Autumn

September/October 2008 Issue | Posted by Daria Sockey in Season

Autumn, the year’s last,

loveliest smile.

— William Cullen Bryant

Feasts, Traditions … and Fun

SEPTEMBER

1 Labor Day

­ ­• For a fun activity on your last days off from school, make a custom word search puzzle that includes all the memorable events of the summer. The following website makes this a cinch: FunBrain.com (click on “Classic Funbrain” and under the “word” section click on “Word Turtle”). Or if your family is more creative, act out summer highlights in a lively game of charades.

— Daria Sockey

8 The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

­• Sing “Happy Birthday” to Mary after dinner, and have a cake. Then quiz the kids with some “Mary Math”:

• How many candles would go on this cake if Our Lady was 14 years old when Jesus was born?

• Why does the Church celebrate Mary’s birth on September 8th? Clue: When do we celebrate the day her life began in the womb of St. Anne? Once they figure this out, you could also point out the nine-month gap between the feast of the Annunciation and Christmas.

— Daria Sockey

More Faith and Family Days in September

14

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross

The Pope will be in Lourdes today and tomorrow; check Pope2008.com

15

Our Lady of Sorrows

Watch The Song of Bernadette ... or the Pope in Lourdes.

23

St. Pio of Pietrelcina

Start the Little Flower novena (at EWTN.com click on “faith,” “devotions,” “novenas”).

OCTOBER

7 Our Lady of the Rosary

•This feast marks the victory (credited to the Rosary) in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571.

Our Lady’s Victory Vessels

8 large baked potatoes
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/2 cup bacon bits (optional)
1/3 cup butter
1/2 cup sour cream
2/3 cup milk
salt and pepper
white paper
3 skewers
10 toothpicks (cut in half)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake potatoes for 1 hour. When potatoes are done, allow them to cool for 10 minutes. Carefully cut off the top skin of the potato. Gently scoop the flesh into a mixing bowl. Set the potato shells on a tray. Mix all the ingredients except cheese and bacon. Fill the potato shells and top with cheese and bacon. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees until cheese melts.

Cut nine rectangular pieces of paper to put on the skewers in honor of Our Lady. Decorate the “sails” with blue crosses, rosaries, or other Marian symbols. Insert toothpicks in the “hull” of the potato as the oars — 10 on each side.

* Note: If you are pressed for time, just decorate a plain baked potato!

31 Halloween

9 Tricks for Halloween Safety

Hazards can be avoided on Halloween by taking the following precautions:

Adults or older children should accompany young ghosts and goblins on their hauntings.

Light-reflecting costumes, orange reflecting tape, and flashlights can brighten the way.

Look both ways before crossing the street, and obey all traffic safety rules.

October can be cold and damp; find a flame-retardant costume that provides protection from the weather.

Work your own neighborhood. There will be fewer tricks among the treats from people you know.

Eyes work best when not blocked by masks. Paint and makeup can create great effects.

Every piece of candy should be checked by a parent for tampering. Throw away all unpackaged goodies, including cookies and apples.

Never go trick-or-treating alone. Always say thank you!

— Pamela Kleibrink Thompson

More Faith and Family Days in October

1

St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus

Finish your novena and look for roses!

4

St. Francis of Assisi

Put a bird feeder in your yard.

13

Columbus Day

Volunteer at your local Knights of Columbus.

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