The Saints Among Us: Making October’s Feast Days Come Alive for Kids

If you’ve ever looked at the Church calendar and thought, “Another feast day?!” — you’re not alone. October is full of them, and that’s actually a gift. Each saint offers a chance to pause and remember that heaven isn’t filled with perfect people. It’s filled with friends of God who once walked the same messy, ordinary road we do.

Take St. Francis of Assisi — a man who loved God through simplicity and joy. Your family can honor him with a walk outside, thanking God for the beauty of creation. Or think of St. Teresa of Avila, whose humor and honesty make her one of the most relatable saints — maybe read one of her quotes at dinner and ask your kids what they think she meant.

And then there’s St. John Paul II, whose feast falls on October 22. He reminds us to tell our children the truth: they are loved, and they are capable of greatness. Share one of his famous lines at bedtime: “Do not be afraid.”

Celebrating the saints doesn’t need to be complicated or Pinterest-perfect. It’s about weaving their stories into your family’s story — letting their courage and love rub off on you a little. Maybe it’s lighting a candle, baking something simple, or just saying, “Thank you, St. Francis, for showing us how to love like Jesus.”

This October, open your home to the saints. They’re already cheering you on.