Equipping Catholic Families

I Spy…October!

September 30, 2012 by Monica McConkey 1 Comment

Awesome Saints in October! Which one is your favorite? I Spy…July! I Spy…August! I Spy…September! We have been playing I Spy…the Saints for a couple months! Check out these DIY Photo Collages of the Saints…using a scanner and our specialI Spy…Holy Coins! Other

Arma Dei: Equipping Catholic Families

Filed Under: DIY Crafts, I Spy the Saints, Saints

It’s My Feast Day Plate!

September 25, 2012 by Monica McConkey 9 Comments

There are so many posts out there about decorating a plate with a sharpie, that I thought that I would give it a try…and convert it to Catholic!

I have a little plastic plate for the kids that says “it’s my special day” and it’s amazing how it still appeals to the kids, even though it has definitely lost that new plate shine! I have decided that we need to make a bigger deal about our Patron Saint Feast Days, but life happens and I don’t always manage to cook up something special! I thought it could be handy to have a special Saint Plate for those special Feast Days. I deliberately made my Saint illustration a little ambigous, so that it can hopefully pass for any of our favorite saints! I created a Saint Plate Template and tried to use carbon paper to transfer the drawing. That didn’t work at all! (Does anyone know how to transfer a drawing to porcelain or china?)

You can download the Saint Plate Template as part of One Page Printables Craft Kit

Filed Under: converted 2 Catholic, DIY Crafts, Saints

Real Life Catholic Love Story!

September 22, 2012 by Monica McConkey Leave a Comment

source

I’m Guest Posting at Written By the Finger of God.

Anabelle is collecting real-life Catholic Love Stories and she let me be the first one in her series!
Anabelle is a Catholic author and I love her writing style. I’m thinking about joining her Handmaids of Mary.

Filed Under: family traditions

Painted Saints: September Edition!

September 19, 2012 by Monica McConkey 2 Comments

Better late than never! I know that it’s the THIRD week of September already, but I wanted to post some of the new wooden painted saints that I created recently. We have Blessed Mother Teresa and Saint Padre Pio (and Mother Mary, see 2nd picture below) for September saints…and well, Jesus is ALWAYS in season, right? I am working on another post for yet MORE ideas to incorporate these little wooden saints into the regular crafts, activities, traditions and routines that we already enjoy with our kids. See What to do with Painted Saints…part 1 and check out how we use them in Checkers, Snakes & Ladders and Trouble to add a little Catholic culture ro regular family fun! Watch for new ways that we plan to incorporate our own little growing army of painted saints. We’re thinking about chore charts and treasure hunts… Advent countdowns and nativities… and another popular tradition that we can’t wait to convert 2 Catholic! Make sure that you are subscribed by email to Equipping Catholic Familes for future posts!

Thanks to all those who entered in our Back to Catechism Class
Cathletics Craft Kit Giveaway!
Congratulations to Susan, Michelle, Yenyen and Annie! All FOUR winners have been contacted and have chosen their favorite Cathletics Craft Kit to receive by PDF and use with their families or CCD classes. Congratulations!

Other Arma Dei: Equipping Catholic Families

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Filed Under: Catholic Crafts, converted 2 Catholic, wooden painted saints

FREE Dragon Slayers Progress Report

September 11, 2012 by Monica McConkey 2 Comments

I just love this book! Dragon Slayers is an imaginative and inspiring book to help train 8-12 year olds in the virtuous task of Dragon Slaying! Sir Wyvern Pugilist instructs with humor and diligence how to identify sins and vices in the form of dragons, learn tactics to withstand their attacks through Scripture and the proper use of the Armor of God. He also introduces our ultimate mentors: the Dragon Slayers of Old (the Saints) and the Chief Dragon Slayer Himself (Jesus). It is such a creative book, complete with an enrollment certificate, profiles of successful Dragon Slayers and the dragons and helpful advice and encouragement along the way. This book will captivate your 8-12 year old, and you might just find yourself reading eagerly along with them! This is an awesome gift for your child, niece, nephew or Godchild! It’s a thoughtful book that will teach them about the sins and vices we can all fall into, as well as the virtues we are all working on, in a format that is enticing, imaginative and humorous, and anything BUT a boring lecture.

So sorry, Dragon Slayers is no longer available.

Filed Under: Arma Dei Shoppe, Reviews

Back to Catechism Class {GIVEAWAY}

September 7, 2012 by Monica McConkey 21 Comments

Enter to win your choice of Cathletics Craft Kit (PDF Download), from the TEN available at the Arma Dei Shoppe! Print at home and copy for a WHOLE CLASS or for all the children who live in your house! TEN Craft Kits to Choose from! FOUR WINNERS WILL BE SELECTED! Catechism Catcher ~ Catechism Cube ~ Catholic Family Calendar ~ Catholic Lingo Bingo (English or Spanish) ~Color Me Catholic ~ Journey with Jesus through the Sacraments ~ Journey with Jesus through Confirmation Lace-Up Missal (English and Spanish) ~ Spiritual Bouquet

a Rafflecopter giveaway

See Reviews of these Cathletics Craft Kits from our

Catholic Review Panel

Filed Under: Arma Dei Shoppe, Catholic Crafts, giveaway, Printables

Back to School Special: Teach Catechism the FUN way!

September 5, 2012 by Monica McConkey Leave a Comment

Yesterday was the big day! First day of Grade 11, Grade 9 and Grade 6 and French Immersion Grade 1 at a new school! The little one stays home with me, but desperately wants to be part of all the excitement! It’s a great time to get organized for Religious Ed programs! I thought I’d offer this special deal:

Purchase TWO Cathletics Craft Kits by PDF download

Filed Under: Arma Dei Shoppe, catechism activities, Catholic Crafts, Printables

I Spy…September!

September 1, 2012 by Monica McConkey 6 Comments

Here’s my I Spy…September!

I’m just curious…which collage do you like the best so far?

Check out I Spy…August!

Check out I Spy…July!

Check out I Spy…Holy Coins

Filed Under: DIY Crafts, I Spy the Saints, Saints

The Good …and the Awesome: our trip to Disney and Universal!

August 29, 2012 by Monica McConkey 1 Comment

Equipping Catholic Families has been pretty quiet lately…as we have just returned from our first ever trip to Disney with the kids, along with my brother and mom!

Just a few surprises on our trip!

Filed Under: family traditions

Adam and Mother Mary: Feast of the Assumption!

August 15, 2012 by Monica McConkey 2 Comments

We moved to our house in 2002 and we still marvel at what a blessing this house has been with the big backyard for our family with all these kids. Frisbee, soccer, a splash pad and clubhouse in the summer… and our rink and luge run in the winter. All year round, Mary watches over the kids and our house from the Mary Garden in the corner. For all the trouble he gets into, we have discovered that 2 year old Adam has a neat little devotion to Our Lady. He visits Mary at least once a day and gives her hugs and kisses. Happy Feast of the Assumption! read more...for Equipping Catholic Families!

Filed Under: family traditions