In keeping with its Principles which includes:
• to seek to help all our community children by providing avenues to assist in their moral, spiritual, social, academic and wellbeing as well as in the formation of good Character, Career and Civic Traits.
• to seeks to assist children and their families to grow in the Catholic faith and help to draw them out of the increasing ills in the society; such as violence, youth addiction and negative peer pressure, broken home relationships, influence of drugs and alcohol, child abuse, anti-social behaviors and negative cultural expressions.
• to equip parents with skills that will inspire them to take a more proactive role in the life of the child thus contributing more meaningfully in the life of the community and improving their quality of life for all.
The Catholic Children’s Club (CCC) has taken on the responsibility of to create the awareness of Universal children’s Day in the community of Paix Bouche and the Parish of St Andrew and by extension Dominica. This came about last year during the reflection of World Mission Sunday when the children thought of checking their collection of small coins which they give up On World Mission Sunday annually.
It was felt at the time that they were not getting the feeling that much was being done by the society to recognize as well celebrate the value and dignity of the child, while they every year has to show special appreciation to mothers, father, teachers etc. On the other hand they express appreciation of adults saying and doing things on their behalf but felt that they should also be given the tools to allow them the opportunity to think, see judge and act positively, and in so doing they can prepare their own to-do list in church, home, school, community.
This first time event, in the life of this two year old club will take the form of
1. Prayer reflection sessions looking at where Parish children, Dominica Children and Children worldwide are and what how we in our small corner can brighten our life by rejecting the suffering of children by doing claiming the light of Christ.
2. Community enhancement- CCC will be landscaping/adopt a sport of the roadside as a reminder that as we nurture and cherish the world/life so too are the little children.
3. Personal interaction with the community by distributing house to house messages on the rights of the child and hold a Community workshop facilitated by the Welfare Division
Activities will be as Follows:
Thursday November 17th from 4.30pm
• Children’s Reflection and workshop at the Catholic Church Expected at that session is Regional Director of the Pontifical Missions Societies, Fr. Donald Chambers of Jamaica
• Community/Parents Workshop at the Catholic Church Presbytery This session will be facilitated by the staff of the Welfare Division.
Saturday November 19th Immediately after Morning Church service
• landscaping project; Clearing both side of the Paix Bouche to Moore Park section of road plant flowers
• Distribution of information materials to homes.
Sunday November 20th UNIVERSAL CHILDREN”S DAY.
• 8.30 Assembly at the Paix Bouche School grounds for Reflection
• 9.30 Hold Joint procession with the feast of Christ the King to be attended by children and parishioners of the parish namely Vieille Case, Penville, Thibaud, Anse De Mai, Paix Bouche and other neighboring well-wishers as well as representative of Schools in the Diocese.
• 10.30 Celebration of the Parish Mass at the Paix Bouche Catholic Church Children of the Parish will take the lead in sharing of the liturgy.
• 2.30 Host a Talent splash bringing out the voice of the children.
The CCC is guide by its theme “John 8 verse 12 “I am the light of the world, the one who follows me will not walk in darkness but will have light and life” adopted at its inception.
Universal Children Day is a declaration of the United Nation General Assembly to hold annual events in recognition of the promoting the welfare of the child. Since then many countries around the world observe that day on November 20th.
Congrats to the CCC of the Paix-Bouche community – Hats off to Angelica Pierrelouis and the other organizers!
May God continue to shower abundant blessings on our Children, you the parents and all the members of Our Catholic Community of Vieille Case, Penville, Thibaud, Anse De Mai, Paix Bouche for taking the Leadership responsibility, to organize our Catholic Children in this important aspect of their faith formation. As adults leaders, each of us has the responsibility to begin building Catholic leadership as early as possible in the life of our Catholic children. This entails giving each child or youth the tools to develop in him or her the ability to think, see, judge and act positively. and the opportunity to prepare and implement his or her own to-do list, in church, home, school and community. The formation and operation of the Catholic Children’s Club (CCC) is a shining example of Catholic leadership formation, which other Parishes can certainly follow.
Once more Congratulations to our Catholic Community of the Parish of St Andrew on their first Anniversary, and their observation of Universal Children’s Day November 20.
Keep up the Good work for our Church, our families and our Communities.
We commend you highly, and pray God’s blessings upon you and your efforts.
We also wish to welcome our Regional Director of the Pontifical Missions Societies, Fr. Donald Chambers to the Diocese of Roseau.
Bro Norris Prevost
President,
Dominica Association of Catholic Men.
Cathedral Branch.
Congrats to Mrs Angelica Pierre Louis and all the parents who allow their kids to participate in such a noteworthy venture. JKeep up the good work