Going big on the feast day of St. Andrew has been very important to me over the past few years. The proximity to the start of Advent really helps me get into the spirit of the season. I enjoy getting everything together a few days in advance so that I am totally prepared.
For those who do not know, St. Andrew was the brother of St. Peter, both of whom were fishermen before our Lord called them to be disciples. They left behind all that they knew to follow the strange and wonderful ways of Christ. We can learn some really profound lessons in that. We aren’t all called to be priests, religious, or missionaries. Some of us are called to be in the world and form the next generation of Christ’s disciples. Whatever we are called to do, we do it without reservation and for the love of Christ Himself.
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Bread and Fish Dinner
I like to incorporate biblical references when celebrating the feasts of the Apostles, especially St. Andrew. He was one of the key players in the miracle of feeding the 5000 people with the 5 loaves and 2 fishes. In light of this and to give homage to that miracle of Jesus, we eat a fish dinner with homemade bread (even if they are only crescent rolls).
Coloring Sheets
My kids enjoy coloring right now. So, we’ll be using these coloring sheets from Catholic Playground like we have used the last 3 years. They are great and my kids love them. We like to together with my sister and her family on the feast of St. Andrew because it is my nephew’s feast day and so we have a yearly coloring competition. It is so much fun for all of the kids.
Reading
We read a short story of St. Andrew from the Picture Book of the Saints by Reverend Lawrence G. Lovasik. This book contains a short, one page story about each saint. My kids enjoy reading these stories and learning about the saints’ lives.
Start the St. Andrew Novena
Don’t forget that the St. Andrew Novena begins today as well. To say the novena the way it is intended to be said is to recite the prayer 15 times a day from St. Andrew’s Feast Day on November 30th to Christmas Eve. The St. Andrew Novena Prayer is:
Personal St. Andrew Novena Miracle
St. Andrew is near and dear to my heart for a very special reason.
10 years ago, I started saying my St. Andrew Novena with the intention to find my future spouse. I had just had a rough year of dating, of college, of what seemed like life in general. I was 20 and ready to find the love of my life already!
So, I started saying the novena with this intention. On December 16th a group of my friends decided to go ice-skating and while we were in the basement of my church, I decided to ask all the young adults to go. There was this group of brothers that I had seen around, but never talked to. I decided to invite them as well, although not expecting any of them to come.
Well… St. Andrew had other plans. Apparently, my now husband Michael, had been saying the St. Andrew Novena with the same intention as I did. After I had invited him and his brothers to come ice-skating, he decided to go. We met. We talked for about an hour skating in circles, and our lives have been magically, lovingly, amazingly intertwined ever since. I owe St. Andrew (and God of course) so much for this beautiful life I have.
DIY Novena chaplets
For the last 3 years I have made St. Andrew Novena Chaplets for each of my family members. This year I posted this tutorial video on my Instagram. I find making the chaplets quick, simple, and I enjoy a straightforward craft every once in a while.
Supplies I used this year:
- white satin cord
- natural gemstone large hole beads
- St. Andrew Medals from Small Devotions Etsy
Extra Ideas
I have a few other ideas, incorporating the fact that St. Andrew was a fisherman before he became a disciple of Christ and a “fisher-of-men” afterward, for this year that I’m trialing to add to the fun of the feast day for my kids.
- Jessica from Shower of Roses does this great snack of “fishing” for the kids where they used the large pretzel rods, dip them in peanut butter, to “catch” the fish.
- I also want to play “Go Fish” with my kids this year, but next year I might be reinventing it just for St. Andrew so stay tuned.
- I am also planning to make a DIY fishing game for the kiddos.
Do you have all the advent books you want for your kiddos? Here is a great post with 30 Advent Books for Kids in case you’re missing one.
Also don’t forget that St. Nicholas’ Feast Day is only a few days away, check out this post about how we celebrate this great saint’s feast day here.
Do you have other St. Andrew activities that you do to commemorate this wonderful saint? Leave a comment below, I love to add more to my list.