God’s servants aren’t just remembered on All Saints’ Day, Nov. 1, at North American Martyrs Parish in Auburn. They’re a weekly focus.
The parish is named for eight saints, missionaries to what is now the United States and Canada, whose feast day was last week. This week, they were the focus of the “Tuesdays with the Saints” program held Tuesday mornings.
“It’s a program for caretakers that are home with their kids … children who are either home-schooled or younger children” that parents, grandparents or others are caring for, said Lisa Burkitt, religious education director at North American Martyrs Parish, who runs the free program from 10-11 a.m. on Tuesdays, year-round, in the parish hall.
“Anyone’s welcome to come, as long as there’s an adult with the kids,” she said. They don’t have to be parishioners.
“I actually thought of the idea because, when I was a stay-at-home mom, I found it hard to find things to do outside the home to meet other moms,” she explained. “I was new to the area. I wanted my daughter to meet other kids.”
Parishioner Michelle Vezeau said she brings her home-schooled daughters; she helped start the program and brings books about saints to share.
She said she and Mrs. Burkitt try to feature saints whose feast day is around the date of the gathering, or saints the children might find relevant, such as “somebody from the day and age we’re in,” like Mother Teresa. The program is a good opportunity to expose children to holy people, she said.
“I think I learn from the kids,” Mrs. Burkitt said. Sometimes they have “the best things to say, that make you think more about your faith. … Sometimes I’ll ask them a question as I’m reading.”
This Tuesday, Mrs. Burkitt focused on their parish’s patrons, reading the “Huron Carol” attributed to the martyr St. Jean de Brébeuf, helping the children make Christmas ornaments of him with a Native American in a canoe, and taking program participants to the church’s shrine of the North American Martyrs.
“My kids look forward to coming,” said Megan Barbale. Her 4-year-old, Hannah, “loves the stories and the crafts.” Mrs. Burkitt tried to also include Mark Barbale, 2, in the story time. Michael Barbale, 7, comes in the summer when not in school.
“My kids look forward to it too,” said Caitlin Magnan, who brought Julian, 9; Jerry, 4; and Juniper, 2. “They really love playing with the other kids and reading the story, and the craft too.”
Social time allows children to run around and adults to talk, sometimes about their faith, Mrs. Burkitt said.
“I like when we play,” said Emily Vezeau, 3.
Children range in age from 1 to 10, and usually about eight come per week, Mrs. Burkitt said. She said three to five families regularly participate.
“I think it’s a great opportunity to build community within our church,” she said. “The kids always say to me they love coming to church.”