"Oh when the saints go marching in… Oh when the saints go marching in…"
It was another gorgeous fall day on the streets of Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, as darling children slipped out of their classrooms at The Basilica School of Saint Mary for an annual All Saints’ Day parade that has taken social media by storm—surpassing over 5 million views!
From a young boy dressed as St. Andrew to a little girl draped in beautiful colors as Our Lady of Guadalupe, the costumes offered a joyful witness of faith.
They even sparked teachable moments online: when curious viewers asked about lesser-known saints like St. Lucy, dozens jumped into the comment section to share how the young martyr became the patron saint of those suffering from eye ailments.
A social media post shared on the school’s Facebook page captured the spirit of the day:
"In anticipation of the Feast of All Saints, our K–2 students brought the saints to life during our annual Little Saints Parade! Dressed as their favorite saints, our students processed through the school and out into the neighborhood, sharing the joy of our Catholic faith with the community."
April and Ramesh Ponnuru have had all 3 of their children attend the beautiful school and the event is the social event of the school's season, as April shared:
"The All Saints Day Parade at the Basilica School of Saint Mary is the highlight of the school year for our family. All three of our children have marched in the parade over the years. It's a wonderful way of filling young imaginations with the inspiring stories of saints' lives, and it encourages our kids to learn more about the powerful friends and advocates we have in heaven."
And the event also reminds us of the tall order that comes along with the children that God gave us, as April said:
" It's also a beautiful reminder to us as parents cheering the children on, that we are charged with raising saints of our own. It's a joyful day for everyone, and I like to think it's a beautiful witness of faith to our community here in Old Town, too."
The priests of Saint Mary’s led the procession as parents gathered for a coffee-and-donut tailgate along the route, trying to spot their little ones decked out as their favorite holy heroes.
Even one of the Church’s newest and youngest saints made an appearance — the saint in sneakers — Saint Carlo Acutis! Dying as a 15-year old teen from leukemia — the video-gamer is loved around the world — and created his own website documenting Eucharistic miracles!
While the Basilica School has been educating students since 1869, its historic parish is the oldest Catholic church in Virginia, founded in 1795. Named a minor basilica by Pope Francis in 2017, the parish offers a historic setting along the Potomac River, where the U.S. Capitol can be seen just across the water.
As the school community prayed:
“May these little saints continue to grow in holiness, following the example of the saints who have gone before us. All holy men and women, pray for us!”