Sunday, October 29, 2023

Eucharistic Witnesses: Ven. Augustus Tolton

I'm honored to be contributing to the Heart of the Revival, the newsletter and blog for the National Eucharistic Revival. I've written several articles and created activities for kids (like this Eucharistic Procession, Mass Offering Cards, Pilgrimage Passport, Pope Benedict XVI quotes, Art for Holy Week, and Bl. Carlo Acutis Activities). 

I've also been helping with a monthly series called American Eucharistic Witnesses. This collection highlights Americans whose lives have been changed by the gift of the Eucharistic. With a different expert author each month and an original woodcut print by the talented Connor Miller, I've been tasked with creating a version of this series for children. Each booklet contains a shorter bio and the art print on the front and back, and inside has some activities like a quote to color, a timeline to put in order, reflection questions, and short comprehension questions to answer. One booklet is for older children (I'd recommend 5th-8th grade) and another for younger children (I'd recommend 2nd-4th grade). The collection matches in structure and we'll finish the series with a final project to pull all the booklets together. 

Read the original article about Venerable Augustus Tolton here, and find the kids' activities below. (including in Spanish!)




Venerable Augustus Tolton Biography Activity for Older Kids in English


Venerable Augustus Tolton Biography Activity for Younger Kids in English


Eucharistic Witnesses: Bl. Stanley Rother

I'm honored to be contributing to the Heart of the Revival, the newsletter and blog for the National Eucharistic Revival. I've written several articles and created activities for kids (like this Eucharistic Procession, Mass Offering Cards, Pilgrimage Passport, Pope Benedict XVI quotes, Art for Holy Week, and Bl. Carlo Acutis Activities). 

I've also been helping with a monthly series called American Eucharistic Witnesses. This collection highlights Americans whose lives have been changed by the gift of the Eucharistic. With a different expert author each month and an original woodcut print by the talented Connor Miller, I've been tasked with creating a version of this series for children. Each booklet contains a shorter bio and the art print on the front and back, and inside has some activities like a quote to color, a timeline to put in order, reflection questions, and short comprehension questions to answer. One booklet is for older children (I'd recommend 5th-8th grade) and another for younger children (I'd recommend 2nd-4th grade). The collection matches in structure and we'll finish the series with a final project to pull all the booklets together. 

Read the original article about Blessed Stanley Rother here, and find the kids' activities below. (including in Spanish!)


Bl. Stanley Rother Biography Activity for Older Kids in English



Bl. Stanley Rother Biography Activity for Younger Kids in English


Update: Find all of the biographies, as well as new cumulative activities for the series in these two free ebooks with over 40 pages of content in each!



Saturday, October 28, 2023

Eucharistic Witnesses: Cardinal Francis George, OMI

I'm honored to be contributing to the Heart of the Revival, the newsletter and blog for the National Eucharistic Revival. I've written several articles and created activities for kids (like this Eucharistic Procession, Mass Offering Cards, Pilgrimage Passport, Pope Benedict XVI quotes, Art for Holy Week, and Bl. Carlo Acutis Activities). 

I've also been helping with a monthly series called American Eucharistic Witnesses. This collection highlights Americans whose lives have been changed by the gift of the Eucharistic. With a different expert author each month and an original woodcut print by the talented Connor Miller, I've been tasked with creating a version of this series for children. Each booklet contains a shorter bio and the art print on the front and back, and inside has some activities like a quote to color, a timeline to put in order, reflection questions, and short comprehension questions to answer. One booklet is for older children (I'd recommend 5th-8th grade) and another for younger children (I'd recommend 2nd-4th grade). The collection matches in structure and we'll finish the series with a final project to pull all the booklets together. 

Read the original article about Cardinal George here, and find the kids' activities below. (including in Spanish!)


Cardinal George Biography Activity for Older Kids in English


Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Thursday, October 12, 2023

All about Advent & Christmas: Sharing the Seasons of Wonder and Hope with Children- {My new book!}

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a children's book that explains the beauty of the Season of Advent and how it prepares us for Christmas? A book that shows God's plan His people as they waited for the promised Messiah and how we stretch open our hearts as we also await His coming each year? A resource that shares Advent traditions and prayers and songs and Saints? A tool for homes and classrooms with explanations that are simple but rich, supported with bright and beautiful illustrations? 

Well... I have a little surprise for you! I've been hard at work bringing the Advent book of my dreams to life and am ready to share it with you!

All About Advent & Christmas: Sharing the Seasons of Hope and Wonder with Children, written by me and illustrated & designed by Shari Van Vranken of Catholic Paper Goods is now available for preorder from The St. Paul Center! 

The book is a big and bright 9x12" book with 56 pages of text and full color illustrations. The content can be read a "chapter" at a time or from cover to cover and is peppered with extra sidebars with prayers, Scripture, connections to the Sacraments, and tips for celebrating.

All About Advent & Christmas is ready for preorder now and will be shipping out the first week of November, leaving you plenty of time to plan for a peaceful and beautiful Advent. To help you out, Shari and I created some fun bonus activities that will exclusively be sent to orders through the St. Paul Center. You know I take catechetical activities seriously, so while there are some amazing images to color, we also gave you great talking points and content to learn from! 

The digital bonuses include:

  • A clickable digital calendar specific to 2023 with tons of activities organized by day for the entire Advent and Christmas Seasons. It has everything from links to free coloring pages, feast day meal ideas, hymn playlists, and more. So many ideas- you can pick and choose your favorites!
  • An Advent wreath coloring page, as well as four smaller coloring cards with the Advent candles lit for each of the four weeks.
  • An O Antiphon activity page designed for older kids (don't leave them out of the fun!) that includes a mini Bible study.
  • A coloring page of Shari's stunning Advent Calendar. It includes a brief explaining of Advent calendars and you can color one door each day leading to Christmas.

You also can use code BOGNER10 to save 10% when ordering at the St. Paul Center, but only until October 20, 2023- so don't wait!

The book is also available for preorder on Amazon (affiliate link), and I always love to encourage you to ask for it at your local Catholic bookstore. Even if they don't have it on the shelves, they typically will order it for you! If you'd like to share about the book with your parish or school, feel free to send them this blog post, or here is a flier that can be emailed or used in bulletins or newsletters.

We hope and pray that this book helps readers of all ages prepare to celebrate the Birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ!

Saturday, September 30, 2023

October Radiant Round Up

Month of the Most Holy Rosary
Happy Month of the Most Holy Rosary! There are SO MANY wonderful things to celebrate this month, and I've packed tons ideas into this edition of the Radiant Round Up. 
 

To start off, here are lots and lots of ideas for learning and praying with the Rosary:
Rosary Resources in Spanish*


St. Thérèse of Lisieux: October 1st

Guardian Angels: October 2nd
Guardian Angel and St. Michael Prayer Cards (K & up)


St. Francis of Assisi: October 4th
St. Francis of Assisi Coloring Page*(all ages)

St. Faustina Kowalska: October 5th
Divine Mercy Watercolor Art* (printable coloring page-2nd-6th)
Divine Mercy Melty Bead Craft* (printable pattern and examples-2nd-8th)
Pop Out Divine Mercy Chaplet* (2nd-6th)

Our Lady of the Rosary: October 7th

Pope St. John XXIII: October 11th
Two Popes, Two Saints* Trivia about St. John Paul II and St. John XXIII (4th & up)
Play Scripts/ Readers' Theater* about the miracles of St. John Paul II and St. John XXIII (4th & up)

Bl. Carlo Acutis: October 12th
Eucharistic Miracle Investigation* (version for younger & older kids) Also in Spanish

Pope St. John Paul II: October 22nd
Two Popes, Two Saints* Trivia about St. John Paul II and St. John XXIII (4th & up)
Play Scripts/ Readers' Theater* about the miracles of St. John Paul II and St. John XXIII (4th & up)

Sts. Simon and Jude: October 28th

All Hallows Eve/All Saints Day/All Souls: October 31st-November 2nd 
Since these feasts are so interwoven, you'll find ideas for Halloween along with All Saints & All Souls. I'll include these and more in the November Radiant Round Up!
Mass Offering Cards* (2nd & up) also in Spanish
Memento Mori Printables* (2nd & up)

October Catholic Book List
Click here for a list of books for Catholic kids that fit well with devotions and feast days this month! 


A Quick Grown Up Book Recommendation: The Every Sacred Sunday Mass Journal
Hands down, the best prayer resource I've ever invested in for myself is the Every Sacred Sunday Mass Journal. I've used it consistently for going on seven years! I've shared about it a few times on the blog (here and here and here) and just love its full Mass Readings, space to journal, original art, and heirloom quality. Preorders for the 2024 journals open on October 4th. You can use code KATIE10 for a discount with your order! 


Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us!

You can find the links to the monthly Radiant Roundups here:

October Books for Catholic Kids

October Catholic Kids Book List

Below are a few favorite titles that fit well with devotions and feast days this month! This list contains Amazon Affiliate links, which means if you click through and make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no cost to you. I'd also love to encourage you to shop directly with the publisher or with your local bookshop, or try to request these at your local library! I'm sure I've missed some books that would be great for this month, so feel free to add your own recommendations in the comments! You can find my giant list of Catholic Kid Books by topic here.


All Month- Respect Life Month
Saints & Feast Days

10/2- Guardian Angels

10/4- St. Francis of Assisi
10/5- St. Faustina

10/7- Our Lady of the Rosary

10/9- Our Lady of Champion
The Woman in the Trees- Bell, Theoni

10/9- St. John Henry Newman

10/12- Bl. Carlo Acutis

10/15- St. Teresa of Avila

10/16- St. Gerard Majella

10/17- St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

10/18- St. Luke

10/19- St. Isaac Jogues

10/22- St. John Paul II

10/31-11/1- All Hallows Eve & All Saints Day

Any great October books I missed? Please add your suggestions in the comments!

Book Lists By Month:
Click on the images below for book lists organized by feast days and devotions for each month: