A Saints Party!

Caravaggio portrays Judith of the Hebrew Testament

A few weeks ago, my family entered the Catholic Church. Because it was such an intense event, we decided NOT to have a reception directly afterward, but rather several weeks after the mass. This turned out perfect for so many reasons. One, the family needed some private time for prayer, reflection, contemplation and quiet after the mass. Three of us had received first communion and needed to 'be' as we were. Including drive time, reconcilliation, mending hems and ironing shirts, the two hour mass itself, and visiting in the vestibule afterwards, we were busy for a solid five hours.

Friday was the reception party at our home. We invited everyone to dress as a favorite saint and plan to play some 'monastery games'. It was a blast!

Being a day of abstinence during Lent, we still managed quite a spread. We had a huge tray of fresh, colorful vegies and fruits, pretzels, of course, veggie chips, and more. Some body showed up with chocolate (which was gone quickly!) and beautiful, shining clementine oranges! Delicious! And I splurged by making a cheese tray with sharp cheddar, colby-jack, and creamy havarti. If the Catholic church ever goes no-cheese, I am in trouble!

Before the party, Little Brother got to pick out a model airplane with his Papa (Grandfather), and Papa also snuck in a trip to the sporting goods store where they checked out the guns! Then to McDonald's for a burger. (Papa didnt know it was a no-meat day). So Little Brother was in heaven before the party even started. (So was Papa!)

Big Sis got to spend the hours before the party putting together her costume. She chose to be Judith of the Hebrew testament, mostly because she liked the Caravaggio painting. I did not tell her the whole story of how Judith seduces the Assyrian commander. She just thinks it would be cool to cut off the enemy's head with a sword.

And Little Brother wanted to be St. George, the Patron of England. What is it with swords in my family?

Judith and George

For the monastery games, the kids made their daily bread (see below all the delicious loaves), meditated on a marble labyrinth designed after Chartres Cathedral in France, and made Divine Mercy chaplets. They also spend quite some time in Show and Tell, explaining their costume and saint. We had one mother daughter team who dressed as St. Therese of the Little Flower and her Blessed mother the lacemaker! Another saint was a Buddhist bodhisattva, Ashoka's daughter. My mother in law even brought a prop of flowers and told our family of her confirmation name: St. Therese. There was a St. Francis who told the story of taming the wolf, St. Scholastica and St. Benedict, real siblings portraying siblings, two Sts. Cabrini, a guardian angel and more...

Our Daily Bread

Afterward, the children posed with Little Brother's godfather and everyone's favorite priest, Fr. V. The children love him so much, as he has served at several parishes here. Families fall in love with his fun and easy style of portraying true devotion to Christ.


All the children with Father
Then, some of the mommies stayed to chat and have tea while the children played like crazy! A new game played out in our home: Sardines! What fun!

We had a great time, and got to spend more time with our abundant godparents. This time was very precious to me. Not only did I get to celebrate my family's path, but I got to celebrate it with people and families that I have grown to love and admire. Nothing makes me happier than to know these people are willing to lift us up and surround us in our celebration. My family is very fortunate and blessed.