TRUNK-OR-TREAT EVENTS have become ubiquitous as a way to provide safe Halloween experiences for children and families in Southern California. At St. Timothy Catholic Church in Laguna Niguel, it is presented with a twist.
Saints and Sweets, as the parish has rebranded its annual event, has been a local hit for more than 20 years.
Catholics have a complicated history with Halloween. On one hand, the holiday has roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when it was believed the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. Bonfires were lit and costumes worn to ward off ghosts.
On the other hand, it is also among the most Catholic of holy days, coming on the eve of All Saints’ Day, which honors not only the named saints, but the countless saints and blessed souls in heaven whose names are unknown.
KIDS VISIT A “BOOS AND BLOOMS” TRUNK-OR-TREAT STATION, COMPLETE WITH A BOUQUET MAKING TABLE, DURING SAINTS AND SWEETS AT ST. TIMOTHY IN LAGUNA NIGUEL. PHOTO BY JEFF ANTENORE/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
Modern Halloween tends to focus on the secular rather than the more religious reflections that the Church intended when Popes Gregory III and IV moved the feast of All Saints’ Day to Nov. 1.
“Everyone has trunk-or-treat, but we wanted to turn it into a celebration of saints,” Andrea Marian, director of child faith formation at St. Timothy, said of the effort to “take back Halloween.”
To reinforce the theme, in addition to the 30 or so decorated trunks with themes ranging from a steampunk-inspired graveyard to a Starbucks’ drive-thru, the event included saints-themed trivia contests and carnival games with names such as the “St. Francis Stuffed Animal Toss.”
Attendees were also invited to dress in saint-inspired costumes.
Two parishioners, Levi, 5, and Hannah, 7, took the invitation to heart, dressing as St. Michael and Joan of Arc, respectively.
When asked about their inspirations, the children had quick answers.
“Because he fights the devil,” Levi said of St. Michael.
Hannah chimed in: “I like protecting people,” she said of picking Joan of Arc, “because I’m a big sister.”
The saint-inspired trivia games consisted of one in which seven congregants dressed as saints and read brief bios before audience members could guess who they were. Another game, complete with a QR code and played by anyone with a cell phone, featured a series of multiple choice questions.
Coincidentally, Levi was the winner, although he was likely helped by his dad, who manned the phone.
In addition to the trunks and games, a meal was served, including 240 hamburgers and about 80 hot dogs brought and grilled by the Knights of Columbus. Purveyors of the trunks ranged from families that have participated since the event’s inception to first-timers.
Andrew Cencak was helping his parents Daniel and Monica transform the back of their 2023 Nissan Rogue into an eerie graveyard flanked by witches and a cauldron.
Some of the very early memories of Andrew Cencak, now an adult, are of decorating trunks with his parents.
Monica Cencak, the visionary behind the trunks, said she loves the event.
“The kids can all come together,” she said. “I like that the church tries to incorporate everyone in a safe environment.”
And it’s still growing.
“It started as something small and has grown every year,” she said. “It’s fun to see the generations now.”