Celebrating Fall: A Catholic Guide

Fall is a wonderful time of year. The leaves are changing, the weather is getting colder, and life is slowing down. Here are some ways to celebrate the season. 🧡🍂🍁☕️

September 21st

Feast day of St. Matthew

September - Month of Our Lady of Sorrows

Daily reflection on one of Mary’s Seven Sorrows

• Pray the Rosary (especially Sorrowful Mysteries)

• Decorate a Marian altar with purple or blue flowers

• Acts of Compassion: Perform hidden acts of service or comfort for someone who is

Sept 8 - Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

• Theme: Joy & New Life in Mary.

• Pray: Hail Mary, Magnificat, pray for families and children.

• Music: “Sing of Mary, Pure and Lowly”, “Hail, Holy Queen” (Salve Regina), “Immaculate Mary”, “Ave Maria”, “Magnificat”.

• Decorate: Use blue and white cloths or ribbons, fresh flowers, especially lilies or roses.

• Activity: Have a “Mary’s Birthday Party” with cake, songs, and prayers, or a “Mary’s Garden” craft with flowers

• Craft: Paper lilies or roses, decorate a Marian altar corner.

• Cook: Sweet treats — cupcakes or cookies decorated with flowers.

Sept 12 - The Most Holy Name of Mary

• Pray: Litany of the Holy Name of Mary.

• Music: “Ave Maria”, “Immaculate Mary, Your Praises We Sing”, “Hail Holy Queen”, “Mary, the Name that Brings Us Light “, “Ave Maris Stella”.

• Cook: Name day cake - Celebrate Mary’s “name day” with a small cake or cupcakes decorated with her name or an "M" monogram, blueberry pie.

• Decorate: Blue and white cloths – Marian colors, “M” monogram – either handmade or printed, roses, lilies, or white/blue blossoms.

Sept 14 – Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Feast)

• Theme: Victory & Sacrifice.

• Music: “Lift High the Cross”, “At the Cross Her Station Keeping, Crux Fidelis”, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”, “O Sacred Head Surrounded”.

• Pray: Litany of the Holy Cross, Stations of the Cross, pray for the strength to carry daily crosses in life.

• Cook: Hot cross buns, cross cookies, red punch or grape juice (symbolize Christ’s blood).

• Decorate: Red cloth, gold or white accents, fresh flowers at the base of the crucifix.

• Activity: Make a decorative cross craft or a “walk with the cross” reflection at home.

• Craft: Popsicle stick cross decorated with beads or flowers.

Sept 15 – Our Lady of Sorrows (Memorial)

• Theme: Compassion & Union with Christ’s Suffering.

• Pray: Pray the Seven Sorrows Rosary, Litany of Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for those who are suffering.

• Read: The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Anne Catherine Emmerich.

• Music: “Stabat Mater Dolorosa”, “O Sanctissima”, “Mother of Sorrows, Be My Comfort”, “Gentle Woman”.

• Cook: Seven-layer dip, tear-shaped treats - madeleines, raindrop candies.

• Activity: Create a “Seven Sorrows” craft — paper hearts, each labeled with a sorrow.

• Craft: Make a crown of thorns craft (soft/paper version) or a heart with a sword motif.

Sept 21 – St. Matthew (Feast)

• Read: The Gospel of Matthew.

• Cook: Chocolate coins, fish, pita, humus, olives, lamb, fig bars, footprint cookies.

• Music: “The Summons”, “Come, Follow Me”, “Lord, You Have Come to the Seashore” ,“Go Make of All Disciples”.

• Craft: Trace feet and write the words of Jesus: “Follow me”, make a coin purse and write virtues inside.

Sept 29 – Feast of the Archangels: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael

• Also known as Michaelmas

• Theme: Protection, Healing, & Guidance.

• Pray: For guardian angels, protection, and healing.

• Music: "Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones", “Christ the Fair Glory of the Holy Angels”, “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name”, “St. Michael the Archangel, Defend Us in Battle”.

• Decorate: White, gold, and blue color scheme (purity, divinity, sky).

• Activity: Make angel crafts — decorate paper angels or draw guardian angels for family members.

• Craft: Angel ornaments or mobiles.

• Cook: Michaelmas goose or bannock, pick blackberries (old tradition), spiced cake, roasted root vegetables, angel hair pasta, Angel-shaped cookies.

October 7th

Our Lady of the Rosary

October - Month of the Holy Rosary

• Pray: a daily Rosary, especially the Glorious Mysteries on Sundays.

• Decorate: a home altar with blue and white flowers for Mary.

• Activity: Encourage family acts of love and service reflecting the saints’ lives.

• Craft: Make saint-inspired crafts and reflections each week.

Oct 1 – St. Thérèse of Lisieux

• Theme: Little Way of Love.

• Crafts: Make paper roses or rose-scented candles.

• Activity: Make a “Little Acts of Love” chart for the week.

• Read: Story of a Soul, “Saint Thérèse of Lisieux: The Way of Love” by Susan Helen Wallace.

• Prayers: Novena to St. Thérèse, pray for trust in God in small daily things.

• Music: “The Little Way” by Audrey Assad, “Therese” by Danielle Rose.

• Cook: A French meal - crepes, madeleines, macarons, petite floral cupcakes.

• Watch: "Therese" (2004), "The Miracle of Saint Thérèse" (1952).

• Write: A letter to Jesus, in the spirit of childlike trust like Thérèse.

• Try: “Little Way Challenge” – see who can do the most hidden, kind acts during the day.

Oct 2 – Guardian Angels

• Activity: Draw your guardian angel or write them a letter to thank them for their protection and guidance.

• Prayer: Traditional Guardian Angel Prayer, Litany to the Guardian Angels, or Guardian Angel Novena.

• Music: “Angel of God”, "Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones", "I Sing the Mighty Power of God", "Angel Voices Ever Singing", “Angels Among Us”, Gregorian Chant, or instrumental angel-themed music.

• Cook: Angel food cake, white meringues, whipped cream desserts (cloud-like).

• Craft: Make angel wings, angel handprint art, and a stained glass angel.

• Decorate: White, gold, and silver color theme, angel figurines or statues displayed prominently, feathers, cloud decor, or hanging angel mobiles, and candles.

Oct 4 – St. Francis of Assisi

• Theme: Creation & Peace.

• Traditions: Blessing of pets, nature walks, live simply for a day, and eat a meal by candlelight.

• Pray: Prayer of St. Francis, Canticle of the Sun, Litany of St. Francis of Assisi, pray for care of the environment and animals.

• Read: Testament of St. Francis, "The Song of Francis" or "Francis: The Poor Man of Assisi".

• Music: “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace”, “All Creatures of Our God and King”, “Canticle of the Sun”, Taizé Chants – especially meditative and simple ones like “Ubi Caritas”, Gregorian chant, or simple acoustic praise.

• Activity: Bless pets at home or draw a “Creation Poster.”

• Crafts: Make bird feeders, bake animal-shaped cookies, make animal masks, create a nature collage, make a stained glass sun, and grow seedlings indoors to plant next spring.

• Cook: Italian dishes - minestrone, rustic bread and olive oil, pasta, simple bread and fresh fruits (reflecting his simple lifestyle)

Oct 7 – Our Lady of the Rosary

• Theme: Prayer & Protection.

• Celebrate: Pray the Rosary (especially as a family).

• Crafts: Make rosary beads, rosary coloring pages, or paint Mary.

• Gather: Host a tea party in Mary’s honor. Decorate in blue and white (traditional Marian colors).

• Music: "Ave Maria", "Hail, Holy Queen", "Immaculate Mary", "Salve Regina".

• Offering: Bring flowers to a Marian statue or shrine, either at home or church.

• Cook: Marian-themed treats — blue and white cupcakes, cookies shaped like rosary beads.

Oct 15 – St. Teresa of Ávila

• Theme: Prayer & Mystical Union.

• Read: Interior Castle, The Way of Perfection, St. Teresa of Ávila Autobiography.

• Pray: St. Teresa’s Bookmark Prayer, Prayer for Inner Peace, Novena to St. Teresa of Ávila, Litany of St. Teresa of Ávila, Morning Offering with Teresa’s Spirit, pray for deeper interior prayer and focus on God.

• Music: “Nada Te Turbe”, “In the Lord I’ll be Ever Thankful”, “Nothing Can Trouble”.

• Craft: Decorate favorite quotes from her writings, decorate a prayer corner, or make a “prayer journal cover.”

• Activity: Quiet journaling or guided meditation.

• Cook: pan con tomate, arroz con leche, rosquillas, paella, tortilla española.

• Decorate: Spanish-style cloth – rustic or embroidered tablecloth.

Oct 18 – St. Luke

• Patron of artists and doctors.

• Theme: Healing & Gospel Witness.

• Read: The Gospel of Luke.

• Pray: Pray for doctors and healthcare workers.

• Activity: Art project or drawing of the Gospel story.

• Craft: Lion or ox symbol (Luke’s symbol) craft.

• Cook: St. Luke was likely Greek or Syrian in background. Cook a Mediterranean meal with olives, figs, grapes, fish, flatbread, honey, etc.

• Commit: To evangelization. Who comes to mind who is ready to hear the Gospel?

Oct 22 – St. John Paul II

• Watch: Videos of his speeches/homilies, “Pope John Paul II”, “Karol: A Man Who Became Pope”.

• Cook: Polish food (pierogi, poppy seed cake).

• Read: Crossing the Threshold of Hope, Letter to Youth, Theology of the Body.

• Pray: Divine Mercy Chaplet.

• Cook: Polish themed food - pierogi, kielbasa and sauerkraut, rye bread and butter.

Oct 28 – St.s Simon & Jude

• Theme: Faithfulness & Hope.

• Pray: For perseverance in following Christ.

• Read: The Letter of Jude.

• Offer: St. Jude Novena.

• Serve: Volunteer to visit the sick or elderly.

• Activity: Apostles’ storytelling or role-play their journeys, write down "hopeless" intentions or the names of people going through suffering and place them in a prayer box dedicated to St. Jude - light a candle beside it and pray each day through their intercession.
  Craft: Make paper sandals or small “apostle shields”, make a St. Jude prayer box or prayer chain,

• Cook: Decorate with red (martyrdom) and make a Middle Eastern meal reflecting their missionary territory or a simple fish-based meal or bread with honey.

Oct 31 – All Hallows’ Eve

• Pray: Litany of Saints, St. Michael Prayer for protection, All Saints Vigil Prayer.

• Cook: “Soul cakes” - small spiced cookies given in exchange for prayers for the dead (origin of trick-or-treating!), saint trail mix - gold-wrapped candies, raisins, pretzels (crosses), and white marshmallows (purity).

• Craft: Saint-O-Lantern, Glow-in-the-dark Rosary, Saint peg dolls, heavenly decorations.

• Music: “When the Saints Go Marching In”, “For All the Saints”, “Behold the Lamb”, “Blessed Are They”.

• Activity: Light a vigil candle, draft a saint as the family patron saint for the next year.

November 22nd

Christ the King

November - Dedicated to Holy Souls

• Pray: for the souls in purgatory throughout the month.

• Activity: Light candles at home or in church for deceased family members, reflect on the lives of saints and emulate their virtues.

• Craft: Create saint and angel crafts for children to help them connect with faith.

Nov 1 – All Saints' Day (Holy Day of Obligation)

• Theme: Holiness & Eternal Life.

• Pray: Litany of the Saints, pray for all saints, canonized and unknown.

• Activity: Dress up as saints, have a “Saints Party”, decorate a saint-themed altar at home.

• Crafts: Saint peg dolls, make a “Saint Trading Card” craft — draw or write about a saint you admire.

• Music: “For All the Saints”, “Litany of the Saints”, “Holy God”, “We Praise Thy Name”.

Nov 2 – All Souls' Day

• Theme: Prayer for the Dead & Remembrance

• Pray: For the dead and souls in purgatory, for family members and friends who have passed away, Psalm 130 – “De Profundis”.

• Activity: Visit a cemetery, light candles and decorate a prayer corner with photos or mementos.

• Crafts: Create a memory altar, make a “Memory Tree” with paper leaves bearing names of deceased loved ones.

• Cook: Soul cakes.

• Music: “In Paradisum” (from the Requiem Mass)", “Dies Irae” (traditional chant for the dead), “I Am the Bread of Life”, “Come to His Aid”, “O Saints of God”, “Jesus, Remember Me”.

Nov 4 – Charles Borromeo

• Theme: Service & Church Reform.

• Pray: For bishops, priests, and those in Church leadership.

• Activity: Write thank-you notes to clergy.

• Cook: Italian-style simple meal (bread, pasta, or soup).

Nov 10 – Leo the Great

• Theme: Leadership & Defense of Faith.

• Pray: For guidance for Church leaders and teachers.

• Activity: Read or reflect on one of Pope Leo’s teachings.

• Craft: Make a paper mitre or simple papal shield.

• Cook: Italian or Roman-inspired dishes (focaccia or simple vegetables).

Nov 11 – St. Martin of Tours

• Activity: Martinmas lantern walks - Children make paper lanterns, light them at sunset, and process through the streets or yard singing songs, giving to the poor - Donate warm clothing, blankets, or food to the poor in honor of St. Martin’s act of giving half his cloak.

• Food: Roast goose, lantern cookies, croissants.

• Craft: Lantern stained glass.

• Decorate: red (cloak), gold, orange, brown.

Nov 21 – Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

• Theme: Dedication & Faithfulness

• Pray: Joyful mysteries, Litany of Loreto, Marian Consecration, or Rededication, pray for children and those beginning new stages in faith.

• Craft: Make a small “Mary in the Temple” paper doll craft.

• Music: “Ave Maria”, “Hail, Holy Queen”, “Immaculate Mary”, “Let It Be Done to Me”, “O Sanctissima”.

• Decorate: Three stars – traditional symbol of Mary’s perpetual virginity, Lily or white rose, Temple or staircase, Blue and white.

• Study: Learn About Saints Joachim and Anne.

Nov 22 – Christ the King (Sunday before Advent)

• Pray: Litany of Christ the King.

• Decorate: purple (royalty), gold, and white, and set up a prayer space with a crucifix.

• Cook: Crown cake, “jeweled” fruit arranged like a crown, make a special kingly meal, croissants, braided crow bread, grape juice, sparkling cider.

• Craft: Paper cut out a crown and write the qualities of Christ.

• Activity: Do a Spiritual Examination: Who’s Really King in My Life?

• Music: "Crown Him with Many Crowns", "To Jesus Christ Our Sovereign King", "King of Kings", "Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun".

Nov 30 – St. Andrew

• Theme: Evangelization & Faithfulness.

• Pray: St. Andrew Christmas Novena (Nov 30 – Dec 24), pray for missionaries and those spreading the Gospel.

• Music: “Come Follow Me”, “Fishers of Men”, “By All Your Saints Still Striving”, Scottish hymns like “Be Thou My Vision”.

• Activity: Do a fishing-themed craft or play a fishing game while talking about how Andrew was called to be a fisher of souls. Make paper fish with the names of people you want to bring closer to Jesus and pray for them.

• Craft: Make a St. Andrew’s Cross Banner – Blue background with a white diagonal cross, paper fish chains or small boat craft.

• Cook: Scottish shortbread cookies, oatcakes, porridge, haggis, scones, fish-based meal or Mediterranean-inspired snacks.