First Serve Spotlight: Little Flowers

Saint Alphonsus Liguori Parish is about to embark on its fifth year of programming for Little Flowers - how exciting! A Little Flowers Girls' Club® is a Catholic program especially designed for girls ages five and up. The curriculum and goals are based on learning Catholic virtues through the lives of saints, Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

“I like that my daughter has a fun activity at her church. She looks forward to the crafts and music as well as the group prayer with other girls her age,” expressed Jennifer Weintraut, parishioner and mother of a Little Flower member. “I love seeing her go to Mass hoping to see her friends from Little Flowers.”

The core of the programming includes nine virtues in each of three different "Wreaths", or years of study, with an additional fourth year focused on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Badges are earned as children learn about a saint associated with a particular virtue. They then memorize relevant Scripture verses, and even study parts from the Catechism to complete badge requirements. When discussing the badge process Weintraut stated, “It gives the girls ways they can try to live the virtues of the saints,” she explained. ”My daughter has even received saint medals. She keeps them, wears them, and knows that saint’s story.”

The program also teaches girls that living their faith can be real for them, and not some far off dream or hope. It helps children build a community of faith-filled friends within their very own parish. Laura Shuler, parishioner and mother of two Little Flowers, stated, “Little Flowers is such a wonderful ministry for my girls to participate in. What a fantastic opportunity to explore what it means to live your faith, to study virtuous role models and to grow in holiness alongside other Catholic girls in our parish community!”

Little Flowers decorate Christmas tree for priests.

Developed by a Catholic mom of eleven, Rachel Watkins, and based upon Fr. Lasance's “Catholic Girls' Guide” as well as the spirituality of St. Therese, the Little Flower of Liseux, this beautiful, authentically Catholic program has instilled a love of our Catholic Faith in countless girls since the program's founding some 20 years ago. Little Flowers strives to bring the Catholic faith alive and inspire girls to become authentic holy Catholic women.

While the girls are having fun, life-long lessons are learned and habits of holiness are formed. Little Flower Olivia (aged 8) explained, “I know I should try to be like the saints and that the saints were not perfect.”

What else do these young girls enjoy about their ministry? Nine year old Shanna looks forward to "doing fun stuff and praying." Ten year old Shelby likes "playing games, doing crafts and learning about the saints."

The Little Flowers are looking forward to a great year and hope you will grow with them in holiness! To learn more or register your daughter, please contact Maureen Valli at [email protected] or call 873-9074.