Hola! Today, I am thrilled to introduce you to our latest project: SAINTS LIKE ME: Great Latino Catholics.
This little board book has been a labor of love for us, and it is the 2nd of 4 books that we are making in this series.
Last fall we launched:
- Book #1: Great Black Catholics
- This is book #2: Great Latino Catholics (available in English and Spanish)
- Early this summer will be sharing book #3: Great Asian Catholics
- And finally, in the fall book #4: Great American Catholics (still working on the cover for this one)
This entire series of books was created with one goal: Supply Catholic Children with the faces and stories of a richly diverse collection of Saints and those on the path to sainthood.
And through that, help children (and adults too!) really believed that ALL PEOPLE are called to be saints, even you!
Looking at the stories of saints in this way has been so life-giving for us! God really does desire to reach every person in every land and at every time–and He will go to great lengths to do this!
He will pursue us as only a loving Father can. And it’s also so beautiful to see how Mary has been a part of all of these stories.
In fact, as you can see in each cover, she sits at the HEART of each of these stories.
Goodness, I’m making myself cry. God is so good! Our Church is so beautiful!
The Saints Like Me: Great Latino Catholics is our newest board book that features 11 different incredible Latinos that loved Jesus, loved the Church, and lived heroic lives of virtue. Here is the all-star cast:
- St. Juan Diego
- St. Rose of Lima
- St. Junipero Serra
- St. Narcisa de Jesus
- St. Laura Montoya
- Blessed Miguel Pro
- Blessed Ceferino Namuncura
- St. Teresa of the Andes
- t. José Luís Sánchez del Río
- St. Oscar Romero
- Our Lady of Las Lajas
Also, this Board Book is available in two different versions: English and Spanish!
In addition, inside the book, you will find a spread dedicated to each of 11 people.
On the left-hand side is a large icon-like image and on the right is a short biography, a map indicating where this person lived, and a simple phrase that allows children to connect their own lives with this person.
For example, on the bottom of Blessed Miguel Pro’s page it says, “When I refuse to let anything stop me from doing the will of God, I am like Bl. Miguel Pro”.
For my children, the images are their favorite part.
We worked with an artist to create images of the saints that are realistic and offer us all a point of connection.
I wanted children to feel that they could look into the eyes of these saints and see that they were real people and feel something like, “He’s just like me!“.
The Saints Like Me books have become a book of portraits in our home. They are a starting point for connecting with the Saints.
Nearly every day a child picks up one of the books, turns the pages, and looks at the faces.
Then they point to one and ask me, “Mom, tell me about her!” and I do. It’s simple and it’s beautiful.
Moreover, the final page of the Saints Like Me: Great Latino Catholics book features Our Lady of Lajas.
This remarkable Marian Apparition occurred in Columbia and if this is a new Marian apparition to you too, I invite you to watch this: Marian Shrines of the World #4: Our Lady of Las Lajas
Also, if you are an educator and would like to purchase these books for your school or classroom, please SEND ME AN EMAIL ([email protected]) and I will send you a 50% off discount code.
Ever since we launched the SAINTS LIKE ME Books we have been flooded with messages of children picking the book up and saying “Wait, there are Black Saints too?”.
We’ve even had adults that stumbled upon the book say that this was the first time they realized there were Black Saints.
And the need for greater representation of Latino Saints might be even more profound!
I know that many of you work in schools with a high population of Latino children.
Let’s share these stories of Latino Saints with them–and with all children!
Kids need to see saints of all different shapes and colors and hear these incredible stories. So, please allow us to help you get the images and stories of these saints into your schools!
Once again, thank you for being here!
In Christ Jesus, our Risen Lord,
Nancy
I would like all of these for my classroom!
I teach at Visitation BVM, an inner city school in Philadelphia, PA. My school’s 2 largest groups of students are Hispanic and Vietnamese but there are Black and while students as well.
My school is Christ the King Roman Catholic School. I am the Cultural Diversity Director. My school demographic White. 78% ; Two or more races. 12% ; Black. 4% ; Hispanic. 4%. I celebrate all nationalities and cultures. Please send me the 50% discount code. I want to read and teach the students about all saints. From what I see this is wonderful.
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