“INTO MY HEART”
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| FIRST HOLY COMMUNION - 2013 ST. THERESE OF THE CHILD JESUS, SALMIYA, KUWAIT |
19th April 2013
Today 148 children in the parish Church of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Salmiya received First Holy Communion. The Holy Mass was concelebrated by Rev. Fr. Blany Pinto, our Parish Priest as the main celebrant, Rev. Fr. Franco Pereira, our Catechetical Director, Rev. Fr. Francis Kharjia, Asst. Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Lionel Braganza and a visiting priest Fr. Nelson D’Souza. Joy and excitement was clearly visible on the faces of all the children who were dressed alike in long white robes as they entered into the church in procession.
Once the children were seated, catechist Mark Robert welcomed the children, parents and family members. He narrated an edifying little story about the young saint, Dominic Savio. At that time children were only allowed to receive their First Holy Communion at the age of eleven or twelve years old. However, since the young Dominic Savio was such a prayerful boy special permission was obtained for him to receive First Holy Communion at the tender age of seven. So great was his joy on hearing this news that he trembled with excitement and ran all the way home to tell his mother.
Fr. Blany said it was a tremendous blessing to our parish to have so many children receiving Jesus into their hearts for the very first time. It was a blessing not only to the parish but to the families of the children as well and he urged the parents to keep alive the joy of this special day in the lives of their children as they continue to foster in them a great love for Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.
The children’s choir trained by Mr. Faustino sang hymns that were carefully chosen to celebrate the joy of the occasion and draw all present, deeper into the celebration of the Liturgy. The young organist was excellent and the youthful singers sang with great enthusiasm. Their melodious voices were joined by 148 children whose pure and radiant spirits were raised in praise of God.
Those who had secured the highest marks in both tests and the Bible Study Quiz were chosen from each division to participate in the First and Second Reading, the General Intercessions and for the Offertory procession. This was a moment of pride not only for their parents but also for their catechism teachers.
Fr. Franco delivered the homily. He addressed both parents and children. Speaking first to the parents, he encouraged them to keep in mind five simple points in helping their children grow in faith.
1) Read the Bible every day.
2) Read the stories of the Lives of the Saints so the children can have real live heroes to emulate rather than celluloid ones.
3) Set aside time daily for family prayer – a sacred time where all gather before the altar at home to pray.
4) To teach by deed rather than by words because actions he said are far more convincing than mere talk.
5) Bless your children all the time and everyday so they will experience your love.
Addressing the children Fr. Franco commented on the joyful faces before him and told them how they could keep this joy alive throughout their lives. He told them that he and the other priests who had heard their first confession were impressed at how well they had been prepared. He spoke about St. Dominic Savio’s great love for Jesus in the Holy Eucharist and how he had prepared himself by prayer and by reading holy books and the resolutions he made on the occasion of his First Holy Communion which were:
1) I will go often to confession and communion as often as my confessor will allow.
2) I will keep feast days holy.
3) Jesus and Mary shall be my friends.
4) Death rather than sin.
He encouraged the children to try and live holy lives by imitating St. Dominic Savio.
The highlight of the Liturgical Celebration was when each child walked down the aisle to receive Jesus for the first time under both Species of Bread and Wine. This was another edifying and proud moment for parents to see their child walk up to the priest and receive their Eucharistic Lord. Interestingly we had a set of twin boys and twin girls receiving First Holy Communion this year.
Fr. Blany thanked everyone who had helped to prepare the children as well as those who had worked hard in front of the scenes and silently behind to make sure that everything went smoothly.
After the final blessing group photographs were taken with the children and the priests. This was followed by distribution of the First Holy Communion Certificates to each child, accompanied by their parents and family members, which was handed to them by Fr. Blany. A group photograph was also taken with Fr. Blany and all the catechists present.
A souvenir bag with a brand new Bible which was given by our Bishop Camillo Ballin, along with a little silver pouch containing a white Rosary and a scapular was given to each child. And last but not least, following the spiritual banquet for the soul, the children were provided with snacks and a drink to fortify the body.
It was a beautiful day blessed with perfect weather made even more bright and beautiful with the joy of the children and their parents. After the Liturgical celebration the children went home with their parents to celebrate with family and friends while the rest of us who had prepared and served in different ways went home with glad hearts.
