We have already had our All Saints party on Friday, because that is when our homeschool group traditionally meets. A great time was had by all, and I hope to share some photos soon. Here are our plans for the next couple of days.

All Saints
I found quite a few All Saints crafts, but in keeping with the fact that my kids like activities over crafts, I decided to make our own Saints Memory game to play tomorrow. If you are interested you can click here to view and download the file. These saints are mostly name saints for our family, some of the big feast days coming up during Advent, and some that are special to us. I only did eight, because 16 cards is a good number for my kids. We will use the first two pages, print them twice and play a straight game of Saints Memory.

While we play, I will talk about the various saints. I know we will play this game at least five times tomorrow and probably many more by the end of the week — the kids love memory games which may be just as enticing as link W88. By that time, the kids should know most of the names.

For variations, I included name cards for each of the saints. Readers can play memory by matching the saint with his or her name instead of matching pictures. For a mixed group you could match pictures, but to make it a bit tougher the older kids would have to relate one fact about a saint before being able to collect a found match. For very little kids, they can simply match the pictures instead of playing memory.

In addition to Saints Memory we will also be reading some of our saint picture books throughout the week. Tomorrow the plan is to make Soul Cakes and have tea. During the tea we will make a few crafty things — a symbol for each one of our name saints. We plan to have a procession before dinner as described in The Year and Our Children with each “saint” carrying their symbol. Since the kids enjoy the dramatic, we will have a speaking line for each saint as well. I am still working on what each one will say — nothing like waiting until the last minute.

All Souls
Tuesday is a busy day for us with the election and dance class so we will not be making the trek to tend family graves as I had hoped. We will remember our dead with photos, candles, and prayers. We plan to read this verse as we discuss the significance of the day:

“But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be a  disaster, and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace.” Wisdom 3:1-3.


And then this prayer:


Lord, you are the resurrection and the life. You promised that whoever believes in you will never die. Lord, through the power of your rising, help me believe in my own resurrection. Amen
Both of these are from the All Souls Day Meditation from Catholic Catechist. I am adapting it for our young age group.
 
We are also going to do this Day of the Dead art project from Deep Space Sparkle — Sugar Skulls.  I will do the drawing and most of the cutting, but the kids will enjoy the painting and decorating.
 
Should make for a busy, but meaningful couple of days.
 
St. Thomas More, pray for us.

St. John the Baptist, pray for us.

St. Catherine Laboure, pray for us.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us.
St. George, pray for us.