Children's calendar introduces Canadian saints

By RAMON GONZALEZ
WCR Staff Writer
Millarville

Want a new tool to teach your children the faith? Get the first-ever Canadian Children's Catholic Calendar, an interactive calendar that allows children to learn about blessed people and saints every day.

Shelley Ludwick, a mother of two from Millarville, southwest of Calgary, produced the calendar after a fruitless search for practical Catholic material to teach her own kids.

Blessed Canadians

"The idea is to help children learn about blessed people in Canada," she said. "We wanted the children to know that there are saints and blessed people in Canada (as well)."

The calendar is for children aged six to 12 and covers the years 2006 and 2007. There is a theme for each month, with January's theme being Epiphany of the Lord. For each month children must write in the days of the month with a marker and colour the theme pictures around the borders. There is a space where they can write a prayer or whatever they want.

Included in the calendar are 470 stickers to mark solemnities, memorial, optional memorial and feast days of each saint and blessed people. At the very back of the calendar there is a list of all of the saints. Also included are stickers for each ordinary day, Sunday and Canadian national holiday. Children have to place the sticker on the appropriate square for each day of the month.

Ludwick started working on the calendar three years ago after realizing there was a great need in Canada for practical, visual material to teach the faith to children. She educated herself by talking to theologians, priests and seminarians.

The calendar came off the press Dec. 15. "We want to go across Canada and reach as many children as we possibly can to teach them about our saints," said Ludwick, who plans to publish the calendar annually.

The calendar is available for $21.40 at most Christian bookstores or can be ordered at Tools For Christ, Site 18, Box 35, RR1 Millarville, AB. T0L 1K0 or by emailing Ludwick at smclell@telus.net. She can also be reached at 403-931-1044.

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