The past three days, where we honor our beloved saints and pray for departed souls, can be referred to as the triduum of Hallowtide. Catholic schools are exceptionally busy during Hallowtide - balancing the societal demands of Halloween, as well as recognizing the sanctity of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. From pumpkins and trunk ‘r treats to pilgrimages and plenary indulgences, our schools have a lot to share.
Halloween - Trunk ‘r treats have been great community builders. Add in classroom Halloween parties, costume parades, and dissecting pumpkins, parents and students had a lot of fun. Eighth graders at St. Joseph (Pewamo) even put on a haunted barn with all proceeds donated back to the school!
All Saints’ Day - A holy day of obligation for Catholics to recall the canonized or beatified men and women who are now in heaven. Almost all of our schools celebrated Mass to start the day and many students dressed up as saints for parades, competitions, and oral presentations. St. Stephen students represented some favorites including St. Patrick, Mother Teresa, Blessed Carlo, St. Angela Merici, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Maria, St. Francis Assisi, St. John the Baptist, Father Pio, St. Stephen, and Joan of Arc. They also played saint bingo and had a Saint scavenger hunt.
All Souls’ Day / Día de los Muertos - This day we commemorate all the faithful departed. Our schools invite students to write the names of their loved ones, bring in photos to be placed on altars or ofrendas, and make pilgrimages to nearby cemeteries. Fr. Ron Floyd wrote this beautiful reflection for All Souls’ Day and highlights Sacred Heart Academy’s students who walk to two cemeteries for prayer and a rosary.
Click here to see more Hallowtide photos. And from all of us to you, happy Hallowtide!