St. John Bosco

It was not quite the relaxing day we had planned, but...

Mark made yummy cookie dough (Bachelor Buttons from Catholic Cuisine).

 The boys colored pictures and set the table.

James rolled the cookie dough into balls (like the balls that St. John Bosco used to juggle), rolled them in sugar, and cooked them.

Paul juggled. I have no idea why I have the camera sideways!

And I made a yummy stuffed bell pepper dinner (also from Catholic Cuisine) for the adults. The kids made their own pizzas.

We read about St. John Bosco in Stories of the Saints (CHC) and watched half of the movie, St. John Bosco: Mission to Love (it is a long movie!). 

Novena in Honor of St. John Bosco

Father and Teacher of the Young

In need of special help, I appeal with confidence to you, Saint John Bosco, for I require not only spiritual graces, but also temporal ones, and particularly...

(add your personal intentions here)

May you, who on earth had such great devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and to

Mary Help of Christians, and who always had compassion for those who were suffering,

obtain from Jesus and His Heavenly Mother the grace I now request, and also a sincere

resignation to the Will of God.

(Recite the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be)

St. John Bosco and Our 30th Anniversary!

If you have read my profile, it says thirty years already. I think when I went through updated info., like grandbabies and such, I just rounded up. This (Jan. 31) is the for real day of being married to my wonderful husband for 30 years. We were sooo young- 17 (me) and 21 (hubby). I know at the time quite a few people thought we were crazy but here we are thirty years later, truly blessed beyond belief and happily, madly in love. Please don't misunderstand that to mean that there have been no struggles. We have those every day. But I can't imagine going through those struggles with anyone else at my side. Truly thanking God today.

And, St. John Bosco! This is one of our favorite saints. I guess I could actually say that about almost any saint we learn about, but he is a "boys' saint" (although I am sure girls love him too). He had a heart for boys, and my boys and I have enjoyed learning more about him.

In celebration of St. John Bosco, we are going to:
*listen to his story on Saint for the Day
*read about him in our CHC Stories of the Saints book
*make these special cookies and hot chocolate (to eat and drink during the story)
*and prepare this special stuffed bell pepper meal from Catholic Cuisine (with pita bread pizza as alternative for the kiddos).

To top it all off, a friend of ours is loaning us the movie, St. John Bosco: Mission of Love.  It will be a great day to celebrate this saint and spend time together with our family celebrating our anniversary!

To read if you don't have a book about this saint: St. John Bosco at Domestic-Church.

Also, a Novena in Honor of St. John Bosco.

One more thing- I almost forgot. Paul says he is going to juggle for us in honor of St. John Bosco. ;)