Boac holds children’s congress to mark ‘Year of Mission’

BOAC, Marinduque, March 2, 2012—As part of the celebration of the ‘Year of Mission’, the Diocese of Boac held a congress of the Holy Childhood Association or the Sancta Infantia—one of the four associations under the Pontifical Mission Societies— last February 25 at the San Isidro Labrador Parish in Mogpog, Marinduque.

More than 700 children from the different schools in the diocese attended the 5th Children’s Congress focusing on the Mission year theme, “Remembering our History, Proclaiming Jesus’ story, Celebrating our faith”.

Fr. Ian Retardo, Mission Director of Boac, said the event aimed to encourage children to join and support the mission activity.

Retardo also said that during the congress, participants have been made aware that they have a role to fulfill for the mission year.

“As children, their simple gestures like offering prayers for the year of mission, material help and sacrifices in helping their fellow children is a valuable help [in] celebrating [meaningfully] the year of the mission,” Retardo explained.

Retardo furthered that the children can apply what they learned during the congress to become role model to their fellow children— by being prayerful, by going to Church, by reading the bible and by sharing their experiences and learnings from the said event.

Anthony Dameg, a PMS staff, gave an insight in the spirituality of the Holy Childhood Association during the morning session.

The afternoon activities include a bible hunt, paper rose origami and praying for missionaries around the world.

Boac Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista presided over the Holy Mass that ended the congress.

In his homily, the bishop emphasized the importance of children growing up active in helping the mission of the Church.

The Society of the Holy Childhood fosters mission awareness and commitment of children through its “children-helping-children” initiatives. (Jandel Posion)