Parents urgedand Dress kids as saints not monsters

To highlight the genuine meaning of Halloween as the celebration of all holy men and women, a parish in this city would like to show the public that it’s more fun dressing children as saints rather than as monsters or scary characters.Instead of the usual festival of ghouls, goons, and ghosts, the Holy Name of Jesus Parish in this city will hold a Procession of Saints on Sunday, Oct. 28, as an alternative Halloween celebration.Arevalo parish priest Fr. Gerardo Clasico Nufable explained that the parish has been holding the said Procession of Saints for the past six years to culminate the month of the Rosary and in anticipation of the Solemnity of All Saints.The parish alternative Halloween celebration began when the late Msgr. Amadeo Escañan headed the parish. At the time, the priest observed that more and more commercial establishments set up scary Halloween decorations and he lamented that the modern celebration of Halloween had degenerated into an overly-commercialized event.What holiness looks likeIn the Synod of Bishops currently meeting in Rome to discuss young people, the faith, and vocational discernment, Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles said young people should look to the saints of our times as models of holiness.The prelate said that in looking to the saints who come from every continent, young people will be inspired to live their vocation as everyday saints in their own unique way.Fun-filled but meaningful celebrationArevalo parish event-organizers have prepared a fun-filled alternative Halloween celebration for children and their parents from 10 barangays on Oct. 28.The faithful will assemble at the parish convent grounds at 1:30 p.m. The introduction of the children will follow with each of them representing a particular saint.The saints will also have time for games, snacks, and the awarding of prizes.Queen of All SaintsThe parish organizers also mentioned that Oct. 28, being the last Sunday of the month of the Most Holy Rosary, will also be the celebration of the feast of Holy Mary as the Queen of All Saints.For this reason, the culmination of the day’s celebration is the Holy Mass at 4:30 p.m. followed by a Marian procession with the praying of the Rosary and the representations of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as a fitting way to honor all the saints and their Queen.