As we launch into this month, there are LOTS of fun feast days to participate in. October is dedicated to the Rosary. It is also respect life month. In other words, it's a great month to jump into liturgical living and provides lots of chances if you've tried, but not succeeded. The other thing I would like to throw in this Flocknote is the new addition to our St. John social media. During the month we would love for you to send in the ways you're celebrating feasts and liturgical seasons in your house! We will be adding them to the stories throughout the month. You can send these to our Facebook or Instagram via private message.
I think I've mentioned ideas to make a family altar in your home, but I understand that some don't have the space or don't desire something crazy elegant. There are also some households with lots of kids that need to avoid breakable things. Here are some fun ideas/spaces for a family altar that might be unconventional. I just made my own on the kitchen table. Ours is simple. We have a stack of placemats in the middle of the table and on it is a candle, small statue of Mary, some pumpkins and our salt and pepper shakers. This month I'm thinking I'll drape a rosary around it as well. A couple other fun places you could make one is on a bookshelf, island, a small side table, or small shelf on the wall. You just need a candle, maybe a statue (there are some wood and plastic ones that would be safe for littles) or a picture printout in a frame and anything else you feel called to adding. The kids can make Lego statues that represent the saints or sacramentals, draw pictures, and add their own touch to it. You can make it a place where you join together as a family or it can simply serve as a day to day reminder of your faith.
Feast days this month and an idea or two or three to celebrate each:
10/1- St. Therese of Lisieux (The little flower)
- Eat or make candy flowers (you can just lay Starbursts or skittles in a flower shape if you want)
- Pipe cleaner flowers
- Pick flowers
- Go to Botanica or the Bartlett Arboretum and pray to Therese for her intercession
10/4- St. Francis of Assisi
- Pet blessing
- Go to the zoo
- Thank God for animals
10/5- St. Faustina Kowalska
- Pray a Divine Mercy Chaplet
- Put a picture of Divine Mercy Jesus in your home. Have the kids color it if you want!
10/7- Our Lady of the Rosary
- Pray a 15 decade rosary. Challenge yourself to get through a complete one!
- Find a copy of or read "The Secret of the Rosary" if you already have it.
- Make cupcakes and serve them in the shape of the rosary.
10/15- St. Teresa of Avila
- Draw a picture of your heart where Jesus lives (your interior castle)
- Eat Spanish food for dinner or make a Spanish dessert
10/18- St. Luke the Evangelist
- Play Operation (He was a surgeon)
- Read from Acts
- Make Chicken Wings or any food that would remind you of the skeletal system
10/22- St. John Paul II
- Go to mass or do a rosary walk
- Read a part of one of his writings or some of his quotes
- Make polish food (pierogies are easy! You can buy them frozen and cook how you like.)
Since it is respect life month, we encourage you to make an additional effort to participate in pro-life activities or at least offer a mass, rosary, or any other kind of activity for the purpose of advocating for those without a voice. Whatever this looks like for you and your family is great. From dedicated daily prayer time to a quick Glory Be on the way to school. All prayer is good!
There are a lot of options for this month. Don't get too overwhelmed by them. The whole idea is to streamline and prompt some thought into how you can integrate our beautiful faith into your daily life. Take these to prayer and discuss with your family. The Lord will lead you down the best path for your lifestyle.
May God bless you abundantly this October!