Nov. 11-St. Martin de Tours

Today was the feast day of St. Martin de Tours. The children were told about St. Martin de Tours and how he cut his cloak in two to share with a poor beggar who was cold on the side of the road. Later that evening St. Martin had a dream that the beggar was actually Jesus. The 3-6 year old children were very curious and asked why St. Martin decided to cut his cloak. It was the perfect opportunity to relate to them how St. Martin loved Jesus and how we should also follow his example in kindness and charity. Some of the children worked on a poster to place in our church vestibule for coat donations, while one of the older children searched for and read verses in the Bible that corresponded to the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. The children learned that in Matthew 25:35 Jesus says: "I was naked and you clothed Me". Today, after a review of what St. Martin did, we took the children over to a local news station to donate the coats, along with a picture and story about St. Martin, for their yearly kids coat drive. Graciously and unexpectedly, the children received a tour of the station and were even able to see themselves in front of the weather screen on a tv monitor. Afterward the children were shown the room were their donations would be kept to later be given out to needy children across the state. They were told that there were children who didn't have coats and that their donations would truly help keep them warm. It was a wonderful opportunity for the children to learn about spreading the Faith and blessing others by performing works of mercy.

The Children took a look at the coats they were about to donate and say a little prayer to help see Jesus in everyone they meet.

In front of the news stations helicopter
In front of the news station building

Inside the news room
In front of the weather screen
Look it's me! The children on the tv monitor
In the control room
The happy children in front of donated coats