuss the Blessed Trinity! We hope you have fun with this simple tutorial on how to draw a three leaf clover while learning about St. Patrick! A simple plant, and a simple drawing, packed with the beauty of richness of the Catholic Faith!

St. Joseph – Entire month and March 19

Lessons From the Carpenter (St. Joseph)

Ponder this reflection and prayer for St. Joseph. A good teacher takes advantage of every moment to enlighten his or her students. Even though we possess much more knowledge than our pupils, we must approach them as the carpenter takes each raw piece of wood in his hands. We, too, can build them into something beautiful to behold.

8 Ways to Honor St. Joseph in March

March is the month of St. Joseph! Let’s learn about and honor St. Joseph all month, and especially on his Solemnity on March 19. Here are 8 ways to honor St. Joseph this month.

3 Saints Devoted to St. Joseph

March is the month of St. Joseph! We love celebrating the Solemnity of St. Joseph at our parish and at home on March 19th (with a traditional St. Joseph altar). One year, our pastor shared 3 saints devoted to St. Joseph during his homily on the Solemnity, and I am sharing them here with you today for inspiration and reflection.

The Annunciation (March 25)

What is the Annunciation? When and how do we celebrate it? Find prayers and ideas here.

April: Dedicated to the Holy Eucharist

Divine Mercy Sunday (falls on the Sunday after Easter Sunday)

An Hour of Prayer to Honor the Feast of Divine Mercy

During this time that celebrates Divine Mercy and Paschal joy, we are called to offer all our prayers in a spirit of reparation and great love to Jesus of Gethsemane… yes, Gethsemane. As gardens and altars everywhere flower in Paschal beauty; as we joyfully proclaim, “He is Risen, indeed!” and as we harvest the fruit of the Glorious Mystery of the Resurrection: Faith… we still spiritually linger to watch and pray with Jesus in The Garden.

May: Dedicated to Our Blessed Mother

Easy May Crowning and DIY Crown for Mary, Mother of God

May is the month of Mary! Today, I will share a simple way to honor Mary this month with an easy May Crowning and DIY crown for Mary.

May is Filled with Feasts

May is filled with great Feast Days!  What a great catechetical opportunity we have to celebrate Feast with our students or at least communicate to parents how they, as families, can celebrate them. Here are a few key Feast in May. Includes a free Litany to St. Joseph printable.

Mary in the Catechism: The Four Marian Dogmas

Learn about the 4 Marian Dogmas with Catechism and Sacred Scripture references. This article also includes a free Marian Dogma Cards printable.

Marian Typology – Mary as the New Eve!

In my search I came upon the book Mary Foreshadowed, and knew this was where to begin. I opened the course with the Old Testament. We studied how Mary was truly foreshadowed by God before her birth. This time was so beautiful for me, I decided to keep the conversation going, and in a way that would hopefully benefit my own children in their love for Mary as they grow. Mary Foreshadowed is the basis of this work. I hope you will read it and find as much wonder in it as I am finding!

June: Dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

The Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (June 24)

The Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist is June 24. He is one of only 2 others (Our Blessed Mother and Jesus) whose birth (nativity) that we officially celebrate in the Church, and, in fact, his nativity is a Solemnity. His other feast day is August 29th, when we celebrate his martyrdom.

July: Dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus

St. Bridget of Sweden (July 23)

Do you know about St Bridget of Sweden?  If you don’t and you are a mom, you want to get to know her.

August: Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary (August 15)

The Assumption of the Bless Virgin Mary is celebrated on August 15th, and it is a Holy Day of Obligation. This Solemnity celebrates when Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven. It is also the 4th Glorious mystery of the rosary.

Celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary

Here are some simple and holy ways to celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary. I have a recipe, prayers, books, and music to share with you.

Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (August 22)

As We Celebrate Mary’s Immaculate Heart this August… We Give Our Hearts

The feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is celebrated on August 22. Dr. Annabelle Moseley wrote about this beautiful devotion, and how to grow closer to Jesus through His mother.

St. Augustine (August 28)

St. Augustine is a Doctor of the Church, and underwent a radical conversion thanks to the prayers of his mother, St. Monica (whose feast falls the day before St. Augustine’s on August 27th).

The Catechetical Narratio

Learn about St. Augustine’s technique for teaching the faith (the Catechetical Narratio) in this article by Steven Jonathan Rumelsburg.

Praying Twice

“He who sings, prays twice” is a quote attributed to St. Augustine. Read more in this post by Christian Leblanc, and why not learn a new hymn in honor of St. Augustine?

September: Dedicated to the Seven Sorrows of Mary

Saints of the Week for August 31 – September 6th

St. Hildegard Feast Day Science Lesson for Kids (September 17)

Here is a fun St. Hildehard science activity for her feast day or an All Saints Day party. You will need common spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.

St. Matthew the Evangelist (September 21)

September 21st is the feast of St. Matthew the evangelist. Read this informative (and entertaining!) post on the 4 evangelists and how to remember and teach important facts about each of them. Chrsitian Leblanc also explains how to recognize each of them (as well as other saints) when they are represented in pictures and statues.

October: Dedicated to the Holy Rosary

St. Therese (October 1)

Ask This Saint for Help and Gather Roses All Your Life

Learn about this amazing saint for her feast day on October 1st. Pray her novena and be sure watch out for roses!

The Feast of the Guardian Angels (October 2)

Angels All Around Us

Look around you. How many others are in the room with you? I propose that the actual number is more than double.

We all believe in things we can’t see: air, wind, electricity, gravity. But invisible spiritual realities surround us too. We each have a guardian angel. Take the number of people with you now and double it for a good guess as to how many beings are with you at this moment.

St. Francis of Assisi (October 4)

Italy’s Shrines and Wonders Volume II: Discovering Sacred Spaces and Fascinating Places in the Life of St. Francis of Assisi

It’s the year of St. Francis! 2026 marks 800 years since this remarkable saint’s death. The Catholic Church is celebrating with a special jubilee year and plenary indulgences available for the faithful. You can read all about it in this document.

While it is possible for me to make a local pilgrimage to obtain an indulgence, I won’t be able to make a pilgrimage to the saint’s home in Italy this year. Thankfully, Teresa Tomeo has written a book that makes me able to imagine and learn about going on pilgrimage to all of the incredible places where St. Francis prayed, preached, evangelized, and lived. I could *almost* taste the pasta and smell the fresh air of the Spoleto countryside while I read Italy’s Shrines and Wonders Volume II: Discovering Sacred Spaces and Fascinating places in the life of St. Francis of Assisi.

St. Francis

Pope Leo has declared 2026 the year of St. Francis! 2026 marks 800 years since this remarkable saint’s death. The Catholic Church is celebrating with a special jubilee year and plenary indulgences available for the faithful. You can read all about it in this document. Brian Wildsmith’s new book, St. Francis, is the perfect picture book to share the life of St. Francis with children.

Our Lady of the Rosary (October 7)

How to Celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary

The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is on October 7th. Read this recent post I wrote on celebrating one of my favorite feast days! The history of the feast is absolutely remarkable, and I have ideas and resources for teaching about this feast in your homeschool or classroom.

The Power of the Rosary

This book transformed my praying of the rosary. Read my full review here.

St. John Henry Newman (October 9)

Newman: Patron of Adult Faith Formation

John Henry Newman’s feast day is on October 9th. Father Juan Velez explains why he can be considered the patron of adult faith formation in this informative post.

St. Margaret Mary Alocoque (October 15)

In honor of June’s dedication to Sacred Heart and the Feast of St. Margaret Mary Alocoque on October 15th, I am sharing everything I learned from Emily Jaminet about the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus with you all today!

Rosary and Hallowtide Resources from Holy Heroes

I recently spoke with Clara Davison from Holy Heroes to talk about all of their Rosary and Hallowtide resources! She shared books and ideas for praying the Rosary as a family, as well as a free All Saints Day banner and other goodies for your All Saints Day celebrations. They also have a new Glory Story coming out this fall that I am so excited about!

Catholic Halloween! It’s our feast, and we’re going to enjoy it!

This post from Lisa Mladinich includes some excellent resources for celebrating Halloween, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day! Be sure to check it out for how Catholics can observe and celebrate these 3 days.

Happy Halloween for Tweens and Teens

Do you have any tweens and teens in your life? Here are some great suggestions for celebrating Hallowtide with this age group. I especially love #2!

All Hallows’ Eve

The triduum of All Hallows’ Tide is one of my favorite times of the year. It is full of so many rich traditions, prayers, and fun! We kick off these 3 holy days with All Hallows’ Eve (aka: Halloween). I had no idea about the Catholic roots of this holiday until I was an adult. Thankfully, Anthony DeStefano has come out with a picture book, All Hallows’ Eve, to explain this day to children in an age appropriate, rich, and meaningful way.

November: Dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory

How to Celebrate and Observe All Hallows Eve, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day

Alex Resch shares how to celebrate and observe All Hallows Eve, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day with kids! The article includes Catholic Halloween decor, prayers, and other activities and traditions.

St. Gertrude the Great (November 16)

One Simple Prayer

In this post, Denise Mercado explains how we can pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. She discusses the importance of praying St. Gertrude’s prayer to assist the souls in purgatory.

Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (November 27)

Encountering Signs of Faith – The Miraculous Medal

The feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal is on November 27th. Learn about this Marian apparition and the medal that she gave to St. Catherine Laboure (whose feast we celebrate the day after this one on November 28th).

St. Andrew the Apostle (November 30)

Ideas for the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle (November 30th)

Advent has so many fun and interesting saints and feast days! As we prepare for the birth of Our Savior, we can try to emulate our friends in heaven to help us along the way. We can look to them to learn how to be virtuous and holy. Today, I will share some simple ideas for celebrating the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle on November 30th.

December: Dedicated to the Immaculate Conception and Infant Jesus

Catholic Advent Ideas for Families

Our large family has many precious memories of celebrating Advent together. We wanted to keep the focus on the season of waiting – rather than the season of “I want this or I want that.” The marketing for toys, dolls, games, etc. was just as intense in those pre-technology years as it is now; so we had several ways to get the family to focus on waiting for the arrival of Jesus.

Immaculate Conception (December 8)

Did St. Thomas write about the Immaculate Conception? See what the Church says about this Dogma in this article.

The Nativity of Our Lord (December 25)

4 Ways to Keep Christmas Simple and Christ-Centered

Contrary to popular (or, secular) opinion, the days leading up to Christmas do not need to be stressful! If the hustle, bustle, and stress of the holiday season is starting to get to you, read on for 4 simple ways to slow down and re-center on Christ for the upcoming Christmas season.

A Savior is Born: a Poem to the Infant Jesus

You can read this poem to your children at home this Christmas season or to your religious education classes. Some parishes have even used parts of it for Christmas pageants and shows. Perhaps you could even pass along the link to cheer someone up during the Christmas season.

Mary CHRISTmas!

This is the first in a short, two-post series from Rocco Fortunado. He says, “The CHRISTmas manger scene ‘preaches’ the glad tidings of the Virgin Birth. It ‘cries out’ in silence so many beautiful truths of our most holy Faith; all of which were accomplished through God’s infinite love.” Be sure to check out this post as a reminder of the simple yet powerful tool that the manger is for catechesis in the home and in the classroom!

What’s in a Name???

Here is the follow up  article to “Mary CHRISTmas.” In this article, Rocco Fortunado explains what “Mary CHRISTmas” means and how we can honor Our Blessed Mother this Christmas season. To Christ through Mary!

The 4 Reasons Christ was Born

“Why was Christ born? To die for our sins, right? That’s true, but I think it’s an incomplete view of Christ’s life and mission. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in paragraphs 456-460, gives us four reasons why the Word become Flesh.”

The Christmas Prophet

“Isaiah is my favorite prophet, and Jesus’ favorite, too. In the Gospels we’ll see Jesus say things that Isaiah said; I always imagine his listeners thinking, “Oooh, Jesus is quotin’ Isaiah…I wonder what he means.” Isaiah prophesied about lots of things, including Christmas, so let’s get started.” Click to read another wonderful Bible lesson from Mr. Christian Leblanc!

Round Up of Advent and Christmas Resources from Holy Heroes

Previously, I had the wonderful opportunity to chat with Clara Davison – the brand manager of Holy Heroes. Clara gave me the scoop on all of the free resources and beautiful Advent and Christmas activities from Holy Heroes this year. I am sure you will find something on this list for everyone on YOUR list to help prepare and celebrate for the birth of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

 

Liturgical Resources for the Entire Year

Resources for Teaching the Faith Using the Liturgical Year

Teaching the faith can seem daunting, but never fear because Holy Mother Church has laid it all out for us! In this post, Lisa Mladinich has a practical and helpful guide (and plenty of resources!) for teaching the faith throughout the liturgical year. I love this method for teaching the faith because if you miss something one year, you can catch it and dive deeper the next time around!

Free Puppet Ministry Scripts – Resources and Master List

Be sure to check out our mega list 50+ Free Puppet Ministry Scripts! All PDFs are included for free right in the post. These are great for VBS, catechism class, or any time!

Catholic Feast Days Cookbook

If the special mother figure in your life loves cooking, here is a wonderful book to add to her collection. The recipes are organized by liturgical season and are doable and delicious! Here is my full review of this cookbook.

Feast, Faith, Flourish: holistic wellness in light of eternity

This is a lovely gift for the holistic, all-natural mama. The photographs are stunning and inspiring, and there are articles and recipes for every natural season and liturgical season. From flower arranging to dying Easter eggs with natural dye, this is a must have for every Catholic homemaker. Read my full review here.

10 Ways to Share a Breathing, Bleeding, Being Faith

Tons of resources for living the liturgical year in your classroom.

The Liturgical Year

As a south Florida resident for over thirty-five years, the change of seasons passes me by with little notice. When I lived in New York my favorite season was fall. The leaves, the crisp air, apple picking and pumpkin patches in actual fields. I think being aware of the seasons made the Church seasons less important to me. Now, the Church seasons mark time for me as the natural seasons did when I was younger.

Sunday Gospel Resources: The Father’s Will

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The theme that stood out to me in this Sunday’s readings is doing the Father’s will – especially when it is hard! The first reading encourages us to be virtuous, the psalsm asks God to teach us His ways, and the second reading encourages humility. The Gospel is the story of the man with the vineyard who asked his sons to work in the vineyard. One son first declines, but ultimately does what his father asks. The second son says he will go work in the vineyard, but never ends up fulfilling his promise. We can all probably relate to both sons at different points in our lives. What does it mean to do God’s will in all things? How do you decide what His will is?

The Father’s Will

Matthew 21:28-32

Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people:
“What is your opinion?
A man had two sons.
He came to the first and said,
‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’
He said in reply, ‘I will not,’
but afterwards changed his mind and went.
The man came to the other son and gave the same order.
He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir, ‘but did not go.
Which of the two did his father’s will?”
They answered, “The first.”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you,
tax collectors and prostitutes
are entering the kingdom of God before you.
When John came to you in the way of righteousness,
you did not believe him;
but tax collectors and prostitutes did.
Yet even when you saw that,
you did not later change your minds and believe him.”

Lesson Plan Ideas

Scripture Verse Memorization

Choose a part of the Gospel to have your students memorize and discuss.  Give a reward to the children who memorize it by your next class.

Tips for Teaching the Bible

Here is one of my favorite resources for teaching (and learning!) the Bible.

In fact, here is a sample from Christian’s book that include’s today’s Gospel and related parables.

Students Praying to Know God’s Will

Here is a helpful article for helping kids to discern God’s will.

Free Gospel Resources Online

Here is a list of more free Sunday Gospel resources online.

 

 

 

 

October Feast Days and Free Catechist Resources

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October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary!  This month, we have rounded up our favorite posts on October feast days and the October dedication to the Holy Rosary. We also have free catechist resources and tips.

Read on for some favorite articles from the Amazing Catechists archives as well as some fun posts from around the web!

October is the Month of the Holy Rosary

October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary. Here are some past post honoring Our Blessed Mother and the Rosary.

Hail Mary and the Holy Souls

In this post, Lisa Mladinich gives tons of beautiful ideas for praying the rosary with children. She also includes excellent information on Hallowtide, praying for the Holy Souls, and other October feast days.

 

The Rosary in Kid Speak

Enjoy this interview Lisa Mladinich did with dynamic author, speaker, and educator, TJ Burdick, about his exciting resource, The Rosary in Kid Speak. What a beautiful resource for praying the rosary with small children!

 

 

Tips for Praying the Rosary with Kids and Free Printable Prayers

This post has lots of tips and resources for praying the rosary with kids. Try a rosary craft, hymn, and download the free printable prayers to make a DIY rosary book with your kids or students.

 

Saint Ignatius of Loyola’s Vision of Christ and God the Father at La Storta by Domenichino[16]

Using Saint Ignatius’ Guidelines For Family Rosary

Theresa Linden writes, “We all want to develop our family prayer time. But sometimes little ones fidget or bicker, older children seem to wish they were anywhere else, and Mom and Dad struggle to remain focused on the prayers. Wouldn’t it be nice to have some guidelines for family Rosary? Still, I’m convinced that God blesses everyone every time we gather to pray. And God blesses the family. So whenever the family sits down to pray together it’s a good thing.”

The Power of the Rosary

Gabriel Castillo’s book, The Power of the Rosary, goes deep into the history of the Rosary, and provides many practical tools and inspiration for making my time praying the Rosary even more powerful and efficacious. Read the full review here.

 

 

 

 

 

October Feast Days and Catholic Saint Feast Days in October

There are many beautiful Catholic feast days in October:

  • St. Therese of Lisieux (October 1)
  • the Holy Guardian Angels (October 2)
  • St. Francis of Assisi (October 4)
  • Our Lady of the Rosary (October 7)
  • Bl. Carlo Acutis (October 12)
  • St. Theresa of Avila (October 15)
  • St. Gerard (October 16)
  • St. Margaret Mary Alocoque (October 16)
  • St. Luke the Evangelist (October 18)
  • Sts. Simon and Jude (October 28)

St. Therese of Lisieux Feast Day, October 1

Ask This Saint for Help and Gather Roses All Your Life

Learn about this amazing saint for her feast day on October 1st. Pray her novena and be sure watch out for roses!

The Feast of the Guardian Angels, October 2

The Archangel Raphael and Tobias by Titian

Angels All Around Us

Look around you. How many others are in the room with you? I propose that the actual number is more than double.

We all believe in things we can’t see: air, wind, electricity, gravity. But invisible spiritual realities surround us too. We each have a guardian angel. Take the number of people with you now and double it for a good guess as to how many beings are with you at this moment.

 

 

St. Francis of Assisi, October 4

Italy’s Shrines and Wonders Volume II: Discovering Sacred Spaces and Fascinating Places in the Life of St. Francis of Assisi

It’s the year of St. Francis! 2026 marks 800 years since this remarkable saint’s death. The Catholic Church is celebrating with a special jubilee year and plenary indulgences available for the faithful. You can read all about it in this document.

While it is possible for me to make a local pilgrimage to obtain an indulgence, I won’t be able to make a pilgrimage to the saint’s home in Italy this year. Thankfully, Teresa Tomeo has written a book that makes me able to imagine and learn about going on pilgrimage to all of the incredible places where St. Francis prayed, preached, evangelized, and lived. I could *almost* taste the pasta and smell the fresh air of the Spoleto countryside while I read Italy’s Shrines and Wonders Volume II: Discovering Sacred Spaces and Fascinating places in the life of St. Francis of Assisi.

St. Francis

Pope Leo has declared 2026 the year of St. Francis! 2026 marks 800 years since this remarkable saint’s death. The Catholic Church is celebrating with a special jubilee year and plenary indulgences available for the faithful. You can read all about it in this document. Brian Wildsmith’s new book, St. Francis, is the perfect picture book to share the life of St. Francis with children.

Our Lady of the Rosary Feast Day, October 7

How to Celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary

The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is on October 7th. Read this recent post I wrote on celebrating one of my favorite feast days! The history of the feast is absolutely remarkable, and I have ideas and resources for teaching about this feast in your homeschool or classroom.

 

Our Lady of Fatima Miracle of the Sun, October 13

Fatima: The Apparition That Changed the World [Interview]

The anniversary of the Fatima Miracle of the Sun is October 13. On this day, many miraculous events occurred in Fatima. This would be a great book to read this month!

Rosary and Hallowtide Resources from Holy Heroes

I recently spoke with Clara Davison from Holy Heroes to talk about all of their Rosary and Hallowtide resources! She shared books and ideas for praying the Rosary as a family, as well as a free All Saints Day banner and other goodies for your All Saints Day celebrations. They also have a new Glory Story coming out this fall that I am so excited about!

Attention all DRES! Info for the 30% off parish and schools discount: Any time, DREs or teachers can email customerservice@holyheroes.com with their parish or school info. Kristine will give them a coupon code to use at checkout! All they  have to do is email and request it!

Catholic Halloween Resources

For Catholics, October 31st is the start of a holy period of 3 days known as the Triduum of Hallowtide: All Saints Eve (October 31st), The Solemnity of All Saints (November 1st), and All Souls Day (November 2nd). Check out these posts below for what Catholics should (and shouldn’t partake in) on Halloween and the rest of  the holy season of Hallowtide.

Catholic Halloween! It’s our feast, and we’re going to enjoy it!

This post from Lisa Mladinich includes some excellent resources for celebrating Halloween, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day! Be sure to check it out for how Catholics can observe and celebrate these 3 days.

 

 

 

 

Happy Halloween for Tweens and Teens

Do you have any tweens and teens in your life? Here are some great suggestions for celebrating Hallowtide with this age group. I especially love #2!

 

Ouija Boards: Portals of Evil

The Catechism of the Catholic church states: “All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one’s service and have a supernatural power over others – even if this were for the sake of restoring their health – are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion.” CCC 2117

In this post, Mary Ellen Barrett explains why ouija boards and other occult practices open up children to evil. Be sure to steer your children far from any occult practices, especially warning them of these practices around Halloween time!

How to Celebrate and Observe All Hallows Eve, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day

Alex Resch shares how to celebrate and observe All Hallows Eve, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day with kids! The article includes Catholic Halloween decor, prayers, and other activities and traditions.

 

All Hallows’ Eve

The triduum of All Hallows’ Tide is one of my favorite times of the year. It is full of so many rich traditions, prayers, and fun! We kick off these 3 holy days with All Hallows’ Eve (aka: Halloween). I had no idea about the Catholic roots of this holiday until I was an adult. Thankfully, Anthony DeStefano has come out with a picture book, All Hallows’ Eve, to explain this day to children in an age appropriate, rich, and meaningful way.

Free Catechist Resources

This month’s free catechist resources include:

  • Lesson plan tips
  • A patron for adult faith formation
  • Classroom management tips and techniques from 2 experienced catechists

The 4 Key Questions for Lesson Plans

In this post, Brandon Harvey lays out how to plan your catechism class lesson plans by answering 4 key questions.

Newman: Patron of Adult Faith Formation

John Henry Newman’s feast day is on October 9th. Father Juan Velez explains why he can be considered the patron of adult faith formation in this informative post.

 

Classroom Management Strategies

Helen published this detailed and helpful article with her best classroom management strategies for your faith formation classes this year. Be sure to bookmark or pin the post to refer to it all year long!

Classroom Management and Teaching Effectiveness for Catechists

Our last post in our October round up is a column by another one of our talented writers, Mark Trolio. In this post, Mark gives tons of excellent tips for helping you to succeed as a catechist this year!

 

 

Helpful October links from around the web:

  1. October feast day recipes
  2. Soul Cake history and recipe for All Souls Day
  3. Hallowtide Interview with Kendra Tierney on Homeschooling Saints Podcast
  4. How to Talk to Kids About Death During Hallowtide
  5. Catholic Momcast 370: Celebrating Hallowtide

This article was originally published on 9/30/24, and was updated on 9/23/26.

Sunday Gospel Lesson Plan Ideas: The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

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This Sunday we here about the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard. Jesus says that “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.” When I read this parable, I imagine God looking down on all of us where we all represent the workers in the vineyard. Some of us will work hard as His servants for most of our life, parts of our life, or at the very end of our life. In His infinite mercy the prize is always the same: eternity with Him in heaven. It may not seem fair to some of the workers, but no matter what type of worker we are, we should be happy for as many of our fellow laborers to enter heaven as possible.

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

Matthew 20:1-16a

Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner
who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.
After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage,
he sent them into his vineyard.
Going out about nine o’clock,
the landowner saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard,
and I will give you what is just.’
So they went off.
And he went out again around noon,
and around three o’clock, and did likewise.
Going out about five o’clock,
the landowner found others standing around, and said to them,
‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’
They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’
He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’
When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman,
‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay,
beginning with the last and ending with the first.’
When those who had started about five o’clock came,
each received the usual daily wage.
So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more,
but each of them also got the usual wage.
And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying,
‘These last ones worked only one hour,
and you have made them equal to us,
who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’
He said to one of them in reply,
‘My friend, I am not cheating you.
Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?
Take what is yours and go.
What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?
Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?
Are you envious because I am generous?’
Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Lesson Plan Ideas

Scripture Verse Memorization

Choose a part of the Gospel to have your students memorize and discuss.  Give a reward to the children who memorize it by your next class.

Parable Storyboard

After reading the parabale and discussing it, have your students draw it out in storyboards and their own words like this parable here. Have students share theirs with the class.

Act it Out

Have students work together to act out the parable. You can practice with them a couple of times. Simply read the Bible text as they act it out. For older students, feed them lines or have them include their own. If you class is large, split them in groups

Free Gospel Resources Online

Here is a list of more free Sunday Gospel resources online.

 

 

 

 

 

St. Padre Pio Devotional: 30 Days with Padre Pio

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The feast of St. Padre Pio is on September 23rd. He is a great saint to learn from and to intercede for us. He was a Capuchin friar, bore the stigmata, and could even bilocate among many other miracles. He also composed a prayer to be said after Mass called “Stay With Me, Lord.” This is the theme of Susan Bartoli’s devotional, Stay with Me, Lord: 30 Days with Padre Pio.

Stay with Me, Lord

with Susan De Bartoli

Published by Ave Maria Press

A Great Intro to the Life of St. Padre Pio

The book begins with a timeline of St. Padre Pio’s life from birth to canonization by Pope St. John Paul II followed by a brief biography. This would be great for anyone who would like to learn the basics about St. Padre Pio’s life. I also loved the inclusion of St. Padre Pio’s prayer for after Mass, “Stay with Me, Lord.” You will pray variations of this prayer at the end of each day.

A 30 Day Devotional

Next, you will find instructions from the publisher about how to use this book. This book is part of a series entitled “Great Spiritual Teachers.” Each day consists of 3 parts:

  1. My Day Begins
  2. All Through the Day
  3. My Day is Ending

These 3 sections provide just enough structure while still being flexible.

The real treasures of this book are in the “My Day Begins” section. They are various letters written by St. Padre Pio. They are short, but packed with tons of wisdom to ponder and absorb. They deal with topics, mostly related to suffering and spiritual warfare. They show that Padre Pio struggled with these issues just like all of us.

How Catechists Can Use This Book

This book can be useful for catechists in a few ways:

  1. As a personal devotion during daily prayer time or in Adoration
  2. To teach your students about St. Padre Pio. Simply read and discuss the timeline and bio in the intro. Get the discussion going on his feast day on September 23rd.
  3. Consider making St. Padre Pio a patron of your classroom or school year, and do the devotional each class with your students (pre-read the letters for appropriateness for younger students)

You can find Stay with Me, Lord: 30 Days with Padre Pio at Ave Maria Press.

You may also enjoy this special interview with the author on CatholicMom.com.

How to Observe the Fall Ember Days

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When are Ember Days?

There are 4 sets of Ember Days – one in each season. The fall Ember Days begin on the Wednesday following the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (which always falls on September 14). This year (2026), the fall Ember Days are on September 16, 18, and 19.

What are Ember Days?

Each season, we give thanks for a specific crop that grows in that season on that season’s particular Ember Days. The crop that we give thanks for during the fall Ember Days is grapes. Each Ember Days crop is also paired with a certain sacramental symbol. For fall, we give thanks for grapes which are used to make the Precious Blood. You can learn about why chalices must be made of precious metal to hold the Precious Blood here!

What do you eat on Ember Days?

The Ember Days are a time dedicated to voluntary penance. They are not required by the church, but a little extra intentional penance and thanksgiving can do a lot of good! For the Ember Days, we are to fast (2 small meals, or collations, and 1 regular meal) on Wednesday (reminding us of Judas’s betrayal) and Saturday (reminding us of the tomb), and fast and abstain from meat on Friday (reminding us of the crucifixion). Meat is allowed for dinner on Ember Wednesday and Ember Saturday.

Please note: If you are nursing, pregnant, or cannot fast and/or abstain from meat for ANY reason, please do not fast and abstain, as listed above! You can abstain from other things such as: non-essential food (dessert, sweets, coffee, soda), screens, other vices/bad habits, etc. If your pregnancy or condition causes you physical suffering, you can also offer that up for your Ember Days Intentions.

Here is an excellent summary and explanation of Ember Days.

And, here are some special prayers. I love how we specifically pray for vocations to the priesthood.

Free Sample Ember Days Meal Plan

I am also including a sample meal plan for these days. In order to be successful with Ember Days fasting and abstinence, I like to keep our meals as simple as possible. I just serve the same thing for the fasting days, but I have included a blank plan if you would like to switch it up!

​This fasting bread recipe is nice and hearty, and it makes 3 loaves which is great to last the 3 days (they freeze well, so I would freeze 1 or 2 of them). You can also double or triple this soup recipe to last you the 3 days, or add in another meal that your family enjoys.

Keeping the meals and meal prep simple gives me more time for observing the day and praying!

 

 

Sunday Gospel Lesson Plan Ideas: Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me

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In today’s Gospel, St. Peter asks Jesus how many times we must forgive someone who wrongs us. Jesus tells him “77 times,” and relays the parable of the king and his servants. Jesus’ mercy is infinite – What a powerful message to share with our children this week!

Mercy and Forgiveness

Matthew 18:21-35

Peter approached Jesus and asked him,
“Lord, if my brother sins against me,
how often must I forgive?
As many as seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.
That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who decided to settle accounts with his servants.
When he began the accounting,
a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.
Since he had no way of paying it back,
his master ordered him to be sold,
along with his wife, his children, and all his property,
in payment of the debt.
At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said,
‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’
Moved with compassion the master of that servant
let him go and forgave him the loan.
When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants
who owed him a much smaller amount.
He seized him and started to choke him, demanding,
‘Pay back what you owe.’
Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him,
‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’
But he refused.
Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison
until he paid back the debt.
Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened,
they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master
and reported the whole affair.
His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant!
I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.
Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant,
as I had pity on you?’
Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers
until he should pay back the whole debt.
So will my heavenly Father do to you,
unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.”

Lesson Plan Ideas

Scripture Verse Memorization

Choose a part of the Gospel to have your students memorize and discuss.  Give a reward to the children who memorize it by your next class.

The Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy

Discuss the spiritual works of mercy with his helpful infographic.

Help kids memorize the spiritual works of mercy with this song and the corporal works of mercy with this one.

Prepare for Reconciliation

Here are some puppet scripts to help teach the Sacrament of Reconciliation:

Act of Confusion (to introduce the Act of Contrition)

Lit Up with Grace (Reconciliation)

Scared of Confession

And, some tips for preparing kids to receive the sacrament:

How to Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation in 7 Steps

Examination of Conscience for Kids

Object Lesson for Confession

Try out this simple and effective object lesson for teaching kids about Confession!

Free Gospel Resources Online

Here is a list of more free Sunday Gospel resources online.

 

 

 

 

The Spiritual Legacy of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

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The Spiritual Legacy of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

by Fr. Charles P. Connor, S.T.L, Ph.D.

Published by EWTN Publishing

 

The beatification of Ven. Fulton J. Sheen is coming up on September 24th! It is so exciting that we get to witness such a momentous event for an American Saint.  I have seen many of the Archbishop’s old videos, but I will admit that I have never read any of his books or writings. Fr. Charles Connor’s book, The Spiritual Legacy of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, was the perfect introduction to many of the Archbishop’s writings and teachings, and it was an inspirational spiritual read for me. If you are an OCIA or adult education leader, I think that this book is especially relevant for you to read since it accounts many of the Archbishop’s encounters with converts to the Catholic Faith as he prepared them to be received into the Church.

Learning About Ven. Fulton J. Sheen

Ven. Fulton J. Sheen was an Archbishop, writer, and TV personality. He is kind of like the Fr. Mike Schmitz of the 20th century, but maybe even more famous! Millions of Americans tuned in weekly to watch his TV shows on Sunday and Tuesday nights, and he also won a Primetime Emmy for Most Outstanding Television Personality.

Fr. Connor’s book does include many facts such as these about Ven. Futlton Sheen’s life, but it focuses much more on how the Archbishop evangelized and taught. This book was very inspiring to me as a catechist because he worked with many converts to Catholicism. Many of these stories are covered in this book.

The Layout of This Book

Fr. Connor chose 10 topics to include in this book:

  • The Life of All Living (based on one of Ven. Fulton Sheen’s most well-known books)
  • The Incarnate Son of God
  • Temptation and Sin
  • Conversion
  • Confession
  • The Mystery of Suffering
  • Prayer
  • The Blessed Virgin Mary
  • Marriage
  • The Eucharist and Priesthood

Fr. Connor specifically writes about lots of powerful excerpts from Ven. Fulton Sheen’s works throughout the book. He then provides his own commentary and explanation of the Archbishop’s ideas. Venerable Fulton Sheen was an extremely learned scholar, and his ideas were deep and profound. The Archbishop had a gift for taking a complex idea (such as atheism or the Incarnation) and explaining it in a simple, concrete, and impactful way. Fr. Connor provides fufther insight into and connection between all of the Archbishop’s teachings and ideas.

If you are curious about Ven. Fulton Sheen’s writings and teachings, this book is the perfect place to start.

Conversions and Teachings

My favorite parts of the book were reading about the many conversion stories that directly involved Ven. Fulton Sheen and his clear, truthful, and powerful teachings. The Archbishop never compromised the truth, and treated each individual that he met with love. Fr. Connor wove together the 10 ideas mentioned above in an enjoyable and inspiring way in this book.

Get Excited for the Beatification of a Modern-Day Saint!

If you do not know a lot about Ven. Fulton Sheen, this is a great book to start with – especially if you are curious about his writings and teachings, or if you find his writings to be a bit scholarly to understand. Dr. Connor helps break them down and make the Archbishop’s ideas and words very accessible. Most of all, this book is getting me so excited to tune in for his heatification of this modern-day saint on September 26th!

Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, pray for us!

You can find The Spiritual Legacy of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen at Sophia Institute Press.

Sunday Gospel Lesson Plan Ideas: Two or Three are Gathered Together in My Name

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Whenever I hear this Gospel passage, I think about praying together as a family or with friends. Isn’t prayer so powerful and enjoyable with others? When someone asks me to pray for them, I try to pray right then – praying with them, if possible. It doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be a Hail Mary or a spontaneous prayer on the spot. Why not focus on teaching your children or class about prayer for today’s Gospel?
Matthew 18:15-20

Jesus said to his disciples:
“If your brother sins against you,
go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.
If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.
If he does not listen,
take one or two others along with you,
so that ‘every fact may be established
on the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church.
If he refuses to listen even to the church,
then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.
Amen, I say to you,
whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Again, amen, I say to you,
if two of you agree on earth
about anything for which they are to pray,
it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them.”

Lesson Plan Ideas

Scripture Verse Memorization

Choose a part of the Gospel to have your students memorize and discuss.  Give a reward to the children who memorize it by your next class.

The Power of Prayer

Read aloud from this awesome book. Choose a new prayer or two to learn as a family or class.

Prayer Lesson Plans and Free Infographics

Here are some free lesson plans on prayer with talking points, scripture, and free downloadable infographics for each type of prayer.

Free Gospel Resources Online

Here is a list of more free Sunday Gospel resources online.

 

 

 

 

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