The invitation to attend one of the year’s most popular costume-party celebrations simply reads: “dress up as your favorite saint.”

It’s St. Patrick Catholic Church’s answer to the usual ghouls and ghosts and garish costumes expected at a Halloween festivity. The Ripon church is calling it an “All Hallow’s Eve” party set for Friday, Oct. 31.

There are other things that will definitely make everyone feel this is not your usual costume party. Before any fun begins, there will be a celebration of the Mass at 6 p.m. in the church, followed by the party in the Parish Hall from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Instead of party goers asking, “trick or treat,” they will be handing out non-perishable food items which will be collected and later distributed to the needy in the community.

There will be a treat for everybody in the form of a piñata for the children. Anyone who would like to contribute candy and piñatas for this treat is asked to bring these to the parish office by Friday, Oct. 24. The church is located at 19399 E. Highway 120, in Ripon which serves the communities of Farmington and Escalon as well. Administrator for the parish is Father Jeff Wilson who is being assisted by Deacon Tom Ciccarelli.

All Hallow’s Eve is the historic name to the night-before-All-Saints-Day, a solemn religious celebration on November 1 observed by the Catholic Church as well as several protestant denominations in honor of all the saints, both known and unknown. All Saints Day is a Holy Day of Obligation in the Catholic church, according to Catholicism.about.com. The obligation to attend Mass, however, is abrogated or temporarily waived, when the  day falls on a Saturday or a Monday, as was the case in 2008 (Saturday) and 2010 (Monday), and Catholics were not required to attend Mass. Still, the faithful is encouraged to celebrate Mass in honor of the saints on the days the Mass attendance is abrogated.

St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Patrick’s also is conducting its annual collection of “new, clean, and gently used” blankets and coats to be given away to the needy on Sunday, Oct. 26, after all the Masses. A box by the bell tower entrance to the church is a bin where all donations can be placed.

Rehearsals are now under way for the 12th annual Christmas Concert at St. Patrick’s set for Sunday, Dec. 14, starting at 3 p.m. in the church. Those who would like to join the choir for this concert can call music director Madeline Archibeque at 838-7652.

For further details on any of the above happenings, call the parish office at 838-2133.