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Bookswithtea
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I had a light bulb moment in Mass this last weekend. I realized that if I am going to infuse our home with more of the rituals/feasts/fasts of Our Faith, I am going to have to plan for it all months ahead of time. I do that with school already, but I think I thought that I could wing it with feasts, a week or two beforehand. I now know that doesn't work here.
We are converts from evangelicalism, and I've tried to add in a new thing or two each year, but 3 babies in 5 years just kind of did me in.
So my New Year's Resolution is to put as much thought and planning ahead into the liturgical year as I do the school year. They need to be part of the same plan, with school taking a back seat at times if that is necessary. I can't do *every* holy day though, so I need to pick and choose what to add this year.
I know I want to do more for next Advent and Lent, but beyond that, I want to do more...maybe 6 or 8 other special days, I think I could pull off? I'd like to do a couple of novenas or special prayers, as a family, in preparation, a picture book if available to explain, maybe plan for Mass on the day if that's appropriate, with some simple decorations or a simple meal. I want them to feel different from each other, so that the focus of that holy day is clear even to little ones.
I cannot do decorations that are dangerous or breakable yet. Too many littles around. Our mantle works nicely for a focal point, and sometimes I do centerpieces on the table as long as they can handle being touched and fiddled with. 
I also just cannot do the elaborate things yet. Even lapbooks are an exercise in frustration here right now.
Oh! And I'd like to choose one that is specifically Marian (as converts, a Marian focus is still kind of new to us).
Which holy days would you recommend I concentrate on? And if you can recommend a site or link with someone's ideas already posted, I'd be grateful!
Somewhat related...do you think making daily mass once a week with very young children and the closest parish 30 minutes each way is realistic???
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mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and  due 9/10
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Bookswithtea
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Just wanted to add that I am already digging into the sticky on this page.  I didn't forget about it.
But choosing what Holy days to focus on is what is stumping me the most...
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mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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Rachel May
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You could start with the Holy Days of Obligation, so besides Christmas, you would add in All Saints Day, Ascention Thurs if you want to do the Novena to Pentacost, Assumption, New Year's Day and the Immaculate Conception. I'm sure you'll find tons of good ideas here. JennGM is the one who reminded me that Mass is the best way to celebrate a feast even if you do nothing else.
We love to buy (and begin to kill ) a rosebush on the Assumption. Gluing cotton balls clouds around a picture of Mary is an easy project with very little ones. Blueberry pie is a nice tea time treat.
And your Mass plan is perfectly doable. I started doing the same when the twins were almost 1. We sometimes do better than others with making it weekly and with our behavior, but I've loved it.
Have fun planning!
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MaryM
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Seeking a realistic liturgical plan
"Must Have" feast days?
What Feasts to Celebrate?
And the grand-daddy of feast day planning threads - Feast Days and Plans for Next Year!. There is a lot there, and you probably saw it when it was active, but it does have several suggestions for "which feast days would you include" plus all the good stuff for planning ahead and being ready when the feast day does come around.
You have reminded me that this would be a good topic to add to the sticky note FAQ section. I think it is a topic many of us grapple with.
Bookswithtea wrote:
| Somewhat related...do you think making daily mass once a week with very young children and the closest parish 30 minutes each way is realistic??? |
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I would say give it a try for a few weeks and see how it goes. That would probably give you the most realistic idea if it will be workable for you at this time.
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Betsy
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Bookswithtea wrote:
Somewhat related...do you think making daily mass once a week with very young children and the closest parish 30 minutes each way is realistic??? |
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You could also just go on First Friday and add First Friday devotions in. I have done this for a long time. In my heart I would love to go daily, or even weekly Mass. However, once a month has been more manageable.
Betsy
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MarilynW
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Books
I got myself organized this year for the liturgical year celebrations - because if I am not planned in advance, nothing happens. I have a post here and I keep adding to my notebook. Each month I have a list of resources (and web posts that I do) - there is always more than I can do, but I decide on what I want to focus on - right now I am in "survivor mode" - so often our celebration is reading, coloring page for the little guy and easy craft if there is one - and prayer of course. With more energy I add a food element, the children do more detailed work for their notebooks or a larger project.
Year to year we change which Saint/Marian days to focus on - though there are the ones we focus on every year too.
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JodieLyn
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I would pull out my calender.. see what I already have and see where feast days fall. If I already have several things happening close to the same time.. it would be futile to try and add another.. something would get dropped.. and most likely the new thing.
So I would look for big blank spots in my calender that we'd welcome something new to celebrate.
and only add in ones in crowded areas that we already care about celebrating.
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-Sir Walter Scott
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saigemom
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I've been thinking about the same thing. I am currently working on a syllabus for feast days for my family. I am making a list of the dates/feasts. Then I have a list of books, projects, prayers, and a project supply list. This way I can look the month before and have the all the supplies on hand.
BTW- Thanks to all you bloggers that show all your beautiful celebrations. I am gathering lots of info. from you. 
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Bookswithtea
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Thanks, Mary, for the thread links. I'll check it out. It is also encouraging to me to realize that I am not the only one struggling with this. I feel a bit  about the whole thing (hmmmmmmmmmmm...I really wanted an emoticon that meant "stupid" but couldn't find one ).
Betsy, that is a great idea to start with first Fridays!
Jodie, I like your idea of looking at the calendar ahead of time to see what will fit well. I may try that with some of them, but with a high schooler in the house, sometimes we just have to plan anyway even with the busyness. Sigh...It was so much easier when they were all young!
Marilyn, thanks for the link. I'll check it out.
Rachel, on the rosebush. I soooooooooooo do not have a green thumb. Anything we do will not include living plants, if I can avoid it. 
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~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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Bridget
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I type out a list of feast days during my summer planning. I include the saints feast days of our names. I keep a copy in my planner binder and had a copy posted by the computer. (That one disappeared.)
Then when I plan on the weekends I can check my list to see what is coming up in the next month. I can take notes and add to my grocery list. I usually don't plan farther than a week in advance, though I would like to get there.
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mariB
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Books,
thanks for asking this question...it is one of mine too. I so want to do this!
I will be planning after the New Year!
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Bookswithtea
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Bridget wrote:
I type out a list of feast days during my summer planning. I include the saints feast days of our names. I keep a copy in my planner binder and had a copy posted by the computer. (That one disappeared.)
Then when I plan on the weekends I can check my list to see what is coming up in the next month. I can take notes and add to my grocery list. I usually don't plan farther than a week in advance, though I would like to get there. |
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I admire you for being able to pull it off in a week or two. I just cannot seem to plan during the schoolyear. If it doesn't get planned over the summer, it doesn't happen here...
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Blessings,
~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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Bookswithtea
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So, in keeping with my New Year's Resolution, I figured I ought to try to do something for Jan 1 (Solemnity of Mary). Ds is already serving Mass that day, so that's on the schedule. I have books I can choose from.
I had this idea that a fat blue pillar candle that we pull out for all Marian holy days might be a nice idea. Is that dumb? I thought maybe we could put some symbols on it (a la Elizabeth's hearthsong candle craft for a Christ Candle). But I don't know what symbols to put on it, and whatever they are, they need to be doable by girls 12, 9 and 6.
Also, for those looking for something less expensive than several new liturgically colored tablecloths, I have an inexpensive tea tray that is about the size of a placemat. I bought placemats in the liturgical colors for about a dollar or two that will sit nicely on the tray. Then I can create a centerpiece that can be moved when we aren't eating (my advent wreath is in the center of it, currently).
Maybe it would be nice to eat the same thing every Jan 1, too. Are there foods associated with Mary??
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Blessings,
~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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Elizabeth
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Books,
There are a few ideas here, and more if you follow the links in the post.
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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mary
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Bookswithtea wrote:
I had this idea that a fat blue pillar candle that we pull out for all Marian holy days might be a nice idea. Is that dumb? I thought maybe we could put some symbols on it (a la Elizabeth's hearthsong candle craft for a Christ Candle). But I don't know what symbols to put on it, and whatever they are, they need to be doable by girls 12, 9 and 6.
Also, for those looking for something less expensive than several new liturgically colored tablecloths, I have an inexpensive tea tray that is about the size of a placemat. I bought placemats in the liturgical colors for about a dollar or two that will sit nicely on the tray. Then I can create a centerpiece that can be moved when we aren't eating (my advent wreath is in the center of it, currently).
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books, i'm using this methodto decorate a candle for jan 1st. as for symbols, here is a fun list of symbols that could be copied onto a candle using the wax paper method i linked.
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MaryM
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Bookswithtea wrote:
| I had this idea that a fat blue pillar candle that we pull out for all Marian holy days might be a nice idea. Is that dumb? |
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Well, I hope it's not dumb or else we are quilty of that as well. I really think it's a very easy and doable way to recognize the Marian feasts. We have made our own candles just for that purpose. We've used jar candles, pillars, and votives. Ours are rosemary scented - I like the idea of the scent being symbolic, too.
Quote:
| Also, for those looking for something less expensive than several new liturgically colored tablecloths, I have an inexpensive tea tray that is about the size of a placemat. I bought placemats in the liturgical colors for about a dollar or two that will sit nicely on the tray. Then I can create a centerpiece that can be moved when we aren't eating (my advent wreath is in the center of it, currently). |
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That'a a great alternative, Books. Table runners in various colors would work, too.
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| Are there foods associated with Mary?? |
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Many people suggest white foods - symbolizing her purity as being good ones for her feast days. Ruth had a list of foods as possibilities on her blog and posted at Catholic Cuisine also (no time to link now). Or blue foods would be good, too. I think that if you can incorporate something floral - like sugared pansies or violets. So many of the herbs are associated with Mary - rosemary comes to mind as a main one that is great in specific foods - also thyme or spearmint.
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JennGM
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I try to keep the feast days with a very simple plan for the year. I would choose something visual that is easy to place on the mantle or table for certain feasts. This would have to be something that I can just pull out, not need to recreate or "do" something to make it happen.
Your idea of a blue pillar candle or a tea tray is just perfect -- right what I would do. I'd continue with that theme:
white or gold for solemnities
blue for Marian Days
red for Pentecost and Christ the King and apostles
and a special candle just for Sundays
I would start only with Sundays and Solemnities of the liturgical year and some favorite feasts and then particular namedays. And perhaps basic stuff for the liturgical season (I like going for _seasons_ because they are longer than a day. I can be more relaxed because the display is done and will be there for a while.)_
The kids will really pick up on the visual reminder. For us, we go to morning Mass on big feast days or for special family days. My son will ask "What feast day is it, Mommy?"
The visual reminders they will start to remind you -- "Mom, where's the candle for the feast of Mary?"
After you start in the small ways, you can add. Next can be an empty picture frame (like clear acrylic) to stick in a holy card or symbol of the feast day.
But I have learned if I have to change or come up with something for each feast, it's not going to happen. Something gets lost in implementation.
So, a peek into my domestic church is going to reveal hits and misses. We don't do everything for every feast. I just can't. We hit the highlights and what can be done now. The most comforting thought is that it's a CYCLE and it will replay next year, and the next year, and the next year.
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Elizabeth
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I've found the mantel to be a perfect tableau. Over time, I've collected wooden letters that I paint to spell out a "catch phrase." Usually, it's a virtue we're working on for the month. Sometimes, it's a reminder of the liturgical season. The first three weeks of advent, purple letters spell "Prepare." Those same letters with the addition of "n" and "t" are used during Lent to spell "repent." I spell "joy" in pink from the third week of advent through the Christmas season. We hide gold colored "Alleluia" at the beginning of Advent and use them to on the mantel for Easter. But in May, we switch to blue letters that spell "Full of Grace." I add statues or flowers or other items of interest. You can see examples:
September's virtue
November's reminder
for Mary in May
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donnalynn
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We have a white pillar candle that the children and I decorated with beeswax. I fashioned a figure of Mary and the children used a teardrop and circle shape cutter on thin beeswax to make simple flowers all around her. We brought the candle to Church on Candlemas day - Feb. 2nd - (the Presentation of the Lord *and* the Purfication of Mary )to be blessed by the priest.
Another easy way to recognize a feast is to print out a beautiful picture of a related art piece and back it with some card stock and/or decorative paper.
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Bookswithtea
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These are fabulous ideas.
Elizabeth, I was already hoping to hit Michael's for some letters after Christmas. I loved the pix of the JOY pink letters last week, and I really liked the GRATEFUL one for Thanksgiving as well. I like to use picture books on my mantle as well and I think the words will look nice alongside the books.
Jenn, you and I must really be on the same track for simplicity. I am looking for things that can be used more than once, that will be looked forward to year after year, but are simple enough that I can ask my dd's to set it up if I can't. I was really encouraged when I read that your mom put you in charge of some of this when you were young. I think that I am going to pass on St. Days this year, except for St. Patrick, St. Valentine, and St. Nicholas. There are enough feasts and solemnities that need to be focused on, first. I found some simple prayers online for the Feast of Mary, Mother of God.
Mary, thank you for the candle tutorial. Oh wow about the symbols for Mary, page! Other than a letter M, I dunno about artistic flowers. I can barely draw a stick figure! Maybe I'll just let the girls figure it all out. They'll enjoy it and I won't have an anxiety attack if it doesn't look perfect as long as they did it. I'm trying to avoid an attack of craft-itis like Jenn mentioned somewhere.
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mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: help me with planning please?
