• Introduction

This Article explains several issues that are very important for any Animator who leads young children. These things will be very useful in a special way, the animators of the Holy Childhood Society, since the main purpose of clarifying these issues is to first strengthen the animator himself/herself, so that he/she can also build his/her ability to lead the group of children entrusted to him, whether in a parish , diocesan and or national level

• Avoiding Favoritism

An animator of the Holy Childhood Society who is elected or who volunteers to care for children, must remove the poison of favoritism from his/her heart. He/she should never show any sign of favoritism towards some children for his own personal reasons of interest or resentment. Animator should remember that children find great comfort when they are given equal love without excluding them and making others the companions of the group. It should be remembered that in any place, be it at home, school or church, children cannot receive what they are told if the one who guides them has a preferential attitude towards some other children.

For example, at various conferences, whether national, regional or parish, animator should not have the attitude of looking only at his own child if he/she is present or from the area where he appeared and thinking that the others do not concern him. No way! By doing so, he will create a separation between the children who actually build unity while attending those lectures. The guardian’s role is to unite all the children from each area with those from his own so long as he looks after their safety, and it should not be a criterion for excluding children. Let us love all children and if it happens that children from other areas have mixed with ours, especially at mealtimes out of ignorance, let us not chase them away with sad words but rather direct them well to where they should get food/drink so that they can enjoy participating in those events again. Let us avoid words like: “this is not our Parish… go to your parish… or leave and go to your parish…” such words cause a psychological problem for the child and make him feel worthless in that group and make him not want to come to another Holy Childhood conference again. If it becomes a habit to face that situation every time, he will never be seen again in the

Holy Childhood and in the Church either.

In the whole matter of giving gifts, the animator should be very careful so that this act is constructive and not destructive. For example, when the Guardian asks questions and the child tries, he should not give him a gift but give it to all equally or as planned, without creating a situation of favoritism, something that will make children not come to church. In workshops or diocesan or Parish conferences, gifts should be given at least in rotation and not as gifts aimed at only one group. Even those who come and try should be given gifts to make them come again to the Conference or so. We must think that, some parishes are far away and so the children strive to reach even three or fewer and competing is difficult for them, those with what they have prepared should be given gifts and will attract more children to come to the Holy Childhood conferences.

Therefore, we animators must ensure that we do not show favoritism when we have children and then we will make them see that the Church is for them and needs them to move forward. We will also make them want to come to the Church where it is their home, and they will say the words of the Child Jesus “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” Luke 2:49. That will be their desire to stay in their Church.

If animator has this defect of favoritism and feels that he/she cannot get rid of it, it is better for him/her to tell the church that he cannot continue with the work of raising these missionaries so that he does not hinder the church of tomorrow with his disgusting behavior. The Holy Scriptures say that whoever causes one of these little ones to stumble, let a stone be hung around his neck and thrown into the sea (Reference Mt 18:1-20). Let us get rid of this tendency towards favoritism that is evident in some guardians, because in order for our offering of raising children to be pure and pleasing to God, we need to truly dedicate ourselves and not pretend to do God’s work.

• Staying with children

The animator of the Holy Childhood occupies the position of a parent at home and also as a guardian for the child. Therefore, he must always be close to the children during worship and Holy Masses for children alone or those with adults. By staying close to them, he will be able to follow them and direct them in how to follow the liturgy with words and actions, while doing all this with a motherly or fatherly heart when the child or children make mistakes. In addition, it is in staying with the children that the guardian will be able to know their negative or positive changes as he continues to raise them in the faith.

When the animator leaves the children alone, he cannot recognize the behavior of the children and he/she cannot correct them. That is to say, a guardian who stays away from the children cannot be a guardian, or he/she will have to correct himself. It is in staying close to the children, they can explain the things that bother them and even what they encounter at home, at school and in various places. Similarly, in staying with children, the caregiver will be more aware of the strengths of the group he has and the weaknesses of his children’s group, and thus provide information at the relevant level.

When the animator stays with children, it is good to also strive to remember their names because for them it is valuable to see them recognized among their peers. It would be strange to fail to recognize the names of the children the caregiver is raising, if there are too many then it does not matter if he seeks any identity as long as the child does not feel bad that he is unknown. It is clear that it is in staying close to the children and also getting to know them that we will help them easily and they will love us. It is in this way, they will even like to come to Church because they taste the love from their caregivers, and if there is a vacation time in schools they will be able to come to share various things that concern themselves.

So, caregivers and even parents should be filled with joy when we stay close to the children and see how they carry out the instructions given to them. By doing so, children will be filled with joy and will not wander outside the church because everything they want is inside the church.

• Animators should be pious and have good character to emulate

Since animators have a great responsibility to make children turn to God, it would be a good thing to evaluate their lives first before leading this group of children on the path of following God. In evaluating themselves first, they will be able to change certain behaviors and behaviors that may cause obstacles to children, because they learn by seeing what their elders do. That is to say, if the guardian is a good pious person and has good character, the children will imitate the behavior of their guardian and vice versa.

For example, in attending various services or Holy Masses, the animators must be the first so that when the children meet him or when he encourages them, they can imitate his example. Likewise, if a guardian has a habit of speaking bad words to his or her peers and even to children, it is best to avoid it because children can imitate it and make it their normal language, which is not appropriate.

It should be noted that, in general, the behavior of a Animators should be imitated inside and outside the church because guardianship for a child is not only when he or she is a child but also becomes an example for his or her life even when he or she is an adult. Therefore, the guardian must avoid a life of acting when he or she is in church and then when he or she leaves, he or she lives another life that is not in line with his or her calling as a Baptized person and guardian of the Holy Childhood.

Recognizing that raising children is a gift and not everyone can do it, it is a call for spiritual leaders in the Parish to choose believers who have strong faith and good character. No one should be appointed as a guardian for reasons that are outside the guardianship of children and take it as a certain position, no. If the selection is done well, children will be attracted to church because of the character of their guardians and also the church that comes will have strong Christians who adhere to the values ​​and firm faith of the Catholic Church.

• Parents should learn to recognize children’s talents

A parent does not just know the characteristics of their children but goes a long way to learn and understand their children’s talents, so that they can use them well when they are together. For example, an important way to recognize children’s talent/talents is to be close to them and see how they relate to their peers and their actions. That is how the parent will recognize what the child prefers outside and inside the church.

In addition, it is important to understand that children with various talents need to be motivated, awakened or stimulated by their parents so that they can use them properly.

Therefore, the parent has a great responsibility to recognize the talent of each child. For example, there are children who like to read the Bible and memorize verses, sing religious songs, lead prayers, dance in the choir, join their peers in activities, play the piano, give speeches in front of people, mediators, aid providers, religious actors, etc. The guardian should recognize all of these and strengthen these talents by using the children in missionary activities for the benefit of the church. It should be remembered that developing the talents of children in the church does not mean eliminating other worldly talents, because our children do not live outside the world but are in a world surrounded by many things and therefore there are worldly talents that children should also show.

The failure of the animator to understand the child’s talent makes the child feel isolated from his or her peers. This situation causes poor attendance by children in their meetings, and that is when they go to other denominations. We animators should read the signs of the times, because these days there are many denominations that are specifically looking to capture a group of children so if we have not recognized their talents, it is a loss because they are considered as chicks that lack protection from their guardians.

• Relationships between animators and church leadership

In order for the Animator of the Holy Childhood to be successful in his or her mission, he or she is required to be obedient to the church leaders. At the diocesan level, the local Bishop is the supreme leader and those he has appointed on his behalf in the organization of the Holy Childhood and in our parishes are the parishioners. Thus, the guardian, having cooperation with these leaders, will bring success as he will share with them various issues that need to be done or resolved in order to make the mission move forward.

Thus, when the Animator builds close relationships with church leaders, he becomes a bridge connecting children with the church leadership as he will remind the Priests to deal with children in teaching, Holy Mass, upbringing and parish strategic plans regarding the children’s community. He will also take instructions from them and guide the children where they are needed according to the guidelines of the Church.

Therefore, the animator should consider the instructions from the church leadership and make the children recognize the desires of the church so that when they meet children from other parishes or other provinces, they feel equal to their fellow children without feeling inferior. On the other hand, it will help the children to know the Catholic Church in depth, love it and serve it with all their hearts.

• The animator should build good relationships with the parents of the children

To help the child grow spiritually and physically, the guardian should realize that he is the parent of the children of the Holy Childhood. He should also realize that he stands in the place of the parents of the children whenever he is with those children. Therefore, it is important for him to build a relationship with the parents or animators of each child in order to be able to know the condition of the children in terms of personal, spiritual and behavioral upbringing. For example, he will help the parents in finding a good method of raising children according to the signs of the times.

Considering that there are groups of parents, for example; parents who are responsible for their children and ensure that they grow spiritually and those who are negligent in raising their children, the animators, collaborating with parents of both types, can be a catalyst to remind parents of their responsibility to raise children in the divine values ​​​​and of the Catholic Church.

A good relationship between the guardian of the Holy Childhood and the parents or guardians of the children, brings great benefits to the church as it brings and returns children who only stay at home and become Catholics in name. It also helps parents remember their basic responsibility for the good upbringing of their children, namely to give them a Catholic education.

• Animators should consider knowing the conditions of the Children

The Animators of the Holy Childhood should know the real conditions of the children he leads; psychologically, spiritually, physically and mentally. The guardian, for example, should have the habit of questioning or talking to his children to know whether they are happy or peaceful of spirit? Is the child mentally well developed? Is he psychologically okay or does he have problems? Does the family get enough needs or sometimes does he lack basic needs such as food, shelter and clothing? All of these are important for the guardian to consider so that he knows what kind of life situation he is raising the children in. By considering this, the guardian will be able to deal with the different conditions of the children while treating them spiritually, physically and psychologically in his work, although he will not be able to fulfill everything in their situations but it will help him at least to deal with them without arguing with them because he will already have understood what situations they are in.

• Parents should talk about the issue of protection and safety for children

The time has come to remove the shame and talk to children about their protection and safety as there is a big cloud that has arisen regarding the lack of protection and safety for children. Parents should explain to children the current situation while using knowledge in their explanations so as not to threaten children but to make them understand the current situation. Make it clear to children that they should not allow anyone, even a brother, sister, father, uncle, cousin, home servants, to play with their bodies, especially their private parts. Parents should tell children that, when they encounter people with such behavior, they should report it to their parents or guardians so that the behavior can be stopped. Children should also be prohibited from receiving gifts from people and told not to talk about what is being done to them at home. This is how we will be able to save children from this cruelty that destroys their dignity. You, the animator, will achieve all of this if you are close to the entire group of children entrusted to you (without bias), as the child cannot reveal himself to you if he/she does not see you. His animator is his close friend who can explain to you the details of these serious issues, considering that they are told not to speak.

Prepared By: Sr Anagladness Mrumah, National Holy Childhood Secretary

Introduction

This article explains the basic things that the children of the Holy Childhood should be taught. It has been explained that when taught in depth and repeated regularly, the children will be built in the missionary spirit and thus be able to develop the church in Tanzania in the present and future times. These things are explained in detail as follows:

• About Jesus Christ

The basic and first thing for the children of the Holy Childhood society is to know our Lord Jesus Christ, that is, to know who he is and what he did. They should be explained the love of our Lord Jesus Christ for them as children and for the whole world. They should also be made aware of God’s expectations for them as children of God, namely to know him, love him, serve him and ultimately reach him in heaven. In knowing Him, they will know that Jesus is the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14), they will know that Jesus is coming to us (Luke 1:26-38), the Birth of Jesus (Luke 2:1-7), the Life of Jesus (Matthew 5:1-12), the Miracles of Jesus, the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus, they will also recognize His Ascension to Heaven and finally that He is with us in the Holy Eucharist.

The animator should teach the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church or the Catechism of the Diocese. He should also use methods that children can easily grasp and not forget. An example of such methods is, putting in the form of short stories about the life of Jesus Christ, as many children are drawn to listening more to stories, proverbs and even plays because through them they build more memories.

• They should be taught about achieving holiness.

Recognizing that every Christian is called to know God, love Him, serve Him, and ultimately reach heaven, it is the calling of every Christian to reach Holiness (CCC 2013), regardless of their age. Based on this calling, our children of Holy Childhood must be taught the ways to reach holiness from a very young age so that they grow up realizing what God has planned for them as Christians.

This fundamental responsibility to teach children the way to reach Holiness, first concerns the family, which is a school of faith, where parents are required to strive to teach children the good values ​​of Christianity and build them in the good virtues of Christian ethics. The second place is given to guardians who are always with children often in the Church and in various jobs. Here guardians are Priests, Deacons, Nuns, Catechists, and lay people chosen for this fundamental task of raising children. All of these, through words and actions, must teach children how to reach holiness in their daily lives.

We may wonder, what exactly should children be taught so that they can achieve holiness? In reality, children should be taught the best Christian life, that is, to keep and live the commandments of God, pray, help the poor and needy, fast and love their neighbors without limits. Let us analyze these things briefly:

• Keeping and living the Commandments of God and the Church

Children should be taught by their animators about the commandments of God and the church, know them, and keep them without constraint, realizing that they have been called to be saints. The animators should use every means to see that children understand what God wants in his commandments. They should understand that he wants them to worship him alone, to honor his name, to keep the Lord’s day and not work. They should honor their father and mother and those who are older than them. Above all, they should be taught how to value their lives as a precious gift from God. They should also be taught how to maintain purity of heart by not reading indecent information, watching pornographic videos and not getting involved in the business of their own bodies.

In teaching them this, they should see God as love and that He has given them rich guidelines to reach the truth. It is good for our children to be taught the lives of holy children who were able to defend the truth and reached the kingdom of God. Examples of these saints are; Mary Goreth, St. Felomena etc., and while the guardian emphasizes the life of the child Jesus in the Holy Bible.

Since we want our children to understand their church in depth, they must be taught in depth about the commandments of the church, so that they begin to keep them while they are still young because it is through the commandments of the church and of God, our children will be able to earn holiness.

• Prayer

For St. Therese of the Child Jesus, prayer is the raising of the heart, the raising of the gaze towards heaven, the cry of thanksgiving in both trials and joys. (Ref. CCC 2559). Therefore, our children must know that they speak to God through prayer. It is in prayer that they are taught that Christ meets each one, (CCC 2560), and that he asks us for water to drink because he is thirsty. It is in prayer that Jesus’ thirst and ours meet. Thus, we must teach children to ask God for the water of life, which will quench our thirst, that is, Holiness.

It should be remembered that we cannot teach children how to pray if we ourselves do not pray. Guardians and parents must be an example in prayer. The Church has established different prayers, morning prayers, evening prayers, prayers after and before teaching, prayers before and after eating. All this will make the child see that “Prayer is the spiritual life” (CCC 2697), and in this way he/she will build himself/herself in his/her daily life as a Christian guided by prayer.

Above all, in the life of prayer, children should be taught to attend Holy Mass, to respect the Holy Eucharist, and also to pray the holy rosary of the Virgin Mary, as excellent aids for them in their search for Holiness.

We as guardians must ensure that we are an example in the life of prayer. Set aside time to pray with children in common prayers and personal prayers.

• Helping the Poor and the Vulnerable

It is the responsibility of the animator to ensure that children see Jesus Christ in the poor and the vulnerable. They should join the Church in performing acts of mercy for their fellow human beings, especially: the needy, the sick, the poor, the elderly and the vulnerable. First, they should start in a group of their peers, when their peer is in trouble, help them as a group by contributing whatever they have as part of their comfort. Also, their peers who lack basic needs should be the first to help them and defend their basic rights. By doing so, this will be the basis for achieving holiness. They should be taught gently so that they can be built up in the value of helping even when they become adults, in order to achieve perfection/holiness.

The goal is to free children from the chains of selfishness and self-assertion with the wealth they have, so that they can see that God wants these assets, even if they are small, to be used to help the poor and all those in need. However, since not all children can earn money or wealth, it is good for them to be taught to go and do small tasks for the needy, for example, fetching water, washing clothes, cleaning the environment, etc., while they are accompanied by their guardians. This should be considered especially during the Lenten period.

• Fasting

Although children are taught to pray, they should also be taught to deny themselves through fasting. They should be reminded of the Church’s commandment “Fast on Ash Wednesday, do not eat meat on Good Friday.” Children should not only be scolded, but they should be made to understand in their hearts that by doing so they will attain holiness.

The small things they have, for example; sweets, pastries, juice, biscuits, peanuts, cashew nuts, etc., should be recognized that there are others who do not have them and therefore they also need to have them. Thus, when they fast, they should be taught to give to their needy peers from the heart, as a sign of fasting and abstinence. During Lent, the parent or guardian should train the child to see different situations, especially in matters of food, for example, if a child really likes chips, he should know that he should reduce the number of days he eats those chips per week and eat other foods so that he can help another child who, in his case, can get those chips a few times a year. Then the children will be able to recognize the way to attain holiness in daily life.

• Love for God and Neighbor.

Holiness is linked to Love for God and Neighbor. Parents should strive hard to encourage good behavior in children in ordinary matters, for example; greeting, obeying, helping the elderly, the sick, parents, and all people. And let them know that is their job as missionaries, and then the love of God that is in them will be seen.

Respect and wisdom for our children should prevail, let us realize that today’s world has so many things, children learn without analyzing words and actions. Therefore, it is our job as parents and guardians, to make sure that we show the way but also which one to take so that they can reach Holiness.

• Teachings on the Lives of the Saints.

It is obvious that our children want to be saints. This act of becoming saints can be achieved more easily if they learn through real examples of the lives of the saints in heaven. The role of the guardian is to ensure that he teaches the children through stories and songs about the lives of the saints. In this way, the children will see the example of those who lived a life on earth and finally reached perfection (Holiness).

It is good for the animator to recognize many saints by studying their own lives so that he can teach the children easily and briefly. It is especially good when the guardian recognizes the holy children and teaches the children, because they really want to see their companion who is a witness to the Christian truth. For example, teaching them about the holy angels, the Virgin Mary, the Apostles, the martyrs (the Ugandan martyrs and the child martyrs), St. Felomena, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, St. Bakhita, St. Benedict the Abbot, St. Augustine, etc.

Children should imitate from the saints, love, a life of prayer, self-denial, defending the Faith until death, praying and fasting and also giving themselves to God for themselves and their neighbors. In teaching them the lives of the Saints, the guardian should be careful to choose the basic things that the children will learn and live in their daily lives.

Likewise, he should explain to the children the days that the Church has set aside for children as days to obtain Plenary Mercy; namely; the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, the Day of St. Therese of the Child Jesus (October 1), the Feast of St. Francis Xavier (December 3), the Feast of the Child Martyrs (December 28), the Feast of St. Joseph (March 19), the Feast of the Guardian Angels (October 2) and the feast of the anniversary of their baptism as children. On these days, the guardian should ensure that the children gather to pray for these Mercy.

• Receiving and Honoring the Sacraments.

Sacramental life for any Catholic is a very important pillar, as it is his identity as a strong Catholic. Therefore, children must learn to receive and respect the Sacraments established by Mother Church from an early age. It is the responsibility of parents, working with guardians, to ensure that children are in a strong faith and the Sacraments. The big question here for parents and guardians is how can I teach children so that they not only understand but can participate in the sacraments? The explanation of each Sacrament should be brief for children so that they can easily understand. For example:

Baptism: Children should understand that we are all born with sin, that is, original sin, which we inherited from our first parents, Adam and Eve. When we are baptized, that sin is removed and we now become children of God and are incorporated into the Church. In this way, children will be able to understand it easily. Explain that Baptism is the Sacrament that enables us to be born again of water and the Holy Spirit, is the door (entrance) to all the other sacraments and is the key to eternal life. (Jn 3:3, Mt 28:19; CCC n. 1213, 1277,).

Holy Eucharist: Children should recognize from an early age the meaning and importance of the Holy Eucharist in their Christian life. Thus, they should be explained that the Holy Eucharist is the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, God-Man in the forms of bread and wine (Jn 6:1-71, Mt 26:26-28). And they should also realize that this Sacrament was instituted on Holy Thursday evening (I Cor 11:23). At the last supper, Jesus took bread and gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples saying: Take, all of you, eat; this is my body, which is given for you. In the same way, after supper, he took the cup of wine, gave thanks again, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take this, all of you, and drink of it; this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins. Do this in remembrance of me.

It is good for children to be informed that the people who celebrate the Holy Eucharist are Bishops and Priests. (I Cor 11:23-25). They should be encouraged to attend Holy Mass regularly, where the Holy Eucharist is celebrated. They should be made aware that Holy Communion brings us these graces: first, it preserves and increases the grace of sanctification, which is the life of our souls. Second, it removes venial sins and reduces the risk of committing serious sins. Third, it gives us the zeal and strength to do good by increasing our faith, hope, and love. Fourth, it brings unity in the Church, not only with Christ, but also with one another.

Confirmation: It is the responsibility of the Guardian to inform the child of the meaning and importance of the Sacrament of Confirmation. Let them know that Confirmation is a Sacrament that brings us the Holy Spirit and His grace to make us strong Christians and valiant soldiers of Jesus Christ, so that we can testify to our faith in words and deeds. (CCC n. 1316). Also let them know that they are strengthened to defend their Faith wherever they are.

Penance or Reconciliation: Children should know that Penance or Reconciliation is a Sacrament for the remission of sins we committed after baptism (Mt 16:18-19, 18:18). Since many denominations oppose this Sacrament, children should be clearly explained that they should confess because Jesus requires them to do so. They should be told that this sacrament was instituted after the resurrection of Christ with the testimony of these words; Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven, and whose sins you retain are retained (Jn 20:22-23). ​​

Above all, they should realize that this Sacrament of Penance absolves us of our sins and eternal punishment, sanctifies our souls and makes us steadfast in doing good. In addition, children should be explained that the one who celebrates this sacrament is only a Priest or Bishop. It is very good for children to be explained the steps of doing penance and reconciling themselves with God.

Anointing of the Sick: Children should be briefly explained that, Anointing of the Sick, is a Sacrament offered to those burdened by illness and old age so that they may receive special grace and comfort in spirit and body, and even be healed if it is good for their salvation. (James 5:14-15, Mark 6:13). Children should also know the circumstances or situation that makes a Christian receive this sacrament, for example; illness, accident, operation or old age. It is a Bishop or priest who offers the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.

They should also be made aware that in this sacrament the sick person receives these graces: (i) Strength to endure suffering and to unite it with his own suffering and that of Christ Jesus, (ii) Forgiveness of all sins that he cannot confess, (iii) Relief of the body, even if life is necessary for the salvation of his soul. (iv) Grace to prepare to depart from this world and enter eternal life. Holy Orders; children should know what the meaning of Holy Orders is and how God calls believers to Holy Orders. Explain to children that Holy Orders or Priesthood is a Sacrament that gives a Catholic man the sacred power to: (i) offer the sacrifice of the Holy Mass, (ii) share the sacraments with others, (iii) preach and teach people officially (Heb 5:1-4; 1 Cor 11:24-25), (iv) guide people and give blessings, (CCC. n. 1592, 1598). It is good for guardians to guide children to realize that every Catholic man with a vocation and the desire to dedicate himself to helping people’s salvation and who is accepted by the elders of the Church can become a priest (I Tim 3:1-3, Heb 5:4-6; CCC. n. 1598).

Marriage: Children should be explained in detail about the Sacrament of Marriage, which is the first school of the Faith. They should be built on the habit of respecting their father and mother, who are their teachers. Above all, they should recognize their fundamental role in the family. Thus, they should respect marriage as they can respect the Holy Order. Since there is a great wave of advocacy for same-sex marriage, it is good for children to be explained the true meaning of marriage in the plan of God and His Church in order to avoid such negative concepts.

They should realize that Marriage is a covenant between one man and one woman (Gen 2:24, Matt 19:3-6). Christian marriage is the sacrament of the union of two Christians, one husband and one wife, according to the law of the Catholic Church (Eph 5:21-33). Marriage is instituted by God himself and Jesus Christ has elevated it to a sacrament (Gen 2:18, Mt 19:1-12).

N.B. It would be wise for guardians to be proactive in receiving the Sacraments as much as possible, especially the Holy Eucharist and Penance, so that children can see that what is being taught is consistent with the real lives of their guardians and not just talk and stories without action. It is very important that guardians avoid unnecessary obstacles that will prevent them from participating in the Sacraments of God.

• The method of reading and meditating on the Holy Bible

Parents should encourage children to have a culture of reading the Bible. They should show children an easy way to open the Bible without taking much time to find the parts they want to read, because the Bible has many books and many pages. Therefore, it is good for children to be shown the first pages of the Bible book that show references to books in the Bible. Likewise, children should be taught how to meditate on lessons in the Bible and not just read like a newspaper or other books. Especially, children should be taught how to meditate on lessons in the Bible and not just read like a newspaper, story or other books of worldly knowledge. They should be taught how to relate the word of God to the ordinary daily life they live. They should be given the opportunity to read and meditate on the holy scriptures regularly so that they can gain that experience.

Parents should have the habit of preparing their children well before reading the word of God, especially by telling them that after the lesson is read, they should say which book, which chapter and which verse/s the lesson is from. Also, explain to them that after the lesson is read, they should briefly say what the lesson was about and what it teaches them in their lives. By doing so, the children will be building attention when the lesson is read because they will know that they will have to answer several questions immediately after reading the lesson. Also, to make the children calm during the Sunday school days, they should give the children the task of writing down which books the Sunday school lessons came from and what teachings they were giving. All of this is to keep the child from wandering while in church, because it is obvious that if they are not kept busy, they can continue with their own affairs while the Holy Mass is being celebrated.

• Children should know the History of the Holy Childhood Society

It is very important for guardians to first understand the history of the Holy Childhood Society after being chosen as guardians of this organization. This will help them mature in the role of guardianship, because a guardian cannot call himself a guardian of holy childhood if he himself does not know in what roots his mission is based. Therefore, the guardian should make sure that he/she understands in depth the dreams of the founder of this organization (Bishop Charles de Fobin Janson) the gifts, goals and works of this organization so that he/she can teach his/her children. (Refer to the manual).

It is very important that children know the entire history of the establishment of their society so that they can understand their roles within their mission, because if they do not understand this, they will not grow in the spirit of the organization but will only be like actors. Therefore, teach children about this history even if through narratives since most of them are still young, and then take them to reality, that is, actions (pray for pagan children, orphans, give things to needy children, have devotion to the baby Jesus, etc.) and in this way they will understand what they should do even when they are adults.

• Fearing God (Proverbs 1:7, 8:13, 10:23, 14:26. ​​Mark 10:29)

Parents should teach children to be pious when they are still young so that they can grow in that knowledge. Furthermore, fearing God means; loving Him, obeying Him, serving Him, doing His (God’s) will, having the fear of God in doing what is displeasing to Him, standing firm in the true faith and defending justice and truth. When a child is raised and grows in all these conditions, he will later be able to become a strong missionary of Christ in living out the things of Christ.

• Children should be taught in depth about Missionary Work

Every guardian of the Holy Childhood should teach children about missionary work, since the main goal of the Holy Childhood Organization is to awaken, motivate, encourage and develop the missionary spirit in children. Therefore, in teaching them, it is important to direct them to receive the apostolic work entrusted to them by God. The guardian is the helper for the child so that he hears the voice that says “Come, follow me” and “Go and preach the Gospel.” (Mk 16:15-18, Mt19:21)

Children should be taught to see that God believes in them and that is why He wants to share them in the work of Missionary Work. So, for them it is to respond “Yes” so that they can go to the field where the workers are few. Guardians should tell children that God wants them to “Help their fellow children to know Him.” It is the job of caregivers to “read the signs of the times” and make them clear to children, that is, to explain to them about the large group of children who do not know Jesus Christ and thus let them know that they are needed in the Lord’s field.

Children should be explained that there are children living in difficult circumstances such as extreme poverty and social exclusion, due to which they find themselves involved in child labor, bad behavior (insults, theft, stubbornness, truancy, etc.) and sexual abuse and humiliation. It should also be made clear that there are their peers who live without parents due to the loss of their parents or running away from difficult circumstances at home, for example: lack of food, beatings, parental disagreements or rejection by father, mother or caregivers.

Caregivers should explain to children how Jesus loved them even saying “Let the little children come to me…” (Mt 19:14) so ​​they should know that they have a mission to share that love of Christ with their fellow children with various problems and thus strive to do everything good for children with these challenges.

• Prayer and Offering

The guardian of holy childhood must teach the children how to pray. It is good that everything the guardian does when he is with the children should begin with prayer, again with the sign of the Cross. This way, the children will know that there is an importance of praying in every work and step they reach. Children should be taught to pray communal prayers such as the Holy Rosary, the prayer of the Angel of the Lord/Queen of Heaven and personal prayers wherever they are.

They should be taught to pray for their fellow children so that they may believe in Christ and his Gospel. They should also pray for their fellow children who live in difficult circumstances due to war, famine, epidemics, earthquakes (natural disasters) and those who are isolated from their communities. They should also be taught to pray to God for parents, guardians and the church so that the whole world may be saved through their prayers. They should also pray for sinners, especially those who bring religious, ethnic, political, racial beliefs and thus cause war, hatred and division instead of peace. The guardian should ensure that each child has a prayer book and can pray by reading and or even keeping the prayers in their hearts.

In terms of charity, children should learn to offer their lives as a sacrifice, that is, to live for their fellow human beings in need and accept suffering, attaching it to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, who with great love agreed to die for us all. Offer them a temporary sacrifice, that is: visiting the elderly, the sick, orphans, widows, prisoners, the poor and the disabled. Learn to give the wealth they have that is part of their daily use at home, at school and elsewhere, even if it is small, and their talents (dancing, singing, acting, reading, leading, etc.) for the mission. In this way, they will taste how Jesus wants them to serve him. Children should always do acts of mercy, again from the “heart” and there will be a better generation in the future church.

• Children understand the Church and the things in it

The animator has the responsibility to show them, direct them or provide all the procedures that children should follow while still in church. For example, it is his responsibility to teach them the song or songs that are appropriate for singing in the Catholic Church. Also, how to enter and sit with decency, respect and a spirit of worship in the Church. It is also the responsibility of the guardian to know that the children he is raising know the various prayers that are prayed in the holy mass service, for example the sign of the cross and they also know the correct use of the Holy Water.

They should be instructed on how to kneel before the Tabernacle, pay respect before the cross, avoid playing with the utensils used on the altar during worship as well as priestly vestments. Along with that, the guardian should build in the children a sense of the presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist in the Tabernacle and also show them the eternal flame while explaining it to them so that they understand the difference between that (holy) flame and other flames they are familiar with. They should also be shown the Bible, the Altar Missal and the study book, as well as being informed about the difference between these holy books and the ones they are used to, namely the stories and the World Education lessons.

If the Church has pictures of the Saints and the Stations of the Cross, it is the responsibility of the guardian to show them these and teach them to offer their prayers through these pictures. It is also wise to direct the children to their places of sitting during prayers and various services so that it is easier for him to guide them and perhaps avoid unnecessary conflicts with adults at that time. Therefore, the guardian should be a compass for the children in the whole matter of believing in, respecting and honoring the saints within the Catholic Church.

• How to love God and neighbor (Lk 12:22-38, Gen 22:1-18, Lk 10:30-37)

Love is a virtue that we are given to love God and neighbor. Animators should focus on teaching children unconditional love. Children should share what little they have with love without favoritism. The guardian should be an example by loving all regardless of the living conditions of each child, that is, he should not turn to children for whom he knows that their parents are certainly capable of giving him anything, but should turn to all (those who have and those who do not), following the example of Jesus Christ who loved all men to the point of dying on the cross for them all (poor and rich).

Children should be taught that God is love (Ref. 1 Jn. 4:7-10) and he wants them as Missionaries of the Holy Childhood to share this love with their fellow children and with the whole world. They should imitate the example of Jesus who showed love for the sick, the poor, the lame, the elderly, widows and the disabled. Thus, they too, as young missionaries, should show this love to their fellow children and to the world.

It is through boundless love that they will be able to attract many children and convert them to Catholicism. Also, a strong society with dignity will come from the foundation of a child’s upbringing and thus find a strong church. Parents should ensure that they have genuine love and share this love with their children, which will guide them in all the missionary activities of the Holy Childhood.

• Teach them the Importance of Education (Proverbs 4:13)

Since education is the key to life, parents should always remind their children about the importance of education, as it is their responsibility to build the child physically and spiritually. Any human being must be able to understand how to cope with his environment (that is, our children). Therefore, children should be advised to study hard at school, obey their teachers and guardians, follow school rules, and avoid bad groups of students with obstacles (homosexuality, sodomy, theft, insults, too many games without studying, gossip, gossiping about teachers, etc.). If they take all of this into account, they will succeed in their studies and will continue to remain spiritually mature children because if they are not advised to study and abandon bad habits, even when they return from vacation, the guardians will no longer be able to continue with them in missionary upbringing.

• The Effects of Social Media (Phones and Television)

It is clear that social media has been a great help in facilitating communication among people and thus promoting and developing our religion, politics, economy and culture. On the other hand, these networks have also become toxic in society because of human misuse. Therefore, animator should explain to children the effects of using these networks so that they do not affect their lives. For example, children should be told that they have no reason to use their parents’ phones to steal without their parents’ consent, because by using these phones fraudulently, they engage in unproductive conversations with people who do not have good intentions.

Animators should tell children (especially older ones) to refuse young people who ask for their parents’ numbers to call them when they are away from their parents, or to give them phones so that they can communicate with them. Explain to them that these methods are bad because when they have the habit of talking on the phone all the time, they will be tempted and indulge in their body’s emotions, which will make them want to meet them physically and thus ruin their lives. Similarly, children should be warned against watching bad channels on television that do not build them up but destroy their morals. For example, they should be discouraged from watching sex videos that have largely ruined children and adults. Children should always be directed to watch things related to education, religious matters as well as other information that has the concept of educating the community.

Prepared by: Sr Anagladness Mrumah, National Holy Childhood Secretary

In the whole matter of teaching children, it is important for Animators to realize that the activity they are doing requires sacrifice in order to obtain merit from God Almighty. Children are a group that in teaching requires creativity, wisdom and even humbling themselves to be like a child so that they can understand the one who is teaching them. In fact, the animator should be careful to choose a good way to teach children and to attract them so that they do not get tired of listening to her/him. For this reason, this section describes various methods that can be used by caregivers to teach children.

1. Questions and Answers

 This method is very good because it excites children in finding answers. The animator should prepare his teaching topic and compose various questions for which he knows that through these questions, the children will have understood what he intended if he knows or has already taught it, he wants to know whether they understood or not. When this method is used, the caregiver must be aware of the answers to the questions he asks the children, so that after the children answer, he has the ability to correct where he sees that the children did not give adequate answers. The Animator should never discourage the child when he answers even if he is wrong by telling him he does not know but praise him for trying to answer and then ask other children the same question, and later explain the full answer to the question he asked before continuing with another question.

Something to consider is that the caregiver should not ask the same children questions every time but change them so that all children can participate in the discussion. When he does the opposite, other children will not feel that they are also part of the class but will only be listeners who will not even want to understand the session further.

In addition, this question and answer method can be used in two ways, namely the caregiver formulates questions and asks the children, or the children formulate questions and ask the caregiver.

1. Direct explanation

In this method, the animator is the main speaker. Therefore, he should first prepare his session well and then ensure that the children are sitting in a good and calm state before starting to teach them. Also, he should ensure that the environment where the children are sitting does not have too much noise that will cause them to scatter their thoughts. For example, the caregiver should avoid places where cars pass by every hour, people, attractive objects such as food and other things that can distract the children’s attention while the session is in progress. The caregiver should use a cheerful voice accompanied by the use of various gestures and actions (body parts) that will enable the children to listen to him carefully without falling asleep or getting bored.

In addition, when this method is used, caregivers should choose topics that they think the children do not know much and teach them those. In this method too, the caregiver should prepare a short session because if he prepares a long one, the children will not follow him and will eventually leave him talking to himself. After finishing his explanation, he must ask the children, even if only a few, to explain what they have understood so that he can repeat where he feels he did not understand well.

1. Teaching through Role-Playing

This method is also very good because when used, children understand quickly because they use various words, gestures and actions that make them remember more easily. When a caregiver uses role-playing in teaching, he or she should first determine what he or she wants to teach the children and then design a role-playing game that will fit the subject he or she intends to teach. After designing the role-playing game, he or she should ask the children who they would like to play in the role-playing game. For example, if a caregiver wants to teach children about the Importance of Education, he or she can plan a role-playing game that includes parents, a student who is interested in education, teachers, and a child who does not like to read so that when the role-playing game is performed, it can bring about the intended goal of the children to see the importance of education and, on the other hand, to see the consequences of not liking to read. There are many examples of role-playing games that can be used in teaching children.

The main thing that the animator should consider is to ask the children what they have understood in the role-playing game to understand whether his or her goals have been achieved in the sense that the children understood what he or she intended to understand. With this method, all children can understand, even those with limited understanding. This method can be used before or after a topic is taught, to increase knowledge on the topic. The caregiver can also prepare role-plays to go through the tapes that have already been played, the children do not have to just act them out all the time. The important thing is to get the intended message.

1. Discussion (Groups)

This method requires the animator to first organize their children into groups of no more than four children per group. In organizing these groups, it is necessary to mix children of different ages and more, considering the criterion of understanding. For example, there are children who understand quickly, others are in the middle and others understand slowly. It is a good thing for the caregiver to mix all the children in each group so that they can teach each other because if he arranges children with little understanding in one group, it will be difficult to achieve the exercise.

Since the children are still young, the animator should give something to discuss that he has already taught and so he just wants them to remind each other. The main goal of using this method is to build children’s ability to learn on their own and also to be able to reach each child where he is because it is not easy for all children to understand when the caregiver is teaching if he has a large number of children. In addition, it is good for children to visit each other from one group to another to listen to what their peers are discussing but under the supervision of the animator, so that they do not start games instead of learning.

1. Learning through Pictures

It is good for the Animator to also use the picture method because children really like looking at pictures and giving them interpretations or meanings carried by those pictures. Therefore, the caregiver should use pictures that can explain the idea he is teaching in order to build the ability of the children to grasp what he is teaching. For example, if he is explaining the topic about the suffering of Jesus, it is good for him to have a picture of Jesus in suffering or the cross of Jesus in front of him so that the children can see the reality of what they are being taught. Likewise, if he is teaching children about mass clothing, he should have that clothing so that the children can relate to the caregiver’s explanation.

It should be noted that, a picture of an object can be shown at the beginning before the caregiver explains what he is teaching, so that the children have a chance to look at it and finally ask them what they saw and understood. After getting feedback, the caregiver should say what he is teaching them that day based on the answers he received from the children. On the other hand, the caregiver can first teach the children and at the end show them a picture that carries the theme of the episode and finally ask them if they understand what the picture is about. This method gives the child a higher understanding because he will be able to relate what he was taught to what he saw in the picture.

1. Using the Holy Scriptures during Teaching

It is very good for the Animator when teaching, to use the holy scriptures as a way to increase knowledge or attention in the children’s minds. For example, if he is teaching about giving acts of mercy, he should find a part of the holy scriptures that shows how Jesus also gave acts of mercy by healing the sick (Mt 8-12), feeding the people (Mt 15:32, 16:10) or any part in the holy scriptures that describes acts of mercy. By doing so, he will make the children see the importance of them giving acts of mercy because even Jesus did that. Therefore, caregivers should strive to use the holy scriptures when teaching children and not just talk about things that have no reference in the Bible.

1. Teaching through Stories

Children love to listen to various stories and even be given the opportunity to tell them themselves. So, caregivers can also use this method to teach children so that they can better understand the subject they intended to teach. As in drama, the caregiver can teach something and then at the end tell the children to tell a story related to that subject, or the story can be told at the beginning and then the caregiver can relate it to what he has prepared to teach. It is clear that when a child receives teachings from the caregiver and then combines it with a story that carries an idea like the one taught, the child will not forget it even for a day.

Examples of stories that a animator can teach children are various stories from the Bible, which have the role of providing a certain teaching to children. However, since the child of the Holy Childhood should also be taught about worldly knowledge in order to cope with his environment, it is also good for the caregiver to guide the children in telling other common stories to teach morals. The goal is to create a child so that he can build a spiritual and physical personality while successfully managing his environment.

1. Using Songs in Teaching

It is obvious that children love to sing and have the ability to understand what they are singing about. animator can sometimes use songs in their teaching to make what they are teaching easier to understand. For example, they can find a song that they know that if they start it at the beginning of the lesson, the children can help them understand what they want to teach. On the other hand, they can sing it after the lesson to reinforce their knowledge of the lesson. However, a song can be sung at any time with the aim of encouraging children not to fall asleep or not to get better with the teacher’s teachings because young children cannot listen to one thing without getting excited.

1. Trips

This is also a good technique that when used helps the child to get the reality of what he has already been taught. For example, when the teacher teaches children about giving acts of kindness, he should plan a visit to go and visit one group of people for example: orphans, the elderly or the sick. This will help children to recognize what they were told in class about the problems of life in these groups mentioned because they will be seeing the reality of their lives.

1. Actions

Animators should often use actions in what they teach. The reason why the caregiver should direct the child to actions is that these will create a sense of awareness in the child of what he should do, so that later he can do it too. For example, if he is teaching children about praying or asking for forgiveness, he should teach the children how they should do it with actions of great humility and let them do the same. These actions are such as; holding hands and saying words of apology for example; “please forgive me” and “I’m sorry” in a state of humility and not just saying it to himself without any sign of having a heart of repentance. Or if the caregiver is teaching children about praying the sign of the cross, he should, after showing them how the sign of the cross is made, tell them to do the same, again until they understand. By using practical methods for children, the caregiver can easily understand the level of understanding of their children.

In addition to the methods described above, the caregiver can also use rhymes, proverbs and poems to be successful in children’s classes. However, it should be noted that these teaching methods discussed are not meant to be used all together and for every lesson prepared to be taught. These are aimed at giving the caregiver a wide field of choice in his teaching, so that he can effectively achieve what he is teaching the children.

Prepared by: Sr Anagladness Mrumah, National Holy Childhood Secretary

What a joy that the Holy Childhood Society has been showing its fruits in the church. It will be remembered that, through the various morals and spiritual teachings that the children of the Holy Childhood have been receiving, the church has witnessed the fruits of priests and religious in these times.

Among the priests that the office has been able to identify in the majority are Fr. Patrick Bwakila, Parish Priest of Yombo Parish – Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam, Fr Paul Michael Mamboleo (Currently a Teacher at the Visiga Seminary, Fr Ladislaus Milagiro of the Diocese of Kigoma, Fr. Andrea Kilatunga of Tanga Diocese and Fr. Dominiki Albert Paul Izungo Mlacha from the Passionist Fathers of this year 2025, born in the Diocese of Same.

It is our hope that if parents recognize the value and importance of The Holy Childhood Society, the church in Tanzania will be able to produce various vocations of people with strength in carrying out their ecclesiastical duties.

The Tanzanian Church has witnessed again this year a large number of children baptized on April 21, 2025. It is clear that through this great achievement of the increase in believers in the church, it is what enables the gospel of Christ to spread everywhere.

In a special way, the office of the Pontifical Mission Societies, which is truly dedicated to looking after the development of faith in children, thanks God for finding child believers who, if they grow up in the foundations of the Holy Childhood Society, the church can grow in its breadth.

Prepared by: PMS National Office

178 children of the Ngulu and Kilomeni parish, on April 5 2025, during the Lenten season, made a pilgrimage. This pilgrimage aimed to commemorate this holy period of remembering the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ. The pilgrimage journey began at the stations of the cross which are located on a high mountain that starts from a place called Kisekibaha towards Kilomeni. After completing this journey, there was a holy mass in the Kilomeni parish which is also the pilgrimage center of the diocese.

In addition, the children, along with 4 priests and 12 nuns, also managed to visit other prayer centers found in Kilomeni parish such as the church of worship, the Grotto of the Virgin Mary and the Cross.

by: Fr Alphonce Ndaghine, Diocesan PMS Director

Today the Church of Tanzania joined the world church in celebrating the feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple. On this day, hundreds of religious women and men were able to gather together in their dioceses and celebrate the Holy Mass, a celebration in which the nuns had the opportunity to renew their covenants with God, as they had promised earlier.

In fact, this feast has been a deeply reflective one as the celebrants of the mass, who were bishops, were able to touch on matters that are very fundamental in the life of the nuns. For example, in the archdiocese of Dar es Salaam, Auxiliary Bishop Henry Mchamungu, reminded the nuns of several things that the nuns should consider. Among these things he emphasized are: a nun to ensure that he/she becomes a person of prayer and contemplation, living a community life, living a life of penance, living the charisms of the congregation, living a life of dedication, following the rules and regulations of the place where they are given to do a mission and doing a mission for the benefit of the church.

Since in the archdiocese of Dar es Salaam they have the custom of congratulating nuns who in the relevant year are celebrating their jubilees of religious life, on this day, 12 religious women were congratulated; two golden jubilees (Sr Edmunda & Sr Theonestina) and 10 Silver jubilees (Srs Jadwiga, Anagladness Mrumah, Idda John, Elionora Danghalo, Mariel Kazibure, Florence Pontian, Alistidia Faustine, Veronika Mikoma & Ritha Mary).

The Church in Tanzania is proud to have many religious men and women who, with their various charisms, have been able to carry out different missions in the church and thus be able to manifest Christ to his people. Furthermore, we pray that the Lord of the harvest will continue to bring workers into his field.

Prepared by: PMS National Office

The National PMS Office thank God for having the opportunity to participate in the Diocesan Holy Childhood Congress which started on January 31-01, 2025. As is the case with other diocesans, on behalf of the National PMS Office, Sr Anagladness Mrumah who is the secretary of Holy Childhood at the national level, admits to be very happy with this first Congress of Holy Childhood diocesan level, which has been successful with high efficiency.

In addition, in this Congress, the office had the opportunity to give a seminar to two groups, namely: a group of children whose number was 902 and a group of children’s animators who were 74. The topic given to children was about Pontifical Mission Societies and in a very special way on of the Pontifical Mission Societies of the Holy Childhood. The topic for animators was about the important things that they should follow in their parenting work.

Therefore, in a general assessment, this first congress which has been held under the leadership of Fr Gosbert Mlambia, has built a very solid foundation for future congresses in this diocese and thus make missionary work grow rapidly in this diocese.

Prepared by: National PMS Office

Kongamano la utoto Mtakatifu lilifanyika Katika Parokia ya Mt. Francisco wa Assis Mwanjelwa huku tukitumia majengo ya Chuo Kikuu (CUoM) Kwa malazi na vipindi kwa watoto wetu. Kaulimbiu ya Kongamano letu ni “ULINZI WA MTOTO NI JUKUMU LANGU NA LAKO’

Idadi ya washiriki ilikuwa kama ifuatavyo; Watoto wa Kipapa 2908, Mapadre 5, Watawa 15, Walezi 241 na Askofu 1

Tulianza Kongamano kwa Misa Takatifu iliyoongozwa na Mhasham Askofu Msaidizi Godfrey mwasekaga mnamo tarehe 28.12.2024 asubuhi kisha ikafuata rariba ya vipindi mbalimbali. Mada zilizofundishwa ni pamoja na;

1. Ulinzi wa Mtoto (Mapadre, Watawa, RPC na wadau waalikwa)
2. Mtoto na sala (Mapadre na Watawa walioandaliwa)
3. Ekaristi Takatifu chemichemi ya Maadili mema kwa watoto. (Mapadre)

Sambamba na mada hizo zilizotolewa, kulikuwa na burudani mbalimbali kwa watoto kama vile ngoma, vichekesho, maigizo, muziki, ngonjela na nyimbo.

Zawadi mbalimbali zilitolewa kwa waliofanya vizuri ili kuamsha ari ya kujiandaa vizuri wakati wa Kongamano.

Kwa upande wa Liturjia, watoto walihudumu vizuri na kwa zamu. Walishiriki vema katika Uimbaji wakati wa Misa, wengine walihudumu altareni na wengine walitumikia kwa nafasi mbalimbali wakati wa Misa. Siku ya kilele kulikuwa na maandamano yaliyoongozwa na Mhasham Askofu Msaidizi Godfrey Mwasekaga kuanzia Kanisa la kiaskofu Jimboni hadi Mwanjelwa. Tuliandamana vizuri bila kupata changamoto yeyote na kisha tukahitimisha kwa Misa Takatifu. Kwa ujumla vitu vyote vilifanyika vizuri bila kupata changamoto kubwa kwa watoto wetu.

Tunashukuru kwa miongozo mbali mbali tunayoipata kutoka Ofisi ya Taifa. Mungu awabariki.

Imeandaliwa na: Fr. Exavery Maingu Mafwimbo

Mkurugenzi PMS Jimbo Kuu la Mbeya

In a special way, the National PMS Office thank God for having the opportunity to participate in the Diocesan Holy Childhood Congress which started on January 31-01, 2025. As is the case with other diocesans, on behalf of the National PMS Office, Sr Anagladness Mrumah who is the secretary of Holy Childhood at the national level, admits to be very happy with this first Congress of Holy Childhood diocesan level, which has been successful with high efficiency.

In addition, in this Congress, the office had the opportunity to give a seminar to two groups, namely: a group of children whose number was 902 and a group of children’s animators who were 74. The topic given to children was about Pontifical Mission Societies and in a very special way on of the Pontifical Mission Societies of the Holy Childhood. The topic for animators was about the important things that they should follow in their parenting work.

Therefore, in a general assessment, this first congress which has been held under the leadership of Fr Gosbert Mlambia, has built a very solid foundation for future congresses in this diocese and thus make missionary work grow rapidly in this diocese.

Prepared by: PMS National Office