Called to Holiness: Helping Young People Put Faith into Action This All Saints’ Day
Discover how the saints’ stories inspire young people to follow Jesus, serve others, and make God’s love visible in everyday life.
Every young person has daily opportunities to make God’s love visible—to welcome someone who feels left out, stand up for what is right, or listen with compassion. All Saints’ Day invites us to recognize these moments as opportunities to respond to God’s call to holiness.
Through the stories of the saints, young people can discover how ordinary people, strengthened by God’s grace, followed Jesus with courage, love, and faith. The lives of the saints remind us that holiness is not reserved for a few extraordinary people. God calls each of us to grow in holiness, right where we are.
As teachers and catechists, we can help young people turn that inspiration into action by asking: What can this saint teach us about following Jesus. How can we follow that example in our own lives?
Begin with a story that opens hearts
Choose a biography from Saint Mary’s Press’s Saints and Holy People collection or Discover the Saints. Read it together, inviting young people to notice how the saint responded to God’s call and showed love for others.
Saint John Baptist de La Salle offers a meaningful starting point. He recognized education as a mission God was calling him to embrace and worked to make it accessible to children living in poverty. He also encouraged his community of brothers to recognize God’s presence throughout the day, connecting prayer, learning, and service.
Try it together: inspired by the saints, called to act
Time: 20-30 minutes
Materials: Saint biographies, paper or index cards, and drawing supplies.
Invite young people to explore a saint’s story and create a card responding to three prompts:
- Meet the saint: Write the saint’s name and one interesting detail about their life.
- Discover their faith: Describe or draw one way the saint followed Jesus and shared God’s love.
- Follow their example: Inspired by this saint, what is one way you can show God’s love to someone this week?
- For younger children, read one biography aloud and invite them to draw one way they can follow the saint’s example.
Keep the invitation growing
Gather the cards into a classroom or parish display titled “Inspired by the Saints, Growing in Faith.”
In the following days, revisit the activity. Invite the young people to share what they tried, what they found challenging, and how they experienced God’s help along the way.
All Saints’ Day can begin a conversation that continues throughout the year, helping young people discover that holiness grows through everyday choices to love God and others.
Continue with a free All Saints’ Day lesson
Saint Mary’s Press offers free lessons from Discover! Finding Faith in Life for elementary learners and Connect! Bringing Faith to Life for middle schoolers, with resources for both schools and parishes.
This All Saints’ Day, remind young people that God calls each of us to holiness—and that even the smallest acts of love can help others encounter Christ.
