Holiday Festivities in Town Center Celebrate Saints
- Details
-
Published on Monday, 01 November 2010 00:04
Children -- and even a few adults -- got into the holiday spirit in Ave Maria Sunday as the town center was filled with costumed people, most of whom portrayed various saints. Right, Cassie and Tyler Graham with their children Andrew, 5, Catherine, 6, Lucy (on shoulders) 2, and Emily, almost one.
"It was the biggest All Saints Day Eve celebration we've ever had," said Chelsea Allan, owner of the store By Way of the Family, who organized the event for the third year.
Me
rchants in the town center set up various stations where children could play games with a "saintly" theme.
Festivities concluded in the early evening, with Fr. Robert Tatman, pastor of the Ave Maria Oratory parish, giving a talk to the children on sainthood and judging a costume contest.
The prize for the best costume went to eight-year-old Joseph Raiger (left, with Fr. Tatman), who had his hair cut in the tonsure style of St. Franics for the occasion, and also painted stigmata on his hands and feet. "Saints had to undergo some physical discomfort," said Fr. Tatman in awarding the prize.
Joseph's father, Ave Maria University literature professor Michael Raiger said a
bout the haircut: "He loves St. Francis so much, he wanted to do the full tonsure."
All winners of the costume judging are at right with Fr. Tatman: (l-r) Marialejandra Chaparro, 9, as Mother Teresa; Joseph Raiger; The Northon family as figures from the story of Noah's Ark including Natalie, 1, Lily (as camel) 4, and Noah, 6 (portraying Noah). "The saints are a family," said Fr. Tatman.
Left, Gabe Allan as St. John the Baptist
Right, as the Holy Family, Peter Kuebler, 6, Elijah Kuebler, 2 and Theresia Kuebler, 4.
'
Left, Julian Gonzales playing When the Saints Come Marching In, leading a parade through
the town center.
Right, Lucia Doman with her dog, Libby.
Right, the Allan family portraying (l-r in back) St. John the Baptist, Cardinal Neumann, St. Dominic; (in front) St. Juan Diego,, Mother Teresa, Pope John Paul the Great, St. Francis & St. Bernadette.
