Green glitter glue in the hands of a 5-year-old can be a fearsome
thing to behold, but during St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church’s
craft club in Fredericksburg, the festive paste became a tool to teach the true
meaning of Christmas Nov. 30.
The monthly craft club for children meets every third Saturday in
the John Paul II center and usually features a craft appropriate for the
current church season. According to assistant youth minister Tatiana Beltran,
the club is one of the ways the church helps reach out to children who are too
young for the youth ministry program and who might not come to their religious
education programs. It is also a good way to get the parents involved.
Club leader Julia Apicella helped the children and their parents
create different types of Christmas ornaments and a paper advent wreath,
explaining the meaning behind the different colored candles.
“Now when they go to church and see the candles being lit every
week, they will know why,” said Apicella.
The advent wreath is a great way for parents to promote a
prayerful preparation for Christmas with their children, a practice that can
bring a little bit of peace to the world and goodwill toward all.
Kassock is a freelancer from Fredericksburg.
