Religious Education Newsletter November 2013 Tomas Tafolla , DRE Patti Solinski , Assistant

1. Religious Education Newsletter November 2013 Tomas Tafolla, DRE Patti Solinski, Assistant ttafolla@holyspiritfresno.org psolinsky@holyspiritfresno.org Saints for the Month of November Nov 1: Feast of All Saints Nov 2: Feast of All Souls Nov 3: St. Martin de Porres Nov 9: Feast of the Dedication of Lateran Basilica in Rome Nov 11: St. Martin of Tours Nov 13: St. Francis Xavier Cabrini Nov 16: St. Margret f Scotland Nov 17: St. Elizabeth of Hungry Nov 21: Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Nov 22: St. Cecilia Nov 23: Miguel Augustine Pro Nov 24: Feast of Christ the King (Last Sunday in Ordinary Time) Nov 28: Thanksgiving Day Nov 30: St. Andrew Holy men and women, pray for us November Month of the Living and the Dead November is the Month of the Saints but it also the Month of All Souls. We as Catholics celebrate the living and the dead. Why do we celebrate the dead? Isn't that odd, weird, and even pagan? What will my non-Catholic friends say when they hear that Catholics celebrate and honor the dead? Well, for one this is an ancient Jewish and Christian practice and secondly as Catholics the dead, along with the living, are still members of the Body of Christ. Catholic have been honoring the dead since the earliest days of Christianity. Earliest Christian churches were built on top of the burial site of a saint. The altar was a resting place for the bones of a martyr or saint, those bones or fragments of bones are called relics. The dead, are the true living. They have attained the glory of God, or are working their way to that glory in purgatory. So this November honor the dead for they are still our family united together as a Body of Christ. A Family Advent Project The Women’s Guild is sponsoring two family craft events, for you to make your own Advent Wreath. Last year’s craft evening was such a success the parish has expanded to two dates and times this year. The event(s) will be on Friday evening November 22 and on Sunday afternoon November 24. The Women’s Guild will provide everything needed, so you will have a complete work of art when you leave. Since space is limited, only 50 pre-paid reservations will be accepted, so please sign up early. There will be a table set up after Sunday Masses on November 10 to register or you can call Pat at 434-4109 to register or get more information. !!REMINDER!! No Classes for Thanksgiving Break November 25 – 28

2. 10 Activities for Catholic Families in November 1.  Make a King cake or cake/dessert shaped like a crown as a “sweet” way to mark the Feast of Christ the King.  (Nov. 20, 2013 – last Sunday of Liturgical Year) 2.  Talk about that we are all called to sainthood. Work on self portraits and title them “Future Saint” or “Future St. (Child’s Name)” (All Saints Day—November 1st) 3.  Have a fish dinner to celebrate the feast day of St. Andrew (Nov 30th).  Say a prayer for those that work to produce food. 4.  Bake bread together to deliver to friends and neighbors (especially those most in need of some extra love) in honor of the feast day of St. Elizabeth of Hungary (Nov. 17th) 5.  Find an age appropriate science experiment or activity to celebrate the feast day of St. Albert the Great, patron of scientist (Nov. 15th) 6.  Make a Thankful Turkey Project:  Use the printable at http://www.hsclassroom.net/3D-turkey-cutout/ and have kids write one thing they’re thankful for on each of the turkey’s feathers. 7.  Attend Mass on All Saints Day!  (November 1st – it’s a Holy Day of Obligation.) 8.  All Souls Day (Nov 2nd) is a day to remember all who have died. To remember a special loved one, pray for their soul, visit a cemetery, and/or do a favorite activity they enjoyed. 9.  Attend a musical performance or just have a family sing along/dance party at home to honor St. Cecilia, patron saint of music. (November 22nd) 10.  Look for a program to buy Christmas gifts for a needy child (in your community or across the world) in honor of the feast day of St. Margaret of Scotland (Nov 16th), who gave gifts and food to the poor and needy.