Written by Mathew de Sousa and Christina Guzman.
The annual celebration of All Hallows Eve saw children from across Sydney swap the spooky for the saintly as they marked the Catholic Solemnity by dressing up as some of the church’s holiest men and women.
Combating the over-commercialised Halloween holiday, this year saw even more parishes get into the season’s true spirit by inviting children to dress up and learn more about the communion of Saints.
At St Michael’s, Belfield, 300 faithful attended the All-saints day event which saw nearly 100 children dressed up as their favourite saint. Parish priest Fr Benton had asked the parish children to do so as a way of reclaiming the traditional Catholic feast day.
“We are trying to teach our children the true meaning of All Saints Day and the importance of the intercession of the Saints in our lives,” he said.
“Particularly that of the Blessed Virgin Mary who is the Queen of all Saints… We are trying to create a true Catholic culture where our children can make friends and learn about their faith.”
The event was tied in with the parish’s youth programme, where young people learn the catechism and get involved in sport and recreation.
Fr Benton also made sure the children didn’t miss out on any treats, giving each a big bag of lollies after the barbecue dinner put on by the parish.
“When I first came to this parish, each Halloween there would be many children dressed up as witches and goblins. It was a well-known street for that kind of thing,” Fr Benton said.
“Gradually this has decreased to almost nobody dressed as goblins, because most of the children are here instead, attending our event.”
Families from the Somascan community in Sydney’s west also took part in this growing tradition. Over 50 kids gathered at Holsworthy Parish for an evening of food, fun and games.
Now in its fourth year, the All Saints’ youth night has become a highlight for both the kids who dress up as their favourite saint and for the parents who help them.
“Our family enjoyed celebrating All Saints Day with the Somascan community,” said Charlie Tahan, whose children came dressed as Padre Pio and St Therese of Lisieux.
“As a parent, we love that our kids can participate with the communion of saints dress up.
“We love watching them play and learn about their faith in a fun-filled environment with other families who share the same values.”
For fellow Moorebank parishioner Bianca Achi, the annual celebration gives her the chance to share the faith of the saints with her family and the wider community.
“All Saint’s Day is pretty special for me as a mum, it’s a reminder that my first job is to get my family to heaven,” said the mother-of-nine.
“We as a family pray for the people in our lives and those that have passed away that we know are Saints.
“Having the kids dress up as a saint, reading about them, finding out new things and making their own costume is very special for me.
“As a mum, to witness the joy and excitement it brings them while working on this for weeks in advance and then to share it with their youth group friends is very inspiring and beautiful.”
The annual event brought together families from the Somascan parishes of St Joseph’s Moorebank and St Christopher’s Holsworthy while educating the children on the saints through witness and games.