Pop-Up Catechesis: Don’t Be Afraid of Halloween!

Joe Paprocki Holidays

Pop-Up Catechesis with Joe Paprocki

Some years ago, I was trying to make small talk with a little child who lived on my block and wandered over to say “Hi” to me as I was raking fall leaves. I asked him what he was going to be for Halloween, and he responded, “We don’t observe Halloween. It’s of the devil. We’re Christian.” He was clearly parroting something his parents had taught him. This was not the first time I had heard of some Christians opposing Halloween because they saw it as “satanic.” So, where do Catholics stand when it comes to Halloween? Well, the truth is, Halloween actually has its roots in Catholicism! Even the name, Halloween, is a reference to the eve of the feast of All Hallows, aka, All Saints Day (November 1). In this episode of Pop-Up Catechesis, we explore some of the Catholic roots of Halloween and offer some tips for helping children understand that Halloween is nothing to be afraid of.

For more information about Halloween and All Saints Day, check out the following links:

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About Joe Paprocki 2742 Articles
Joe Paprocki, DMin, is National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press, where, in addition to his traveling/speaking responsibilities, he works on the development team for faith formation curriculum resources including Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts and God’s Gift: Reconciliation and Eucharist. Joe has more than 35 years of experience in ministry and has presented keynotes, presentations, and workshops in more than 100 dioceses in North America. Joe is a frequent presenter at national conferences including the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, the Mid-Atlantic Congress, and the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership. He is the author of numerous books, including the best seller The Catechist’s Toolbox, A Church on the Move, Under the Influence of Jesus, and Called to Be Catholic—a bilingual, foundational supplemental program that helps young people know their faith and grow in their relationship with God. Joe is also the series editor for the Effective Catechetical Leader and blogs about his experiences in faith formation at www.catechistsjourney.com.

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