MELAKA : Much emphasis is laid on the Children’s Liturgy of the Word by the Sunday School of the Banda Kaba parish of St Francis Xavier as it strongly feels the exercise conducted at least three to five times annually would lead children to a deeper insight and understanding of the Eucharist.

According to Sunday school principal animator S. Camillus, in this context of enhanced spiritual enrichment, the Church is duty bound to provide for the formation of children in every possible way.

He said, “Due to the formative background of liturgical celebrations, the Church expects that liturgies will spiritually form children more into the faith, and then earnestly closer to the heart of Christ.

“In this manner, the Church provides guidelines for Masses for children with minimal adult participation as well as services with adults where children actively take part. On both counts, attempts to make the liturgy appealing and formative without losing its sacredness is always kept in mind.”

Recently, the third in the series of Children’s Liturgy of the Word 2009 was organised at the St. Francis Institution hall and chapel in Banda Hilir. Close to two hundred children with catechists and parents were in attendance.

The prime exercise conducted for the children was the spiritual aspects governing one’s five senses. The gospel reading of the day where Bartimaeus, a blind beggar sitting at the road side calling out to the passing Jesus to restore his sight, was brought into focus.

In putting across the rationale of Bartimaeus’ plea despite people around requesting him to keep quiet, animator Camillus said. “As able bodied persons, we are all God-gifted with the five physical senses, that of touch, sight, smell, hearing and taste.

“These gifted senses enable us to live life in a most meaningful and creative way. As such these senses should help us be good, helpful and faithful with members of our families, friends, class mates and people whom we meet in church regularly.

“In a spiritual sense, we should always use our senses in a good manner so that others as well as our peers would look up to us as fine examples. For example, when we see poor people, we are ‘touched’ at our heart by their plight. And so we either give the poor some money or maybe food.

“Likewise, for taste, we can try to receive Christ in Holy Communion regularly. For hearing we can make more effort and time to hear the Good Word either in church or at Sunday School. For sight, we can imagine the good work we can do around the home, school or parish. For smell, we can learn to appreciate the fresh air, flora and fauna around us that are all God’s gifts to us.”

During the children’s participation in the Eucharist later at the school chapel, celebrant Fr Cyril Mannayagam urged parents to lead the young ones to an awareness of a wonderful and loving God. They also need to help their older children appreciate God’s tender loving care through the commandments and the sacraments, he noted. —By Percy D’Cruz