Resources for Children

The St. Joseph pastries are a custom from Italy.  Each year they are baked on March 19^th  or the Solemnity of St. Joseph to honor St. Joseph.  St. Joseph is the foster father of Our Lord, the spouse of the Mother of God, and the patron of the Universal Church.  He is one of the greatest saints.  Go to St. Joseph in all your needs and cares.  He will understand and powerfully help you.

Pastry Dough Ingredients

1. Preheat oven to 400^o F.

Pastry Cream Ingredients

5. In a medium bowl mix together egg yolks and sugar.  Add cornstarch and whisk until smooth.  See pictures #7 and #8.

6. In a medium pot heat milk and butter until butter is melted, but do not boil.  Turn heat to low and add in egg mixture, beating with a whisk to help make the cream smooth.  Keep stirring continually because mixture thickens fast and will stick.  Be careful not to overcook the cream, as it will burn easily.   Remove from heat and add vanilla.  Set aside, cover the pot, and let cool.  See pictures #9, #10, #11, and #12.

Ganache Ingredients

Assembly

8. Cut open the pastries and pipe in the pastry cream (you may use a spoon if you prefer).  Fill all of the pastries and reserve a little cream for garnish.  Place tops on the pastries and drizzle with ganache (if desired).  Top with a dot of pastry cream and a cherry.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve.  These are best if eaten the same day they are made.  See pictures #16, #17, #18, and #19.

Enjoy a delicious treat in honor of St. Joseph!

Links for Ingredients

Flour: https://amzn.to/4bjt3br

Sugar: https://amzn.to/40y5Qxl

Butter: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Great-Value-Sweet-Cream-Unsalted-Butter-16-oz-Box-4-Sticks-Refrigerated/10315054?classType=REGULAR&athbdg=L1100&from=/search

Vanilla: https://amzn.to/4rtHiAo

Corn Starch: https://amzn.to/4dr2aVA

Chocolate chips: https://amzn.to/417R68s

Saint Joseph was the foster-father of Our Lord and the spouse and guardian of Our Blessed Mother.  He is the protector of Holy Mother the Church and one of the most powerful saints in Heaven.  You can go to him in all your needs and he will help you. 

Items Needed

1. Download and print the stencil template.  Use the template to cut out the shrine on cardstock.  It must be a heavy paper or it won’t stand up. See template below.  Cut out other stencils and set aside.  Fold shrine along lines.

2. With the other stencils cut out 2 fronts on patterned paper.  See picture #2.  Glue to each door. 

4. Now for the inside cut out a piece of colored paper 2¼” x 3½”.  The color of the paper should complement your holy card of St. Joseph. Glue in center of shrine.  See picture #4.

5. Download and print the St. Joseph pictures.  Glue on one picture (or a St. Joseph holy card) or use two foam squares to attach if you prefer. Now add ribbon if desired.  See picture #5. 

6. Cut two rectangles of paper measuring 2” x 2½”.  Glue inside doors of shrine.  See picture #6.  Download, print, cut out and glue on the prayers to St. Joseph. See picture #6A. 

7. Now decorate the shrine inside and out with gems, flowers, crosses, and ribbon as desired.

St. Patrick’s Day is a special day for everyone, especially the Irish.  St. Patrick was a great Saint and did a lot for the Church in Ireland.  As a boy, he was captured by pirates and sold as a slave in Ireland.  He was made to tend the sheep and flocks of his master.  Patrick rebelled and at first thought only of escape.  However, seeing that escape was almost impossible, and helped by the grace of God, he became patient and spent much of his time in prayer.  He lived in a pagan land surrounded by false worship and pagan rituals.  Through constant prayer, he became very holy.  He eventually did escape and returned home to become a Priest and later a Bishop.  He was then sent back to Ireland and did all he could for the Irish people to teach them about God and the true Faith.  St. Patrick converted Ireland to the Catholic Faith and will be revered by the Irish people forever.

These are delicious cookies that melt in your mouth.  You can serve them frosted, or plain with just a sprinkle of sugar.

Cookie Dough Ingredients

1. In a large mixing bowl cream the butter, beating well until very soft and fluffy. Add the sugar and beat until smooth.  See picture #1. 

Frosting Ingredients

5. In small mixing bowl cream butter until soft.  Add sugar, salt and vanilla.  Add milk a little at a time until the frosting reaches the desired consistency.  Color as desired with food coloring.  See pictures #9 and #10.

Cookie Glaze Ingredients

Links for Ingredients

Flour: https://amzn.to/4bjt3br

Sugar: https://amzn.to/40y5Qxl

Butter: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Great-Value-Sweet-Cream-Unsalted-Butter-16-oz-Box-4-Sticks-Refrigerated/10315054?classType=REGULAR&athbdg=L1100&from=/search

Powdered Sugar: https://amzn.to/3P7ZYZh

Powdered Sugar: https://amzn.to/4rtHiAo

Colored Sugars: https://amzn.to/3PBaw35

Food Dye: https://amzn.to/4s7EIkJ

Items Needed

1. Print the Sacred Heart template on red or white paper.
2. Have your child color the Heart, if desired, then cut out the Heart.
3. Tape or glue the Sacred Heart image onto the foam sheet.

Each time your child makes a sacrifice he removes a thorn from Our Lord’s Sacred Heart.  This is a great way to help children stay focused during Lent.  Also available is a calendar of Lenten sacrifices for children.

Links for Supplies for the Sacred Heart Project

Foam Boards: https://amzn.to/4rOkewQ

Toothpicks: https://amzn.to/3MKWJGe

Red Paper: https://amzn.to/4tI3edu

Stations of the Cross Coloring Booklet

According to the Method of St. Alphonsus

Items Needed

1. Download the emblem template below.

2. Make sure the frame and glass are clean.  Tape the emblem to the inside of the glass. See Picture #1.

4. Once you have finished tracing, use a ruler to draw straight lines for the stained-glass look.  If you make any mistakes while drawing with the marker, use rubbing alcohol to remove Sharpie marks.  See pictures #3 & #4.

5. Now, using the paper plate as a palette, mix a dab of clear glue and a dab of paint.  See pictures #5 & #6.  More glue will make the picture more opaque. 

6. Paint the window on the inside of the glass so you do not paint over the black lines.  Be sure to clean your brush when you change colors.  Set aside the glass to dry.  See picture #7. 

8. Put the cap back on the glue and slowly apply the black glue along the marker lines on the front of the glass. See pictures #10 & 11.

9. Before the black glue dries, take a toothpick and pop any air bubbles you may see.  It is normal that the black glue will spread a little. 
   If you wish, instead of using the black glue, you could simply use a Sharpie marker and trace over the lines you have already made to make them thicker.  This works well on smaller frames.

10. For the finishing touch, take a piece of aluminum foil measured a little larger than your frame.  Crumple it up so that it is all crinkly, then spread flat again.  Put this on the back board of your picture.  See picture #12. Put your picture together once everything is dry and you are all finished.

This is a great project for you to make with your child to help them remember the true meaning of Christmas and the Christmas season.  The Month of January is dedicated to the Holy Family.  What better way for us to remember the stable in Bethlehem and to imitate the Holy Family?

Items Needed

1. Assemble the box, forming a peak with the lid. – See pictures 1, 2, and 3.

2. Cut out one side of the box. – See picture #4.

4. Now cut a rectangle of brown felt to wrap around the largest peg person to make St. Joseph. – See pictures 7 and 8.
   Glue to peg using hot glue.

5. Cut a rectangle of light brown felt and make a tuck in the middle of one of the long sides, gluing together inside the tuck.  Place the open side on St. Joseph’s head. – See pictures 9 and 10.  

6. Take a small strip of brown felt and wrap around St. Joseph’s head for band. – See picture 11.  

8. Cut dark blue felt for Our Lady’s veil and glue in center (as done for St. Joseph), then place on head for her veil.  – See pictures 13, 14, and 15.

9. Cut a rectangle of white felt, wrap around smallest peg person, and glue to make the Baby Jesus.  Cut a square of white felt for the baby blanket.  Fold the square around the Baby and glue.  See pictures 16 and 17.

10. Next make the manger by cutting a small square of cardboard and folding in half.  Cut a small slit on each end.  Slide two matching strips of cardboard into slits.  Open up and you have a manger.  See pictures 18 and 19.

11. Cut yellow paper into small strips for hay and place in the manger.

12. Cover the floor of the manger with a square of felt (any color).  Add the Holy family and glue down.  See picture 20.

13. Decorate the top of the manger with fake snow, leaves, or whatever you wish.

Place this Nativity scene in your child’s bedroom to remind them of the true meaning of Christmas.

Links for Supplies for the Project

Wooden Peg Doll: https://amzn.to/3MLRtlP

Hot Glue Gun and Sticks: https://amzn.to/4aQMnhv

Brown Construction Paper: https://amzn.to/4cjrvAz

Felt Sheets: https://amzn.to/4cOquk4

Fake Snow Powder: https://amzn.to/4aS78I9

Poly-fil: https://amzn.to/4r1K284

White Kraft Paper Favor Boxes:
https://amzn.to/4aS5hDb small group
https://amzn.to/4sa8VPQ large group

This is a great recipe that Moms can do with children and teach them about Our Lord’s Resurrection.  They are called empty tombs in honor of Our Lord.  On the day of the Resurrection the holy women went to anoint His body, and they found the tomb empty.

These are delicious sweet rolls with a gooey filling.  The marshmallow melts as it bakes and leaves a hollow center. Hence the name “Empty Tombs”.

Items Needed

1. Preheat oven to 375°
2. Melt butter and set aside
3. Combine sugar and cinnamon in dish and stir together
4. Separate rolls into 8 triangles

5. Dip marshmallow in butter then roll in cinnamon sugar, place in center of croissant dough and wrap well.  Make sure there are no cracks.

Materials Needed

• Styrofoam cup 9oz-12 oz
• 2 ½” Styrofoam ball
• felt – any color
• doll hair or yarn – any color
• googly eyes
• lace trim – if desired
• rickrack – if desired – Walmart or Amazon
• pipe cleaner – gold or any color
• gold glitter paper
• scissors
• hot glue or fabric glue
• red marker
• template for wings

How To Make Your Angel

3. Flip felt onto right side and glue on rickrack border if desired (see picture #2).

4. Stand cup upside down and glue base of cup to center of felt circle to form the body of the angel (see picture #3 & 4).

7. Glue hair to head.  You can use doll hair or yarn according to preference (see picture #7 & 8).

Your Angel is now complete.
Remember to pray to your Guardian Angel every day to help you be good.

Where To Purchase Some Supplies

• 2 ½” foam ball
  https://www.amazon.com/Polystyrene-Styrofoam-Sculptures-Arrangements-Modeling/dp/B08R78KHJX/?th=1
• felt – any color
  https://www.amazon.com/Assorted-Squares-Nonwoven-Patchwork-15x15cm/dp/B01MRWZEMV/
• doll hair or yarn – any color
  https://www.amazon.com/Hygloss-Products-Colors-Curly-Assorted/dp/B07CL97VWL/
• googly eyes
  https://www.dollartree.com/crafters-square-plastic-googly-eyes-125ct-packs/177528
• lace – if desired
  https://www.amazon.com/Gathered-Trimmings-Embroidered-Applique-Embellishment/dp/B0797SJ4LL/
• pipe cleaner – gold or any color
  https://www.amazon.com/Caydo-Pipe-Cleaners-Chenille-Decorations/dp/B0DQSWMGKT/
• glitter paper
  https://www.amazon.com/SALEMAR-Cardstock-Sparkling-Scrapbook-Multicolor/dp/B0BXX66CN6/
• hot glue or fabric glue
  https://www.amazon.com/Liumai-Switch-Crafts-Sticks-Project/dp/B0CP5M7MSQ/
   

St. Patrick Coloring Page