Young Believers’ Discovery Zone
Saint of the Month - Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick is the patron Saint of Ireland, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, the city of Boston and engineers.
March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day.
Despite all the commercial decorations we see around this time, the day is not really about leprechauns, and gold at the end of a rainbow, and pranks. It is the day we honor the life and witness of an amazing Saint who really took the long way to becoming a faithful Christian and then led the Irish people to embrace Christ!
He was born about the year 389, likely somewhere near modern-day Bristol in England. At the time he was born, this area was a Roman colony, and his parents were middle class Romans. Christianity was practiced there and his parents were Christians, but he admitted in his later years that he did not really care about or pay attention to the Church and was a rather wild kid! As a teenager, he was captured by Irish pirates and sold into slavery in Ireland. There he lived a miserable life as a poor shepherd and slave. He did not speak the language there and it was a lonely time that gave him lots of time to think. He did, eventually, learn to speak the language and learned to respect and admire the other shepherds in the region. During his long stretches of days in the fields with the flocks, he reflected on his home and his family and found he also thought more and more often about what he had learned about God. He made a vow to accept Christ and began earnestly praying every day. After six years as a slave, he heard a voice telling him it was time to go home and that a ship would be waiting for him. He did return to his home, where he soon had another dream that he was being called by God to return to Ireland. He became a priest and eventually was made a bishop and travelled back to Ireland. He was a good teacher and a faithful bishop to the Irish people.
Tradition says he used a 3-leaf shamrock to help the people understand about the Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit- three separate parts but one God. Another legend says that he chased all the snakes out of Ireland. However, there were no snakes in Ireland and this legend more likely sprouted from his work to help the Irish people turn away from sin, as the devil is often portrayed as a snake, and worship God. St. Patick died in Ireland around the year 461 and is buried there.
Enjoy St. Patrick’s Day with all the traditional Irish fun that goes with it but take time to thank God for this amazing Saint, the work he did to bring Christianity to the Irish, and his example for us!
Blessings to all, Miss Nancy
Pre-K/Kindergarten
“God made me, God loves me, and Jesus is my friend.”
COLOR
You can color the shamrock green or print it on green paper. This is one way St. Patrick helped the Irish people understand about God.
Download In Him Was Life Coloring Page
Download Pretzels for Lent Coloring Page
Download Because He First Love Us Coloring Page
CREATE
Download Build a Lenten Garden
Download 5 Finger Prayer On How to Pray
Download Green Play Dough Recipe
PLAY
Elementary School
This corner is all about discovering who God created you to be and designing a life full of His light. Whether you’re looking for a new way to pray, a creative craft to build, or a story that makes you think, you’ll find it here. Take a deep breath, grab your supplies, and let’s see what God is doing today!
BUILD IT!
Download Build a Lenten Garden
COLOR IT!
Download St. Patrick with Shamrock
WRITE IT!
WALK IT!
Download Lenten Discipline Worsheet
THINK IT!
Middle School & Young Adult
Middle school can be a lot—new schedules, big questions, and a lot of noise. We created this space to be your ‘neutral ground.’ It’s a place to figure out who you are in Christ, away from the pressure of likes, follows, and grades. Whether you’re looking for a way to de-stress, a creative outlet for your faith, or just a reminder that you were created on purpose and for a purpose, you belong here. Take what you need, leave what’s weighing you down, and just be.
LISTEN & BREATHE
Download My Lenten Discipline Worksheet
START A FAITH JOURNAL Decorate it however you wish. You might want to use the coloring page as part of its design and pray the prayer each time you make a journal entry. Include your Lenten discipline and talk about your Lenten journey. What has it taught you about your faith? Have you had some ups and downs keeping it? What has helped in your journey through Lent? How might St. Patrick’s life and example help you grow as a Christian?
You might also want to use your journal to keep a list of things you want to pray for personally or people you wish to pray for. Don’t forget to Include things for which you are thankful!
If journalling brings up questions you need help to answer, don’t be afraid to talk with someone- your parents, your priest, or a teacher!
CREATE & DESIGN
Download Build a Lenten Garden
Download On the Road to Easter Word Search
Download St. Patrick with Prayer
ASK & DISCOVER
Download What is Lent All About?
Download St. Patrick’s Journey
Download St. Patrick’s journey and read about the places he was during his life online or in a book. How do you think St. Patrick’s life and witness during his lifetime affects Irish culture and religion today?
CONNECT & SHARE
Suggested Books for Reading
Listed below are some suggested books to read during Lent for preschool through early elementary
We have these books in our children’s library at St. Michael’s which you may check out, or check your local library or bookseller!
Saint Patrick’s Life for Toddlers by Paula Cubo Rial. An independent publication. ISBN 97908249398378 . Ages 2-5 (not currently in St. Michael’s library. Available on Amazon)
Saint Patrick Story Book for Toddlers by Sophja Valentvia. An independent publication. ISBN 979-8311151252 (not currently in St. Michael’s library. Available on Amazon)
Patrick, Saint of Ireland by Joyce Denham, illustrated by Diana Mayo. Loyola Press, ISBN 0-8294-1818-0. Ages 7 and up
St. Patrick by Margaret and Matthew Bunson. Our Sunday Visitor Publishing, djvision of Our Sunday Visitor, Inc. ISBN 0-87973-785-9 (hardcover) or 0=87973-559-7 (softcover). Ages 10 and up
Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie dePaola. Holiday House New York. ISBN 0-8234-0924=4. Ages 6 and up
Saint Patrick, the Enlightener of Ireland. S.V, Sbiera. Part of a 13 book series Stories of Saints for Children. (Not in St Michael’s library; available on Kindle and in paperback) Ages 3-12
Patrick of Ireland: The Boy who Forgave by K.C. Murdarasi. Part of Trailblazers series. CF4Kids publisher. ISBN 978-1781916773 (Not in St. Michael’s library; available on Audible, Kindle, and in hardcover) Ages 8-14
Lent Bible Stories for Teens 2026: Engaging Bible tales to Strengthen Faith and Prepare for Easter, Nathaniel Crosswell, Author
Walking With the Saints: Daily Devotions for Lent, Bert Ghezzi, Author
Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist: Unlocking the Secrets of the Last Supper, Brant Pitre, Author
The Tale of Three Trees- A traditional folktale by Angela Elwell Hunt Illustrations by Tim Jonke ISBN-13 978-0-745-917436
(available on Amazon or through Barnes and Noble)
Ages preschool through young elementary
The Seeds that Grew and Grew By Jeffrey Burkhart Published by Concordia ISBN 13 978-0-570-075394
(available on Amazon)
Ages 5-9
Three in One- A Book about God by Lynne M. Lepley Illustrated by Florence. S. Davis
Published by Abingdon Press ISBN 0-687-00710-0
(Available on Amazon)
Ages 4-8 years
3 in 1- A picture of God by Joanne Marxhausen Illustrated by Ben Marxhausen and Ed Koehler
Concordia Publishing ISBN-13 978-075-6-860-6808
(Available on Amazon)
Ages 3-7 years
Seeds of Heaven by Kim M. Henry Illustrated by Mary Anne Lard
Morehouse Publishing ISBN 0-8192-1791-3
(Available on Amazon)
Ages 3-8 years
A Family Journey with Jesus Through Lent- Prayers and Activities for Each Day by Angela M. Burrin-
The Word Among Us Press ISBN 978-1-59325-050-8 (available on Amazon) All Ages
St. Patrick of Ireland- A Biography by Philip Freeman, Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-0743256322. (Not in St. Michael’s library. It Is available as an audiobook on Audible or in hardcover) Young adult
