Holding Hands with Mary

Page 70 in "Marian Devotions in the Domestic Church"

Catherine Fournier and Peter Fournier

I remember this craft from my childhood. How amazed I was when the paper was unfolded to reveal a line of little figures, all holding hands. 

This craft is one way to illustrate the mystery of the communion of saints, showing how the baptized faithful form the Mystical Body of Christ. Of course, no such demonstration can ever adequately explain a divine mystery, but, like Saint Patrick's shamrock, this project might help children (and us!) understand the mystery a little better. 

• Heavy paper-such as construction paper or paper from a large sketch pad Ruler 
• Pencil 
• Scissors 
• Coloring materials: pencils, crayons Glue 
• Ribbon 
• Scraps of cloth 
• Yarn 

1. 1. Using the ruler, measure and cut the paper into the shape of a rectangle that is 5 or 6 inches wide and about 30 or 40 inches long.
2. 2. Accordion-fold the paper rectangle, making each fold 3 to 4 inches wide. Trim off any excess after folding.
3. 3. Trace a girl or boy pattern onto the top rectangle ofpaper, taking care to make sure that the "hands" and "feet" touch the edges, as shown.
4. 4. Cut out the figures, making sure that you do not cut the hands or feet apart. Unfold the figures, revealing a row of people, all holding hands.
5. 5. Decorate, making each figure look different.

Accordion-fold the paper, making each fold about 6 inches wide. (This will work only with very long paper—try to get a roll of craft paper from a craft shop or an end-roll of newsprint from your local newspaper office.) 

Trace and cut out the "boy and girl" pattern shown, following steps 3 and 4, above. 

Remind the children, while they decorate their rows of people, that even though each looks different—with different hair, faces, and clothing—they all came from the same paper, and they are all still "connected". This is similar to our connection to the Church: we all look different, but we are all God's children, made the same and connected by our love for Jesus.